Weekend Prediction: In an upside down world, it’s Kentucky over Georgia
Welcome back to another edition of, “What The Hell Happened?” a proud tradition in Athens stretching back 36 years, or at least since 1989, when Georgia replaced Vince Dooley with Ray Goff and a teenager in Brookline, Massachusetts, looked up from his algebra book and said, “They did WHAT? Oh, this won’t go well, if my name isn’t Theo Epstein.” And so the Curse of The Goff lives on, and I say that in deference to Zaxbys, which I made Goff rich, and I actually like, except for the Texas toast, which is like eating a mattress. (Can the toast block?)
This will end one day, Georgia fans. Epstein killed the “Curse of The Bambino” in Boston and “The Curse of the Billy Goat” in Chicago, so how hard can it be for somebody to end the “Curse of The Team That Stole Nick Saban’s Best Assistant But Lost To Vanderbilt And Is Ticketed For Shreveport. On A Prop Plane. Right After A Flyover In Columbus For Some Crop Dusting”?
This week, the Trembling Chihuahuas, fresh off a 21-yard rushing and performance and more humiliation in Jacksonville, try to win for only the second time in games
They play at Kentucky. They own Kentucky. They are 22-3 vs. Kentucky since 1991.
Whatever.
Kentucky beat Vanderbilt (Dogs lost). Kentucky beat Missouri by two touchdowns (Dogs won on a desperation heave). Kentucky didn’t have its two best running backs (one who was expected to be a Heisman candidate) feel compelled to go to the offensive coordinator and vent that this is ruining their season, to say nothing of their NFL stock (Nick Chubb and Sony Michel did that).
Georgia ranks 100th in the nation in total offense and 102nd in scoring. Jim Chaney is making fans wistful for Brian Schottenheimer.
The Dogs are favored. Why? Because they should be better? I’m done with the, “This will be the week” projections. Give me the gift 2 points but Kentucky wins in a mild upset.
Georgia fans disillusioned, so we break for reflection.
Sack Schultz 2016
This is the worst year I’ve had in college contest picks, but I’m not eligible to win anyway so the heck with it. Congrats to last week’s winner, Greg Hamilton of Newnan, who went 14-1. Overall, we have three contestants at the top with a record of 102-32. I’m two zipcodes behind at 88-46. Think you can outpick me? (Of course.) Go to MyAJC.com/go/sackschultz2016. You’re still eligible for weekly prizes like Kroger gift cards.
Bottom Dollars
“The probability of winning is inversely proportional to the amount of the wager.” — Las Vegas proverb.
Last week: Disaster in college picks, better in pros. 9-5 straight up, 5-9 against the line.
Bottom dollars: 83-34-1 straight up, 58-57-3 against the line.
Lilly’s pick: Lilly has dropped four straight. This week, it was a choice of species: A kitty (Kentucky) on the left, a trembling chihuahua (Georgia) on the right. Lilly goes left: Upset! Kentucky wins.
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