By Chris Marler
Welcome back for another week of Winning & Boozing. This week you can pick your poison. Drinks or sweet treats, since it’s cupcake week. After a week of rumors, chaos and coaching search stuff in Baton Rouge, I’m gonna take a drink.
Tennessee at Florida
The Vols have won two times in Gainesville since 1972. That’s right, two wins in 54 years. Tennessee heads down to the Swamp once again to try and exercise their demons. It’s been 22 years since their last win in that building. They’ve lost ten straight there and eight of those were by at least double digits.
CRAZY STAT: Tennessee has just 2️⃣ wins in Gainesville in the last 5️⃣2️⃣ years. pic.twitter.com/Sjh34UOypd
— Chris Marler (@Vern_Funquist) November 20, 2025
I say all that to say this.
That number is 1000% getting to three this weekend. The Florida team is beaten up, and the Florida fans are beaten down. Not only are they 3-7, but their hopes of landing Lane Kiffin are all but dashed. Then there’s the team who will be without 12 players once again. Tennessee feels like they always have a lot to prove under Heupel. And finishing with three losses this season isn’t what they were hoping for, but getting a huge win over their former biggest rival is a mood lifter for sure.
Tennessee wins. Tennessee wins big.
The Winning
Tennessee 30, Florida 13
The Boozing
Budweiser. And a Marlboro red while we are at it.
Nothing says 90s nostalgia like ripping a heater with a cold can of the King of Beers. Some of y’all are too young to remember how big of a game this used to be every year. It was the first SEC on CBS game of the year every year, and the stakes were always massive. The winner of Tennessee-Florida not only went to the first ten SEC Championship Games, they won it seven times. The entire conference was basically decided in late September every year because of this game.
These teams are no longer King of the SEC and weren’t even the Kings of the SEC East much longer after the 90s. And, there are some beers that may taste better than a Bud Diesel, Bud Heavy, or whatever else the kids are calling it these days. But, nothing tastes better than nostalgia.
#8 Tennessee vs #4 Florida (1995) pic.twitter.com/QH2V5FPyT9
— College Football Classics (@ClassicsCFB) October 25, 2025
You probably don’t need the cig if we’re being honest, but get out there and live a little guys. Drink some water out of a hose and get a Capri Sun out of the fridge in your mom’s hunter green and crimson colored rooster themed kitchen. Real ones know exactly what I’m talking about.
@retro.avocado Here is my definitive ranking of the Top 10 kitchens our moms had in the 90s ✨ #90s #90smom #nostalgia ♬ original sound – retro🥑avocado
Missouri at Oklahoma
For the second year in a row this game has playoff implications on the line, and for the second year in a row Missouri will go into it with a backup quarterback. This is not a great matchup for Missouri. That Oklahoma defense is legit especially at stopping the run. Missouri is completely one dimensional right now since their starting quarterback is a true freshman third stringer.
I expect them to come out and play motivated and well early. And, the Tigers defense is good enough to force a few mistakes from the OU offense. But, in the end they do not have enough offensive firepower to score against this Sooner defense.
The Winning
Oklahoma 27, Missouri 13
The Boozing
Chopin Vodka and Celsius. It’s a potato based vodka and energy drink, and it’s absolutely perfect for this matchup.
We need something caffeinated so Eli Drinkwitz can be focused and alert in all of the reported potential interviews he will have this offseason for head coach openings. Plus, this drink is super low calorie and healthier thanks to the potato based vodka. That will keep Brent Venables completely normal and not terrifying at all, cheek and jaw line intact.
After starting the season on the hot seat, it’s time to start considering Oklahoma’s Brent Venables for Coach of the Year.
Read full story in thread below ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/E30XEcSiWP
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) November 20, 2025
Samford at Texas A&M
This game sucks and is only here for two reasons. One, the boozing choice and absurd stat that I just realized about Texas A&M’s opposing coaches. And two, to remind everyone that, yes, Texas A&M is 7-0 in the SEC this season, but they haven’t played a single team with a record above .500 in conference play. In fact, their SEC opponents have a combined conference record of 11-37.
The Playoff should be fun.
The Winning
Texas A&M 52, Samford 3
The Boozing
Fireball.
Sometimes seasons line up in a way where luck doesn’t even begin to describe the breaks a team gets. Texas A&M is really good, and they’re off to their best start since 1992. But, Saturday will be their fifth game in 11 this season facing a team with a coach that’s been fired. Grab the Fireball. Or Fired-Ball. Get it? Do you get it? I’m so sorry.
Arkansas at Texas
Arkansas is awful. They also might be the best 2-8 team in college football history. Who knows. What I do know is that Texas is going to punish them this weekend so they can feel better about themselves.
The Winning
Texas 41, Arkansas 17
The Boozing
No booze. Water. Specifically waterboarding.
I feel like that’s the only way to get Texas fans to shut up right now. The crying they’ve done all week about how they’re being punished for playing Ohio State has been spectacularly dumb.
“There’s no incentive for playing that game.”
News flash guys, that’s how you got into the Playoff a season ago and you sat there beating your collective chests about how easy the SEC was despite playing the lowest ranked strength of schedule in the entire league. Remember last year, not only did they get into the CFP but they were a five seed without a single win over a ranked opponent all year.
If Texas plays Baylor instead of Ohio State, there’s no getting around the fact that they would be No.8 in the playoff rankings right now.
Scheduling hard in the non-conference is going to cost it a playoff spot. Unless they lose a 4th game.
— Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) November 19, 2025
You’re not being punished for playing Ohio State. You’re being punished for losing to Ohio State. And then losing by 25 to Georgia. And then after that losing to 3-7 Floridal. No one feels bad for Texas because they finally played a tough schedule. They should’ve lost to Mississippi State. They should’ve lost to Kentucky. And most importantly, they’re not a playoff caliber team.
Now lean back. Here comes more water. Enjoy your stay at Gitmo before a trip to Tampa and the Reliaquest Bowl.
More SEC News
