By Chris Marler
It’s Friday which means it’s time for our weekly trip around the country to talk about games and drinks and everything in between. Welcome back to Week 6 of Winning and Boozing. Every week we preview and predict games while also telling you the perfect drink to have at the tailgate for each showdown.
This week we have a slew of great games around the SEC as well as the country including the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry between Auburn and Georgia and the even deeper south’s worst fanbases meeting with Florida and Central Florida in Gainesville. Let’s get it.
Georgia vs Auburn
I was raised in Atlanta off Ponce de Leon Ave and am writing this article off North Ave, a stone’s throw from Piedmont Park where the very first installment of this game was played all the way back in 1892. This is by far my favorite rivalry in college football. However, it’s a damn shame it isn’t played in late November anymore, and it’s an even bigger shame that it’s become more one sided than the moderators at a presidential debate. But I digress.
Georgia meets Auburn for the 129th time in the history of these two programs with both teams desperately looking for a bounce back after last week’s debacles.
Georgia has owned this rivalry as of late, and I expect that to continue Saturday. The Dawgs have won 14 of the last 17 overall, and since 2007 Georgia has won every game in this series in Athens by an average of 21.6 points per game.
The Winning: Georgia 38, Auburn 13
The Boozing: Bourbon & Coke. In my opinion, it’s generally a travesty to mix any soda substance with top shelf bourbon. However, it’s necessary for this game because Georgia fans will need it. The Dawgs have struggled the last season and a half with slow sleepy starts under Mike Bobo. This year alone they are scoring only 19.8 percent of their overall points in the first half of games against FBS opponents. Get some bourbon. Get some Coke. And wake up.
And to be clear I’m talking about the caffeinated Coke, not the kind in Miami guys. Sheesh.
Florida vs Central Florida
“Florida man saves his job.”
That needs to be the headline on social media for Billy Napier after Saturday, because the optics of losing to an in-state little brother program like UCF will not go over well with an already short tempered fanbase and administration.
The Gators will be facing the best offense in the Big 12 that averages over 540 yards per game and 7.13 yards per play. UCF is favored by 2.5 points on the road over the Gators which, despite all the negativity surrounding the UF program, feels extremely odd.
Here’s the thing, Florida is getting the Golden Knights at home, at night, in the swamp, and following an embarrassing loss to Colorado in The Bounce House. I don’t care how good Gus Malzahn’s team is offensively, Billy Napier cannot survive a home loss to little brother on a national stage. Go get it done, Billy.
The Winning: Florida 27, UCF 24
The Boozing: A Bushwhacker. But make it melted, warm, and out of a Styrofoam cup you found at a WaWa off I-4. Bushwhackers are supposed to be a delicious frozen drink made of dark rum, coffee liqueur and cream. It’s a boozy milkshake that destroys your liver and metabolism. It’s supposed to be enjoyed cold. Not warm. Just like Billy Napier’s proverbial seat. Yet, here we are.
Arkansas vs Tennessee
12-year-old Chris Marler, who grew up in a household that despised Tennessee, still hasn’t forgiven Clint Stoerner for that fumble in Neyland in the 1998 classic between these two. Sorry, Clint. The Vols head to Fayetteville for yet another road game, and they do so as one of the best teams in the country.
Despite spending less time at home than a man with two families, the Vols have still been fantastic this season and are one of two teams in the country with a top five scoring offense and scoring defense. And, Arkansas has suffered more turnovers than Auburn’s head coaching hires.
The Winning: Tennessee 34 Arkansas 17
The Boozing: Zima. Arkansas hasn’t beaten a top five team in Fayetteville since 1999 and the Vols swear it feels like ‘98. So, crack open a Zima, the original seltzer, for drinkers who were doing too much back before Y2K.
