Bud’s bold

Here’s something fun — Bud Elliott’s made a list comprised of what he (or maybe his editor) calls one bold prediction for each SEC team’s 2020 season.  Reading through them convinces me of one thing.  There’s bold and then there’s bold.

So I thought I’d rate his degree of boldness for each, with zero being “the sun will rise in the east tomorrow” bold and ten being “ZOMG!!! that’s insane” bold.

Hey, it’s April.  Here’s goes nothin’.

• Bud’s bold prediction: Mississippi State finishes strong.  GTP take:  I give that one a 5 on the bold meter, as MSU’s last five games involve only one ranked team, Auburn, and that one’s in Starkville.  So, yeah, I can see Leach finishing on a roll.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Mizzou won’t get to a bowl game.  GTP take:  7.0.  Mizzou won six games last year while on NCAA suspension and, with only two ranked teams on it, this year’s schedule looks tissue soft to me.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Ole Miss will average scoring and allowing 30 or more points in conference games en route to a bowl appearance.  GTP take:  6.5.  There are four obvious losses to SEC West teams and one of the crossover games is against Florida, so this boils down to the Rebel Bear Landsharks only losing one more game.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Vanderbilt will go winless in SEC play.  GTP take:  0.5.  And that’s only because of the Any Given Saturday factor.  The ‘Dores aren’t going to be good.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Arkansas’ offense will win three non-conference games.  GTP take:  4.0.  Those three games are against Nevada, Charleston Southern, and Louisiana Monroe, so, yeah, if Pittman and staff are even a slight improvement over Chad Morris, that should be doable.
• Bud’s bold prediction: South Carolina will miss a bowl game.  GTP take:  2.5.  True ‘dat, Bud.
• Bud’s bold prediction: The Aggies will win six SEC games for first time since 2012.  GTP take:  6.5.  Considering that TAMU will have to beat Auburn, LSU, or Alabama to notch six wins and that only LSU is a home game, it’s a little bold, as A&M didn’t really look good against any of them in 2019.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Kentucky will win eight games.  GTP take:  5.0.  There are four tough games on the schedule and the ‘Cats best player is gone, so there’s no margin for error there, but Stoops is an underrated coach.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Auburn’s offense will not look much different under Chad Morris.  GTP take:  0.  The biggest duh on Bud’s list.  The only question is whether we hear Gus vow to take back playcalling in 2021.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Florida’s rushing attack will improve.  GTP take:  2.5.  It could hardly be worse and the offensive line should be better.
• Bud’s bold prediction: LSU will emerge as a 2021 national title favorite by the end of 2020.  GTP take:  2.5.  LSU recruits well and pundits now take Orgeron seriously.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Vols will improve, but might not show in win column.  GTP take:  2.5.  It’s not your daddy’s November anymore, Vols.
• Bud’s bold prediction: Alabama will have its best defense since 2017.  GTP take: 5.5.  I actually think this one’s a little spicy, because of all the back and forth on personnel.  Oh, the Tide’s D will be good, but who’s gonna be that dominant stud in the middle that made the ’17 version so formidable?
• Bud’s bold prediction: Georgia’s defense will be so good, it won’t matter that Jamie Newman did not get a spring practice with new OC Todd Monken.  GTP take:  1.5.  Gawd, I hope so.

And your thoughts?

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