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We all think we’d make great headline writers, but it’s actually more difficult than it looks.
Coming up with something short, simple and witty that can tell the story of an entire football game in just a fraction of a sentence is a unique skill.
This season, we’re going to have some fun trying to predict the headlines you’ll read about your favorite team in your local paper on Sunday morning.
We’re at a disadvantage, of course, because don’t know how the game will actually turn out. That’s the part of the prediction that makes things interesting.
Here are our headline predictions for Week 3:
Alabama (vs. Ole Miss): Sweet, sweet revenge
Ole Miss knocked off No. 1 Alabama in Oxford last season, but the Crimson Tide is 25-1 at home against the Rebels, and is plenty motivated to make sure it doesn’t loss back-to-back games against Ole Miss for the first time in series history.
Arkansas (vs. Texas Tech): Where’s the D?
Arkansas may be without RB Jonathan Williams and WR Keon Hatcher, but the Razorbacks will find themselves in an offensive track meet against Texas Tech this weekend. There were 77 points scored in last year’s meeting, and Arkansas ran for 438 yards.
Auburn (at LSU): Oh, Jeremy…
After a rough start to the season against Louisville and Jacksonville State, Auburn fans have been disappointed but supportive of QB Jeremy Johnson in light of a 2-0 record. If Auburn falls at LSU this weekend, will they continue to be so forgiving?
Florida (at Kentucky): Mac wins, Gators extend streak
With two non-conference wins under his belt, Florida coach Jim McElwain will make his SEC head coaching debut in Lexington. He’s also defending the Gators’ 28-game winning streak against Kentucky, so a win here is critical.
Georgia (vs. South Carolina): UGA top dawgs again in rivalry
Last year’s early-season loss to South Carolina still sticks in the mind of Georgia fans as the game that may have derailed a trip to Atlanta. Though losers in four of the last five in this series, Mark Richt leads his team to a home win this time around.
Kentucky (vs. Florida): So close … again
Kentucky fans badly want to end a 28-game losing streak to Florida, and many feel like they missed their opportunity in an overtime loss in The Swamp last season. Expect Kentucky to challenge the Gators again, only to fall short.
LSU (vs. Auburn): Bayou Bengals are best
The annual clash between the SEC West’s Tigers will probably be a close one, but you can’t ignore LSU’s track record of winning this game at Tiger Stadium.
Mississippi State (vs. Northwestern State): Dogs exorcise Demons
Mississippi State has aspirations of figuring out who its No. 2 quarterback is behind Dak Prescott, and my suspicions are that the Bulldogs have plenty of time to figure that out in what should be a blowout victory in Starkville.
Missouri (vs. UConn): Tigers D feasts on Huskies
The early-season competition hasn’t been the greatest, but the Missouri defense is developing a reputation for being one of the best in the league with the stats it is putting up. Expect more of the same against UConn this weekend.
Ole Miss (at Alabama): Rebels O runs into Crimson wall
The Rebels offense has set an expectation for fireworks with a pair of 70-plus point performances to begin the season, but they’re likely to come crashing back down to reality on the road against Alabama’s defense.
South Carolina (at Georgia): Out-manned, 0ut-performed
Taking a backup quarterback into Athens with expectations of coming away with a victory is probably a little too much to ask for this Gamecocks squad.
Tennessee (vs. Western Carolina): Winning cures all
It has been a tough week for the Vols following a double-overtime loss to Oklahoma and the news that LB Curt Maggitt will miss extended time with an injury, so beating up on the Catamounts will probably be therapeutic for all involved.
Texas A&M (vs. Nevada): The streak continues…
Kevin Sumlin has yet to lose an out-of-conference game as the head coach at Texas A&M, and his Aggies are likely to push his record to 18-0 in a very winnable game against Nevada.
Vanderbilt (vs. Austin Peay): Dores finally on the board
Austin Peay is one of the worst programs in all of college football. Vanderbilt will win this one with ease, becoming the last SEC program to get one in the win column for the 2015 season after losses to Western Kentucky and Georgia to open the year.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
