Celebrated from coast to coast by sports fans, bag men, mafia kings and mathematicians, Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero is the greatest resource for college football shenanigans on the internet. This is the 12th season for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero in its various forms, and for the first time “The Grand Experiment” has a new reigning king. The Hero, Ben Abercrombie, joined the party in 2020 and wasted no time schooling Joe on college football.
What is Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero? Consider it a gift to society.
THE GRAND EXPERIMENT
Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for AL.com. What happens when a sportswriter picks some of the toughest games of the week and goes head-to-head against a sharp and a football expert with a Harvard education? It’s a gift for college football fans every week in the state where college football is like a religion.
The Pro features his best picks on his website, ParamountSports.com, but he fearlessly picks the most difficult college games of the week against Joe and the Hero. Joe is just an All-American hack who everyone loves to hate.
No one works harder than the Hero. Nobody. Abercrombie played football at Hoover High School and Harvard, and he’s working every day to regain his ability to walk. He’s a student at Harvard, and an inspiration to all. To thank him, we want everyone to stand up for Ben, and show him some love.
Show Joe no love at all. Besmirch his name at small dinner parties, and troll him on Twitter.
STAND UP FOR BEN
The annual 3.2 For Ben is here. Let’s do this! The 3.2K virtual walk/run is in honor of Ben Abercrombie, who wore jersey number 32 at Harvard. Sign up today for the race, and get a T-shirt and race medal for the event. Anyone can participate anywhere in the world.
The Grand Experiment that is “Joe vs the Pro and the Hero” is all about jokes and gags, but we also support our friends. Now is that time. There are heroes among us and then there is the Hero, Ben Abercrombie. Our good friend has been working hard up at Harvard this semester, and also providing Alabama with his football expertise back at home. It’s not easy, and his around-the-clock medical support system is funded by thoughtful donations. Ben suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury during his first collegiate football game, but he has turned that tragedy into an inspiration for all. Celebrate Ben and the power of togetherness by helping him.
The Hero, the reigning champion of The Grand Experiment, always helps people pick winners. Check out last week!
LAST WEEK
Joe: 2-4 straight up, 3-3 against the spread
Pro: 3-3 straight up, 2-4 against the spread
Hero: 4-2 straight up, 3-3 against the spread
Notes: Joe predicted Alabama’s struggles against Texas A&M and Arkansas’ backdoor cover, but gave it all back betting on Auburn to hang tough with Georgia. Hero nailed Kentucky’s win over LSU.
OVERALL
Joe: 19-17 straight up, 18-18 against the spread
Pro: 24-12 straight up, 14-22 against the spread
Hero: 26-10 straight up, 19-17 against the spread
Notes: Joe’s winning ways ended after a hot two-week run.The Pro needs some help to catch the Hero as the season nears its midway point. On to the picks!
No.11 Kentucky (6-0, 4-0 SEC) at No.1 Georgia (6-0, 4-0 SEC)
When: 2:30 p.m., Sat.
Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.
TV: CBS
Series: Georgia leads 60-12-2.
Spread: Georgia by 24.
SUPER STAT OF THE WEEK: Stoops started his tenure at Kentucky going 12-26. Since then, he’s 43-24 and now 55-50 over nine seasons. Remarkable.
Joe says: All good stories end in Athens, Ga., this season. Kentucky’s beautiful start has made this the unexpected SEC East game of the season but I’m starting to think of Georgia as LSU of 2019 and Alabama of 2020. Can’t really call this a trap game either after the way the Dawgs beat up on Auburn. Georgia didn’t play its best in Jordan-Hare, but it still wasn’t close. Kentucky’s defense is tough, but UK’s offense will need something special to score more than 20 against this UGA defense.
Joe’s pick: Georgia 33, Kentucky 13
Pro says: The biggest question in college football now that Alabama lost is can anyone go toe to toe with Georgia? Maybe the only two teams that have a shot are the Crimson Tide and Cincinnati. Kentucky is a run-first team behind running back Chris Rodriguez, but Georgia has held five of their six opponents under 100 rushing yards. Someone might give Georgia a game somewhere down the road, but it won’t be Kentucky.
Pro’s pick: Georgia 37, Kentucky 7
Hero says: Georgia has been the only dominant team so far this season, but Kentucky is probably the best football team they have faced this year. This week is not a good time for the Cats to be down two of their top defensive linemen since the Bulldogs like to run it down your throat and then hit play-action passes down field. UK also has a strong running game but UGA only gives up 64 yards on the ground per game. Kentucky is a very well-coached team and may keep it close in the first half, but the Bulldogs will dominate again at home.
Hero’s pick: Georgia 31, Kentucky 10
No.20 Florida (4-1, 2-2) at LSU (3-3, 1-2)
When: 11 a.m., Sat.
Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.
TV: ESPN
Series: Florida leads 33-31-3.
Spread: Florida by 10.5.
SUPER STAT OF THE WEEK: Kentucky has already knocked off both of these teams this season. That’s the stat.
Joe says: It’s going to be hard to top last season’s “Shoe Game” for hysterical moments burned into the psyche of SEC folklore, but with Ed Orgeron on the hot seat this year’s cross-division rivalry game could be memorable for other reasons. Will it be a funeral for Coach ‘O’ in Death Valley? If the Gators bring back their two-quarterback system, the Tigers could be looking for a new coach by next week..
Joe’s pick: Florida 35, LSU 20
Pro says: The Tigers are now without star receiver Kayshon Boutte, who is out for the season. LSU probably can only go ground and pound if they want to stay in the game against the Gators. They were somewhat effective with that plan last week, gaining 147 yards on 35 carries. They still lost by three touchdowns to Kentucky. Florida will be ready for this game as they lost 37-34 last year at home to LSU as a 23-point favorite. This might be Ed Orgeron’s last game if they get blown out.
Pro’s pick: Florida 38, LSU 17
Hero says: The Tigers turned in a gritty performance last year and upset the Gators with the help of the shoe-throwing incident by a Florida player. You can bet that UF coach Dan Mullen will have his Gators ready to avenge that embarrassing defeat. It has been a difficult season already for LSU and it got worse in the loss to Kentucky last week when they lost their best player to injury, receiver Kayshon Boutte. Starting cornerback Eli Ricks also went down. Even though the Tigers will fight hard at home to help save Coach Orgeron’s job I don’t see the Gators showing any mercy.
Hero’s pick: Florida 34, LSU 17
No.13 Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1) at Tennessee (4-2, 2-1)
When: 6:30 p.m., Sat.
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.
TV: SEC Network
Series: Tennessee leads 44-19-1.
Spread: Ole Miss by 3.
SUPER STAT OF THE WEEK: Ole Miss is the only team in the country to average at least 300 yards passing and 250 yards rushing per game, notes the Rebels’ game notes.
Joe says: Mayhem. That’s my prediction for Lane Kiffin’s visit to his old stomping grounds. Pure hill-folk mayhem. It’s always entertaining with Ole Miss, but this one will reach a level of spectacle we haven’t seen on Rocky Top in a long time. The Vols have won two in a row and suddenly have an offense. Ole Miss has scored at least 50 points in its last three victories.
Joe’s pick: Ole Miss 48, Tennessee 42
Pro says: It took a few games, but first-year Vols coach Josh Heupel now has the offense playing fast and effective. They’ve scored 107 points in the last two games and took their foot off the gas in the second half last week against South Carolina. The Ole Miss offense is explosive, but their defense reverted to last year’s form of late, allowing almost 100 points in their last two games.
Pro’s pick: Tennessee 48, Ole Miss 42
Hero says: This game should be fun to watch as both teams can light up the scoreboard. New UT coach Josh Heupel has juiced up the Vols offense with the help of Virginia Tech quarterback transfer Hendon Hooker. He leads a balanced attack, which is averaging almost 42 points per game. The Lane Kiffin-Ole Miss offense led by QB Matt Corral is averaging 46 points per game with only Alabama able to slow them down this year. The Tennessee defense looks better statistically right now but the two good offenses they faced, Florida and Pittsburgh, scored 38 and 41 points, respectively. I think the Rebels’ experience with shootouts gives them a slight advantage in this game, but the hungry Vols fans at Neyland Stadium will make it very difficult to win.
Hero’s pick: Ole Miss 38, Tennessee 34
UAB (4-2, 2-0) at Southern Miss (1-5, 0-2)
When: 2:30 p.m., Sat.
Where: M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Miss.
TV: Stadium
Series: Southern Miss leads 11-7.
Spread: UAB by 16.
SUPER STAT OF THE WEEK: Blazers’ defense had eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and four turnovers last week against FAU. That’s just mean.
Joe says: UAB has the revenge factor and Southern Miss doesn’t have a win against an FBS opponent. Expect no mercy from the Southside Dragons after losing to the Southern Miss two years ago. They didn’t play this game in 2020, so there could be some pent up aggression. UAB’s defense could pitch another shut out here if they can avoid so many mistakes. The Golden Eagles rushed for just 15 yards on 32 attempts last week against UTEP.
Joe’s pick: UAB 45, Southern Miss 17
Pro says: As the season is settling in it looks like the Blazers can rout the bad teams but can’t stay with or beat anyone more talented than them. Southern Mississippi would classify as a really bad team because they haven’t even beaten an FBS team this season. Any hope for improvement for the Golden Eagles offense is dashed by the fact they’re only rushing for 56 yards per game. Katy bar the door!
Pro’s pick: UAB 52, Southern Mississippi 14
Hero says: UAB is coming off a big bounce-back win over Florida Atlantic while Southern Miss has continued to lose but has been more competitive. I think the Golden Eagles keep this game closer than projected at home in Hattiesburg but the Blazers still earn the victory on the road.
Hero’s pick: UAB 27, Southern Miss 17
Auburn (4-2, 1-1) at No.17 Arkansas (4-2, 1-2)
When: 11 a.m., Sat.
Where: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.
TV: CBS
Series: Auburn leads 18-11-1.
Spread: Arkansas by 3.5.
SUPER STAT OF THE WEEK: Auburn has scored at least 30 points in eight straight games against Arkansas, notes the Tigers this week. Hmm…
Joe says: If Gus Malzahn did one thing consistently at Auburn, it is that he owned the series against his home-state team. Auburn’s dominance of Arkansas made Malzahn a lot of money, too. Arkansas wants this game badly because in the Razorbacks’ minds it would establish a new pecking order in the SEC West. Hogs are back home after three consecutive away games and two straight losses. If Georgia softened up Auburn, then this one could get ugly.
Joe’s pick: Arkansas 33, Auburn 20
Pro says: Auburn coach Bryan Harsin would like to see his offense play more smash-mouth football. I just don’t think he has the pieces to pull it off yet. The Razorbacks have played well in every game except Georgia. The favorite is 9-2 against the spread in the last 11 Auburn games and the Tigers are only 3-10 against the spread as a road underdog. Turnovers and lack of execution in the red zone will probably cost the Tigers another game on Saturday.
Pro’s pick: Arkansas 28 Auburn 20
Hero says: Former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn always seemed to lead Auburn to easy victories over Arkansas in his home state, but this is a rejuvenated Razorbacks football program under Sam Pittman. Coach Harsin has prepared his Tigers to play well on the road at Penn State and LSU, so I expect them to compete hard in Fayetteville and have a chance to win. Auburn’s defense has been solid for most of the year, but they have not faced a dual threat quarterback like KJ Jefferson. Auburn will need to get their running game going against an Arkansas defense that likes to drop eight into coverage. The Hogs defense will probably frustrate Bo Nix and Auburn’s offense enough to earn a hard-fought victory.
Hero’s pick: Arkansas 31, Auburn 23
No.5 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (3-2, 1-1)
When: 6 p.m., Sat.
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Miss.
TV: ESPN
Series: Alabama leads 83-18-3.
Spread: Alabama by 17.
SUPER STAT OF THE WEEK: Alabama has won 13 straight against Mississippi State.
Joe says: Alabama doesn’t lose two games in a row during the regular season. It hasn’t happened since Nick Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa. Mississippi State’s most recent game was a victory against Texas A&M, but that will only add to Alabama’s anger. I believe DJ Dale when he says Alabama has something to prove. Alabama played young last week, and they’ll do that again here but with a bounce back on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum.
Joe’s pick: Alabama 42, Mississippi State 18
Pro says: It’s pretty tough to study how Alabama does after a loss because it’s only happened 12 times in the last decade. The one positive out of that loss is receiver Jameson Williams is a superstar and almost unguardable. For Mississippi State to stay in this game they’ll need quarterback Will Rogers to be as or more on target than he was in his 408-yard performance two weeks ago against Texas A&M. Bama held the Bulldogs to just 163 passing yards in 48 attempts last year. Chances are the passing stats of the Bulldogs more mirror what happened last year.
Pro’s pick: Alabama 45, Mississippi State 21
Hero says: The Bama defense followed up one of its best defensive performances under Pete Golding against Ole Miss with one of their worst performances against Texas A&M. The pass-happy Bulldogs offense, led by QB Will Rogers, will certainly test a coverage-challenged Tide defense, especially since Mike Leach has had an extra week to prepare some tricks. The Bama offense moved the ball well last week, but made too many mistakes in the red zone to win the game. Look for Bama to use senior running back Brian Robinson Jr. to control the pace of the game and limit possessions for the Bulldogs offense. It will not be easy, but the Tide should overcome the cowbells in Starkville and drive back to Tuscaloosa in a better mood.
Hero’s pick: Alabama 38, Mississippi State 20
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