By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
I didn’t need an alarm clock to wake up Monday morning.
Instead, there was Skippy the Wonder Bichon standing on my chest while I pried open my eyes.
“Today’s THE day,” the Skipper gleefully announced.
“You mean this is the day you actually obey me?” I replied.
“It’s GAME WEEK, baby, the start of our college football picks,” Skip said. “You, the self-proclaimed Mad Dog and your alleged 44 previous years of experience vs. me and my ambidextrous whizzing ability.
“I’ve been training for this the entire off-season. Yoga for hind leg flexibility. I spent a week with the state police K-9 drug dog unit learning to elevate my sniffing to the next level.”
Yes finally, the Skipperoo makes his official Shreveport Bossier Journal college football picks debut. He follows my 25-year tradition of previous Higgins Wonder Bichons Sophie and Buddy 1 who were canine college football-predicting trailblazers.
Here’s Skippy’s picking method as established by his predecessors:
On his daily morning walks when he marks the entire neighborhood relieving himself, a left leg lift means Skip is picking the visiting team in a matchup. A right leg lift means he’s choosing the home team.
If the game is played at a neutral site, the team whose school is located closest to the game site will be the designated home team.
Here we go with Week 1 of the 2024 season:
No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 USC, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Sunday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)
Betting line: LSU favored by 4½ points
The skinny: Tigers’ head coach Brian Kelly spent $16.11 million signing a completely new defensive staff. With LSU losing four straight season openers (the last two under Kelly), he and Tigers’ fans want an immediate return on investment vs. the Trojans. The key matchup for the weekend will be Las Vegas police vs. some of the expected 30,000 LSU fans invading Sin City trying to swim the Bellagio fountain to cool themselves in the 105-degree heat.
Mad Dog’s pick: Nuss Bus Ti-gahs 31, Surfer Dudes 27
Skippy’s pick: LSU
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ABC)
Betting line: Georgia favored by 13½
The skinny: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is not keen on buying players from the transfer portal. Georgia has so much money for NIL deals that it probably has a separate account to pay for the 300 or more driving-related traffic offenses by Kirby Smart’s players in his nine years as head coach.
Mad Dog’s pick: Kirby’s NASCAR All-Stars 35, Dabo’s Principles 13
Skippy’s pick: Georgia
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M, Kyle Field, College Station, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)
Betting line: A&M favored by 3
The skinny: What more could you ask for in a season opener? A mascot in a leprechaun suit vs. an all-male cheerleading squad dressed like mental hospital attendants. Definite culture-clash.
Mad Dog’s pick: Four-Leaf Clover Pickers 31, Gig’ Em Ags 23
Skippy’s pick: Texas A&M
No. 19 Miami (Fla.) at Florida, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Betting line: Miami favored by 2½
The skinny: Florida needs to win its games on the front end of its schedule because the Gators’ last four games are against preseason No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 12 LSU and No. 10 Florida State. Somebody in the SEC office doesn’t like Florida head coach Billy Napier.
Mad Dog’s pick: Hot Seat Billy 24, Miami Vice 20
Skippy’s pick: Miami
Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Saturday, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Betting line: Alabama favored by 32
The skinny: First-year Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer’s predecessor Nick Saban was 17-0 in season openers (7-0 vs. ranked teams) with an average victory margin of 31.7. Alabama has won 22 straight openers. Welcome to the pressure cooker, Kalen.
Mad Dog’s pick: Nicktatorless Tide 38, Western Kain-tuck 3
Skippy’s pick: Alabama
In other games:
Colorado State at No. 4 Texas, DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Betting line: Texas favored by 32
Mad Dog’s pick: Spies of Texas Are Upon You 49, Rocky Mountain (No) Way 0
Skippy’s pick: Texas
Nicholls at Louisiana Tech, Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Saturday, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Betting line: Louisiana Tech favored by 8½
Mad Dog’s pick: Teddy Alllllen Techsters 30, Wooden Nicholls 17
Skippy’s pick: Louisiana Tech
Grambling at UL-Lafayette, Cajun Field, Lafayette, Saturday, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Betting line: ULL favored by 33½
Mad Dog’s pick: Perturbed Cajuns 41, G-Men 14
Skippy’s pick: UL-Lafayette
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt, FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Saturday, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Betting line: Virginia Tech favored by 13½
Mad Dog’s pick: Hokie-Pokies 35, Comicaldores 24
Skippy’s pick: Virginia Tech
Southern Miss at Kentucky, Kroger Field, Lexington, Saturday, 6:45 p.m. (SEC Network)
Betting line: Kentucky favored by 28
Mad Dog’s pick: Crazy Kitties 37, Southern Missed 17
Skippy’s pick: Kentucky
Contact Ron and Skippy at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com