By Mike Farrell
In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
1. Carson Beck will go undefeated.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
I’ll take the field, so to speak, here as a new starter will be hard-pressed to be perfect. I know Stetson Bennett did it, but he needed historic defenses to do so. While UGA will certainly have an amazing defense again this season, asking Beck to navigate an entire regular season without a loss will be tough. The question is — who do they lose to? South Carolina, Kentucky, Mizzou, Ole Miss, and Tennessee should all be hard games, and they will lose one of those. Oh, and they will still win the SEC and play Michigan for the title.
2. Payton Thorne leads Auburn to a bowl game.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Thorne is the man under center for Auburn, but he’s not a world-beater, and this roster isn’t set up for a bowl run. Hugh Freeze is the right coach for Auburn, I believe that. And in a couple of years, they will be an issue, but losses to A&M, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Alabama will land them 5-7.
3. Nick Saban knows who his starter is.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Saban hasn’t been around this long not to have a very good idea who his QB starter is. And it’s likely Jalen Milroe who reminds me a lot of Jalen Hurts when he was developing at Alabama. But remember that season? Blake Barnett was the co-starter with Hurts but lost that role immediately as Hurts led Alabama until Tua Tagovailoa took over. Saban has to hope Milroe can own the job until perhaps Ty Simpson is ready as the pure passer the offense needs. That could mean Milroe all season long.
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