SDS Mailbag: Big 12/SEC Challenge picks, best SEC fast food and top SEC Super Bowl storylines
We’re going to make some predictions for the Big 12/SEC Challenge later in this Mailbag, but I just want to start today by saying I think that challenge is the best in the country.
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge may get more headlines, but it takes place during nonconference play. I love that the Big 12/SEC Challenge gives us a 1-day break from SEC action to shake things up a bit.
It makes it more interesting, in my opinion, and I hope the ACC/SEC Challenge, which starts next season, also happens in late January. Just my 2 cents on the matter.
Anyway, let’s dive into your questions for this week’s SDS Mailbag!
Robert:
When national TV audiences tune in to SEC games, they’ll often be bombarded with commercials for Chick-fil-A, Zaxby’s, etc. What are your favorite national food chains with SEC ties?
There are some interesting options for this question, definitely. Here are a few of the biggest chains with ties to SEC towns or SEC alumni (and it is surely an incomplete list, so don’t get mad if I left out your favorite):
- Florida: Wendy’s, KFC
- Georgia: Zaxby’s
- Kentucky: Outback Steakhouse, A&W
- LSU: Raising Cane’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Mizzou: Panda Express, Which Wich
Now I’m partial to Which Wich since I ate there a lot during my college days. But overall, I do like A&W root beer a lot. And the best fast-food chain in the bunch mentioned above that I’ve had is Zaxby’s.
I’ll admit I have never eaten at Raising Cane’s, something I’d love to change in the coming years. I’ve heard good things.
@SChinni12:
What are your picks for the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday?
Well y’all, pour one out for the Big 12/SEC Challenge. This will be the last year of the annual event. Next year, the SEC will begin a yearly challenge with the ACC.
The Big 12 hasn’t won the challenge since the 2018-19 season. The SEC has won the last 2 events outright and there was a tie during the 2019-20 season. Overall, the Big 12 holds a slight 4-3-2 advantage in the challenge, so with another victory, the SEC could finish the annual event by drawing even with the Big 12 4-4-2.
So, can the SEC do it? Here are my picks for Saturday (in order of tipoff time):
- No. 15 Auburn over West Virginia
- No. 2 Alabama over Oklahoma
- LSU over Texas Tech
- No. 12 Iowa State over Mizzou
- No. 11 TCU over Mississippi State
- No. 17 Baylor over Arkansas
- No. 4 Tennessee over No. 10 Texas
- No. 5 Kansas State over Florida
- Kentucky over No. 9 Kansas
- Oklahoma State over Ole Miss
If my predictions are accurate (and aren’t they always?), the SEC and Big 12 will … tie. Keep an eye on that Arkansas-Baylor game, though. That could be a swing game for the SEC.
Jerry:
What is your take on what Trent Dilfer is doing at UAB? Evaluate his staff hires and give an opinion about where this program is headed. Including the transfer portal, how will recruiting go?
It was certainly an interesting hire, bringing in someone with no head coaching experience above the high school level. But Dilfer is a very smart guy. It might take him some time to achieve similar results to what Bill Clark accomplished at UAB, but I’m willing to keep an open mind.
I like Dilfer’s hire at offensive coordinator, bringing in Alex Mortensen from Alabama. Mortensen has been on staff at Alabama for 8 years, so he knows what a successful program looks like. Getting someone who has worked that closely with Nick Saban is never a bad idea.
Dilfer’s defensive coordinator is Sione Ta’ufo’ou, who followed Dilfer from Lipscomb Academy in Tennessee to UAB. He, like Dilfer, has no coaching experience above the high school level, so I’m skeptical of that decision.
I’d be more comfortable if Ta’ufo’ou was on staff as the linebackers coach under a defensive coordinator with college experience, but Dilfer clearly trusts Ta’ufo’ou.
Currently, UAB has the No. 102 recruiting class nationally in the 2023 cycle. That’s not good enough. Dilfer has high-school connections, so I expect that to improve. I also trust he’ll be able to find a solid quarterback, whether that player is already on the Blazers’ roster or a transfer portal player to be named later.
It’ll be interesting to see how Year 1 goes under Dilfer, but I think the Blazers could be decent in 2023.
@Dobbe8:
There are a lot of potential SEC angles when it comes to the Super Bowl matchup. Who are you hoping to see in the big game?
Before the playoffs started, I picked the Cincinnati Bengals to meet the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. That is still very much alive, but you might want to fade me and pick a Philadelphia Eagles-Kansas City Chiefs matchup based on some of my recent gambling picks.
Obviously the matchup with the most SEC ties would be Eagles-Bengals, as the Eagles have Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson and Josh Jobe from Alabama and the Bengals have Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase from LSU.
The Eagles also have Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean from Georgia, CJ Gardner-Johnson from Florida, AJ Brown from Ole Miss, Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay from Mississippi State and others. Those are some major contributors to Philadelphia from SEC schools.
South Carolina fans love Deebo Samuel, so they might want to cheer for the 49ers. As a Mizzou alum, I wouldn’t mind seeing Nick Bolton get a ring with the Chiefs.
But as far as purely “S-E-C! S-E-C!” storylines go, a Bengals-Eagles Super Bowl would be best.
Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at Adam.Spencer@XLMedia.com.
In N Out needs a bowl game.
Isn’t that the Hugh Freeze credo? Sorry, couldn’t resist.
He and Bobby Petrino…
More like IN N Wait
“What are your favorite national food chains with SEC ties?”
Alabama and Golden Corral go hand in hand for obvious reasons.
LOL
I was waiting on someone to completely miss the joke, call me names etc. Glad you laughed.
Half expected someone to make the joke anyways. Pretty funny tho.
We all joke on here its just the snowflakes and trolls that make it not fun with their butt hurt selves.
Those sneeze plates can never be low enough
“Those sneeze plates can never be low enough”
Not to mention when people pick up food, take a bite then put it back on the line.
Don’t think I’ve met anyone on the fence about this place (you either love it or hate it) but the original Sonny’s BBQ is just north of Gainesville. On that note, I’ll take my Turkey Big Deal (dry toast) with fries and a 32 oz sweet tea, please and thank you.
Sonny’s is amazing. Easily a top three.
Zaxby’s hands down. RC is just Zaxby’s except RC literally just sells chicken finger combos and a chicken strip sandwich. The toast at Canes is its one saving grace however.
Canes is so much better than Zaxby’s. But if were going the chicken route, they should have included Guthrie’s Chicken. Yes, it’s headquartered in Auburn, but it is so good and probably my favorite chicken joint. If you’re from Alabama, you know.
Hot take. Canes has soggy fries and soggy chicken. I’m team Zaxby’s.
If you are ever in College Station, try Lane’s, the Canes knock off. I think its better.
“I’m team Zaxby’s.”
Did you tattoo it on your fat rolls?
I must have hit a chord with you, mam. Glad you follow me around this site and call me fat. You really hurt my feelings :(
Hooters! From Tampa, but close enough for gov’t work.
The first Hooters is in Clearwater.
Someone as sad and lonely as you would know this tidbit.
Kinda messed up leaving Mike Hilton out…
No Momma G’s or Dreamland BBQ? I would almost consider Mellow Mushroom, though technically started near GT. They’re a staple at most SEC towns.
“No Momma G’s or Dreamland BBQ? ”
Neither are national chain restaurants.
AU should be Waffle House or Krystal.
Krystal’s is from Chattanooga, TN. But similar to AU, they are good for a fleeting amount of time and often leave you with stomach aches…
Yeah, none of these national chains have any affiliation with SEC schools.
Krystal and Waffle House are both great hangover foods.
Wouldn’t Waffle House be Georgia?
“Wouldn’t Waffle House be Georgia?”
Who cares?
They’re regional. I’ve never seen a Raising Canes.
It’s not. If you go on their website they’re all over the US. It’s weird because there is only one in the state of GA yet there are multiple locations in IL.
Florida: Burger King
Burger King was founded as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville and made popular with several locations early on in Miami. I believe the Gainesville location bills itself as one of the first, though, admittedly, Burger King is not the first chain I think of when thinking Florida, LOL.
Florida: Ford’s Garage
Relish
Pita Pit
I guess with the soon additions of Texas and Oklahoma, new chains will be added to the list to include Whataburger, Sonic, Fudrucker’s, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, among others.
Billy Sims Barbecue
“Whataburger, Sonic, Fudrucker’s, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, among others.’
Were any of those restaurants founded by SEC alumni?
Going with fast food without any other qualifiers, my favorite in the Atlanta area is Culver’s. Whataburger is making a splashy entrance to the Atlanta market, and the new one in Kennesaw is absolutely overrun. We need In-N-Out and Carl’s Junior to do the same.
Not a huge chicken fan. Show me the beef!
Culvers is from Wisconsin.
In N Out is headed here in the next few years. They just announced expanding to TN.
Yeah, they’re all over Minnesota (in-law country). Glad I don’t have to travel a thousand miles to get a good butter burger any longer.
I love onion rings with my burger, So BK and Culver’s fit the bill.
What’s the Wendy’s connection? It began in Columbus OH. Dave dropped out of high school, worked at a restaurant in Knoxville as a kid, managed some early KFCs, was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon national fraternity (North Carolina Gamma chapter – Duke University), but I can’t find the UF connection?
Burger King started in Jacksonville…seems to be a closer connection to UF than Wendy’s unless I’m missing something???
I also am not sure I understand the KFC connection since Harland went to La Salle and technically the original Kentucky Fried Chicken was in Utah.
Sanders’ restaurant was in Corbin, KY, where the “original recipe” was developed. The first franchised out original recipe chicken restaurant was in Utah though, and they came up with the name Kentucky Fried Chicken.
correct, but UK being able to claim KFC would be like UT claiming Krystal’s since it was in Chattanooga
Wendy (the daughter of Dave and face/name of Wendy’s) is a UF alum.
ok, wasn’t aware of that!
Other than her likeness being used and a few ad spots she did, I wouldn’t say she brings any connection to UF…sure she owned a few of the locations, but so have many franchise owners
Pal’s Sudden Service is a chain with only 18 or so locations in East TN and southern VA, but it should be everywhere in my opinion.
Raising Cane’s > Zaxby’s and its not even close.
If you’re down in Mobile or Foley AL then Foosackly’s is the correct answer.
And neither has SEC ties.
Andy, both are very good. Zaxby’s being founded by UGA grad Zack Mcleroy and based in Athens gives them the edge.
Cap
In no way is Raisin Canes ANY BETTER than Zaxby’s.
“Kentucky: Outback Steakhouse, A&W”
Uh….Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa Fl.
Kentucky alumni
easy
Oh ok. Didn’t know that.
“Here are a few of the biggest chains with ties to SEC towns or SEC alumni ”
So what restaurants have SEC ties or ties with alumni?
There is no mention of that.
Wendy’s (Wendy is an UF alum). Would have been better had Adam explained the connection for each one but wouldn’t be the first time SDS has relied on its readers to do their own research to explain an article.
Wendy’s is a good example for sure. This reminds of the “bands affiliated with SEC schools” topic.
FWIW, I misread your post. Thought you were asking which were alum ties. You were wanting Adam to distinguish btwn the two. Hopefully didn’t come across as snarky!! ;)
I didn’t get any snark from your comment. The question I asked was for anyone. I don’t eat Fast Food very often so I don’t know.
What about Walk Ons out of Louisiana? Started by two LSU basketball walk ons.
Can’t forget about Walk-On’s that was started by two former LSU Walk-On’s.
Also, my pick is Bengals-49ers in the Super Bowl with the Bengals finally bringing a Lombardi Trophy home after 3 tries vs the 49ers.
Bengals also have Jonah Williams from Bama(injured) and Lael Collins from LSU (injured).
That’s why Carmack from Clemson is starting now at tackle.
If I were going to ask Adam a southern culture food question guaranteed to fire up the readers, it would be: sweetened cornbread or plain?
I like both. Johnny cakes for eating, and cornbread and buttermilk for a late night snack.
Hoecake. Next…
Collards, Turnips……or Kale. Just kidding.
“Collards, Turnips……or Kale. Just kidding.”
Kale chips are awesome from the air fryer.
Collards – but not that a vegan would recognize ;-)
“it would be: sweetened cornbread or plain?”
Both have their places in life.
Jalapeno!
Oh man, I got that jalapeño cornbread at the Morrison’s Cafeteria in the Georgia Square Mall every Sunday after church.
**** this topic about food chains.
I’m starving now.
I kind of think potential DPOY Chris jones has a chance to provide the a lot of sec related material. He could very well be a difference maker in this game, and he has some help.
I don’t understand the obsession with raising canes, Zaxby offers more options, Abners is better. Overpriced limited menu, salty and terrible dipping sauce. Y’all can have that t r a s h
The stuff y’all moderate is astounding
UGA should at least get co-billing with LSU on Raising Canes since Todd Graves is a UGA alum and worked at Guthrie’s while in Athens.
Zaxby’s and Raising Cane went to school on Guthrie’s and took it nationwide.