West Palm Beach Lawyer Published College Football Book

Fred Segal, creator of Old Takes Exposed, compiled five decades of incorrect sports predictions.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Football

West Palm Beach Lawyer Published College Football Book

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West Palm Beach attorney Fred Segal has released his latest book, Freezing Cold Takes College Football. The work compiles five decades of inaccurate sports predictions from media members and analysts.

Why it matters

The book examines how sports media coverage and analytical predictions have evolved over time by highlighting instances where experts were proven wrong by the actual outcomes on the field.

The new book spans 400 pages and reviews historical results like the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, where Nebraska defeated Florida 62-24 despite various media predictions.

The players

Fred Segal

He is a West Palm Beach lawyer who graduated from the University of Florida and Nova Southeastern Law School.

Old Takes Exposed

This social media account, which has approximately 640,000 followers, tracks and reposts inaccurate sports predictions.

The details

Fred Segal, a local lawyer, researches newspaper archives to identify and repost sports predictions that failed to materialize. The publication explores famous sports miscalculations, including a 1973 game between Pittsburgh and Georgia where the favorite margin was 17 points, as well as the 2023 SEC title game where Alabama defeated Georgia 27-24.

Timeline

  1. 1973: Pittsburgh and Georgia played to a 7-7 tie.

  2. 1995: Media members predicted a grass advantage for Florida.

  3. 2015: The Old Takes Exposed social media account launched.

  4. 2023: Alabama defeated Georgia in the SEC title game.

Season Trajectory

The book highlights how historical prediction trends influence the current narrative of collegiate football. By documenting past analysis, the work provides context for modern fans who follow the ups and downs of the current season.

The book offers a look at specific betting and prediction failures that impacted historical game narratives. Readers can use these documented examples to compare past expert analysis with actual scoreboard outcomes.

The takeaway

Understanding the history of sports predictions can help fans better evaluate the reliability of modern pre-game analysis. It serves as a reminder that media consensus often diverges significantly from final results on the field.

Further reading

Explore more analysis and updates on the Football section of our site.

Live Poll

Do you trust professional sports analysts' predictions more when their past mistakes are held accountable?