Tide prepares for the Tigers...
Hop in the time machine and go back one year. Alabama was getting ready for what many termed the Game of the Century. The winner was going on to play in the national championship game in New Orleans. The loser might be on the outside looking in. Of course, it didn't work out that way. Bama lost 9-6 on a night including missed kicks and one intercepted pass on the goal line. Fate conjured up a way for a Bama reprieve and play LSU again. I'm not going into what the Fates had to accomplish to make that happen. It was improbable, if not downrigth impossible for Bama to get to New Orleans. But like the man said, "the ball ain't round".
The next game was entirely different. Alabama simply played LSU out of the Parrish and out of the national championship. Domination would be inadequate to describe what Alabama did to LSU that second night. I think most fans thought that the better team didn't win the first game. Alabama proved that in game 2. Credit to Les Miles for winning the first game. LSU looked like a young bride on the way to her wedding. Then a couple of months later the sky fell down on Miles and his Tigers. LSU has had a long time to think about that game, and per the usual SEC scheduling, an extra week to prepare. It seems everyone has an extra week to prepare for the Tide. I heard some pundit on ESPN say that in situations like the one the Tide faces this weekend the team with the extra week wins 54% of the time. Right now the Tide is a 10 point favorite with the odds sure to drop as the week goes progresses.
I know the Tigers are good, they are motivated, and they are at home. That is all well and good. Adrenalin is good until the first time you get knocked off your feet. That's when reality sets in. I've always thought motivation is overrated. It's not like either team wants to lose. Playing at home is important however. At least sometimes. One of those times it might not be important is when your opponent is the University of Alabama. In almost every game, in every sport, and on every occasion the better team wins. Note the almost. Nothing is 100%. No game comes with a guarantee or warranty. Who has the edge?
LSU has the home field advantage. Bama has enjoyed a lot of success over the years in Deaf Valley. A lot of people believe that LSU has the best defense in the nation. I don't believe that, but I will acknowledge they are good and have more big play makers. Alabama's offense has to given a big edge in offense. LSU can run the ball downfield as they showed Florida. I don't think they can dominate the Tide on the ground. I don't think Alabama's tandom of Lacy and Yeldon will dominate the Tigers either. For just a moment let's suspend reality and say that both teams don't turn the ball over or get a lot of costly penalties. If that is the case the game comes down to ...
The Quarterbacks are key...
I'm not sure how the LSU fans feel about Zach Mettenburger at this time. Earlier in the year he was hailed as the second coming. He was the man who would save the LSU offense and in large part why LSU got a lot of nods for pre-season #1. It hasn't worked out that way for LSU so far. Mettenburger finally played a game against Texas A&M without turnovers. I'd bet that most fans in Tigerland would say he has been a big disappointment. Gary Danielson touted him as a potential Heisman winner. His numbers have shown his struggles: 1419 yards with 7 TD passes and 4 picks. These numbers come with a team who can run the ball down your throat.
Tiger fans believe that Mettenburger is about to have a breakout game. They think it is going to happen against Alabama's defense. You guys come on over to Blount County this Friday when I'm crowned King of England. That's about the same odds as Mettenburger beating Alabama. He was 11-29 for 97 yards against TAM. The Aggies aren't known for sound defense this season. Still, Miles is going to give him a shot to be the man. He has no other choice. I expect the Tigers to throw short passes. They may go verticle to keep Bama's corners from lining up in the Tiger's backfield in run support. I understand that anything is possible. I just don't think that a shaky quarterback is going to have field day against the Alabama defense.
On the other side of the coin come A.J. McCarron who is very quietly putting together a All-SEC type season. He has shown a lot of poise, made good decisions when he has the ball, and his check offs have been impressive. He's not a great runner but he gets a few yards for first downs when needed. He hasn't done any McElroy one legged hops for first downs so far. He knows when to get down and protect himself. Bama's recievers have been a very pleasant surprise. Amari Cooper has been exceptional in the last few games. His injuries are getting better. He has a bad ankle but it hasn't seemed to slow him down. Kevin Norwood makes a lot of key grabs. Michael Williams has become a big time target. Eddie Lacy and Yeldon have shown they can take a check off pass and turn in some big yards after the catch. If just appears Bama has a more diversified offense which going to present some real problems for the Tiger defense. By the way, A.J. has shown he has the ability to be the man. Last year's National Championship was won on the arm of McCarron.
I think 'Bama is going to win. No doubt I may be wrong. LSU has enough to beat Bama at home. I'm not an idiot. But the Tigers won't beat Alabama this weekend. LSU can let Mike the Tiger play linebacker and it won't matter. Bama by 12.
The next game was entirely different. Alabama simply played LSU out of the Parrish and out of the national championship. Domination would be inadequate to describe what Alabama did to LSU that second night. I think most fans thought that the better team didn't win the first game. Alabama proved that in game 2. Credit to Les Miles for winning the first game. LSU looked like a young bride on the way to her wedding. Then a couple of months later the sky fell down on Miles and his Tigers. LSU has had a long time to think about that game, and per the usual SEC scheduling, an extra week to prepare. It seems everyone has an extra week to prepare for the Tide. I heard some pundit on ESPN say that in situations like the one the Tide faces this weekend the team with the extra week wins 54% of the time. Right now the Tide is a 10 point favorite with the odds sure to drop as the week goes progresses.
I know the Tigers are good, they are motivated, and they are at home. That is all well and good. Adrenalin is good until the first time you get knocked off your feet. That's when reality sets in. I've always thought motivation is overrated. It's not like either team wants to lose. Playing at home is important however. At least sometimes. One of those times it might not be important is when your opponent is the University of Alabama. In almost every game, in every sport, and on every occasion the better team wins. Note the almost. Nothing is 100%. No game comes with a guarantee or warranty. Who has the edge?
LSU has the home field advantage. Bama has enjoyed a lot of success over the years in Deaf Valley. A lot of people believe that LSU has the best defense in the nation. I don't believe that, but I will acknowledge they are good and have more big play makers. Alabama's offense has to given a big edge in offense. LSU can run the ball downfield as they showed Florida. I don't think they can dominate the Tide on the ground. I don't think Alabama's tandom of Lacy and Yeldon will dominate the Tigers either. For just a moment let's suspend reality and say that both teams don't turn the ball over or get a lot of costly penalties. If that is the case the game comes down to ...
The Quarterbacks are key...
Tiger fans believe that Mettenburger is about to have a breakout game. They think it is going to happen against Alabama's defense. You guys come on over to Blount County this Friday when I'm crowned King of England. That's about the same odds as Mettenburger beating Alabama. He was 11-29 for 97 yards against TAM. The Aggies aren't known for sound defense this season. Still, Miles is going to give him a shot to be the man. He has no other choice. I expect the Tigers to throw short passes. They may go verticle to keep Bama's corners from lining up in the Tiger's backfield in run support. I understand that anything is possible. I just don't think that a shaky quarterback is going to have field day against the Alabama defense.
On the other side of the coin come A.J. McCarron who is very quietly putting together a All-SEC type season. He has shown a lot of poise, made good decisions when he has the ball, and his check offs have been impressive. He's not a great runner but he gets a few yards for first downs when needed. He hasn't done any McElroy one legged hops for first downs so far. He knows when to get down and protect himself. Bama's recievers have been a very pleasant surprise. Amari Cooper has been exceptional in the last few games. His injuries are getting better. He has a bad ankle but it hasn't seemed to slow him down. Kevin Norwood makes a lot of key grabs. Michael Williams has become a big time target. Eddie Lacy and Yeldon have shown they can take a check off pass and turn in some big yards after the catch. If just appears Bama has a more diversified offense which going to present some real problems for the Tiger defense. By the way, A.J. has shown he has the ability to be the man. Last year's National Championship was won on the arm of McCarron.
I think 'Bama is going to win. No doubt I may be wrong. LSU has enough to beat Bama at home. I'm not an idiot. But the Tigers won't beat Alabama this weekend. LSU can let Mike the Tiger play linebacker and it won't matter. Bama by 12.
No comments:
Post a Comment