TIDE LOOKS TOO TOUGH FOR TIGERS
Another thing I will not do is debate anything with an Auburn fan. Debates are worthless if they involve fantasy and not facts. I decided to quit those talks earlier in the year when an Auburn fans sent me an email with 21 reasons why Auburn would win the national championship. He wanted me to write an Auburn “rebuttal” to my pro-Alabama columns. I told him that we wouldn’t publish anything that said that Guz Malzhan was God, and Will Muschamp was Malzhan’s chief disciple. I will quickly add that the man was obviously tanked. Never hold that against a man making a point. Liquor has a way of helping an individual define his version of the truth, but not necessarily reality. We bantered back and forth for ten minutes or so. Actually, I had no problem writing the heavenly disinformation he wanted to spread, but he took it too far when he said Gus was twice as good a coach as Saban. That was the final straw. We all know, and it should be obvious, that Nick Saban would be God in such a hypothesis, and Lane Kiffin would be the disciple. Since that time I’ve decided that Kirby Smart should replace Kiffin to make sure my logic was indisputable. I told him to call back when he was sober, and based on defending many people who were arrested for DUI, I think he should be close to sober very soon. That was 13 weeks ago to set the timeline.
I have two daughters. One is biological and the other was part of the deal when my wife and I got married. Both are wonderful young women. My oldest can talk football with the best of them. She won her fantasy football league three years in a row. This has caused here some marital discord. My other daughter made a conscious decision to “not like football” when she was younger. She is an Art Major. Her friends are all musicians and artists. I have to buy photographs and paintings to support her friends careers. While I have to admit we now have some great artwork, we also have plenty of paper and canvass to help start those warm winter fires. Here friends all cluster around their smartphones while sitting in a circle. Their gazes, while looking down at their screens is rather strange. I think they are texting each other. They honestly look like Indians sitting around a fire to keep warm. They all laugh in unison. It’s really creepy. Ask them who they will support for the president and you hear the chant, “Feel the Bern” and occasionally Hilliary. Look, they all live in LA. Most think Sacramento is the capital of the United States. And all they eat are things that are green. They are all vegans, which for some time I thought was a modern version of Pagan. I’m sorry, no circumstance would ever occur, for me to pay $18.00 dollars for a salad, and another five bucks for mineral water. I want meat, potatoes, lots of butter, and I don’t wish to hear any of that “your body is a holy temple crap.” My body is a demolition derby just completed. I’ve started stair walking with a backpack with a twenty-pound weight in it. I made three floors for my all-time record. I then take the elevator back down and have a cold RC Cola. You can buy an RC Cola in Mexico for about 50 cents and it has just as many calories and sodium as a real Coke. Unlike the Auburn AD, I can still sniff out bargains. During the football game, my daughter is going to some type of woods-like experience with her friends and their smartphones. I don’t understand how my wife allowed her to grow up that way since both are from Tuscaloosa.
I honestly look at the match-ups this game and can’t find but two things in favor of the Tigers. Despite at least one AU fan’s belief that God is coaching their team, the advantage is home field advantage. I’m not sure how much that matters in rivalry games. I did a lot of research and found the home team wins those games about 55% of the time. Auburn’s place kicking is also a better than ‘Bama’s. Carlson is a Lou Groza Candidate.
Look at the quarterback situation. Jack Coker is going to be the best quarterback on the field. Jeremy Johnson and Sean White have each started. My belief is that Johnson isn’t going to be able to throw the ball well enough to give the Tigers the edge. Coker has become a good quarterback, a team leader, and is a warrior. I wonder if either Johnson or White can be leaders in the confusing quarterback situation on the Plains. Johnson will start. Malzahn is not going to admit he made a mistake benching Johnson and has been using the injury to White as an excuse in my opinion.Advantage: Alabama
No question that Derrick Henry the running back who Will play in the game. It is starting to look more and more like Kenyan Drake might play some role in the game. For Harris and Scarbrough, this is going to be a big jump as a backup. Auburn has four good running backs, and just because Henry might be the top back in the game you can’t deny the how good they are. Jovan Robinson, Kerryon Johnson, Roc Thomas, and Peyton Barber are all above average running backs. AU will be able to have fresh legs in the backfield. I’m giving the edge to Bama by the thinnest of margins. Advantage: Alabama by a thread.
I’ve talked to a couple of coaches and college players about the offensive lines of each team. Auburn has had some injuries but for the Iron Bowl all will start. That’s big. Whether the Tigers can run the ball against Alabama is still not likely. Even though the starters return, it is unclear whether they are football ready to play against the likes of Alabama. The Tide’s offensive line has been a roller coaster line. Bama center Ryan Kelly is the best in the SEC. He is smart and calls all the proper blocking schemes. Cam Robinson comes into the game with a big reputation, but he hasn’t had a good season in my opinion. His pass blocking as been questionable. He seems to have been playing better. I think his injuries were worse than reported. Alabama’s other three starters are okay, but not world beaters according to the coaches I talked to. Auburn’s offensive line looks impressive, but the stats don’t back up their credentials. Advantage: Alabama
Despite Cyrus Jones’ impromptu evaluation of the Tiger wideouts, they are not as bad as you think. They have had trouble holding the ball at times. But so has Ardarius Stewart of Alabama. The bell-cow for Auburn is Ricardo Lewis. He’s had an excellent season. He is the Tigers most valuable receiver. The Tide came into the season with a lot of questions at this position. The emergence of Calvin Ridley has been a joy to watch. He has proven that he intends to be the next Amari Cooper. The before mentioned Stewart has gotten better and is a solid second receiver. A gift via the graduation rule is the sure-handed Richard Mullaney has been the go-to guy for Coker in critical third down situation. O.J. Howard is catching more passes, but I think inaccurate to say he’s enjoyed a breakout season. Auburn’s Melvin Ray has been more prominent as the season ends. Advantage: Alabama (The AU receivers could be a lot better with consistent quarterback play in all fairness)
Defensive line play has made Alabama the team it has become. What can you write on the D-line except how great they are and scary it must be to run against that unit. Auburn’s defensive line has gotten better with the return of Carl Lewis, who is a tremendous pass rusher. He’ll beat Cam Robinson some. Let’ hope it isn’t a lot. I think that Montavious Adams has had some significant minutes. The stats say you can run the ball on Auburn. I’m sure the Tide is going to see eight players with a yard of the line of scrimmage. Auburn is going to make Jake Coker and his receiving corp beat them. That says a lot about the faith you in your Dline and how good Bama’s stop troops really are: ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA
The linebacker for ‘Bama has a great mop up the squad. What the D-line can’t stop the Tide’s linebacker. Reggie Ragland may be the best linebacker in the country. He has Clay Mathews type skills. Rueben Foster has gotten better and better. He can make Richter shaking hits on his tackles. His hand may be an issue. Kris Frost and Cassanova McKenzie have made significant strides but are not in the same company as Bama’s group. Denzell Deval and Dillon Lee are solid backups. Each has made some outstanding play. Lee is a good pass defender, and Deval is a blitz package. Auburn returns the injured. ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA
The Alabama secondary has passed the eye test. They have been great at intercepting passes and their run support is outstanding. Last season’s weakness has vanished. The move of CB Eddie Washington has been successful. Tide coaches should be commended for the change. Geno Mathis-Smith is much improved. Cyrus Jones is ‘Bama’s top defensive back. While not tall, he is unyielding and has mastered the technique of his position. He’s not in the open field either. Marlon Humprey has been picked on from the start of the season but has fought back to become a good defensive back. Assuming that Minkah Fitzpatrick is 100%, the New Jersey native will have a big role in run support and man coverage. Tony Brown has taken a huge step forward from last year. Carlton Davis, Jonathon Jones, and transfer Blake Countess are above average. When the D-Line can put pressure on the opposing QB, they are even better. I don’t think the Tigers are quite as good a run support, but they have been so overworked this season they may be wearing down some. ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA
For a long time this season there was nothing special about Alabama’s special teams. J.K. Scott was taking a step backward, and Adam Griffith had some real problems. It appears each has worked out their demons. Griffith should be looking forward to playing this game. Auburn’s Carlson is the best place kicker in the SEC. The Tiger punter, Kevin Phillips has had a much better year than Scott. Coverage is okay for both teams. Jones, has returned three punts for TD’s this season. ADVANTAGE: AUBURN.
Coaching is so different in the approach his head coach takes. Malzhan is a great offensive coach but has had a bad year on several levels. Saban, given up for dead once again, has BAMA in the hunt for yet another Championship. Malzahn is going to use a lot of gimmicks. That’s sure sign you think you are beaten before you take the field. Bama is more like “take our playbook”, it isn’t going to make any difference.
ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA.
Prediction: Bama by 17
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