Showing posts with label Alabama Crimson Tide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alabama Crimson Tide. Show all posts

Friday, November 8, 2019

Showdown in Tuscaloosa - Saturday Down South: Week 11


Saturday afternoon the Associated Press No.1 & No.2 ranked teams, LSU and Alabama, meet in Tuscaloosa for the much hyped and anticipated SEC West showdown. Coincidentally, the last time the AP top two team met in regular season play........was LSU and Alabama in 2011.  It was the two of the best defenses in the nation that battled to a final 9-6 score in overtime. Those were the days of the ground-and-pound run game, bubble screens and end arounds.

That was then. Now, the two undefeated will meet with powerful offenses averaging over 500 yards a game. Both are Quarterbacked by Heisman Trophy Candidates that dominate all the CFB passing game categories, save one, and who routinely shred opposing defenses with ease. Both possess elite receivers. Both possess elite pass defenders. They both possess runners who can break open a big play. You need not be much of a football expert to deduce what kind of game this could be to watch. Hell, the President is even flying in to see this one in person!

Needless to say, a lot is riding on this game. A win all but secures the opportunity for the victor to go to Atlanta and kick around the Dawgs of Leghumper U. in the SEC Championship Game, and secure a CFB playoff berth.  But also riding on the game is an all-you-can-eat spicy Popeye's Chicken bet between our much beloved Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby.  But more importantly, there's the traditional friendly bet on the game between Moi and my SEC Sister and Alabama booster, Curmudgeon of Political Clown Parade, which results in a healthy contribution given to one of our favorite Charities, The Shriners Hospital For Children. (and be sure and check out Curmudgeon's always excellent game post).

The hype and build up to the game all this week has been over the top and impossible to listen to. The game has been dissected, X and O'd and predicted to death by the expert sports monkeys in their accentuated bloviating verbosity.  It's now time to get to it.  Defeating the Crimson Tide has been the insurmountable achievement for the LSU Tigers for the last seven seasons. Coach O' has built the team he promised, and now the chance presents itself to prove the naysayers wrong once and for all by showing that he WAS the right man for the job. I for one have no doubt.

The saying goes "The road to the SEC Championship goes through Tuscaloosa."

SO BE IT!
GEAUX TIGAHS!

Friday, December 30, 2016

New Years Bowl Weekend- Yeah Boy!

Saturday morning kicks off a day of football sure to have a game for everyone who enjoys college football. The newly crowned Heisman winner takes to the field, and the National Championship Game participants will to be decided are just two of the examples of what is in-store for this weekend. 


The Citrus Bowl - Orlando Fla. 
(CBS 10 am) 
Louisville vs. LSU

Saturday at 10 am kicks off new years weekend with the Citrus Bowl: The ACC Louisville Cardinals and the LSU Tigers of the SEC.  This will be the 6th time in 10 seasons the Tigers have faced a Heisman winner, but this years Citrus bowl has eerie similarities to a another bowl game..

This year the trophy is not as valuable, but the same swagger is evident. The newly crown Heisman King, a very dangerous Lamar Jackson, and the Cards started the year out as a steamroller, only to lose their last two games to end the year. The cardinals have averaged 461 yds. a game this year.  The Tigers stingy defense, who will be out to prove their steel, will have their hands full for sure. 

In the Cards favor is naturally the most explosive player in college football right now. In the Tigers' favor is the #5 ranked overall Defense in the nation , and the fact Louisville has given up 13 turnover in the last three games. I expect big plays from both sides, but if the Tigers can keep Jackson from running to the outside and contain him to the middle, they have a better then good chance of winning.  My only worry is the Tiger defense will again be without LB Kendall Beckwith in the middle. His absence was glaringly apparent in the last game of the season at A&M.  Up until that point the Tigers had led the nation in fewest TD's allowed. 

The sports monkeys are calling it a toss-up....... GEAUX TIGERS!

I say Tigers By 6 

Both Graphics Above Are The Work Of My Most Excellent SEC Sister Curmudgeon 


The Peach Bowl - Atlanta Georgia
( ESPN - 2 pm)
Alabama vs. Washington

As they say; Be careful what ya wish for! Not long ago Washington Huskies fans, high from their Pac 12 Championship game win held up signs for the national audience to see proclaiming 'WE WANT BAMA'.  And just like a ol' dog chasing a car, once you catch it, ya gotta deal with it. 

So, now what ya gonna do? 

Not to take anything away from the Huskies excellent QB Jake Browning, who we will most likely see slinging balls on Sunday one day, but guys, you do realize Alabama hasn't lost a game since Oct 2015?!  Boys, boys...... 

But keep you chins up Huskies, I fear you're about to receive the same treatment all good teams get from the Crimson Tide. They will play football with you for 20 minutes or so, then punch you right in the face just to remind you who you're dealing with. Then at halftime make their adjustments, then come out and wear your ass out!

You see, this may not be the most explosive or flashiest Crimson Tide team Nick Saban has fielded. But as has come to many peoples realization is, this may be the best team he has every put on a field! And like a train barreling toward it's appointed destination, and unfortunately as many who came before you, are standing on the tracks. But you can take solace that you were part of football history, and beaten by the best.  

And after January 9th we will no longer be asking that question: "Is Nick Saban the Best to ever coach College football?"

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

I say Alabama by 14+  


The Feista Bowl - Glendale AZ.
(6pm - ESPN)
Ohio St vs. Clemson

I'm sorry, I have never believed Ohio St was a #2 team or as good as the big10 Ra-Ra sports monkeys said they are. Look at their schedule.  They are a young team to be reckoned with.

At the same time, I think Clemson has been inconsistent, but underestimated. That's what makes this a hard game to perceive. All in all, I have to go with a proven Deshaun Watson's play making to pick them a winner.  It will set up a rematch for the NC.  

I say Clemson by 10 ✔  
Hate to say I told you so.....but


Monday Jan 2:

The Steak Bowl -  Florida vs Iowa.  
Iowa by 6

The Cotton Bowl - Eastern Mich vs Wisconsin.  
Badgers by 10

Sugar Bowl - Auburn vs Oklahoma.
Sooners by 14

Friday, November 4, 2016

And Their Eyes Shall Gaze Upon Death Valley


I heard a statement uttered recently by the only sports analyst I ever pay much attention to, former LSU Tiger and All-Pro Dallas Cowboy Defense End,  Marcus Spears, who said: "You don't know how good of a Football Team you are till you play Alabama". This is a statement that pretty much could be applied to most of the last 50 years of college football. And now it's coach Ed Orgeron's time to take the test.

Saturday night The Defending National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide come to Baton Rouge to battle the resurgent LSU Tigers in what has in the last decades taken on the trappings of a rivalry that is quickly coming to overshadow almost all others in college football, and almost always has SEC championship implication. In 6 of the last 13 years the winner of this contest has gone on to become NCAA Football National Champion. The two teams hold the rare distinction as the only conference divisions foes (SEC WEST) to ever play each other for a National Championship (Jan. 2012). 

The Tide has won the last 2 contest in Tiger stadium, and 4 straight regular season meetings. With few exceptions, these are traditionally close, hard fought defensive battles. 

This year the Tide comes in undisputed #1 in the nation riding a 20 game win streak, with an amazing true freshman QB at the helm and the highest scoring defense in the country, who will kill you with your mistakes.

The Tigers take the field in the midst of a new era, a renewed spirit and a resurgent offensive, and a defense that has in the last 3 weeks shutdown 3 of the top passing attacks in the college football, and has given up the fewest TD's in the nation (8).  Both team's run game is their bread and butter, and both defenses total have only allowed 6 runs of 20+ yards this season.

But unlike last year, this will not be a game played in a phone booth. Both teams  possess  big play ability and elite defenses.  I think it may come down to who makes the fewest mistakes, and on QB play.  And I'm sure Nick Saban, who understands very well by once possessing the advantage of the hostile environment of Tiger Stadium in his years as coach of LSU, has schooled his freshman Quarterback well. If not, he won't be the first young QB to be rattled by his baptism in Death Valley.

Can the 2016 Tigers hang with the Crimson Tide for 60 minutes? I have faith they can.  And let's not forget that old saying, "When the mighty fall, they fall mightily."


And as has become our tradition of a friendly wager on the game, I and my Fellow Blogger, Friend and SEC Sister Curmudgeon, the most devoted Crimson Tide Fan I've ever Known, will donate our wager to the worthy cause of the Shriners Hospitals for Children this year.

For almost 100 years, the Shriner's Children's Hospitials have helped more than 1.3 million children with severe burns and birth defects, receive life-changing care, regardless of a family's ability to pay.  

We both encourage you to join us, and give a Christmas Gift of a donation to this life changing worthy cause.
__________________________

And now, after all the hype, and all the sports monkey expert's prognostications, there's not much more to say that hasn't already been said except: 

Buckle your seat belts boys and girls.
The Tigers and The Tide Are Gonna Play Some Football!



GEAUX TIGERS!