It was perhaps the worst and the best Iron Bowl I have ever seen.  Bama of course came out on top by the tune of 49 to 0, and Auburn showing nothing on offense and or defense.   The Tide made good on it’s continued mission of converting on 3^rd downs with 11 in a row and scored on its first 6 drives.

Auburn never really threatened as Bama drove in the final stanza to the Red Zone and took a knee.  In my opinion, that act of humility was a charitable one considering another score would have made it the worst whipping by either team in it’s 57 year history. Bama holds that record with a  55 – 0 win decades ago.

I would imagine that coach Saban was happier than he showed, as his team in a machine like fashion took care of business in the 57^th Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa. 

I feel certain Coach Saban was hardly off the field at BDS when visions of National Championships were dancing in his head…OH WAIT… I was about to jump on the media bandwagon of BAMA VS NOTRE DAME for the National Championship – there is other business to tend to.  It’s that little matter of the SEC Championship game to be played in 3 days in Atlanta. 

Bama and Georgia will be squaring off with the winner certain to dance with Notre Dame in Miami in January for all the marbles.   Both teams come into this game with one loss each, Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks beat Georgia pretty solidly and Bama met a fellow called Johnny Football who left them with a mark in the loss column.   These teams are somewhat of a mirror image of each other.  In fact Aaron Murray leads the nation in pass efficiency and AJ McCarron is only a few percentage points behind.   Ga is however a bit vulnerable to the run and Bama perhaps suspect in the secondary, showing that in the LSU and TAMU games.  

Bama MUST get pressure on Murray causing him to move around in the pocket and avoid turnovers.  If they do, I feel they can win.  If not…. Bama could have their hands full.  Bama seems to be taking it’s typical attitude of business as usual approach as evidenced by McCarron’s quotes to the media, "It's another game. That's what everybody needs to remember. It's just another Saturday." And “I think that's what hurt us in the (Nov. 2011) LSU game, making it bigger than it was. We've just got to go do our job."

I couldn’t agree more – Take care of business.

If the Tide does that....  I’m pretty confident about making my reservations for Miami, but thus far I have Georgia on my mind.

BAMA 30 – Georgia 23

ROLL TIDE

Bama disposed of the Western Carolina Catamonts as expectd by a score of 49 - 0.  The focus that has been  missing for the past two weeks seems to have been back,as if that is were not enough, the FOOTBALL GODS aligned themselves with #1 Oregon falling to Stanford and #2 Kansas State falling to Baylor - catapulting The Crimson Tide back into #2 with a target on the BCSNC game, provided they take care of business with Auburn and with Georgia in the SECCG. 

The 77th meeting of the Iron Bowl finds Auburn as a 32 point dog sporting a 3 - 8 record, winless in the SEC. Simply put, a bad team.  Cliche's "throw the record books out the windos" - "depends on who wants it worse" ....well I don't think that will be the case in this one.  Bama has better talent and with the focus now on the path to the BCSNCG I don't think Auburn will be able to stay with Alabma, but I do suspect Auburn  will, as Coach Bryant was fond of saying, "have their dobbers out".  

Auburn does have a lot of distractions, with the news of NCAA investigations and a head coach on a seat hotter than that deep fryer used for the turkey yesterday.   I look for Bama to run the ball a good bit, and hopeuflly have time to heal some of its walking wounded .... Bama 38 - Aub 10.  ROLL TIDE.

My fav Iron Bowl memory - Tiffin's 52 yarder "THE KICK" - 

Loosing is never easy unless you loose  a lot.  Thankfully I am not used to Bama loosing  a lot.  So Loosing HURTS!!! And it hurts more when you are beaten at home by a team who you know is good, but they really made Bama look average in the process.  No Excuses! Bama was beaten - 20 to zip before you could bat an eye.  Yes, there is a controversy over whether Bama should have run it or not near the goal line, but frankly here is my 2 cents .... It never should have come to that point... meaning Bama should have won without resorting to the results of one play.  Bottom line, The TIDE GOT OUT PLAYED, AND OUT COACHED!!! OUCH!!!! The truth is the truth.  Johnny FOOTBALL played lights out, and Bama didn't.  We trudge onward... with SEC Title hopes and though not in the drives seat for NCG, still in the vehicle.

Bama hosts the WC Catamounts this week, with hopes of licking their wounds, resting the weary and toning up for the home stretch.  No matter the outcome down the stretch, any Bama fan has to be proud of this team and their accomplishment.   Bama should and will handle the Catamounts === final Score?  Bama 55 WC 6    ROLL TIDE 

LSU – Baton Rouge – Death Valley, "where Dreams come to Die" – wait – Where dreams almost die, but by virtue of a fantastic drive and an AJ – TJ connection, where Dreams Live On !!!

Chants of Tiger Bait suddenly gave way to Cheers of ROLL TIDE, as Bama prevailed in Baton Rouge last Saturday.  WOW, the Tigers kicked The Tide around quite a bit in the second half,  but when it counted the most “Bama Rolled”.  AJ completed 4 of 5, the final to TJ Yeldon, a screen that he took about 30 yards for the TD.   I really can’t tell you what happened next as I was destroying the den…as my wife and mom, looked on in amazement. I do know the TD and PAT put Bama up 21- 17. The Tide’s hopes for a 15^th and back to back National Championship are still alive.  

Now here come The Aggies.  On their maiden Voyge in the SEC, and thanks to the fantastic play of one Johnny (Football) Manziel, the Aggies find themselves 7-2.  The only two losses are to fellow SEC teams, Florida and LSU by a combined total of 8 points.  Their offense has put up big big big numbers against many opponents… and at times their Defense has seemed pours.

This game is one I marked on my schedule at the beginning of the season as one that troubled me.

1.       Bama is coming off the heels of a super emotional win at Baton Rouge

2.       TAMU offense is one that is difficult to prepare for, due to the mobility of Manziel.

3.       All the makings of a trap game.

Bama was tested at Baton Rouge… LSU exposed a few things … and I think the Bama coaches will work that to their advantage.  Bama being ahead, then loosing the lead, then overcoming sure defeat, on the road at Baton Rouge at night, well that is what Champions are made of. Keeping the Aggies from converthing on 3rd will be the key.  A couple of other things I think favor Bama.  TAMU is going into their 10th week - without a week off, another TAMU is on the road for the 4th time out of 5 weeks. 

Bama will prevail – I think TAMU will give the defense some challenges early, but once adjustments are made.

BAMA 41 – TAMU 24