Before talking about this game - WOW -Bama continues to impress.  I'm one of those guys who doesn't like to brag... for fear of the jinx.  However, this Bama team has something special.  Both the Defense and Special Teams, added a score to an offense that ran the ball for over 400 yards against the VOLS.  Tennessee was never really in the mix.  Bama DOMINATED. 

This was said to be the game where Bama would prove itself, of course now the pundits say TAMU is that game.   Bama is back in Tuscaloosa after a stretch on the road.  A good thing?  Who knows this team seems to play as well or better on the road as at home.

TAMU - 7 point opening win vs UCLA - and wins against Arkansas and Tennessee, come into this game undefeated.  Bama of course is undefeated as well.   Like the Tennessee game last week, this game wreaks of a possible upset.  Bama rides a 19 game winning streak, and getting closer to the seasons end, the pressure of winning becomes enormous.  Bama seems unbeatable, but we know once a team becomes "invincible" someone knocks them off.

From the stat sheet, the big number that jumps out at me is the rushing game - in SEC games..

 Alabama's Rush defense allows 69.5 per game vs

A&M's Rush defense allows 200 per game

Again, this is the biggest or most significant stat that stands out.   

TAMU QB Tervor Knight has some familiarity with Bama - as he torched the Bama D for 348 yards going 22-34, in the 2013 Sugar Bowl  with Oklahoma.  Along comes Baker Mayfield and Knight hitches his wagon to TAMU.

TAMU will be really fired up for this game, and I think they will play Bama well.  But when you really look at it and consider the Vols were beaten by TAMU in OT - and got 7 gimmies from the VOLS, you have to think Bama will be too much for them. 

Knight seems more elusive than perhaps any QB Bama has faced so far, putting definite pressure on the Defense and I expect them to get some points and some yards both scrambling and passing to those big wide receivers.

Vegas disagrees saying Bama is 19 points better than TAMU.   I think it will be closer, but Bama pulls away in the end.

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Tradition - most of us love it, and most of us live it.  No matter if it is family or religious or other it gives us something to be certain of, something to connect with.  Something that makes you think of the past experiences and look forward to the future experiences as well.  When I was a kid - the 3^rd Saturday in October meant more than the leaves changing, more than the approaching goblins of all hallows eve !! The 3^rd Saturday in October - BAMA VS TENNESSEE.   To this day, possibly one of the most heated rivalry's on the gridiron. Of course it is and has been a streaky series, with Bama currently on a 9 year streak, hoping to make it 10 on Saturday.

Bama is on the road to Knoxville with it's record in tact, and of course Tennessee lost last week to a good TAMU team, who took the Vols to two overtimes.  Bama was on the road with the Hogs.  Bama didn't play it's best game, but did play well enough to beat the Hogs at home to the tune of 49 - 30.  Arkansas did manage to gain 400 yards passing against the vaunted Bama D - which quiet frankly was very surprising to me.  And it is a bit worrisome as they take on the Vols.  I don't think Tenn defense will be able to stop the Bama running game and that will be the difference in the game.  As the game goes, I look for the Tenn defense to become worn.  With Bama pulling away late.

The Vols have put a scare in the the Tide in years past, and this year they believe they have the talent to match Bama.

My thoughts.... Tradition - there is one that will continue after the game - Smoke em if you got em -

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I was blessed to be able to participate in the Bama Homecoming Parade again this year, making a total of 9 years for the Tide Rides to be a part of this great event. 

Bama had a typical Homecoming game against Kentucky.  They looked pretty lethargic during the first half, but closed well.  This week the Tide finds themselves on the road to Fayetteville Arkansas to take on the 16^th ranked Razorbacks.

The Hogs come into this game with one loss, to TAMU by a score of 45 - 24.  Bama of course undefeated.   A lot of folks had this game circled on their calendars early saying this could be the game where Bama stumps it's toe.  Given it is a road game and the fact that Arkansas was picked by some to be very competitive in the SEC West it is understandable. 

Fayetteville is a very hostile environment and the Hogs are certainly fired up, and hope to end the 9 game losing streak to the Tide.  In fact the last loss to Arkansas by Bama was an OT loss in 2006 by one point.

Bama's Defense has given up the big play to Ole Miss and I look for Ark to try and cash in on that.  I do also think Bama's defensive line will not give Ark much time to throw, so that could be the difference.   Bama on offense, well I expect them to play well and given the fact that TAMU scored 45 against the Hogs, I believe Bama will be able to move the ball.  I look for Bama to first shut down the run, forcing the Hogs to become one deminsional.  

Of course the Hogs seem to give Bama a good game, evident by the past two these teams have met.  This one is hard for me to call. On the one hand I think Bama will be able to handle the hogs, but not without a fight.  I look for it to be close, with Bama's depth and defense being too much.

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