Connect with us

Mississippi News

Goat fuel? Call it what you want, but Alabama’s armor has chinks

Published

on

Goat fuel? Call it what you want, but Alabama’s armor has chinks

Call it “goat fuel” as Lane Kiffin does, or call it “poking the bear” as Kiffin also does. But whatever you do call it, proclamations that Nick Saban’s Alabama college football dynasty is over do seem a tad premature.

Alabama has lost two games to two Top 10 teams, both on the road, both before 100,000 fans, both on the last play of the game. Alabama out-gained Tennessee in a 52-49 loss. The difference? Bama missed a field goal late; Tennessee made one. Bama also out-gained LSU Saturday in an overtime loss at LSU. Alabama is still a splendid football team. The Crimson Tide, which plays at Ole Miss on Saturday, remains one of the four or five best teams in the country.

Rick Cleveland

That said, there are chinks in the Tide’s armor. They are not clearly the best team in the land or even the SEC, as they have been for most of the last decade. It’s not so much that they have weaknesses as it is they are not as dominant as they have been. It’s not just the close losses to Tennessee and LSU that show this. It’s also the narrow wins over Texas and Texas A&M. 

Biggest difference? When Alabama lines up on third down and a yard or two to go on offense, they can’t just run it and know they will make it. It’s not automatic. Alabama simply does not run the football as effectively as they have in the past. They don’t get the push up front.

Conversely, Alabama does not stop the run as they have in past. Against really good teams – and both Tennessee and LSU are that – Bama isn’t dominant up front on both sides of the ball. LSU out-gained Bama on the ground 185-137. Tennessee out-rushed the Tide 182-114. 

There are other chinks, perhaps most notably Saban’s current team doesn’t have the super natural ability at wide receiver it has had in recent seasons. There’s no DeVonta Smith, no Jaylen Waddle. Bama’s wide receivers are merely very good, they are not other worldly.

There’s also this factor: Other teams have caught up to Bama, most notably Georgia, which former Saban lieutenant Kirby Smart has patterned after Bama, using a replica of Saban’s system. Georgia, as Alabama has had, possesses four- and five-star talent stacked at every position. When Georgia takes the field, the Bulldogs look like an NFL team.

So what to make of Saturday’s matchup of 7-2 Alabama against 8-1 Ole Miss? Before we get into it, know that the last time an Alabama football team lost as many as three games in a single season was 2010. Ole Miss’s superb freshman running back Quinshon Judkins had just turned 7.

Oddsmakers have made Alabama a 12-point favorite, which seems, at least to this observer, more than a little out of kilter. Honestly, before I saw the betting line, I thought it would be between four and six points. Ole Miss has had an extra week to prepare. Bama is coming off a physically taxing, overtime struggle. Ole Miss is at home. There’s not a much better recipe for success than that.

Clearly, oddsmakers figure bettors will fixate more on the recent history of the rivalry. Alabama has averaged nearly 57 points a game in winning the last six meetings by an average of 32 points per game. Ole Miss has scored at a 25.5 per game clip over those six games. But the Rebels haven’t even slowed Alabama, much less stopped the Tide.

This Alabama team is averaging 42 points a game. This Ole Miss team averages 37. All that considered, seems the best bet of all might to bet on both teams to score plenty. The over-under is 63, which is a high number but not for these two offenses.

There’s another factor to consider: When was the last time Alabama played a game when the Crimson Tide had no chance at the national championship? This Crimson Tide team clearly does not. How will Alabama react? Will they lose their edge?

My guess is that Saban won’t let that happen. Alabama will fire back. Alabama will play well. Ole Miss will get Bama’s best shot. My point is, Alabama’s best shot, as good as it is, is not what it has been.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing is charged with murder as prosecutor says DNA found on rifle trigger

Published

on

www.wjtv.com – Jesse Bedayn – 2025-09-16 12:45:00

SUMMARY: Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with the murder of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, shot Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. Robinson confessed via text to his partner and left a note expressing intent to kill Kirk, citing hatred. DNA linked Robinson to the rifle used. Prosecutors revealed Robinson planned the attack for over a week and targeted Kirk, a key conservative youth leader. Robinson’s political views shifted after dating a transgender man, causing family tensions. After the shooting, Robinson discarded evidence and urged his partner to delete texts. FBI investigates possible wider connections. Charges include murder with potential death penalty enhancements.

Read the full article

The post Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing is charged with murder as prosecutor says DNA found on rifle trigger appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Continue Reading

Mississippi News

Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination believed to have acted alone, says Utah governor

Published

on

www.wjtv.com – The Associated Press – 2025-09-12 05:10:00

SUMMARY: Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested for the targeted assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah. Authorities said Robinson had expressed opposition to Kirk’s views and indicated responsibility after the shooting. The attack occurred during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot once from a rooftop and later died in hospital. Engravings on bullets and chat messages helped link Robinson to the crime, which was captured on grim video. The killing sparked bipartisan condemnation amid rising political violence. President Trump announced Robinson’s arrest and plans to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Read the full article

The post Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination believed to have acted alone, says Utah governor appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Continue Reading

Mississippi News

Americans mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with emotional ceremonies

Published

on

www.wcbi.com – Associated Press – 2025-09-11 14:00:00

SUMMARY: On the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, solemn ceremonies were held in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville to honor nearly 3,000 victims. Families shared personal remembrances, emphasizing ongoing grief and the importance of remembrance. Vice President JD Vance postponed his attendance to visit a recently assassinated activist’s family, adding tension to the day. President Trump spoke at the Pentagon, pledging never to forget and awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. The attacks’ global impact reshaped U.S. policy, leading to wars and extensive health care costs for victims. Efforts continue to finalize legal proceedings against the alleged plot mastermind.

Read the full article

The post Americans mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with emotional ceremonies appeared first on www.wcbi.com

Continue Reading

Trending