From the Sideline — Alabama Champions Again with More to Come

It never once crossed my mind that Alabama would lose to Missouri Saturday. Not once.

That’s not me being a “homer”, or having a lack of respect for the Tigers. Nick Saban’s old teammate has done a fantastic job since Mizzou joined the SEC three years ago. They were actually my dark horse to win the East their first season, before James Franklin got injured.

And while Gary Pinkle’s team, deserves praise for taking care of business with their league schedule, the reality is, they came along at a very fortuitous time in league history.

Again, this sounds disrespectful toward the Tigers, and I don’t mean it that way. But if Texas A&M had been placed in the East, they would have done exactly what the Tigers have done.

Missouri would likely have been 5^th in the Western Division this season – at best.

THAT, is why I had little doubt Alabama would take care of business Saturday at the Georgia Dome.

The opening drive of the game only cemented my belief. While the Crimson Tide was less than stellar on their second and third drives, the tone was set in those first 10 plays. Alabama made it clear they were capable of dominating the line of scrimmage, and that Lane Kiffin was going to find multiple ways to get the ball in the hands of Amari Cooper.

When the Tide can do those two things, the opposition has no chance. That goes for Missouri….Ohio State…and either Florida State or Oregon.

Don’t get me wrong. By no means am I saying that Alabama is invincible. Even if they’d survived that early October trip to Oxford, I’ve participated in, and witnessed enough, athletic events to know that any team can be beaten when they are not at their best.

But that is the key. Alabama’s best is better than anybody else’s best.

And, as we saw against Auburn, less than Bama’s best, can still be good enough, if you don’t finish them off.