Greetings once again from the center of hell, otherwise known as Djibouti, Africa. Another Saturday is upon us, and that means all of us die-hard college football fanatics have yet another reason to wake up in the morning. Or, if you're like me, a reason to stay up all night.
When you lucky men and women back home are rolling out of bed at 9:00am to catch College Gameday, I'm finishing up the workday at 5pm. From there I'll grab a quick to-go meal from the Galley, (Saturday is steak night, so it's not so bad) and then settle in for another 12 hours of game time fun.
There are two notable games this week: Alabama @ LSU and Oregon @ USC. The latter doesn't seem to be getting much attention heading into the weekend, and rightfully so. Oregon travels to the Coliseum to take on a twice beaten Southern Cal squad that, in my opinion, has very little chance of making this much of a game.
USC came into the season with title aspirations, only to seem them fade away faster than Pete Carroll catching the next bus to Seattle after he found out the NCAA was preparing to throw the sanction book at the Trojan program. This USC team was BCS title bound or bust, and now, they're just busted.
Oregon wins big, again. USC 21 - Oregon 52
Now on to the main course of this week's college football feast. Is there a more difficult place to play in all of college football, than in Baton Rouge? The answer is yes --Try playing in Baton Rouge at night. Death Valley will be as loud as it's ever been come kickoff on Saturday.
Those cajun kings and queens are going to be so liquored up and pissed off, that the noise level alone might trigger an earthquake down on the bayou. It wouldn't be the first time. This is a revenge game for the Tiger faithful, pure and simple.
LSU was one game away from and undefeated season, and coach Les Miles second BCS title last year when the Crimson Tide showed up in New Orleans and built a brick wall in front of the 50 yard line. This time, this year, it will be different.
I agree with Tiger nation, this year it will be different. However, I think the only thing that's going to be different this time around, is the number of points Alabama hangs on the scoreboard. The Crimson Tide defense has been relentless so far this season, allowing no team to score more than 14, while their offense has put at least 33 points on the board in every game.
Now don't get me wrong, I think the LSU defense is about as stout as anybody's, and they'll probably limit the Tide to a season low in scoring, but it won't be enough to keep up. The LSU offense is marginal at best and they're going up against just that, the best. In order to beat Nick Saban's team, LSU is going to have to pass the ball and that's something they haven't done with any consistency all season.
Am I really supposed to believe that just because LSU is seeking revenge from last years embarrassing defeat in the title game, that QB Zach Mettenberger is going to come out and pass the ball down the field like Drew Brees? No, I am not. I know, I know, magical things happen in Death Valley, the Hat is always good for one miraculous 4th and 20 play call that completely flips the script against his opponents.
Not this time Les. Alabama is on a mission, and don't think they've forgotten about that 9-6 loss in OT at home last season either. LSU will fight for a good portion of the game, but Bama's balance will prove too much for the Tigers.
Alabama 24 - LSU 10
Enjoy the football this weekend folks, it's almost over. Before you know it, we'll be sufferring through another incredibly too long and boring MLB season when the Braves will no doubt let me down again.
-Hawk
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