Rematch likely if things work out the way they’re supposed to

Alabama and Auburn both won as expected, but it was a lot tougher than both teams probably thought. Samford is a pretty good team and Georgia Southern a very good team. Alabama had all they could handle stopping the triple option and Ga Southern made some nice throws. That was a pretty interesting game to watch. Pretty entertaining. If ‘Bama beats Auburn and LSU wins out, we’ll have a rematch. But LSU beating Arkansas is no guarantee by any means. If Arkansas–which has a tremendous offense led by one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Tyler Wilson, who is the best qb in the conference– knocks off LSU, it really gets interesting. Arkansas’ defense has improved. Still don’t think they’re great, but a lot better. LSU not prolific on offense, but have that tremendous defense. I’ll have my picks on Wednesday.
Alabama should take care of business in Auburn. AU just not where they need to be. I guess they’ll be better next year. Some changes may come in the staff in the offseason. Can those defensive players who struggled mightily this year, get better next year? Maybe they need better coaching. Something is missing with this defense. AU has to get better qb play, too. Moseley is OK, maybe he can develop in the spring and next summer. Don’t know if Kiehl Frazier can throw the ball. Zeke Pike will be a freshman next year and that’s always hard in the SEC. Malzahn may be going somewhere else as a head coach. A lot of talk about UNC, so there will be a lot of questions for this football team. He may need to hurry up and secure a deal before the Alabama game because that could change some minds if he gets destroyed there.

Alabama in good shape to play for national title if they can beat Auburn. The defense was a little shaky against Southern, but that had a lot to do with the triple option. It’s hard for any team to defend. That was a good football team. Tide needs to play well against Auburn to solidify their position. If Arkansas beats LSU, they’ll move ahead of LSU in the BCS standings. It would be Alabama, if they beat Auburn, then Arkansas, then LSU most likely. But this is like bobbing for apples. You just don’t know which one comes out of the barrel. Here’s what I’m pretty sure will happen if Arkansas beats LSU. All three would be tied for the West crown at 7-1. LSU would go ahead of Alabama because they beat ‘Bama in head to head and they are five spots within’Bama in the BCS rankings. Alabama is ahead of Arkansas, so that knocks the Hogs out. Would Arkansas leap frog ‘Bama if they beat LSU? I don’t think so because ‘Bama beat Hogs. If LSU wins out over Ark and Ga and ‘Bama beats Auburn that would be a done deal Jan. 9 in the Superdome for the BCS national title: LSU vs. ‘Bama.

Alabama is in good shape if they beat Auburn. LSU would go to the SEC championship even if Arkansas beats them because they are within five spots of ‘Bama who beat Arkansas, but if  they lose to Georgia in SEC, that gets interesting again. I think LSU would probably still play ‘Bama. If LSU beats Arkansas and then loses to Georgia in the SEC title game, I think it’s still LSU-‘Bama as long as LSU doesn’t get killed. Just don’t think any of these other teams throughout the country are as good as these three teams and they’ve all blown it. Even though ‘Bama blew it against LSU, they have a very good chance  to play for the national title if they can beat Auburn. You never know in the Iron Bowl, but the talent is overwhelmingly in Alabama’s favor as is the coaching, so ‘Bama should take care of business. ‘Bama is a 22 point favorite over Auburn this morning. Auburn’s best chance is to load up and stop Trent and Eddie and force A.J. into mistakes.

Oklahoma State is the only other team with one loss and that loss is to Iowa State, so that should put them out. Houston is undefeated, but they have not played the schedule to merit a shot.

More tomorrow and Wednesday.