This Week's GAME Of The CENTURY

 Alrighty, kids! Armageddon has arrived!
The Mighty Top-Ranked Louisiana State Tigers waltz into town to face THE Second-ranked UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE in a game that is being set up by media pundits and 'talking heads' as one for the ages!
The frenzied build-up will rise to a crescendo this evening as all eyes in the college football world will be on Tuscaloosa's BRYANT-Denny Stadium in a universally-televised (CBS) matchup of SEC West Titans.
 I imagine that immediately after kickoff, it will sound like the opening day of dove hunting season:

BAM! BAM! BAM-BAM! BAM!

  These are two of the hardest-hitting teams in college football, and it'll show-- and be heard. The consensus is that the squads are pretty evenly-matched, but I think the difference will be our defense. The Tigers have been successful against lesser competition, but I think The TIDE will bring a little bit more to the fight.

 Look for quarterback AJ McCarron to have a modest, yet workman-like night, and for Trent Richardson and his gang to eventually plow through the bayou bengals defense late.

Brentoons's Pick: ALABAMA 24, LSU 14

SAINTS Belly-Up....?? To SEAHAWKS...??

Good Lord!
The New Orleans Saints really stunk it up yesterday, losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard Game. The Seahawks won their lowly division with a losing record. EVERYONE picked the Saints to crush them, as they had earlier in the regular season. I guess that the one great year was last year, and that things are getting back to normal. I certainly hope not.

I really hope that they draft the departing-early Mark Ingram, Julio Jones AND Marcel Darius...!
I know it's not very likely, but I can dream, can't I....??

In the meantime, we bring back the Saints' perennial slogan: "Wait 'til Next Year...!"

"Missed It By THAT Much.....!"

CRAP! Congratulations, auburn.

ROLL TIDE, ANYWAY!

The cow college, Alabama Polytech, beat THE UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA in a sure-enough nail-biter of an Iron Bowl. The tigers/plainsmen/wareagles or whatever beat The TIDE in one for the ages. 28-27. The auburn faithful will be talking about this for years.

This was a come-from-behind with more excitement-- and angst-- than I care for. AND it not only disappointed me (along with thousands of fans of various teams in AND out of the SEC)-- it also ruined my pick...! I had predicted ALABAMA to win, 35-28.

If last year's Heisman Trophy-winning Mark Ingram had tucked the ball away, it would not have been punched out of his arm from behind by a tiger defender, snuffing a potentially soul-killing drive.

If Trent Richardson catches a toss in the end-zone-- that hit him right in the hands-- it's an entirely different outcome.

That's 14 points left right out there on the field that SHOULD have been on the scoreboard.

Another play of note, after qb Greg McElroy was viciously flung to the ground on his shoulder in the final minutes: Julio Jones, who was accustomed to McElroy's floating tosses, was unprepared for the PERFECTLY-THROWN pass by back-up A.J. McCarron. The ball just zipped right over his shoulder. Had he been ready, it would have hit him right in the hands!

That play would have put BAMA a LOT closer to field-goal range.

I believe that South Carolina will, again, give auburn a stern test in the SEC Championship Game. With Spurrier having a little more time to prepare, THAT one should be pretty wild.

I also believe that this tiger team can beat the Ducks, the Horned Frogs, or whoever they will face in the BCS Title Game.

Stupid tigers.

ROLL TIDE, ANYWAY...!!

BRENTOONS IRON BOWL Pick

Well, here we are again. Another year. Another WILD college football season. Another year of twists and turns so vulgar that even ELVIS would have called them obscene.
THE University of ALABAMA comes into this year's showdown with a surrealistically disappointing 9-2 schedule. One of the most storied, respected and honored programs was coming off of an undefeated 2009 National Championship season, a record-breaking campaign that featured a crushing, precision-tuned defense and The Crimson Tide's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner in running back Mark Ingram.
Based on the returning starters on offense, many 'experts' and pundits expected another run at the title. The youth and lack of depth on defense looked to be the weak spots.
The offense seemed to struggle early, with key injuries to Mark Ingram and some offensive linemen. The defense featured some major contributions from some true freshmen, and now leads the nation in interceptions. With a schedule that was stacked against them (7 SEC opponents had bye-weeks before facing The TIDE), BAMA fought hard, but lost two tight, hard-fought SEC road games against SEC-East winner South Carolina and an LSU squad whose one loss was to auburn.

auburn, on the other hand, is just like a cartoon. A parody of college football. A drawing in a coloring book. With a lot of.... I don't know if 'drama' is the right word. I think 'Chaos' is more like it. Although they have been winning, they are STILL playing in The TIDE's shadow.

The cow college has a better record, bigger numbers, and a higher ranking. They also have a dirty defense and a lying & cheating criminal on offense who is, admittedly, the best player in the nation. Had he not been marketed and sold to the highest bidder by his father, he would be a shoo-in for the Heisman Trophy.
ALABAMA has had a brutal schedule, some key injuries, and a disappointing loss knocking them out of any kind of title contention.


THIS IS IT!


The plainsmen/war eagles/tigers or whatever will be undone. Yet again. On national television. The TIDE will get a little payback for that '89 game.

Finally, though, it all comes down to DESIRE. ALABAMA will want to just win the game, in the end. All else is just window dressing. Or gravy. Or icing on the cake. Whatever.ALABAMA 35, auburn 28

ROLL, TIDE, ROLL!!

NEW Heisman Trophy?

HERE's my idea for this year's "HEISMAN TROPHY" if, in fact, Cam Newton DOES actually win it. Regardless of what happens, there is NO doubt that he IS the BEST PLAYER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. (Some would say 'The Best Money Can Buy', but that's a totally different post!)

My apologies to Mississippi State, whose reference I actually forgot to include. Thank you, Bulldogs, for your contributions.