IRON BOWL 2014

No more "Got a second...?".
That ship has sailed.
An entire year has passed, and 'the Big One' is upon us again. It's time for The IRON BOWL, the annual gridiron tilt between The UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE and those other guys from across the state, the Auburn Tigers. ALABAMA has had a year to relive that last-second miracle, and you can bet they won't let anything like THAT happen again. As usual, here is my "GameDay Comic" and prediction of the outcome.

THE TIDE will be ready, and won't let any trick plays, bad bounces, or lucky breaks keep them from playing in the SEC Championship Game and the first-ever COLLEGE FOOTBALL DIVISION-1 PLAYOFF.

Prediction:

ALABAMA 35 Auburn 14

Yep... It's LSU Week Again...!

Apologies, again, for the sparse posts. Health and family-related issues have kept  me preoccupied.
Not surprisingly, The TIDE is rolling along this year as expected. These fine young men are buying into "The Process" and are on the verge of achieving something NO OTHER team has done in the modern era: A possible THREE-PEAT Championship, if they stay the course.

Coach NICK SABAN has done a mighty fine job of brushing away the distractions to mold this team into a methodical machine. Pounding rushing offense. Maybe pounding isn't strong enough... Punishing, maybe...?
A fast fleet of receivers. A smothering defense. Attention to detail and minimal mistakes.
As Coach so eloquently describes it: "Imposing our will...!"

On that note, HERE's this week's LSU Gameday Comic:

BIG AL stars in his own "Crimson Tide Comics", and literally kicks the corndogs out of the Bayou Bengals

The Bayou Bengals are battered, but still VERY dangerous. They ALWAYS play THE TIDE tough, and this year is no exception. Look for BAMA to eventually dominate, though.

Prediction: ALABAMA 31, LSU 17

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP COMIC!

Sorry I haven't posted in, like, FOREVER, but health issues have me VERY limited! Here, for your enjoyment, is my FIRST comic about the SEC Championship Game between the Georgia Bulldogs and THE UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE.

ROLL TIDE!

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

MMMmmmm......! Tide Devours Hogs!

 Big Al makes his way home with the spoils of the day after the UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE butchered the Arkansas Razorbacks 38-14 yesterday in an SEC showdown in Tuscaloosa.
The Alabama Defense was stifling, and the offense put on a workman-like pounding to serve notice to the rest of the SEC West. Looks like the REAL Championship will be November 5th in Tuscaloosa's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
ROLL TIDE!

"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!!

REAUXLL TIDE!! ....Today's Picks

ALABAMA. LSU. Baton Rouge.

Tailgating. Partying. Hostile, aggressive home fan base.

Rare daytime matchup of historical rivals.

Tide and Tigers battle it out to stay alive in the SEC West.

Fortunately, it's a day game, so the alcoholic Cajuns and bayou rednecks will not have as much time to get as hatefully and blissfully drunk as a night contest would afford. They will still be pretty lit and very belligerent, though. Visitor's Tip: NEVER take your family- especially women and any children- to an LSU game! Unless, that is, if you enjoy being cursed, spit at, called "Tigah bait!", and have bottles thrown at you. Been there. Done that. REALLY.

Even BEFORE Coach Saban came back from the NFL to coach ALABAMA, the Tiger fans were hard to deal with and were pretty awful. Now that they have to face a Tide team led by the man who abandoned them, I'm sure they will be in rare form. Playing the 'jilted lover' card, every game with BAMA now is an excuse to be even MORE hateful and uncivilized. Truthfully.

NOW that I have established atmosphere, let's get on with the picks:

The TIDE and the Bayou Bengals face each other with identical records, tied for 2nd in the West. Both have a shot at achieving some lofty goals, but BAMA is in better position to move up a notch if they can keep winning. Three tough remaining games starting now:

In what is literally an elimination game, both teams will be firing on all cylinders, wide open and blasting away. Both sides are pretty talented, with LSU still inexplicably lucky despite some of the decisions of their coach. ALABAMA usually plays pretty well in Tiger Stadium, and today will be no different. Look for The TIDE to pull away in the 4th.

ALABAMA 31, LSU 14.

auburn 67, Tenn-Chattanooga 14 the tigers, none of whom I am sure are getting a cut of Cam's $200k, should plow the Moccasins with ease.
Florida 21, Vanderbilt 20 Life is strange for the Gators
Georgia 35, Idaho St. 17
Kentucky 42, Charleston Southern 10
Ole Miss 31, La-Lafayette 14
Tennessee 24, Memphis 13
Arkansas 42, South Carolina 40 This one COULD be a shootout, with a conversion in OT the difference. Probably one of the more interesting of the day.

NATIONALLY....

Another top elimination game, as #4 TCU travels to face # 6 Utah. This will be a very good one that could go either way. At home, I'm thinking Utes 38, TCU 35

Oregon 45, Washington 21
Hawaii 31, Boise St. 30 UPSET PICK!! Boise travels to face a Warrior team at home.
Wisconsin 28, Purdue 20
Nebraska 42, Iowa St. 28

Sorry.
That's all I have time for.

This Week's Picks!

Well, here we go again in the round-robin that is Southeastern Conference college football. Just a week after knocking off a top-ranked ALABAMA Crimson Tide behind a career day by quarterback Stephen Garcia, the South Carolina Gamecocks were defeated by a Kentucky Wildcat team led by quarterback Mike Hartline with- you guessed it- a career day!
Nationally, the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, who had assumed the top spot following The Tide's loss, were knocked off by Wisconsin the first week they were tops! The top-ranked team in the polls, the Oregon Ducks, stomped UCLA Thursday night to survive another week. The top team in the BCS Rankings, the Oklahoma Sooners, face an upset-minded-- and capable-- Missouri Tigers team. But, that's unlikely. Stoops will have his troops ready.

_______________________________________________________________

This Week's SEC Picks:

ALABAMA travels to Knoxville to face a struggling Tennessee team Saturday night. As much as I respect Derek Dooley (son of legendary Georgia Coach Vince and former long-time Saban assistant), I hate the Vols. Every time I see former coach phil fulmer on tv, I throw up a little bit in my mouth. TIDE ROLLS.
ALABAMA 31, tennessee 3
Arkansas 42, Ole Miss Black Bear Rebels (Hahahahahahahahaha!!) 17
Mississippi State 31, UAB 14
South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 14
Georgia and Kentucky? TOSS-UP! Who knows which of these teams will show up? Should be the second-most exciting game today, though...!
Florida, luckily, is idle.
auburn 35, LSU 21 (See post below!) winner gets sole possession of top spot

Nationally:
Oklahoma 42, Missouri 28
Penn State 21, Minnesota 14
Ohio State 38, Purdue 21
TCU 38, Air Force 17
Michigan St. 35, Northwestern 13
Utah 42, Colorado St. 21
West Virginia 28, Syracuse 14
Nebraska 35, Oklahoma State 28

If Only They Could BOTH Lose......!

#6-Ranked Louisiana State visits western Georgia to face #5-Rated auburn today on television (CBS 2:30) in a sunny afternoon SEC West contest between two teams called "tigers". Both teams, surprisingly, are undefeated. Really. The plainsmen/war-eagles/tigers or whatever host the 'bayou bengals', and as much as I hate both teams, I have to watch.
auburn's Cam Newton has elevated the team's play in spectacular fashion, and his running and passing abilities and 'clutch plays' have placed him squarely in the Heisman race. @*#%!!
Both LSU and the 'Mad Hatter' Les Miles have been awfully lucky-- again! Quirky play-calling and questionable time-management issues will just not go away. The main issue will be if LSU's defense can stop-- or contain-- the high-powered Newton. If they stuff his scrambling, can they also take away his receiving targets...?
Either way, one team will fall-both on the field and in the rankings, and ALABAMA's Nick Saban and Kirby Smart will be able to scout BOTH teams to devise strategies.
RTR!

Seems Like Old Times..... Tide Trounces Gators

ROLL TIDE. Just like 'back in the day'. If there was any question who the top team is in the SEC (and the nation), it was certainly answered last night. Convincingly.

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide didn't just win the game last night. They beat Florida. Like a high-school team.

A modern-day all-around whoopin'. Like the ones I grew up with. Offensively, they ran an old 'power' ground game, controlling the ball --and the clock-- most of the evening. Other than a trick half-back (or more accurately, receiver-to-receiver) pass, it was mostly just ramming the ball down the helpless throat of Florida. Defensively, a young, lightly-regarded (by the press, anyway) unit just stuffed pretty much every Gator threat all night long. Just like old times.

Not often does a Meyer-coached team fail to score a touchdown. When the closest play they got to the end zone was intercepted, the wind literally went out of Florida's sails.

In honor of the old-school beatdown, I am posting for your enjoyment some old-school TIDE logos to continue the spirit of classic ALABAMA dominance. Below is the logo from the seventies that I had on my shirts and hats as a kid. My older brother had this poster hanging over his bed, so I woke up to this image for years. Years.

How about an even OLDER version, like the one The Bear sported on his hat and coaching jacket throughout the sixties..?

Or, more accurately, one made of wood. Specifically wood from the shed behind which BAMA took the Gators all night! POW!