The Battle For the Golden Egg

The two schools began playing for the Egg Bowl Trophy in

1927 though they had met before then as well

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the best week college football has to offer year in and year out! It is officially Rivalry Week! A week where the hatred is the most evident thing among fans and plyers alike. I love Thanksgiving but it takes a backseat to the great rivalry games we get to watch this coming weekend. Some that are always fun to see are Auburn-Alabama, Georgia-Georgia Tech, Michigan-Ohio State, Florida-Florida State, USC-UCLA, and Oklahoma-Oklahoma State just to name a few. But, being from the great state of Mississippi this week means only one thing: Egg Bowl Week.

 

MS State senior Andrew Ellard
celebrating Egg Bowl victory in '09

 My favorite game of the season without question is the annual game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. A pure rivalry game that shows why college football is the greatest thing on this earth. Alums and fans gather together, travel and cheer for their respective schools hoping to take home the trophy and most importanly bragging rights for the next 365 days. It is a rivalry that has seen its ups and downs just like both programs. In years past the Egg Bowl has seen two bowl teams battling for positioning in the standings while some years have yielded a battle for nothing more then state bragging rights and to stay out fo the SEC West cellar (See 2006). The rivalry game has seen it's blowouts but it has also seen its fair share of great games and dramatic finishes. In the Egg Bowl, as is with most rivalry games, you can throw records out the window because I assure you they do not matter anymore. The Egg Bowl pits family members against each other as well as lifelong best friends. High school teammates sometimes play against each other for the first time and some childhood rivalries are even continued here as well. It's a fun game and if you're a fan of either team you know what I'm talking about. When the visiting team runs onto the field followed by a great deal of booing from the home fans, as a fan of the visiting team you love it and it fires you up even more. If you're the host one year it makes you cringe to see the colors of the other team on your campus.

Ole Miss seniors celebrating a 45-0
Egg Bowl victory in '08

As it currently stands Ole Miss holds the edge in the rivalry with an overall record of 60-41-6, but Mississippi State has won 4 of the last 6 meetings. The rivalry has hit its boiling points over the years and it is at an all-time high in its current state. It has been a great deal of time since I last missed an Egg Bowl game and I certainly do not intend to begin this year. I have seen some incredible games over the years that have made me cringe and cry and some that have made me yell the fight song in triumphant joy. But, nevertheless, I will always do whatever it takes to be in attendance for the Egg Bowl. The game, at one point in time, was played on Thanksgiving night aired by ESPN and my father and I would skip out on the family Thanksgiving festivities and head to Oxford/Starkville for the game no matter what. Some years we're blessed with wonderful weather and some years not so much (See 2003 in Starkville). I've never been so freezing cold in my life and it was pouring down rain on top of that! But, whether each team is ranked or whether they're fighting for relevance in mediocrity it is always a battle and a battle that I enjoy year in and year out.

I decided that for my first ever Egg Bowl blog post that I would rank the my opinion of the top 5 Egg Bowl games since 1997 (I picked '97 only because I don't remember games beyond this point honestly). And if you're saying to yourself well he's gonna pick all Ole Miss victories, no I'm most certainly am not. I respect the good games even when my team didn't win. So without further hesitation, here we go!

#5 MS State @ Ole Miss 2006

This was one of those games where the winner not only won the in-state bragging rights but also cemented the loser as the worst team in the SEC West in 2006. Two teams that had struggled greatly all year battled all day in an effort to stand above the hated rival. It was a decently warm day in Oxford, MS on November 25, 2006 for a day game kickoff. I settled into the student section with my roommate as we got ready to watch our first Egg Bowl as freshmen at Ole Miss. I was anxious to see if we could bring the Egg Bowl back to Oxford after Jerious Norwood's ridiculuous thrashing he gave us the year before in Starkville rushing for 204 yards. Now with Norwood gone it was a new man, Anthony Dixon holding the reins for the Bulldogs. The Rebels were led by JUCO transfer Brent Schaeffer and Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis in their backfield.

The game began with Ole Miss scoring first on a 23 yard pass from Schaeffer to the one and only, you guessed it, defensive end Greg Hardy. The rebels led 7-0 early but the Bulldogs controlled the first half behind the legs of Dixon who had 97 yards in the first half. After Dixon punched one int he endzone late in the first half the score was tied at 10 at halftime. Both teams stepped up their defense in the third quarter and only Ole Miss was able to muster a field goal making it 13-10 going to the fourth quarter. With noone scoring going late into quarter Ole Miss made Mississippi State punt with the clock dipping below four minutes and they made them pay:

Marshay Green, a freshman, gives Ole Miss their only touchdown of the second half with this much needed punt return to the end zone. Not to be outdone, State QB Omarr Conner lead the Bulldogs quickly back down the field and with a pass to Jason Husband the Rebels' lead was again cut to 3. Ms State tried for an onside kick with over 2 minutes left and failed to recover, but with three timeouts they stopped the clock and Ole Miss on their next possession and had a chance with the ball late in the game for some magic. They reached midfield and more into Rebel territory under a minute to go. But, the Patrick Willis led Rebel defense held strong and forced State kicker Adam Carlson to kick a 51-yard firld goal that sailed wide left as time expired and Ole Miss recaptured the Golden Egg trophy. It may have not been the best game but the last 5 minutes of the game were very intense as overtime went from being an afterthought to a very real possibility until the field goal attempt was wide left. Honestly, it was a good game between two bad teams, nothing more, nothing less

#4 MS State @ Ole Miss 2000

It was a bitterly cold day on Thanksgiving day in 2000 when the Bulldogs traveled to meet the Rebels in Vaught-Hemingway stadium for a Turkey Day regualr season finale. I remember the whole week leading up to the game people were calling it the "Deuce vs Smoot" game. Deuce McAllister and Romero Miller would be playing their final game in Oxford, MS in a Rebel uniform while the Bulldogs were led by Wayne Madkin, Dicenzo Miller and Fred Smoot. Leaving the Grove and headed to the game it began to rain and my dad and I slipped into the Rebel Shop for some rain gear, not that it made too much of a difference because we were soaked by gametime. The place was packed despite the weather, many there to see Deuce and Romero on Senior Night I suppose and I remember there being a good bit of maroon and white in the stands that evening.


The Deuce over-the-top became his signature TD play that
he used many times at Ole Miss and with the Saints

 The game began with State taking an early lead but the extra point attempt failed and more importantly the State QB Madkin left the game injured and was replace by Kevin Fant, who became Eli Manning's best friend (joking). I remember things not going well for the Rebels in the first quarter and they found themselves down 16-0 early in the game. The Rebels got to work in the second quarter led by Deuce who ran hard and a TD connection from Miller to Grant Heard got the Rebels on the board at 16-7. Things then went sour for the Bulldogs when the Rebels got the ball back and Romero Miller's 50 yard scamper down to the 1 set up a signature Deuce over-the-top touchdown that had the Rebels within two. The wet conditions seemed to bother Ms State the most as shown when they fumbled the ball the next possession and gave the Rebels a short field at the Bulldog 23. Another Heard TD catch and it was Ole Miss up 21-16 at the half.

Once again Deuce was making things happen with his legs when he took the 1st play from scrimmage in the third quarter 72 yards for another score, 28-16 Rebels. But, there was no quit in the Bulldogs as shown before (See 1999 coming later). A Romero Miller interception had the Bulldogs in business and Dontae Walker scored his secon TD of the day closing the gap 28-23. Then, doing his best Deuce impression, Walker busted up the middle for a huge 73 yard TD run giving the Bulldogs the lead again at 30-28. Now we got a game on our hands. Next possession came one of the best Egg Bowl plays in history. With Ole Miss at the Bulldog 20 Romero handed off to Deuce who swept right, stopped and lofted the ball back to Miller for a trick play TD that gave them the lead for good.. The Bulldogs would not score again that night and Ole Miss would capitalize on two more State turnovers and win 45-30. It was a wild game with the weather being so bad, the first 3 quarters were so back and forth that I thought it would come down to the end but one too many mistakes for Ms State helped Ole Miss capture the victory in the 4th quarter.

#3 Ole Miss @ MS State 2007

The 2007 Egg Bowl had a different and odd feel to it going in. Ole Miss was on the brink of a winless SEC campaign and MS State was looking for their seventh regular season victory and to improve on their bowl game status. It was a chilly morning in Starkville, MS that day. We tailgated with some buddies who attended MSU and I had many of them telling me they were very worried about the game. I reassured them that they had little to worry about because this team had zero defense. Ole Miss had played Florida and Alabama close earlier in the season but were blown out by Georgia and Arkansas and a loss to Vanderbilt.

Well the game began and it was evident what the Rebels wanted to do that day, run the football as much as possible. Whether it was a handoff to BenJarvus Green-Ellis or a designed QB run by Brent Schaeffer they were running the ball often and wanted to keep the MS State offense off the field. It paid off on the opening drive of the first half when Green-Ellis ran it in from 14 yards out to open the scoring for the day, 7-0 Rebels. Quite frankly it was an extremely boring first half wth much action at all. Then we arrive at the second half where the Reels once again maintained possession and held onto the ball for awhile and on their first possession of the 3rd quarter they scored on a 13 yard TD pass from Schaeffer to Shay Hodge. I'm sitting in the middle of the student section, yes the State student section, thinking to myself, "Wait a sec here, this could happen."

We reach the final quarter and the Rebels have the ball close to midfield staring at a 4th and 1 from our own 49 yard line. I see the offense staying on the field and I'm like "Oh shit, please tell me we're not going for it." Well we did and it did not work. Green-Ellis got stuffed for a 3 yard loss and the momentum did a complete 180 in Davis Wade Stadium. We had just committed the cardinal sin in a rivalry game. We gave the other team a small glimmer of life, they had one tiny breath and they had to capitalize on it to win. Well they did and in a big way. Soon after they punched it in with a Wesley Carroll pass to Anthony Dixon and we had the ball again. Three and out. Punt. Here's what Derek Pegues did about it:

Davis Wade Stadium is now rocking like I've never heard it before, Oh wait there was that game in 1999, but in all seriousness it was louder than loud. The sound of cowbells ringing were in my head for weeks it seemed like. They had seized the opportunity we gave them and took full advantage of it. Ole Miss proceeded to go 3 and out again and the Bulldogs got in position for a 48-yard field goal to seal the victory which Adam Carlson appropriately did so capping one of the greatest Egg Bowl comebacks ever. An incredible finish to a game I thoguth we'd get killed in. I guess I should've listened more when my State buddies were telling me they were worried. I just wish they would've told me to be worried going into the 4th quarter! An unbelievable day that State fans will certainly never forget. Me either.

#2 Ole Miss @ MS State 1999

This was simply one of the wildest and craziest finishes to a game that I have ever witnessed in my years of watching football and especially this rivalry. This was yet another chilly and slightly wet Thanksgiving evening on national television for the Egg Bowl. Both teams entered the game natioanlly ranked, the Bulldogs at 18th and the Rebels at 23rd. Let's get right into it. The Rebels took the lead on a Romero Miller 30 yard TD strike to Maurice Flournoy at the beginning fo the 2nd quarter and then the Rebels followed that up with a big interception by Eddie Strong to give the Rebels the ball at the Buldogs' 35 yard line. Ole Miss only managed a field goal out off the turnover and was up 10-0. Next, the Bulldogs put together a drive that ended in a Dicenzo Miller 29-yard TD run but a botched extra point made it only 10-6. But, before halftime the Bulldogs had one last possession to gain some ground but the they fumbled a punt and Eddie Strong was there again for the Rebels setting up a 49-yard field goal for Les Binkley which he made.

Another fturnover in the 3rd quarter gave the Rebels excellent field position for an easy score, another Romero Miller TD pass. Leading 20-6 going into the 4th quarter the Rebels seemed to be well in control of the game. Oh really? Well a Ms State drive that ended in a TD pass from Madkin to Donald Lee cut the lead from 20-13. State later botched yet another punt and gave the ball back to the Rebels but the defense came up with a big stop and forced the Rebels to punt. With just over 2 minutes left could they pull off the impossible? Surely not. Well Madkin got the Bulldogs to their own 45 yard line and I'm going to let the video do the explaining for the rest of the dramatic events of the game:

The Bulldogs had pulled off a miraculous comeback. What David Cutcliffe was thinking letting that deep pass play be called I will never know. Now you know why they dubbed this game the "Kick and Pick." Man oh man that was simply an epic game between two solid football teams. MS State went on to defeat Clemson in the Peach Bowl 17-7 while Ole Miss defeated Oklahoma in the Independence Bowl 27-25.

#1 Ole Miss @ MS State 1997

The rivalry and hatred was at an all-time high going into the 1997 Egg Bowl. The MS State Bulldogs led by Jackie Sherrill boasted a 7-3 record and a national ranking of 22 while the Tommy Tuberville led Rebels came in not ranked but with a 6-4 record. It was widely known that the winner of this game would receive a bid to a bowl game while the other could be left out in the cold for the holidays. Well, as I said these two teams really disliked each other and to prove it here is what happened during pre-game warmups (sorry for the video quality).

Once everyone was settled down and tempers were quieted we finally got to the game. Of course the normal light rain was indeed falling again onto Scott Field for another chilly Egg Bowl matchup. The Rebels began with a bang returning the opening kickoff 71 yeards and helped Stewart Patridge get the Rebels in position for an early TD, a 13-yard pass from Patridge to Andre Rone, 7-0 Rebels. The two teams traded blows for awhile and three possessions later the Bulldogs made their first strike of the night. Robert Isaac returned a punt 25 yards and soon after the Bulldogs QB Rob Morgan hit John Jennings in the end zone to tie the game at 7 which was where it was at halftime.

In the 3rd quarter the Bulldogs made a big play when they intercepted Patridge and set the offense up for a drive. Eight plays later they were on the 1 yard line when J.J. Johnson punched it in over the goal line, 14-7 Dawgs. Over the course of the rest of the 3rd quarter each team attempted a field goal and missed it. The defense in the game was incredible to watch with each refusing to back down and laying some big licks on the opposing offense. With 2:12 remaining in the game the Rebels had the ball on their own 36-yard line. Patridge then began one of the most memorable drives in Egg Bowl history. He completed 6-9 passes with the last one being from 10 yards out again to Andre Rone to bring the Rebels within a point. I remember thinking to myself, "Alright let's get this to overtime and take care of business." Then I saw the offense making its way back onto the field. You got to be kidding me right? He's going to go for it? Surely not! I mean we have a bowl game on the line here Tommy, what the hell are you doing!?! Well the Riverboat Gambler held true to his nickname because it was evident that he had every intention of either winning or going home after this play.

No. 85 Cory Peterson made one of the most memorable catches in Egg
Bowl history to all but seal the 15-14 Rebel victory

Stewart Patridge took the snap and with a quick step dropback he lasered a pass to wide receiver Cory Peterson, Mr. Rebel himself, who ran a quick slant route to the goal line. He was well covered and a tight spiral was thrown perfectly by Patridge to where only Peterson could get to it. Peterson slid low to the ground and snagged the ball before it could fall to ground right on top of the goal line. Noone was really quite sure if he had caught it because it had happened so fast btu he did indeed and the stood up and proudly displayed the ball for all to see. The game still had some more dramatics to it as there was still some time on the clock. The Bulldogs started their final possession on their own 36-yard line with 20 seconds remaining and with a personal foul on Ole Miss the ball was at midfield. But, Matt Wyatt's pass was picked off by Tim Strickland to end the game. This one really defined a great game for me because  not only did it have the wild finish but the game from beginning to end was truly a dogfight or should I say Rebel-fight till the very end. One of my most favorite football games ever. It was a great battle by both teams. Ole Miss went on to the Ford Motor City Bowl and defeated Marshall while State's season ended that night.

This rivalry means so much to so many people it's hard to put into words how I feel about it. It's the game you want to win every year no matter what, end of story. If you lose every game except this one you'll probably be a little upset obviously but you'll have that little grin because your team won the one game it just HAD to win. I have been going to Egg Bowls for many years now and I will continue to do so, you got to follow your team through the good and the bad because that's what die hard fans do, they never quit and they always believe. I will be in Starkville this Saturday for the annual battle. It'll probably be a little chilly and I almost wouldn't mind it if it rained a little, it would be like the old days. I have some very dear friends that attend/graduated from that dreaded school in Starkville, MS and while I do love them dearly, those three grueling hours on gameday I have that hatred because well I have to and I'm sure my friends would agree with me on that. Nothing can beat the battle for the Golden Egg between the Bulldogs of Mississippi State and the Rebels of Ole Miss.

By the way feel free to drop some captions on this picture, I'd love to hear some good ones:

EPIC Battle

Bryant-Denny Stadium will be the site of the colossal SEC football
matchup on Nov. 5th with Alabama hosting LSU

Ladies and gentleman get your popcorn ready, ice down a couple cases of brews, hell cook up a few corn dogs if you feel so inclined because we are in for one hell of a ride this Saturday night. This game has just about every possible headline you can think of written all over it. Nick Satan...um I mean Saban leads his team out onto their home turf against his former team, the LSU Tigers, coached by The Mad Hatter himself, Les Miles. I am not affiliated with either school in any way, actually I try to distance myself from both as much as possible! But hey I am still a sports fan and this matchup is one that every sports fan should be waiting on pins and needles to watch. I mean I really can't wait. This has had Pre-National title game written all over it since the beginning of the season. Hell, I was pretty damn sure that both were going to be undefeated going into this game as early as last spring. Needless to say, the anticipation has been building for weeks now as we've watched both teams literally steamroll over their previous opponents en route to this goliath vs goliath matchup. I mean let's be serious people. This game has the POTENTIAL to be one of the greatest college football games ever played. I use the word 'potential' because that's just what it is. Potentially, we could see something that happens once-in-a-lifetime. I mean LSU could come in Saturday night and blow the top off Alabama and coast to a win, but I highly highly doubt that.

When certain games like this one come around every few seasons or so they tend to live up to the billing. It's like the football gods make sure that all the hype and anticipation was well worth it and they make sure to give all the die hard fans the intensely close game they are desparately seeking. (See Texas-USC National Championship game) In a game like this, it's almost like all the fans of both teams want to win and they each want to win a close, well-played and hard fought ballgame. Sure, a blowout by either side would be cool and all but only for the winning team. The real losers of such a blowout, one-sided victory for one of the teams are all of the neutral fans that want to see a legendary and unforgettable game. As a neutral fan in this one this is exactly what I want. I don't want to see Alabama with a 28 point lead halfway through the 3rd quarter. I'd probably just turn it off, continue drinking and enjoy the company of those around me. No, this game must live up to it all. College football wants and needs this game to be an epic battle.

I've been asked many times over the last few weeks who was going to win this game. I have an opinion but I will let you in on that at the end. For now, let's take a look at both teams:

Offense

So far, so good for Jarrett Lee in his 2011 campaign where
he has taken the reins to what is now HIS team

There is only so much to complain about if you're a coach or fan of either team. These offenses are both fundamentally sound. They both run and throw the ball very well. Let's look at QBs. Jarrett Lee currently is 98-155 with 1,250 yards and throwing for 13 TDs and only 1 interception. Not too bad if you ask me. Yes he's split some time with Jordan Jefferson, who can definitely still be a major factor in this game, but I fully believe Lee is the QB to lead the Tigers to a victory. This young man has been through the ringer over the last several years down on the bayou. I think all the rough times he's had has made him a tougher person and a better QB at that. Tide QB A.J. McCarron boasts some solid stats as well. Thus far he is 134-200 for 1,664 yards while throwing for 10 TDs and 3 interceptions. Great numbers for a first year starter in my opinion, especially in the SEC. My edge goes to Jarrett Lee here though. As a more experienced QB who knows this type of environment Lee can weather the storm and stay composed while keeping the Tigers in the game. McCarron will have the Crimson heavy crowd behind him and could benefit from smart playcalling. But, with Lee and the strong possibility that we see experienced QB Jordan Jefferson in this game I lean towards LSU slightly.

Trent Richardson is the leading Heisman Trophy
candidate so far this season

Now onto the running backs. Let's just say that neither team is lacking in this department. Alabama sports a solid rushing trio of Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy and Jalston Fowler who have a combined 1,783 rushing yards through 8 games this season. Trent Richardson is the obvious leader of this group Richardson is a monster running downhill at as big 225 lbs. Richardson tops most Heisman Trophy lists at this point of the season and I wouldn't be suprised if he won it, especially if he leads the Tide to a victory this Saturday. Sitting at 989 yards he will undoubtedly reach the 1,000 yard mark in this game. Lacy is a good compliment with 465 yards this season. Across the field the Tigers have a solid three backs as well that inlcude Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue. Ware is the top back in their system who has amassed 512 yards this season. Ware is a bruising runner that is not afraid to hit the hole and take on a linebacker one-on-one. As good as he is I have to give the nod to Richardson and company. Trent Richardson had become the best running back in college football and playing in front of his home crowd he should be able to help keep the Tide offense on the field.

Rueben Randle is always a strong
threat in LSU's passing game

As it was with the running backs, the wide receiver's of both teams are exceptionally talented and extremely dangerous at any point in the game. The Tigers receiving corps is led by Rueben Randle who has amassed 638 yards. He is the Tigers' top target through the air. Randle had a great game against Alabama last season with 125 yards and a touchdown to go along with it. Odell Beckham, Deangelo Peterson and Russell Shepard also require a great deal of attention as they can explode at any moment. For the Tide, they lack the stud standout like Randle when they lost Julio Jones last season and it has been a receiver by committee season. Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks lead the Tide. Although it isn't a bad thing it is worth noting that Trent Richardson is the third leading receiver on the team with 212 yards, only 18 yards behind Hanks. This tells me that they aren't ask McCarron to do too much when throwing the ball which is limiting his mistakes and keeping the Tide on the field with the running game. But, what will happen when LSU slows down the running game? Is McCarron ready to use his receivers to make the big play(s) necessary to win? Soon we'll find out.

Defense

Holy Mary Mother of God, if you like to watch great defense then this is the game for you! In my opinion these two teams have the best defenses in the country hands down and without question. Both play hard-nosed defense and smother the opponent with timely blitzes and exceptional defensive line play. It's been fun watching each play this season, except when my team played Alabama, and there is a noticable difference in the hitting of these two teams and the rest of the country. Here's a little prview:

 Don't you just feel sorry for Aaron Rodgers' little brother Jordan, QB for Vanderbilt? I certainly do. As a redshirt junior he has played well for Vandy as of late. He is mobile and can use his legs to generate offense but..well...as you can see he couldn't quite get out of the way of the oncoming train that was Dont'a Hightower. Kirby Smart, Bama's defensive co-ordinator, will disguise the blitz extremely well and when his pack of hungry wolves come at you you better just fall on the ground. Hightower along with Courtney Upshaw are ready for the biggest game to date this season and they know it all leans on them to stop LSU's offense in order for the Tide to win this game.

Mississippi State's running back Vick Ballard learned first hand just how hard LSU's defense will hit you. I'm sure after this play the next huddle went something like this: Ballard - "Hey Relf", Relf - "Yeah buddy?", Ballard - "The next time you see me open out of the backfield in the middle of the field just throw it at my feet", Relf - "Man I feel ya bro, that hit was brutal, I'll take a sack for ya. What ya say?", Ballard - "That'd be great, share some of my pain."  Yes, I'm just poking a little fun but you can imagine it happening. Their defense is menacing and really don't care if they hurt you or not. This is the mentality of a great defense and both these teams think like this.

LSU's defense is coming in holding opponents to just over 251 yards per game this season and an average of a mere 4.0 yards per play. That is an incredible stat knowing that most teams have had to play catch up on LSU which means more passing and still they can only average 4.0 yards a play. In 8 games this season they have allowed just over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage, 1,398 passing and 613 rushing. The LSU defense is 3rd in the nation in points against them. teams are averaging only 11.5 points every game. This is especially impressive because they have played some very solid offensive teams in West Virginia, Oregon and Florida so far this season.

Alabama's defense is limiting opponents to only 180 yards per game, which is 70 yards less than LSU does, very impressive. This totals to an anemic 3.2 yards per play for opposing offenses, Ouch! Even when teams throw the ball more they can only average 3.2 yards a play which is unreal through 8 games in a season. Opponents have accumulated a total of only 1,444 yards against the stiff Bama defense this season, 1,085 passing and just 359 rushing yards. This particular Alabama defense is leading the nation in points allowed per game. They are allowing under a touchdown on average to opposing offenses with a 6.9 average. Playing such teams like Arkansas, Penn State and Florida thus far make this stat especially noteworthy.

How many highlights have you seen this season of Mathieu
stripping the ball carrier annd taking it to the house for a TD?

After reading up on stats and watching video on these tenacious defenses I've decided that it is just about impossible to decide which is better. But, witht hat being said, if you put a gun to my head (which I hope you don't) and made me choose one to go with it would be Alabama. I lke the experience that Upshaw and Hightower bring especially for a game of this magnitude. I'm not knocking LSU's defense at all, in fact I could make a very strong case as to why I'd take them too, but give me Alabama this Saturday especially at home. McCarron better always be watching his back because the Honey Bader aka Tyrann Mathieu will be lurking in the shadows ready to make his move and grab yet another loose ball and take it for a touchdown. Also, LSU's defensive line reminds me alot of Auburn's D-line last year only...much better. It should be a great matchup between them and the O-line of Alabama.

I am really hoping that this game turns out to be just what everyone is expecting it to be. Tickets are topping the $3,000 mark this week and people are planning their Saturday around being able to watch this game. I myself will be in Lexington, KY for the Ole Miss - UK game, I know great matchup right?, but shortly after I will be settled in front of a t.v. with dinner and a glass of some fine Kentucky bourbon ready for the festivities. I have even heard that Baton Rouge's largest high school has changed the time of their homecoming dance from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. in order for everyone to be able to watch the game. Crazy world we live in, but I'm hoping it lives up to the expectations for everyone. Personally, I will be a spectator hoping for a great, nail-biting game. I do, however, have a small monetary bet on the Tide with a buddy who chose LSU. This is the same friend who was highly confident that Florida State would take down Oklahoma earlier this season, obviously I won that bet too. So if that is any notion as to who will win then it favors Alabama. Give me Nick Saban and his Alabama boys at home under the lights and I'll show you a Tide victory. I could be wrong but I guess we'll see. Plus, we all know how hard it is to beat Bama and the officials in Tuscaloosa. It's like playing a football game against the entire SEC front office with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive as the head referee. Congrats Auburn for being able to accomplish that feat not too long ago. If you want proof, well, then here you go:

This should make LSU fans just that much more pissed off for this coming weekend and get their competitive juices flowing a little bit earlier in the week. They really don't need any reminding about this awful blown call from two years ago in Bryant-Denny, but what can I say, I had to put this in here. (And if you're trying to tell yourself that they made the rght call then you're a fool) Also, no, I am not an LSU homer who is taking up for them. I could care less about the tigers, just offering my opinion on the matter. This is going to be a wonderful game and I hope everyone gets a chance to watch it. It has the potential to being one of the best, if not the best, ever played.