If LSU and Alabama played 10 times, each team would have 5 wins.
Both teams showed why they have the best defenses in the country. Bama is a great team, however, so is LSU.
I think two of those FGs were on Saban (the two over 50+ yards) - Both defenses were playing lights out - You punt there and pin the other team deep and play the field position game. Saban was a bit too hard up to try and get 3 points on two of those missed kicks. Bama or LSUs offenses couldnt move the ball 80+ yards all night......So yeah, you kick there and play the field position battle.
That game was about defense. Both defenses shut the other offense down. In a game like this, you better damn sure have good special teams and Bama didnt. I knew LSU would have the kicking game advantage going into it.
Anyway - Kudos to Bama. Their defense is the real deal, however, so is LSUs. That was a battle of two top notch programs with mean as hell defenses.
Now the question is - Will there be a rematch? Assuming both teams run the table from here on out. Bama has the tougher road of the two though. They play @ Auburn.
GEAUX TIGERS!
Taking time to think about it, I think Alabama lost this game not just on the field goals but the coaching.
It reminded me of when they blew a 24 point lead against Auburn in the second half last year, and that was downright the worst game I have ever had to sit there. I didn't want to watch another TV, read another newspaper, or get on the computer after they let Newton shred them and blow a 24-0 lead, but this game had some huge problems.
I don't know what it is, but like the Auburn game last year, it's like they just give up when they are physically challenged late in a game. Richardson dropped a huge first down in OT that could have helped, but there were also other huge dropped passes that I am not mentioning, cause it all falls under the category of bad play calling.
The play calling is a good one.
Nick Saban kept trying to run it when they were stopping them. So why did he keep going for a run on 2nd and long? Then telling McCarron to throw the ball on 3rd and 10+, when you desperately need a first down? They did pretty good most of the game throwing the ball, but they would totally stop and go run, run, run like the ******* Jets do in the NFL, and I was shaking my head the whole time.
When they drove down the field and threw a pick on a total BS call, I knew they were going to lose....Also the field goals, I'm just curious why he didn't go for it after the first 2 blocks. I mean, what the hell, you know he just missed 2 field goals, if you want to give them the ball back at this field position just go for it on 4th down and try to do something. You know your kicker sucks, so just punt it deep, or better yet go for it.
But back to that interception, even if I'm wrong about it being a BS call, if I could ask the coaching staff one question tonight it would be "Why do a stupid wild cat play after such a successful drive running the ball with short passes?" That just sticks out like a sore thumb, not to mention a guy was open that he could have threw the ball to, but most of all, they could have scored on that drive without a stupid useless wild cat play.
Oh yeah WTF was he thinking putting an injured guy in to return that punt that resulted in a 70 yard punt? That was HUGE and cost them big time.
Then 52 seconds on the clock, 2 time outs, and he just runs the clock out.
Saban got out coached, and that's what won it. Just watching this game made me sick to my stomach, 4 missed field goals, give me a bottle of gin. Alabama has such great players that are going to be top draft picks in the NFL, but one thing they don't have is a kicker, now that is sad, just like Nick Saban's play calling tonight.