By Alondra Villarreal
Fine, I’ll stop trying to will Alabama mediocrity into existence and, for now, stop pushing Vanderbilt propaganda.
Last week, Alabama reminded any remaining doubters, myself included, that it’s still very much an elite program. Quarterback Ty Simpson is climbing the Heisman ladder, and the Tide have looked like a completely different team since that disappointing opener.
Mississippi State had a chance to make some noise and sneak into the rankings against Texas A&M, but the Bulldogs didn’t even cover. Now, we’re heading into the thick of SEC play, and things are heating up fast.
Here’s what’s going down this weekend.
A Moment for Mizzou
A big win over No. 5 Georgia could’ve been a fluke. But then Alabama handled 16th ranked Vanderbilt at home, so maybe Georgia wasn’t a fluke, and maybe Alabama isn’t as mediocre as I was hoping. Now, the Tide face another ranked test in Missouri. They opened as a 3.5 point favorite, which feels fair, but also like Vegas is giving Mizzou just enough respect to make things interesting.
Will Alabama actually give them a chance? Or will they keep reminding everyone who still runs this league?
As I write this, my coworker is chanting “nobody cares about Missouri” and “overrated,” calling the 11 a.m. kickoff a way to “get it over with.” That feels like the general sentiment around Mizzou football, that they don’t belong in the SEC. This is their chance to prove otherwise. Beat Alabama, and people will have to start paying attention.
The GOAT of Almost Getting Fired
Billy Napier might be the GOAT of almost getting fired.
He seems to live on the hottest seat in the SEC and somehow always finds a way to cool it off. Texas A&M, on the other hand, has a reputation for starting strong and fading down the stretch, but that was before Mike Elko.
Napier and the Gators had an abysmal start to the season, and it looked like Billy wouldn’t even make it this far. But after upsetting Texas in The Swamp, the Gators finally got their first win and maybe a little life back.
So, can Napier turn things around enough to take down a red-hot A&M team on the road? And can Elko keep his Aggies hot and lead them all the way to Atlanta? Because they certainly feel like a front-runner right now, and the rest of their schedule is very favorable.
What Did LSU Do in the Bye Week
LSU rolled into Oxford in Week 5 riding a 4–0 high and got humbled almost immediately. The offense looked the worst it has all season, managing just two touchdowns, one of them coming off a lucky tip from former Tiger Sage Ryan. And then there’s the whole is Nussmeier injured or not drama in the background.
The Tigers host a struggling South Carolina team, which makes this the perfect “get right” game before the SEC gauntlet ramps up. But did the bye week give them enough time to fix what’s been broken on offense?
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