Mississippi State at Alabama
By Brian Edwards
Mississippi State hasn't won in Tuscaloosa since 2006 when Sylvester Croom led the Bulldogs into Bryant-Denny Stadium, right down the street from the house he grew up in, and for all intents and purposes handed Mike Shula, the man chosen over him to lead his alma mater, a pink slip in the form of a 24-16 victory as a 14.5-point underdog.
My oh my, are the good people of Alabama in debt to 'Sly' for life, or what?!
Croom played for Bear Bryant, earning All-American honors and helping the Crimson Tide to three SEC titles and the 1973 national championship. Next, he coached under Bear, spending more than a decade on the Alabama staff before heading to the NFL to be an assistant in 1986.
When Mike Price went 'Coaches Gone Wild' early in May of 2003, Alabama had to dismiss its new head coach. For those unfamiliar with college football coaching searches, they don't happen in May, not after spring practice, not after every coach in the country already has a job for the upcoming season.
Therefore, the pool of candidates was short. There was Shula and Croom, both NFL assistants at the time, who were both alums and would crawl to T-town to take the job. Croom had better credentials and it wasn't even close. The award given to the player that puts forth the most effort at spring practice was named after Croom.
But, as these things go sometimes in the South, Shula was chosen over Croom because of his last name and, quite frankly, the color of his skin. Croom was crushed. He had basically been told the job was his, only to be told the opposite the next day.
When Mississippi St. came calling the next year, Croom wanted nothing to do with the job. But after much urging from those close to him, he looked into it and became the first African-American head coach at an SEC school when he took over in Starkville in 2004.
In turn, Shula, in an unfathomable act of immaturity and downright ignorance, decided to take Croom's name off the award given at spring practice because Croom was now leading a division rival. The move was met with such condemnation that the school overruled Shula and put Croom's name back on the award.
But Croom would get his own payback, right there at the stadium he starred at as a center in college, on the legs of Jerious Norwood on a Saturday afternoon eight years ago. A few months later, 'Bama hired Nick Saban and the rest is history. There are statues of Bryant and Saban outside of Bryant-Denny, and maybe one day Croom's bust will be in bronze as well?
Anyway, the point was that Mississippi St. hasn't tasted victory in Tuscaloosa since then. As a matter of fact, it hasn't lost by fewer than 20 points since Croom had his day in the sun.
But there hasn't been a school from the Magnolia State that resembles this one in decades. Dan Mullen brings the nation's No. 1 ranked team to T-town, and it is led by one of the country's premier players in quarterback Dak Prescott.
Nevertheless, as of Thursday afternoon, most betting shops had Alabama (8-1 straight up, 3-6 against the spread) installed as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 52 for 'over/under' wagers. Gamblers can back the top-ranked Bulldogs on the money line for a +260 return (risk $100 to win $260).
Mississippi St. (9-0 SU, 5-4 ATS) has failed to cover the number in three consecutive games, including last week's 45-16 win over UT-Martin. However, we should note that the Bulldogs have basically been in cruise control since knocking off three then-Top-10-ranked opponents in LSU (34-29), Texas A&M (48-31) and Auburn (38-23).
Mullen's bunch took out Kentucky and Arkansas prior to last weekend, but it didn't get the money as a double-digit 'chalk.' In MSU's only previous road underdog spot this year, it raced out to a 34-10 lead at LSU in the third quarter. The Tigers would mount a late rally but it was too little, too late.
At offshore books, Prescott has the second-shortest odds to win the Heisman Trophy. The junior, a native of Louisiana who spurned Les Miles' belated overtures late in the recruiting process and stuck to his commitment to MSU, has an 18/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Prescott has rushed for 779 yards and 11 TDs.
He leads a dynamic unit that ranks seventh in the nation in total offense and averages 39.8 points per game. Prescott has a workhorse running back behind him in Josh Robinson, who has rushed for 984 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He should be fresh Saturday since Mullen only gave him six totes vs. UT-Martin.
This is undoubtedly the best offense Alabama has faced this year. Likewise, it's the best 'D' the Bulldogs have seen. The Crimson Tide is second in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 13.9 PPG.
Saban's squad is coming out of an all-out war in Baton Rouge last Saturday night. Just like in 2012, it needed a clutch drive in the final minute to get a victory. This time, though, the late drive wouldn't win it like T.J. Yeldon's catch from A.J. McCarron did two seasons ago. This time, Adam Griffith's 27-yard field goal forced overtime.
In the extra session, Blake Sims found DeAndrew White for a six-yard scoring strike and then the 'Bama defense forced a four and out to secure the victory. Sims finished with 209 passing yards and two TDs, while Amari Cooper had eight receptions for 83 yards and one score.
For the season, Sims has completed 61.5 percent of his throws for 2,229 yards with a stellar 16/3 TD-INT ratio. Cooper has been his favorite target, hauling in 79 catches for 1,215 yards and 10 TDs. Cooper is just one TD catch shy of tying the school record he set as a freshman.
During Mullen's tenure, MSU has limped to a 6-10 ATS record as a road underdog. Meanwhile, 'Bama is 25-25-1 ATS as a home 'chalk' under Saban.
The 'over' is 5-4 overall for MSU, 2-1 in its road assignments. The Bulldogs' two SEC road games saw combined scores of 63 and 76.
The 'under' is 5-4 overall for 'Bama, cashing in four of its last five outings. However, the 'over' has hit a 3-2 clip in its five home games.
CBS will have the telecast at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- This week's total (52) is the second-lowest that Mississippi St. has seen this season.
-- The real hero for Alabama last week? TE O.J. Howard, who on the first play of the tying drive at the end of regulation, got put in a horrible position when Sims threw to him in the middle of the field short of the first-down marker. In other words, if Howard gets tackled quickly, inbounds and shy of a first down, the clock drips for at least 10 seconds, probably more, before 'Bama gets its next play off. In that scenario, the Tide almost certainly goes down in defeat. But as if Saban was screaming in his ear while Sims's pass was still in the air, Howard caught it and without any hesitation whatsoever, sprinted straight to the sidelines and got out of bounds to stop the clock. That play might go completely unnoticed by some, but it could be the difference in who wins the national title.
-- I noted earlier that 'Bama also had quite the battle in Baton Rouge two years ago before leaving victorious. The week after McCarron's TD pass to Yeldon at Tiger Stadium in 2012? Some dude named Johnny Pigskin came into T-town and led Texas A&M to a 20-0 first-quarter lead. The Aggies would allow 'Bama to get back in the game, but they nonetheless left Bryant-Denny with a 29-24 win as 13.5-point underdogs.
-- Florida starting safety Keanu Neal will miss his second straight game Saturday vs. South Carolina due to an ankle sprain sustained in UF's 38-20 win over Georgia two weeks ago.
-- UF is a seven-point favorite against the Gamecocks, who are 16-10-1 ATS as road underdogs on Steve Spurrier's watch. The Gators, on the other hand, are a mediocre 7-13 ATS as home favorites during Will Muschamp's tenure.
-- After leading Texas A&M to victory at Auburn as a 23.5-point underdog, Kyle Allen will get the starting nod at QB vs. Missouri. Allen took over as the starter when Kenny Hill was issued a two-game suspension prior to a home game vs. ULM. Allen threw for 277 yards and four TDs on The Plains. As of Thursday, the Aggies were favored by 4.5 points.
-- Missouri has thrived on the road since 2007, producing an outstanding 24-9 ATS record. The Tigers have taken the cash in seven straight road assignments, including their last, a 42-13 win over Florida at The Swamp.
-- Auburn won't have its top WR for Saturday's game at Georgia. Duke Williams is 'out' with a leg injury suffered in the loss vs. Texas A&M. Williams has a team-high 38 catches for 609 yards and five TDs.
-- After missing four games due to suspension, Georgia RB Todd Gurley will return to the staring lineup vs. AU. Gurley was the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and was sporting an 8.2 YPC average before getting suspended. Back-up RB Keith Marshall has been downgraded to 'doubtful' and you have to think UGA will try to get a redshirt for him at this point.
By Brian Edwards
Mississippi State hasn't won in Tuscaloosa since 2006 when Sylvester Croom led the Bulldogs into Bryant-Denny Stadium, right down the street from the house he grew up in, and for all intents and purposes handed Mike Shula, the man chosen over him to lead his alma mater, a pink slip in the form of a 24-16 victory as a 14.5-point underdog.
My oh my, are the good people of Alabama in debt to 'Sly' for life, or what?!
Croom played for Bear Bryant, earning All-American honors and helping the Crimson Tide to three SEC titles and the 1973 national championship. Next, he coached under Bear, spending more than a decade on the Alabama staff before heading to the NFL to be an assistant in 1986.
When Mike Price went 'Coaches Gone Wild' early in May of 2003, Alabama had to dismiss its new head coach. For those unfamiliar with college football coaching searches, they don't happen in May, not after spring practice, not after every coach in the country already has a job for the upcoming season.
Therefore, the pool of candidates was short. There was Shula and Croom, both NFL assistants at the time, who were both alums and would crawl to T-town to take the job. Croom had better credentials and it wasn't even close. The award given to the player that puts forth the most effort at spring practice was named after Croom.
But, as these things go sometimes in the South, Shula was chosen over Croom because of his last name and, quite frankly, the color of his skin. Croom was crushed. He had basically been told the job was his, only to be told the opposite the next day.
When Mississippi St. came calling the next year, Croom wanted nothing to do with the job. But after much urging from those close to him, he looked into it and became the first African-American head coach at an SEC school when he took over in Starkville in 2004.
In turn, Shula, in an unfathomable act of immaturity and downright ignorance, decided to take Croom's name off the award given at spring practice because Croom was now leading a division rival. The move was met with such condemnation that the school overruled Shula and put Croom's name back on the award.
But Croom would get his own payback, right there at the stadium he starred at as a center in college, on the legs of Jerious Norwood on a Saturday afternoon eight years ago. A few months later, 'Bama hired Nick Saban and the rest is history. There are statues of Bryant and Saban outside of Bryant-Denny, and maybe one day Croom's bust will be in bronze as well?
Anyway, the point was that Mississippi St. hasn't tasted victory in Tuscaloosa since then. As a matter of fact, it hasn't lost by fewer than 20 points since Croom had his day in the sun.
But there hasn't been a school from the Magnolia State that resembles this one in decades. Dan Mullen brings the nation's No. 1 ranked team to T-town, and it is led by one of the country's premier players in quarterback Dak Prescott.
Nevertheless, as of Thursday afternoon, most betting shops had Alabama (8-1 straight up, 3-6 against the spread) installed as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 52 for 'over/under' wagers. Gamblers can back the top-ranked Bulldogs on the money line for a +260 return (risk $100 to win $260).
Mississippi St. (9-0 SU, 5-4 ATS) has failed to cover the number in three consecutive games, including last week's 45-16 win over UT-Martin. However, we should note that the Bulldogs have basically been in cruise control since knocking off three then-Top-10-ranked opponents in LSU (34-29), Texas A&M (48-31) and Auburn (38-23).
Mullen's bunch took out Kentucky and Arkansas prior to last weekend, but it didn't get the money as a double-digit 'chalk.' In MSU's only previous road underdog spot this year, it raced out to a 34-10 lead at LSU in the third quarter. The Tigers would mount a late rally but it was too little, too late.
At offshore books, Prescott has the second-shortest odds to win the Heisman Trophy. The junior, a native of Louisiana who spurned Les Miles' belated overtures late in the recruiting process and stuck to his commitment to MSU, has an 18/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Prescott has rushed for 779 yards and 11 TDs.
He leads a dynamic unit that ranks seventh in the nation in total offense and averages 39.8 points per game. Prescott has a workhorse running back behind him in Josh Robinson, who has rushed for 984 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He should be fresh Saturday since Mullen only gave him six totes vs. UT-Martin.
This is undoubtedly the best offense Alabama has faced this year. Likewise, it's the best 'D' the Bulldogs have seen. The Crimson Tide is second in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 13.9 PPG.
Saban's squad is coming out of an all-out war in Baton Rouge last Saturday night. Just like in 2012, it needed a clutch drive in the final minute to get a victory. This time, though, the late drive wouldn't win it like T.J. Yeldon's catch from A.J. McCarron did two seasons ago. This time, Adam Griffith's 27-yard field goal forced overtime.
In the extra session, Blake Sims found DeAndrew White for a six-yard scoring strike and then the 'Bama defense forced a four and out to secure the victory. Sims finished with 209 passing yards and two TDs, while Amari Cooper had eight receptions for 83 yards and one score.
For the season, Sims has completed 61.5 percent of his throws for 2,229 yards with a stellar 16/3 TD-INT ratio. Cooper has been his favorite target, hauling in 79 catches for 1,215 yards and 10 TDs. Cooper is just one TD catch shy of tying the school record he set as a freshman.
During Mullen's tenure, MSU has limped to a 6-10 ATS record as a road underdog. Meanwhile, 'Bama is 25-25-1 ATS as a home 'chalk' under Saban.
The 'over' is 5-4 overall for MSU, 2-1 in its road assignments. The Bulldogs' two SEC road games saw combined scores of 63 and 76.
The 'under' is 5-4 overall for 'Bama, cashing in four of its last five outings. However, the 'over' has hit a 3-2 clip in its five home games.
CBS will have the telecast at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- This week's total (52) is the second-lowest that Mississippi St. has seen this season.
-- The real hero for Alabama last week? TE O.J. Howard, who on the first play of the tying drive at the end of regulation, got put in a horrible position when Sims threw to him in the middle of the field short of the first-down marker. In other words, if Howard gets tackled quickly, inbounds and shy of a first down, the clock drips for at least 10 seconds, probably more, before 'Bama gets its next play off. In that scenario, the Tide almost certainly goes down in defeat. But as if Saban was screaming in his ear while Sims's pass was still in the air, Howard caught it and without any hesitation whatsoever, sprinted straight to the sidelines and got out of bounds to stop the clock. That play might go completely unnoticed by some, but it could be the difference in who wins the national title.
-- I noted earlier that 'Bama also had quite the battle in Baton Rouge two years ago before leaving victorious. The week after McCarron's TD pass to Yeldon at Tiger Stadium in 2012? Some dude named Johnny Pigskin came into T-town and led Texas A&M to a 20-0 first-quarter lead. The Aggies would allow 'Bama to get back in the game, but they nonetheless left Bryant-Denny with a 29-24 win as 13.5-point underdogs.
-- Florida starting safety Keanu Neal will miss his second straight game Saturday vs. South Carolina due to an ankle sprain sustained in UF's 38-20 win over Georgia two weeks ago.
-- UF is a seven-point favorite against the Gamecocks, who are 16-10-1 ATS as road underdogs on Steve Spurrier's watch. The Gators, on the other hand, are a mediocre 7-13 ATS as home favorites during Will Muschamp's tenure.
-- After leading Texas A&M to victory at Auburn as a 23.5-point underdog, Kyle Allen will get the starting nod at QB vs. Missouri. Allen took over as the starter when Kenny Hill was issued a two-game suspension prior to a home game vs. ULM. Allen threw for 277 yards and four TDs on The Plains. As of Thursday, the Aggies were favored by 4.5 points.
-- Missouri has thrived on the road since 2007, producing an outstanding 24-9 ATS record. The Tigers have taken the cash in seven straight road assignments, including their last, a 42-13 win over Florida at The Swamp.
-- Auburn won't have its top WR for Saturday's game at Georgia. Duke Williams is 'out' with a leg injury suffered in the loss vs. Texas A&M. Williams has a team-high 38 catches for 609 yards and five TDs.
-- After missing four games due to suspension, Georgia RB Todd Gurley will return to the staring lineup vs. AU. Gurley was the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and was sporting an 8.2 YPC average before getting suspended. Back-up RB Keith Marshall has been downgraded to 'doubtful' and you have to think UGA will try to get a redshirt for him at this point.
