Alabama continues to serve notice
Remember when the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the Ole Miss Rebels, and everything was coming apart? Head coach Nick Saban supposedly was losing his Midas touch, and Jake Coker could never lead a solid team into battle.
Since then, Alabama has reeled off three consecutive victories, the last two being a demolition of the eighth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in Athens before a hammering of the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday afternoon in front of the 12th Man in College Station.
The Crimson Tide entered the weekend as the No. 10 team in the country, and it stands to reason they will rise up the rankings after their most-recent showing. Alabama was able to win, 41-23, behind the punishing running of Derrick Henry, who certainly looks ready for Sunday. Henry was devastating throughout the afternoon, amassing 236 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns on 32 carries.
As for Coker, he was simply good enough – which is all he needs to be with a killer rushing attack and a knock-you-out defense. The youngster completed 19-of-25 throws for 138 yards without and interception or touchdown, managing the game to perfection. Calvin Ridley was the primary target for Coker, making seven catches for 52 yards.
Then there is the defense, which is somehow being overshadowed by other units in the country. Alabama was able to force three interceptions off the fingers of Kyle Allen, before backup quarterback Kyler Murray tossed Texas A&M’s fourth interception of the day. Allen was beaten and battered, completing 20-of-40 for 263 yards with only one interception. The Aggies were totally stifled on the ground, gaining just 32 yards on 25 carries for a 1.3-yard average.
At 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, Alabama finds itself in control of its own destiny. If the Crimson Tide can win out, they will have a spot in the SEC Championship game. Considering the lack of quality in the SEC East division, Alabama would be a massive favorite to roll in that contest.
The Crimson Tide return home on Saturday to take on the Tennessee Volunteers before having a timely BYE week. The following affair will likely determine Alabama’s fate, when it hosts the No. 6 LSU Tigers and superstar running back Leonard Fournette. The last three games should be wins, with contests against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Charleston Southern and the Auburn Tigers.
The Crimson Tide are getting stronger by the day, a scary thought for any SEC opponent. Come the winter, Alabama has a terrific shot to be in the college football playoff for the second consecutive year, battle-tested and ready to rock.
