Time Out
by Dan Rutledge

Thank Dog for CBS.

That’s what fans of the No. 1 team in the land, the Alabama Crimson Tide, could say this week. Tide head coach Nick Saban might offer up a prayer of thanks as well if his Bama team escapes from Death Valley with a “W” on Saturday.

That’s right, talking about this week’s top game – not only in the Southeast, but in the nation – that has Alabama (9-0, 5-0) visiting No. 15-ranked LSU (6-2, 3-2) in Baton Rouge, La., (Line: Alabama by 3) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

This game, like every great game, has so many story lines that it is hard to keep up with them all.

First, that 2:30 starting time is very important. LSU should change its name from the Bayou Tigers to the Vampire Tigers because they play so much better at night. Since 1960, LSU has a home record of 208-59-4 in night games. But when they have to play in the light of day, the Tigers have a losing record, 21-23-3.

So, if you knew this was the case, would you ever play in the daytime? Well, LSU wouldn’t if it had a choice. In fact, every LSU home game is set for a 7 p.m. start. But as a member of the SEC, LSU is required to abide by the terms of the league’s TV contracts. And that’s why Saturday’s game has a 2:30 p.m. start – because CBS says so.

Another story line, of course, is that Saturday will be the first time Saban – who was the LSU coach in a previous coaching incarnation if you don’t remember; had a pretty good run there if I recall, a national title and such – has returned to Baton Rouge as the Tide head man. And although Saban swears up and down that “it’s not personal,” you know that on some level it has to be. Saban doesn’t like to lose, period. But he’d really hate to lose this weekend.

Another factor is that this season, so far, has been the best ever for Saban himself. This is the first time ever that Saban has been 9-0 – in his entire career. An undefeated season, something else he has never experienced, is a possibility and although he will swear on anything you’d like him to swear on that that thought hasn’t crossed his mind – you know it has. This fact only adds fuel to the LSU fans’ fire. They want to embarrass Saban, hurt him like they feel he hurt them. It would be wonderful to spoil Saban’s undefeated run this year.

Alabama will be trying hard to not let déjà vu get in the way. Alabama’s 2005 squad found itself in this very same position — 9-0 and headed into the LSU game on a roll. The Tigers won that one and Bama then dropped its final two games of the season.

The game itself will be a good one, no matter who wins. LSU’s main problem will be at QB, where redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee will be playing. He threw five interceptions in the losses to Georgia and Florida. This makes the Tigers want to run, not throw, for their yardage. But Alabama’s defensive line is among the best in the nation — yes, noseguard Terrance Cody will be back. The Tide has allowed just one rushing TD this season – next best is four. Alabama leads the SEC in rushing defense. It also has not allowed an opponent to have a 100-yard rushing game against it. The game could come down to LSU going as tailback Charles Scott goes. Scott has had six 100-yard rushing games this season. From here, it doesn’t look like it will happen Saturday.

And although Bama leads the SEC in rushing offense, Saturday’s game will be about John Parker Wilson. Wilson, like the entire Bama team, plays up or down to the opponent’s level. And after a so-so outing against lowly Arkansas State last week, Wilson will be ready for an all-star outing in the big game of the year. The main weakness of the otherwise standout LSU defense is its young and still inexperienced defense. Look for Wilson to exploit it and the Tide to clinch the SEC West and be 10-0 after all the dust has settled.

There are three other conference games on tap on the Week 10 SEC football schedule, two Eastern Division matchups and one an East-West affair. None of the three are expected to be nail-biters or to have a big impact on division races.

No. 4-ranked Florida (7-1 overall, 5-1 in SEC play)-Vanderbilt (5-3, 3-2) contest (Line: Florida by 11) could be a factor in the Eastern Division race IF (and that’s a big “if”) the Commodores managed to pull off the upset of the season. But even on a good year – and this is one – Vandy can’t do that. The Commodore defense simply can’t stop the Florida offensive juggernaut and it’s offense can’t match the Gator’s output.

The other Eastern matchup has the No. 14-ranked Georgia Bulldogs visiting the Kentucky Wildcats (Line: Georgia by 10_). Again, this game will have little to no bearing on the Eastern Division race unless the Cats can pull off a big upset. And again, that’s not going to happen.

The East-West matchup – Arkansas (4-5, 1-4) at South Carolina (6-3, 3-3) (Line: S.C. by 11) – is like two trains passing in the night going in different directions. Look for the Gamecock Express to stay on it’s winning-season track, while the Hogs keep on their losing-season heading..

There are two non-conference games this week, both giving the suffering fans of two teams that have fallen on hard times a chance to feel better for a weekend. Auburn and Tennessee will be hosing non-BCS foes for homecoming games. The Tigers and Vols are two of the underachievers of the 2008 football season. Both were expected to have good if not great years, but both come into this week’s matchups sporting losing record.

Auburn (2-4, 4-5) will be entertaining Tennessee-Martin (7-2) (No Line) and the War Eagle fans are hoping the visitors don’t prove to be another Appalachian State. A win would pull AU back to the .500 mark on the year – for a moment, at least. Auburn has to close out its season against Georgia and Alabama. Tennessee is worse off than Auburn in that a win Saturday will not be enough to pull the Vols back to the .500 mark.

Tennessee (3-6) will be hosting Wyoming (3-6) (Line: Tennessee by 26). This one should be a crowd-pleasing blowout for two reasons. First, the Cowboys are having just as tough a season as the Vols and their 3-6 record has been forged against much lesser opponents. Second, after Vol head coach Phil Fulmer announced his resignation (at the end of the season) last week, it is a sure bet the Tennessee players will be giving their all, playing as hard as they can on every play for the rest of the season. In fact, we won’t be surprised if the Vols win out the rest of the way.

An interesting sidenote: Georgia Coach Mark Richt has predicted a close, fan-pleasing affair in the 2008 SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome. The way things are progressing, it will take a major upset of some kind to keep Alabama and Florida out of the ‘08 title game. If that happens, Richt sees the matchup as a tossup. And having lost to both teams, his opinion is one to be listened to.

“It would be an interesting matchup,” he said last week. Both teams are very solid in what they do on offense and defense and both teams’ special teams are outstanding. Right now, if you told me I had to pick a winner, I’d probably flip a coin on it.”

WEEKEND TV LINEUP

There are two Friday night offerings on the weekend television lineup this week. The 6:30 p.m. game on ESPNU is an Ivy League thriller pitting Penn and Princeton. Nevada and Fresno State play at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Saturday’s television lineup follows (all times CST):

11 a.m.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina (CW), Michigan at Minnesota (ESPN), Ohio State at Northwestern (ESPN2), Syracuse at Rutgers (ESPNU), Samford at Ga. Southern (CSS), Baylor at Texas (FSNS)

11:30 a.m.
Georgia at Kentucky (Raycom Sports)

1:30 p.m.
Iowa State at Colorado (Versus)

2 p.m.
Citadel at Wofford (SportSouth)

2:30 p.m.
Alabama at LSU (CBS), Clemson at FSU (ABC), Western Ky. at Troy (CSS), Penn St. at Iowa (ESPN), Stanford at Oregon (FSNS), Virginia at Wake Forest (ESPNU)

6 p.m.
UTEP at La.-Lafayette (CSS), Kansas at Missouri (FSNS), Coastal Carolina at Gardner-Webb (SportSouth), Cincinnati at West Va. (ESPNU)

7 p.m.
Notre Dame at Boston College (ESPN), Oklahoma St. at Texas Tech (ABC), Florida at Vanderbilt (ESPN2)

Dan Rutledge is a veteran sports writer and editor who recently retired after 25 years with Gulf Coast Newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. He writes this advance column on college football exclusively for The Locust Fork News-Journal every Friday during football season.

Tags: CBS TV Time Helps Alabama on the Bayou

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