Alabama Preps For Mississippi State
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| Alabama's Nick Saban helping players yesterday Photo Credit: AL.com/Vasha Hunt |
Mississippi State is riding high right now on a wave of emotion, but the Alabama Crimson Tide football team is looking to bring that crimson wave crashing down on the Bulldogs this coming Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Fresh off their victory over Texas A&M, the Dogs are pretty happy with themselves taking the Aggies out of the College Football Playoff picture.
Alabama spent the majority of the practice yesterday focusing fundamentals, correcting mistakes and getting their heads right following Saturday's 10-0 win over the then-No. 13 LSU Tigers. So now standing in the way of the Crimson Tide's national championship hopes is the Misissippi State Bulldogs. This Western Division showdown is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN. Joe Tessitore and Todd Blackledge will call the game from the booth with Holly Rowe walking the sidelines.
Running back Bo Scarbrough was somewhat limited during the drills while the short media viewing period was taking place. The young man twisted his knee in the first half of the LSU game this past Saturday and was taken to the locker room at that point, but was later able to return to action.
Once again right guard Alphonse Taylor wasn't seen at the practice session. The youngster has been absent from games since his concussion on Saturday, October 8th and has only seen very limited no-contact work at practices from time-to-time.
Linebacker Reuben Foster had his left hand heavily taped and wrapped yesterday.
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game with a 4-5 overall record, including a 2-3 mark in SEC play. Dan Mullen is the head coach of eight years for the Bulldogs, with a 59-40 career record as the head man in Starkville. He is 28-33 mark in SEC play.
The Crimson Tide leads the series 78-18-3, and has won the last eight contests. Alabama has also won the last four meetings in Tuscaloosa, with the most recent win being a 31-6 victory in Starkville last season.
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Ryan Anderson, JK Scott Are SEC Players Of The Week
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| Ryan Anderson Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Alabama senior linebacker Ryan Anderson and junior punter JK Scott were named the Southeastern Conference Players of the Week for their performances last Saturday. The announcement came from the SEC office yesterday afternoon. Anderson was selected as the conference's Defensive Player of the Week while Scott was chosen as the Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.
Anderson had a great night in Baton Rouge last Saturday with six total tackles, including one sack (-4 yards), one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. His tackle for a loss increased his team-leading total to 12.5 on the season (-65 yards). He was definitely one of the main cogs in the defensive machinery that played a key role on the Crimson Tide defense that limited LSU to only 125 total yards and just 1.2 yards per carry on the ground as well as just 3.8 yards per attempt. And get this stat, Alabama forced a 3-and-out on nine of the Tigers' 12 possessions and did not allow LSU to reach the end zone all evening.
And what can you say about JK Scott? He was on-point as usual with his punts that helped to flip the field on LSU and keep the Bengal Tigers caged and unable to get significant field position. Scott averaged 51.6 yards per kick on his five punts for 258 yards. He booted a long of 66 yards with four of his five punts going for 50-plus yards. He netted 44.4 yards on his five kicks with two punts pinning the LSU offense inside its own 15-yard line. Three of his punts were returned for a mere 16 yards (5.3 yards per return) with two fielded inside the LSU 10-yard line.
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| JK Scott Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
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What Saban Said On Monday 11/7
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban met with the media yesterday afternoon as is his custom. Here is what he had to say in his opening statement:
"We are excited to be back home and playing this game here at Bryant-Denny Stadium. I think it's always a challenge for us to respond in the right way. It's a different kind of team, they have played better and better each and every week, but they are probably playing their best football of the season right now. It's pretty obvious with their win over Texas A&M how good they are playing right now. Their quarterback has played really well for them all year. He's kind of the center of what they do in terms of how much he runs the ball and his effectiveness as a runner, as well as being a very effective passer. Fred Ross is a very good receiver and an outside threat that can create explosive plays for them. They have been able to run the ball effectively. Defensively, they create a lot of issues and problems in terms of negative plays and how aggressive they are. They are very well-coached; Dan (Mullen) has done a great job there for a lot of years. We have always had some difficult games and that will be our expectation for this game."
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College Football Playoff Picture Coming Into Focus
Then there were only five.
Only five teams remain unbeaten in college football. It would seem these five would have the clear path to the college football playoffs. However, we have already seen in week one that the playoff committee is perfectly willing to place a one-loss team in the top four over an unbeaten. Of course with the defeat of Texas A&M, that sort of straightened itself out. Or has it?
With the Ohio State on the rise once again, will we see the Buckeyes slip back in the playoff picture once the voting is over today? The committee right now isn't showing a lot of respect to undefeated Washington, so it is possible that could happen. Of course Ohio State still must face Michigan, so this problem, too, will eventually work itself out.
Unless the mighty Crimson Tide of Alabama should falter in one of these last few games, Bama is a lock. Mississippi State shouldn't be a problem, however, they are the team that just put Texas A&M out of the playoff picture once and for all. Alabama opened the week as a 29-point favorite over the Bulldogs, so it seems that one is safe. Chattanooga? Give me a break! It would appear that the Auburn Tigers would have the best chance of knocking Alabama out of the playoff picture. The SEC East is so week, having only won one out of ten games against the SEC West this season, that the Southeastern Conference Championship Game shouldn't be a problem for whichever Western Division team is in.The Tigers have been surging, so unless the Tide gets to looking ahead, that will be the next big contest.
There's the Clemson Tigers in the hunt. Their schedule is hard or not, depending upon who you ask. However, they have had a couple of VERY close calls already this season, and NOT against the stiffest of their competition. They still have Pittsburg, Wake Forrest and in-state rival South Carolina waiting in the wings. Of course the ACC Championship still looms, and that one won't be a cake walk for them.
Michigan has been a dominant team this season. This is one that could go. Still up are Iowa, Indiana and Ohio State. Of course, that last one is the Alabama-Auburn of their league. That one could go either way.
Washington was overlooked by the committee last week, and could be again later today when the rankings come out. But right now color them undefeated. They have USC, Arizona State and Washington State plus the championship game. Don't count out USC who has greatly improved, nor Washington State, the in-state rival.
Undefeated Western Michigan was ranked at No. 14 by the committee, so let's not even go there. No need to waste the space.
Once loss teams include Ohio State with Maryland, Michigan State and Michigan remaining. The only real test there should be that last game as mentioned-above. Of course, that loss to Penn State never should have happened either.
Louisville could slide in there with one loss. They still only have to face Wake Forest, Houston and an improved in-state rival called the Kentucky Wildcats. Seems football comes into focus for the pair and not just basketball this time around.
Wisconsin is a way-down-the-one maybe. They still only have Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota and should win out. But, no, they aren't going to get there.
There's the Auburn Tigers who could very well make it if they manage to win out. Still up is Georgia this week, followed by Alabama A&M and then the Crimson Tide. If they do win out, the SEC Championship Game should be a cake walk put them in the playoffs.
That's really about as far as we need to delve into the playoff picture. Four of the above-mentioned should be in, barring some catastrophic event.
It thinned faster than anticipated this season. By another game or two things should be very clear. Upsets could muddle the clear pond, but usually there's only a ripple or two. It still could shake out to no unbeatens, but that's not likely. Expect a dominant four by season's end.
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Southeastern Conference Football TV Schedule
Week of 11/12/16
Want to know where you can watch your favorite Southeastern Conference football team play this coming weekend? Here are those that are scheduled to be televised:
SEC Football Television Schedule for Saturday, November 12, 2016:
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 12:00 p.m. |  Mississippi State at  Alabama |
ESPN |
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 12:00 p.m. |  South Carolina at  Florida |
CBS |
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 12:00 p.m. |  Kentucky at  Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 3:30 p.m. |  Auburn at  Georgia |
CBS |
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 3:30 p.m. |  Vanderbilt at  Missouri |
SEC Network |
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 7:00 p.m. |  LSU at  Arkansas |
ESPN |
| Sat., Nov. 12 | 7:30 p.m. |  Ole Miss at  Texas A&M |
SEC Network |
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Alabama-Chattanooga Game Time Is Set
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Alabama-Chattanooga Game Time Is Set
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| Bryant-Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, Alabama Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The football game between the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Chattanooga Mocs has been set for 6 p.m. CT on November 19th at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The SEC office made the announcement yesterday afternoon. No decision as of yet has been made concerning who will be broadcasting the game. It appears that decision will come after this Saturday's slate of games.
This will be the 13th meeting between the two schools, with the Crimson Tide holding all the cards at 12-0 in the series. Alabama is 7-0 in Tuscaloosa against the Mocs, and head coach Nick Saban is 2-0 against the lads from Chatt.
In the most recent contest back in 2013, Alabama took the win 49-0.
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Crimson Tide Football Coaches Name Players Of The Week
Entire Defense Plus Five Honored
Entire Defense Plus Five Honored
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| Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The University of Alabama football coaching staff have payed tribute to the entire defensive unit plus five additional players in honor of their performances in the Crimson Tide's 10-0 shutout victory over LSU in Baton Rouge this past Saturday. In addition to the defensive unit, the coaches named Bradley Bozeman, Cam Robinson and Bo Scarbroughfrom the offense, while JK Scott and Keaton Anderson were the honorees on special teams.
The offensive line played well, and especially Bozeman and Robinson, as they opened the lanes for quarterback Jalen Hurts and the running backs to pick up the 216 yards in the rushing attack last Saturday. Robinson graded out at 87 percent, and did not allow a single quarterback hurry or a sack. Big Bozeman anchored the line, making all the calls from the center position despite the roar of the crowd at Death Valley. Alabama average 4.2 yards per carry against one of the nation's best rushing defenses and allowed Hurts to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark for the third time this season, picking up 114 yards. Scarbrough contributed 52 rushing yards on 11 carries with a 4.7 yards per carry average.
Alabama's defense was sensational against the LSU offense, limiting the Tigers to only six first downs and 125 yards of total offense. Sacks? Oh yeah there were sacks. The defense recorded five sacks while limiting the LSU offense to just 33 rushing yards on 27 attempts. Reuben Foster led the defense with 11 total tackles. Marlon Humphrey contributed from the secondary in shutting down the Tigers' passing attack finishing with eight tackles. Dalvin Tomlinson (six tackles, 1.5 TFL), Ryan Anderson (six tackles, 1.0 sacks), Tim Williams (1.5 TFL) and Jonathan Allen (three tackles, 1.0 sacks) were all in on the Tide's five sacks. All-in-all the defense had nine tackles for loss on the night.
On Saturday night after the game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said, "Our defense was outstanding."
And later during the post-game press interview Saban said, "We have some pretty hateful guys that play defense around here that are pretty good competitors. And when they get challenged, they usually respond, and I thought they responded really well [Saturday] night."
And later during the post-game press interview Saban said, "We have some pretty hateful guys that play defense around here that are pretty good competitors. And when they get challenged, they usually respond, and I thought they responded really well [Saturday] night."
On special teams, Scott punted five times for 258 yards for an average of 51.6 yards per punt. He had a season-long boot of 66 yards while helping keep the Tigers in favorable field position all evening. Anderson helped limit the Tigers to just 16 punt return yards.
