From: owen@ducvax.auburn.edu
Subject: Re: MS State, Florida, Bama
Organization: Auburn University, AL
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 17:32:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.161748.14337@ra.msstate.edu>, maj1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Mark A. Jamison) writes:
> In article <cls4.721322494@Isis.MsState.Edu> cls4@ra.msstate.edu (Charles L. Spirrison) writes:
>
>>Also, it'll be interesting to see what happens as Bulldogs take on Bama.  
>>Logic dictates a 'Bama victory - but Jackie's troops play very well when
>>cast as underdogs (esp. at home).  -  My guess:  Offense is the key for
>>State.  QB Plump (or his sub) must have a good game.  A number of completions
>>will be needed to keep the Alabama defense honest, and to insure a productive
>>running game.  State's defense is good enough to keep the Alabama scoring down
>>PROVIDED that the defense isn't on the field much over half of the game.
>>The Bulldogs can win this game (with a little luck).  Maybe THEN they'll be
>>ranked over Florida!
> 
> Oh if they win this game, and the coaches polls hold to form this season,
> they will be somewhere at or around 10th.. We'll find out this week
> if the Alabama Defensive line is as good as their "Tulane-padded" stats
> indicate, now that they are actually facing a real offensive line..

Well, I think their defensive line is for real, but I don't think they
are a #2 team (although I don't think there are any really great teams
out there this year).  Tennessee is the only team they've faced that,
at the time, appeared to have a balanced offense and a decent defense.
Their defense is dominating against one-dimensional offenses, and their
offense can run against weak defenses, but it remains to be seen whether
or not they can stop a balanced offense.  And, it's been shown that they
can't score (much) against a good defense.

So, I still think they'll lose at least one of MSU/Auburn/(probably)
Florida.  I think your keys to MSU's chances are correct; they have to
throw successfully enough to keep Bama's defense from loading up against
the run, make a first down or two on most possessions to keep their
defense from wearing out, and stop Bama's running game.  (Don't worry
much about the passing game.  Someone's comments about Dennis Rodman's
offensive basketball skills applies equally well to Jay Barker's passing
skills -- "You could leave him alone in the gym all day, and he still
couldn't score 20 points!".)

However, I like Auburn's chances better against Bama, not because I think
they're necessarily a better team than MSU (they do less with more talent),
but because they just match up better.  MSU's offense is more one-dimensional,
and Bama's shown they can shut you down if you only do one thing well.  AU
is more balanced, if occasionally prone to self-destruction; however, the
level of play normally goes up a notch or two for AU vs. Bama, so I expect
to see far fewer of the bone-head miscues that have plagued Auburn thus far.

I think Florida's good enough to beat them, too, despite their defensive
problems.  God, what a dilemna!  Who do you pull for in Florida vs. Bama?
A scoreless tie?  Well, since that game can't end in a tie, maybe we
could hope for a meteor strike at Legion Field at halftime ;-).  Same problem
if Bama does go undefeated and plays Miami in the Sugar Bowl.  Of course,
MSU and Auburn still have something to say about whether Bama gets to the
championship game or not.  Go Bulldogs!  Beat the Evil Empire!

Larry Owen