Sunday Hangover: Ole Miss

Sloppy. Man, that was a sloppy, Big 10esque game. Lots of punting and ineffective offenses.

But at least the Tide's defense came back and played a strong game against the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears.

The Tide D kept the Rebels in check throughout the first half with a stifling defense that rattled and contained QB Masoli. Alabama also kept Ole Miss in really difficult field position most of the game. The only time I recall the "Bears" having good field position was when Maze fumbled after stupidly fielding a punt on his own five-yard line. He had a good return but got plastered by two defenders, one of whom used his helmet to knock out the ball. Ole Miss scored a touchdown on that possession.

Once again, the Tide's O, thought to be the major strength of this team, struggled getting any consistent rushing game going. The Tide only had 319 total yards offensively, and Ole Miss, like South Carolina, limited the running game by stacking the box and using various run blitzes. McElroy was sacked four times, and Julio Jones played only a little bit because of his broken left hand that has a plate and screw in it. I would imagine it would be hard to catch passes with that issue.

So I don't care how "down" Tennessee is this year. Alabama is going to have to play a lot better offensively to win in Knoxville next Saturday because as this weekend showed, any squad, regardless of perception, can get beat. The Tide D seemed more strongly focused and fundamentally sound, but the offense has to get it together.

But the Tide won 23-10 on a day when there were some surprises in the SEC. State beat Florida without the Bulldogs attempting a pass in the second half, and Kentucky beat South Carolina after Steve "Evil Genius" Spurrier used Les Miles-like clock management and decisions at the end of the game when the Gamecocks could have at least gotten into overtime against the Wildcats with a short field goal. Elsewhere number one Ohio State lost to Wisconsin and Nebraska lost to Texas, which opens the door for the Mizzou Tigers in the Texas Ten North. So maybe you're not a Mizzou sunshine pumper, travolta. Maybe you're on to something.

So I'm sure Oregon will move up to no. 1, and they better watch out this Thursday versus UCLA since the last two weeks the number one team has lost. You know, the old adage about things happening in threes?