Auburn Tigers

[AugustWest]

against UVa? it wont matter.

[Professor Tiger]

A surprisingly decent performance by Auburn. Special teams came through for us, as they have all year, with a well-executed onside kick and punt block, both of which led to scores. Trotter played pretty well after being benched much of the season. The defense bent but did not break, and had a timely sack that set up a safety.

The O-line was not humiliating, for a change. O-Mack had the best game of his career. Mason played much better than the true freshman he is. Malzahn went out with a job well done.

Auburn is 7-3 in its last 10 bowls.

It's great.... to be... an Auburn Tiger.

[AugustWest]

A surprisingly decent performance by Auburn.

umm you played Virginia.

[Professor Tiger]

A win in a bowl is a win. It is certainly preferable to the alternative. We could have STB'd against Utah in NOLA.

[AlabamAlum]

You played Utah in New Orleans? Or are you making some ridiculous reference to a bowl loss by Bama from 3 years ago?

[Professor Tiger]

My reference to the Sugar Bowl three years ago was in response to somebody saying that Auburn "ONLY" beat Virginia, who was supposedly an "easy" bowl opponent, so we "should" beat them. My point was, sometimes "ONLY" playing "easy" opponent doesn't turn out to be so easy. Sometimes, in fact, you lose.

You can put down the claymore.

[AlabamAlum]

Utah was not an easy opponent. They were undefeated and finished 2nd in the AP poll. Your reference is spurious. Comparing 2nd ranked 13-0 Utah to unranked 8-5 UVa is quite the reach. Even for you.

[GBJs]

As badly as the Utah game sucked for us, it was no where near the same team who played F well in a loss a month earlier.

Saban had suspended (rightfully) Andre' Smith, whose subsequent replacement was injured on our first series. All that did was turn our entire offensive line, which had been a real strength for us in '08, into a patchwork group playing out of position. That contributed heavily to our offense not being able to sustain drives and help our defense.

All that said, Utah took advantage of our offensive woes as a good team should. The speed displayed by their defensive line couldn't be overcame by Alabama that night and they could pressure our entire backfield with just down-linemen.

Can't make excuses for that game. Alabama was doomed to lose and I believe would have with or without an intact offensive line. Utah had been completely underestimated against our squad by everyone from fans to the talking heads to probably, obviously, the players. Our defense did nothing to slow their offense either through the air or on the ground.

I could have just said much less by saying Utah kicked our ass.

[Professor Tiger]

Utah was not an easy opponent. They were undefeated and finished 2nd in the AP poll. Your reference is spurious. Comparing 2nd ranked 13-0 Utah to unranked 8-5 UVa is quite the reach. Even for you.

The point of comparison is not between Virginia and 2009 Utah. The point of comparison is playing against an "easy opponent," i.e. where one team is more or less favored over another they are actually playing.

You say Utah was not an easy opponent. If so, then why did Vegas favor Bama over the Utes by 9 points? Utes= easy opponent for Bama.

http://www.1800-sports.com/utah-vs-alab ... 0209.shtml

By contrast, Auburn was only favored by 3 against Virginia. Cavaliers=not as easy opponent for Auburn.

[GBJs]

More proof the points pickers are idiots just like the recruiting "anal ists".

[AlabamAlum]

I grow tired of explaining what a Vegas line is and why the spread is big or small in those type of games.

I shan't try anymore. PYAAM.

[Professor Tiger]

More proof the points pickers are idiots just like the recruiting "anal ists".

I agree, especially that one of the most famous point pickers - Danny Sheridan - is an idiot.

[GBJs]

Does he work for Scout?

[Professor Tiger]

I grow tired of explaining what a Vegas line is and why the spread is big or small in those type of games.

I don't remember you explaining before what a Vegas line is and why the spread is big or small in those type of games. But I would love to hear your explanation how a substantial point spread (say, for example, the 9 point Vegas spread between Bama and Utah in '09) does NOT mean that the handicap "experts" consider one opponent to be an "easy opponent" against another (say, for example, Bama against Utah in '09).

But your explanation would be entertaining. Whatever your "logic" would be, we could apply it to next year, when Vegas gives Bama a 50 point spread over Western Kentucky. We could assume that it ACTUALLY means that they think the Hilltoppers will take the Tide into OT.

[Professor Tiger]

Does he work for Scout?

No, Rivals. When they gave Yeldon a fifth star, we all knew he had already flipped to Alabama, and it would be made public soon.

[GBJs]

Ya gotta admit... That was excellent recruiting by The Saban.

[GBJs]

And the Vegas line just follows the money...They'll start with a "point" spread, and if too much money goes to one side, the points get adjusted. Why else would the spread vary, assuming there were no extenuating circumstances such as a late injury to one of the key players on a given team.?

[Professor Tiger]

Ya gotta admit... That was excellent recruiting by The Saban.

I agree. Saban is probably the best recruiter I've ever seen. If you are recruiting against him, you'd better bring your A game. Losing both your offensive and defensive coordinators in the home stretch of recruiting season is not your A game, and losing Yeldon was the price we've paid, so far. He'd help himself to 3-4 more of our commits if it weren't for the new 25 schollie limit.

You're up to 24 commits now, with at least three 5 stars about to commit. If I were one of the few 3 star commits to Alabama, I'd be looking around for a Plan B.

[GBJs]

Losing your O and D Cs at one time did more damage than anything else... but I'm not sure Auburn has 3 or 4 more commits Saban would be interested in!</twist the knife>

FSU should be fore warned about J. Winston though...

[Professor Tiger]

Saban is still going after Holsey. We know this because Holsey is saying so. If Holsey suddenly gets a fifth star on Rivals, we will know Saban got him. Parks, Pike and McKinzy are all top ten players at their positions, so Saban wouldn't mind taking them either.