Nobody sees this as a potential trap game? Gumps looking forward to next weekend? Entirely possible bamer lays an egg...or two. Bamer pulls this one out but could very well be much closer than most predict. In any event, there will be some quality film coming out of this game... Only thing missing will be too much cowbell.
I don't see it any other way. We are talking about the same Miss. State team who struggled against a sun belt team. They struggled against Tennessee and pulled away late in a few other games. When you have been playing cup cakes all year long being asked to beat an Alabama is a very hard task. Mississippi State will very surprised how fast that Alabama defense is.
The money thing doesn't bother me, but i do agree with you that i used to enjoy Alabama games back in the pre-Saban days, before they became "cartel-like" as you put it. I used to like Alabama (when they weren't playing us), i used to hope they do great (except when they played us), i enjoyed my road trip to TTown for an LSU game, i enjoyed my visit to the Bear Bryant Museum, and i loved home games vs Bama Nowadays, there is just something disturbing about Bama football at every level, from their fans all the way up to the top (including the athletic department). It's like they are the Anti-America's Team. Very similar to the U.S.S.R. when we used to complete against them in athletics
This x10! The program and its fans consistently give off the perception that they are much bigger than the game and the sport itself. Majority of their fanbase I have encountered are some of the most irritating, obsessive, and delusional people when it comes to their team. I stopped having anything to do with Gumps a long time ago. When I come across a Tide fan I just completely ignore them, like they do not exist. Egotistical bastards give me the creeps.
You have NO idea how much this just does NOT need to happen. It would be the worst thing ever for our team.