Bama does win, not so for Auburn, Arkansas & Kentucky. Parity rules:
Flash Thoughts:
In my impression of being like broadcast legend Howard Cossell, Flash is telling it like it is on SEC football Saturday.
Alabama did walk off newly named Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium Saturday evening beating South Florida 42 to 16. The Tide wore the Bulls down with three TDs in the 4th in a span of 8:00 and then got another score when I felt that was not needed.
Like last year in Tampa, USF played Alabama well until the 4th quarter. The Tide exploded with big time plays to offset a night of 120 yards on 13 penalties and three fumbles.
I say it goes back to who they played last week. Western Kentucky was no challenge and Alabama rolled in Kalen DeBoer's debut 63 to 0.
That game, plus Auburn's rout of Alabama A&M last week, Arkansas crushing Arkansas Pine Bluff and Kentucky shutting out Southern Miss was so easily to say of misreading these teams.
Auburn is sloppy and Cal made the Tigers pay in a 21 to 14 victory from a shocked Pat Dye Field/Jordan Hare Stadium. Pat Dye for sure was turning in his grave.
Arkansas could not keep a big lead at Oklahoma State and fell in double overtime 39 to 31.
And Kentucky being a nationally televised game at Kroger Field, getting stomped by South Carolina 31 to 6. Kentucky was a 10 point favorite in the SEC opener and got embarrassed by a group from Carolina that barely beat Old Dominion last week.
Oklahoma had to fight off the Houston Cougars 16 to 12 for they were a two touchdown favorite to win.
I understand about playing teams and giving them a good paycheck as Auburn did to Alabama A&M, Alabama to Western Kentucky, Arkansas Pine Bluff, Oklahoma to Temple and so on, so forth.
This week was indeed expected to have better games with now 16 team field that makes up the Southeastern Conference.
Alabama and Auburn were their worst enemy in too many mistakes. It just happened to be that Alabama was superior in running and throwing the football while USF had more yardage on the ground and is not a good passing team.
Auburn fans are probably taking Pepto Dismal to overcome stomach aches as a team comes from across the country and handles the chore much better in sound football.
I have no idea where Cal will be in the overloaded Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This day they made enough noise to have a new member into its conference, travel to an SEC school and cause an uproar in which Toomers Corner is probably clean for no need to celebrate a rare loss.
What was good as for Flash. Michigan getting bulldozed by Texas 31 to 12 and Notre Dame chocking at home by a 16 to 14 score to unknown Northern Illinois.
Notre Dame home games are on NBC network. I am sure the management is throwing items inside the control room for the Fighting Irish had lack of a fight mentality after their win last week at Texas A&M.
To the Crimson Nation, enjoy that victory did come for being more difficult than everyone expected with USF.
Now comes Kalen DeBoer's first road game for the Tide and not an easy place to play and Camp/Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trap game for Alabama after Saturday? Many will say yes. It will be about what kind of effort Alabama shows in workouts before they head to Big Ten territory by Friday.
Alabama is a good football team. Right now, they are like a light switch with the on and off button in full rotation.
How does Auburn do in facing another team outside the SEC and playing it at Jordan Hare?
New Mexico will arrive in trying to add to the misery that is hovering above the head of Hugh Freeze.
My Florida Gators won Saturday night, whipping the Samford Bulldogs in the Swamp 45 to 7.
Now the SEC opener for Billy Napier is a toss us game in Gainesville against Texas A&M.
For sure, a much better game at the 2:30 p.m. slot for the network that took SEC football away from CBS.
A game with gathering interest for this coming Saturday is undefeated Boston College visiting undefeated Missouri. BC was solid on Labor Day night at Florida State and let's see if Bill O'Brien can do the same with an SEC school looking down on him,
Photo of Auburn Tigers vs. Cal Bears September 7 at Jordan Hare Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Daily Mountain Eagle.
