Understandably so, there's a lot of hype built up over the A&M/Alabama game this weekend. CBS is going to have one camera designated for Johnny Football - which seems a bit over the top, but on the bright side all of us watching the game will get to see his celebrations in stunning HD.
I'm still not sold on how good A&M is this year - they haven't played anyone yet, but they did look really good doing it (defensively speaking...59 points to Rice and SHSU is a red flag). Alabama is fitting the model of "reloading not rebuilding" but losing three offensive linemen and a tight end to the NFL draft is hard to reload just a few games into the season. Alabama didn't look great against VT, and two return touchdowns padded the scoreline. In terms of matchups/keys for this game, there will be the Alabama rebuilt offensive line against a porous front seven for A&M that gave up 240 yards rushing to SHSU - but the biggest match up to me is Manziel vs. Saban.
With A&M's surprising win in Tuscaloosa last year left Nick Saban looking for answers. Nearly ten months in the making for this rematch I've wondered what a coach of Saban's capabilities with the talent he has on his team can do to game plan for Manziel. Saban has a 7-1 record against the same opponent following a loss and his margin of victory in those rematch games is almost 21 points. On top of that, Alabama is coming off a bye-week, and I know full well what Saban is capable of with time and planning.
I hate to admit this, because I don't want to feel like I'm enabling A&M fans, but game plans go out the window when Manziel goes Comanche. If you watch the Heisman highlight from the Alabama game last year, Alabama had good coverage on the receivers in the end zone until Manziel started creating chaos and distracted the defensive back - allowing his receiver to drift away from coverage. As distracting as Manziel can be to defenders on the field, it seems like his off the field drama is a distraction to himself and his team.
I'm going to side with history - and first hand experience - over chaos and pick Alabama by seven for the win on Saturday.
.
I'm still not sold on how good A&M is this year - they haven't played anyone yet, but they did look really good doing it (defensively speaking...59 points to Rice and SHSU is a red flag). Alabama is fitting the model of "reloading not rebuilding" but losing three offensive linemen and a tight end to the NFL draft is hard to reload just a few games into the season. Alabama didn't look great against VT, and two return touchdowns padded the scoreline. In terms of matchups/keys for this game, there will be the Alabama rebuilt offensive line against a porous front seven for A&M that gave up 240 yards rushing to SHSU - but the biggest match up to me is Manziel vs. Saban.
With A&M's surprising win in Tuscaloosa last year left Nick Saban looking for answers. Nearly ten months in the making for this rematch I've wondered what a coach of Saban's capabilities with the talent he has on his team can do to game plan for Manziel. Saban has a 7-1 record against the same opponent following a loss and his margin of victory in those rematch games is almost 21 points. On top of that, Alabama is coming off a bye-week, and I know full well what Saban is capable of with time and planning.
I hate to admit this, because I don't want to feel like I'm enabling A&M fans, but game plans go out the window when Manziel goes Comanche. If you watch the Heisman highlight from the Alabama game last year, Alabama had good coverage on the receivers in the end zone until Manziel started creating chaos and distracted the defensive back - allowing his receiver to drift away from coverage. As distracting as Manziel can be to defenders on the field, it seems like his off the field drama is a distraction to himself and his team.
I'm going to side with history - and first hand experience - over chaos and pick Alabama by seven for the win on Saturday.
.
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