In case you didn’t notice, Alabama has been historically good under head coach Nick Saban. In fact, the Crimson Tide have not lost three regular season games in the same season since 2010. Could that soon be changing?
During a Monday afternoon Twitter Q&A session, SEC Network sideline analyst and radio host Cole Cubelic threw out the possibility that Alabama could enter the Iron Bowl with two losses already on its schedule when asked about which SEC West team from the Yellowhammer State would win more games next season.
https://twitter.com/BryantsGhost/status/836301019424391169
For Cubelic, it looks like the answer likely relies on which team wins the next Iron Bowl.
Both enter Iron Bowl 9-2…. https://t.co/nP7TzLkDpe
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) February 27, 2017
If this scenario plays out, considering the game is in Auburn this year, the Tide will have to win on the road to avoid losing a third regular season game.
The question you probably now have was quickly asked by one of Cubelic’s followers:
https://twitter.com/wob_214/status/836321466320834562
FSU & Mississippi State https://t.co/W8QKg47vSz
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) February 27, 2017
The Sept. 2 season-opening neutral site game in Atlanta against Florida State and the Nov. 11 trip to Starkville were Cubelic’s answers.
While Mississippi State may seem like an odd choice, the Bulldogs look to have a quarterback capable of hurting Alabama’s defense in Nick Fitzgerald and also get the Tide on the road the week after the LSU game. If the Alabama and LSU game lives up to its typical hard-fought and physical fashion, the Tide could be pretty banged up heading into Starkville.
It should be noted that the only SEC team Dan Mullen has not yet beaten during his time at Mississippi State is Alabama – he’s currently 0-8 vs. the Tide. Mullen’s offense has had some truly pedestrian performances against Alabama’s defense, as MSU has only averaged 8.5 points per game in its last seven contests against the Tide. In fact, in five of the last six seasons, MSU has failed to score more than seven points against the Tide.
Considering these numbers, Mississippi State’s defense had better take a major step forward this season if it has any hopes of helping the team earn its first win over Alabama in the Mullen era.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
