Which game will Saban throw this year to secure a mediocre coach's raise?

A little background if you're blissfully ignorant of what has been Saban's most sound brilliant strategic move to date. What began with the deliberate destruction of Urban Meyer's psyche has become something more. Saban, completely self-aware of his reputation as the sport's greatest coach of all time, has laid down and given false hope to the other schools of the West. These teams, who all reached for their checkbooks upon the discovery of the heralds who would finally lead their programs out of the shadow Saban has cast upon them, have been played like fools.

2012 - Kevin Sumlin takes advantage of an emotionally and physically drained Alabama team and staves off a second half collapse to win a nail-biter in BDS. Sumlin is immediately rewarded with a 5-year extension. Since 2012, A&M has decreased its win total each season, and lost two games to Alabama by an average scored of 54-21

2013 - Auburn, virtue of a deal signed with Satan himself, pulls off a string of miraculous victories in 2013, none moreso than the Kick 6 which propelled Gus Malzahn and his War Eagles to a national tite game loss. Gus is immediately rewarded with a 6-year extension. Since the Kick 6, Gus has compiled a record of 9-6, with a 0-2 bowl game record.

2014 - Alabama is unable to overcome a horrific injury to RB Kenyan Drake and loses 23-17 in Oxford. Hugh Freeze and his Rebels play .500 ball for the remainder of the season, yet is immediately awarded a 4-year extension largely for securing the 9th win over Alabama in school history.



So what does this tell us? First of all, now that Urban is gone, Les is the coach Saban fears most, as he has brought his A-game to each LSU matchup since 2011.

The obvious candidates for a thrown game this year are Mississippi State and Arkansas, as Bret Bielema and Dan Mullen have yet to pop their Saban cherry. Now I know what you're thinking, both Bielema and Mullen received contract extensions this offseason. Texas A&M and Auburn have already set the precedent of a Saban win guaranteeing an extension, even for a coach still in the first year of a contract.

So who will Saban lay down for this year? It boils down to who does Saban fear the most? Dan Mullen, he and his 7 game losing streak by an average scored of 28-8. It's far more likely that it is Bielema, like Les, is perceived as the biggest (heh) threat, and can not be allowed to win.

Therefore, bet the farms, houses, trailers, what have you on Mississippi State to upset Alabama this year. With Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Auburn and Ole Miss now burdened with expensive mediocre coaches, Saban will only need to focus his combined efforts on the boot.