re: Alabama - USC

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It's early in season and there is so much Team and Conference Pride on the line. Individual players will be torched with motivation to win this one. Obviously USC is the team with the most motivation to win. As Saban says you can't take any team for granted or lightly. Expect Saban to treat this game like a NC Game - but so will USC. Who's hungrier?

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Doesn't this apply to like... everyone we play?

Put big money on Bama -9.

I'll take bama at +14 without batting an eye. USC sucks but their name has clout. So a talented and amped up bama team will go beast mode against those softies.

Bama has a few questions no doubt, but those won't come into play that game.


And God help us all if USC does win. I won't be able to watch ESPN for about 2 years.

I'm not saying usc can't win but I will say that your crazy if you think they could score 34 points on what will probably be the best defense in the country the only way usc wins is if Bamas offense is a complete disaster and you won't have to worry about player motivation for this game as it is known it will be packed out with NFL scouts and potential draft status will be on the line

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Of course it does but after 4 NCs in 7 years is Alabama really as motivated to win as a proud USC team that's been wallowing in mediocrity for a decade? This is USCs chance to become relevant again in one game. That's a lot of motivation that, with a few breaks, could test Alabamas mettle.

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I think Lane's motivation to stick it to USC outweighs any motivation that USC might have.

Remember after the sanctions when Alabama was shitty? You think teams still didn't get up and excited to play Alabama? Of course they did. Same holds true for USC. Alabama will be pumped and ready for this game against a traditional west coast power. Then there is the Lane Kiffin factor. USC will give their best effort, but it won't be nearly enough.

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but USC 34 Alabama 14 could happen

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USC is pretty loaded everywhere except the Dline. We're actually frighteningly thin after losing Kenny Bigelow for the year. Expect Bama to run for over 300 yards in that game. Bama 31-20

2008 vs Clemson = Bama W 34-10. Clemson was ranked 9th. 23-3 at halftime. Clemson returned a kickoff for a TD in the 3rd quarter. Only managed an offensive FG the whole game.

2009 vs Va Tech = Bama W 34-24. VT ranked 7th. Tight game until Bama turned it on and scored 18 in the 4th.


2012 vs Michigan = Bama W 41-14. Michigan was ranked 8th. Bama jumped out to a 31-0 lead.

2013 vs Va Tech = Bama W 35-10. 28-10 at the half. Ugly offensive performance but still took it to them on special teams and defense.

2014 vs WV = Bama W 33-23 - Probably the ugliest season opener for Bama in this stretch. But still a double digit win.

2015 vs Wiscy = Bama W 35-17. Wisconsin ranked 20th. 28-10 going into the 4th.

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and there will far more emotion on USCs sideline that Alabama's.

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Good for them. Emotion doesn't win football games. Alabama is significantly better than USC. The game won't be close. Tide rolls by 21 at least. Game will be over by halftime.