Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 11/2
By Chris Hale
Get your day started with the Morning Kickoff. All of your Crimson Tide news in one place.
The most important takeaway from the weekend: With the Ole Miss loss and if Alabama wins out, the Tide will head to Atlanta to play for the SEC Title.
CECIL HURT: Injuries Tide can overcome, not a loss
"For the past several years, there have been a handful of college football games each season that had people talking about a possible impact on the BCS Championship. There would be three or four November contenders. If there were upsets — as happened notably in 2013 — there would be great excitement.But, as a channel-surfing Saturday showed, it is every single game. Instead of three or four teams thinking they have a chance, there are 15 or 16. And because there are no fixed criteria for picking those four teams, only the whims of a Selection Committee, any scenario that puts a team in is as plausible as the next one."
Cecil Hurt lays it all out. There has already been some campaigning to get TCU in to the top four after their win this weekend. I would prepare to see it when the polls are released on Tuesday. This is also the reason I wanted everything in our control. Now we can win and we are in.
Oregon expected to replace Ole Miss in college football playoff top 4
"1. Mississippi State — Not terribly impressive against Arkansas, but a win is a win.2. Florida State — Had to come back from 21 down at Louisville on Thursday to win. Seems to have nine lives this year.3. Auburn — The win at Ole Miss is huge for Auburn, which has a brutal schedule in its attempt to repeat as SEC champ.4. Oregon — Look for the Ducks to move up from No. 5 after a very decisive win over Stanford."
That’s Jerry Palm’s prediction for Tuesday. Don’t really have a problem with it as long as TCU doesn’t jump us.
Herbstreit: Alabama Has Most Upside in Playoff Rankings
"ESPN College GameDay co-host Kirk Herbstreit was asked on Saturday which team had the most upside to potentially move up the College Football Playoff rankings.“I think it would be Alabama,” Herbstreit said. “I think Alabama has a chance to by the end of the year be the top team in the country. I’m not saying that because of past years. I’m saying that because of Blake Sims’ understanding of Lane Kiffin’s offense and kind of the direction they’re going.”"
More time in the system and getting a better understanding will only help. You can already see Sims getting more comfortable. Next week in Baton Rouge will be a big test.
Tracking records Alabama, Tide players are poised to break in 2014
"The bye week allowed us to take a deep dive into the record book, make some calculations and learn which numbers are most in danger as Alabama heads into the final month of the regular season. Our projections assume the Crimson Tide will play five more games — the minimum.If Alabama’s season unfolds in the fashion it hopes, it will play seven, and even more records will be crushed."
Great piece from Andrew Gribble and a good one to bookmark and keep your eyes on as the season goes on.
Women’s Tennis Collects 13 Wins to Wrap Up the Roberta Alison Fall Classic
"The women’s tennis team enjoyed a solid end to the fall season earning 13 victories on Saturday and 33 overall at the 27th Roberta Alison Fall Classic. Seven of the Crimson Tide’s wins came in doubles, while the other six victories were earned in singles play."
Swimming and Diving Beats LSU’s Men during Double Dual Meet
"The last time Alabama and Auburn got together for a swimming and diving dual meet during the regular season was in the fall of 2012. The Crimson Tide won just two out of 32 events between the men’s and women’s meets.It was a vastly different story Saturday during Alabama’s double dual meet with Auburn and LSU. Alabama won 10 races against Auburn – including a sweep of the sprint and distance freestyle events on the men’s side."