Alabama 49 - Arkansas 14

I've had a sense of foreboding ever since the Crimson Tide thoroughly dismantled Clemson on the first Saturday of this college football season. I imagine it's something akin to the feeling that Cubs fans get every year. Something along the lines of, "yeah, we look pretty good, but you just wait... we'll find some way to screw it up." After all, Alabama finished 7-6 last year. How on earth could they continue to win before shooting themselves in the foot?

All that to say, I had penciled this weekend's game as one of those potential Saturdays where Alabama would find a way to blow it. Arkansas always plays Alabama with some kind of indomitable will in Fayetteville, and I figured Alabama would have its focus set squarely on next week when they travel to Athens to take on the #3 Georgia Bulldogs. If you were looking for the textbook example for a  potential trap game, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one than the Alabama-Arkansas game.

As you can see, I was clearly nervous about this game. Then the most ominous of all omens occurs - Lee Corso picked Alabama to win during this morning's edition of College Gameday  (we all knew he would, but every week I pray against it). Bama fans are familiar with how Corso's prognostications usually turn out when he picks UA; the Crimson Tide usually lose big. 

My feelings of doom of course now being confirmed by Lee "let's kill Alabama's chances" Corso, I tried to remain outwardly cheery and confident lest Liss feel my now substantial doubts about our beloved Tide. Finally kickoff rolls around and Bama quickly appears to run its first drive straight into the ground. My sense of doom deepens. Then Arkansas proceeds to hand Bama the first of many gifts throughout the game... on 4th and 4 PJ Fitzgerald gets bumped while punting the ball and turns in an Oscar-worthy performance.

Flag.

On.

The.

Play.

Penalty - Arkansas. Running into the kicker - 5 yard penalty which results in a first down for Alabama. After that, there was no looking back. Alabama racked up more than 300 yards running the ball, and the defense intercepted Arkansas QB Casey Dick FOUR times. Two of which were returned for touchdowns. At the half Alabama led 35-7, and they looked like they could name the final score.

The rest of the game was 30 minutes of relishing the fact that maybe just this Crimson Tide football team is made of tougher, more spirited stuff than that of previous teams. Not only are they beating the teams that they are supposed to beat, they are beating them senseless. I can't wait for next week's game at Georgia.

Except I have this sneaking feeling....