No. 1 Alabama is coming off a 19-point defeat of unbeaten, formerly top-ranked Florida. The Crimson Tide swept the six computer ratings that participate in the BCS. They received 54 of 59 first-place votes from the coaches’ poll used by the BCS, and 58 of 60 first-place votes in the Associated Press poll.
No. 2 Texas needed a clock mulligan to beat Nebraska in the Game That Offense Forgot. When Hunter Lawrence’s 46-yard field goal slipped inside the left upright, Orangebloods across America let out their breath in unison: One Sigh Fits All.
All of which means the Longhorns have the Crimson Tide right where they want them.
This will be the fifth time in 50 seasons that Alabama and Texas have played in a bowl game. In the previous four, the Longhorns came in as the lower-ranked team. Texas earned three victories and a tie. In fact, since the teams first met in 1902 — around the time that Alabama became associated with crimson and one year before a sportswriter referred to Texas as the Longhorns — Alabama is 0-7-1 against Texas.
The unveiling of the BCS pairings promises a revival of that 2004 comedy smash, “Three’s A Crowd.” Cincinnati is playing the role that Auburn made so memorable — the cuckolded suitor. The Bearcats, No. 4 TCU and No. 6 Boise State may snipe about the injustice of being left out of the BCS Championship Game. And they have a case.
ESPN.com
12/7/9
Magnolia Tribune
