Crimson Red Sports

I'll bet they sleep with the lights on in Eugene, Oregon.

They probably do the same in Chicago, and Austin, and Columbus, Ohio, and Lincoln. Because this time, they were sure. They knew the beast was dead. They knew the Southeastern Conference's chances to win yet another BCS Championship was over, safely tucked in a coffin, a stake driven through its heart by a real superhero, Johnny Football. But then, at just around midnight on the West Coast, there was a knock on the door, a scratching at the window.

And guess who's back?

One word of caution: while the Tigers have had an execrable season, don't confuse them with Western Carolina, a comparison that many joking Alabama fans made last week. There is a reason that AU can beat New Mexico State 42-7, or roll Alabama A&M 51-7. The Tigers are still an SEC team with SEC talent, and Alabama forgets that at its peril. Should the Crimson Tide win? Obviously, if you look at Auburn-Texas A&M, or Auburn-Georgia, Alabama should roll. But it may not be the kind of pull-the-starters-after-a-quarter blowout that many people expect.