The Alabama Crimson Tide have already handled the first two games on their schedule, but the next stretch is where things start to get interesting - and one date in particular stands out as a potential trap.
Alabama opened the season with wins over East Carolina and Kentucky, though the Kentucky game came with more stress than Crimson Tide fans probably wanted. Alabama was down 17-13 at halftime before flipping the switch after the break and rolling to a 32-0 second half.
Next up is a home matchup with Florida State in a revenge game after the Seminoles embarrassed Alabama on opening night last year. From there, Alabama is expected to take care of South Carolina at home, even with LaNorris Sellers coming to town.
The real danger comes on Oct. 3, when Alabama has to travel to Mississippi State.
That road trip has all the ingredients of a classic trap game. SEC road games are tough enough on their own, and Mississippi State looks sharper than expected under Jeff Lebby in his third season with the program.
The Bulldogs are 2-0 after convincing wins over UL Monroe and Minnesota, and quarterback Kamario Taylor has looked like the real deal. Mississippi State also has some impressive defensive players.
There’s another wrinkle, too: Alabama gets Georgia the following week. That’s exactly the kind of setup that can create a letdown if the Crimson Tide aren’t locked in.
Mississippi State still has work to do before Alabama arrives. The Bulldogs go on the road to face South Carolina this Saturday, then host No.
20 Missouri on Sept. 26.
If they can somehow reach 4-0, that Alabama matchup gets a lot more dangerous.
Even without that, the game already looks dicey for Alabama. If Mississippi State keeps building momentum, it could turn into the kind of road test that catches a favorite off guard.
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