Ray Glier

Alabama is just waiting for us to write it off. The Tide’s offense has scored one touchdown in its last three SEC games. It can’t find any traction and it squeaks by while Southern Cal and Texas roar on.

We believe Alabama has a date with a trapdoor and will disappear from national title contention.

And then we will remember Miami.

Once upon a time this season, the Hurricanes looked unimpressive, too. They lost to Florida State and survived 5-4 Clemson in three overtimes.

Yet, here is Miami, back in the national title picture after a big win at Virginia Tech.

We shouldn’t have written off the Hurricanes so early and we shouldn’t write off Alabama now no matter how disjointed they look with the ball.

I know, the Tide is on a narrow ledge. They needed a late field goal to beat Mississippi and another late field goal to squeeze past Tennessee. Last week, the Tide scored a humdrum, 17-0 win over Mississippi State to remain unbeaten....and unloved.

Alabama wobbles so much some experts consider the Tide not the third best team in the country behind Southern California and Texas, but the fifth best behind once-beatens Penn State and Miami.

Ever since wide receiver/returner Tyrone Prothro broke his leg in a 31-3 victory over Florida on Oct. 1, the Tide has been surviving, not thriving. They ride a magic carpet, yet critics claim that carpet has more holes than a yard-sale blanket.

No big play receiver. A quarterback who can’t throw long. A feature running back in Kenneth Darby who lacks jets in the open field.

And now here comes LSU. Everybody loves the one-loss team this year. I'm talking about one-play-away-wonders like Penn State, Miami, and LSU. These are teams, that if given another chance, would be breathing heavily on USC and Texas.

Special feature Florida faces SEC upset

But Alabama? There is little love for the Tide because it has no flair.

Alabama gets No. 5 LSU at home on Saturday, but you can be sure there is a lot of sentiment that the Tide will go down because the offense is stuck in the 1960s.

Well, I say, “Remember Miami.” The 'Canes hit their stride in the nick of time and Alabama will do the same thing.

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