Western Carolina vs. Alabama: Catamounts' Arrival Perfect Timing for Tide

A date with Western Carolina is just what the doctor ordered for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

On the heels of their loss to Texas A&M, a loss that ruined their perfect season and very likely dashed their chances of winning their second consecutive BCS National Championship, No. 4 Alabama (9-1) is going to take out its frustration on a hapless Western Carolina (1-9) squad that never had a chance.

How out of hand is this game going to get?

The Catamounts have lost nine games in a row, allowing 42.9 points and 516.5 yards per game in that time. 

If ever Alabama QB A.J. McCarron and the Tide offense were going to get back on track, it's against this defense, which simply cannot cover Alabama's receivers and will have no answers for what the Tide wants to do on offense.

Defensively, Alabama has only one player to concern themselves with. That is, Catamounts QB Troy Mitchell, who can make plays with both his arm and his legs. Unfortunately, he's not been able to do that against teams like Wofford, Marshall or Appalachian State.

Does anyone really think Mitchell will be able to make plays, much less find the end zone, against Alabama's defense?

This is the third time that the two teams have met, with the Tide rolling both times—52-0 in 2004 and 52-6 in 2007.

If Western Carolina scores on Alabama's defense, it would be surprising.

This one promises to be one of those 52-3, 65-0 routs that we don't often see this late in the season.

Realistically, Alabama would probably benefit more from an intra-squad scrimmage than it will from this game. However, the Tide will at least be able to work on the things they need to improve on with little worry about dropping the game.

It's a glorified practice, and it's exactly what the Tide need as they get ready to take on an equally hapless Auburn squad next week before taking on legitimate competition in the SEC Championship Game.