Alabama's First Game Is More of a Contest Than Many Think

I Just got back from a week off.  I went to Las Vegas.  It's an interesting place with many interesting opinions.  But it's the one place where opinions are usually backed up with the cash.  Whether you're solving a crime or looking for answers, one old ditty almost always rings true: "When in doubt, follow the money."

I had a chance to talk to several sports book managers and employees from some of the biggest casinos on the strip and all pretty much sang the same tune: "'Bama's gonna have their hands full in the first game against Virginia Tech."

Start with the fact that both teams were 20-1 favorites to win it all when I got there.  Vegas sees both teams as top 10 contenders but with too little firepower to wrest the trophy from the mouth of a Gator. 

Also factor in the early money is evenly split between the two teams in the "Straight Up" bet.  As of yet, no odds for the game have been posted.

The game will be played on a "neutral site," where both teams have played before and feel equally comfortable. Both teams have question marks on offensive abilities and both seem like teams reaching their peak, but not quite there.

"In a game like this, there's no doubt that momentum plays a big role," Nick Saban told me earlier this year.

"We were fortunate last year to establish a tone against Clemson that they couldn't recover from.  We hope to do the same in this game this year, but unlike last year, we won't surprise anyone by being tough. People know us and we're not going to sneak up on anyone like last year."

Speaking of momentum, a win for either team will catapult them into talk for contention to both conference championships and BCS consideration. Nick Saban will look like a genius if he escapes both this and last year's opening day match ups with a win.

No matter the outcome, Alabama has committed itself to trying to maintain these opening day games with "contenders." And while last year's game sent 'Bama fans through the roof on the expectation meter, this one could do just the same thing. 

I expect this game to live up to everything we would expect from these two teams. It won't be an easy win for either team. Don't believe me? Just follow the money.