Tide Tidbits - December 4, 2008

SI: 'Bama bashers, unite
Bill Maher once cautioned against saying anything "truthful but unflattering" about a woman. I feel the same way about Alabama football. Last year, I took many a shot at Nick Saban for being, well, Nick Saban. Earlier this season, though, I flip-flopped and found it within myself to praise Saban for his coaching prowess. A snake or not, the dude can flat out coach. But I'm here to tell you that I'm not buying it. Sorry. I don't think this team will win the national championship. I don't think this team will win this Saturday. And it's not because I'm trying to play devil's advocate. It's because there's still a part of me that believes Saban the devil himself.

ESPN: Breaking the huddle on Gators vs. Crimson Tide
With an almost certain berth in the BCS National Championship Game there for the taking, No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Florida have more on their minds than winning the Southeastern Conference. When the Crimson Tide and the Gators play Saturday at the Georgia Dome, the league championship is the silver medal -- at most. There's more at stake in this game than even the crystal football. The SEC championship game is a renewed clash of generational powers. It is a soap opera. And it will serve as a referendum on the most dominant style of play in a league that has provided three of the past five BCS national champions. It's Armani versus Brooks Brothers

‘Bama finds itself a dome ‘dog again
Alabama has pushed aside all comers on its way to a perfect regular season, climbed to the top of the rankings and stuck around for quite awhile. Now, it's back to Square One for team No. 1: As an underdog in the Georgia Dome. No. 2 Florida is a 10-point favorite to topple the top-ranked Crimson Tide Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta, where 'Bama opened the season as an underdog to Clemson. "I ain't worried about that at all," Tide cornerback Javier Arenas said. "It's been like that the whole season, starting with Clemson and going to Georgia. You're accustomed to it now."

Roll Tide!