Saturday musings

If you want to see a team with the I-Bowl in its sights, then just look at the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Tide is bowl eligible with six wins. They were playing at home on Saturday against a Mississippi State team that had lost 23 consecutive games on the road in SEC play. So what does the Tide do? Alabama falls behind 24-10 at the half and loses 24-16.

Don't complain about Shreveport, boys. You did it to yourself.

Of course, the Tide may have some competition for Shreveport. The Georgia Bulldogs are in a free fall that would make the Flying Elvis' proud. Losing to Kentucky is just the kind of thing that punches the ticket to Shreveport.

But for the I-Bowl, Kentucky's win just about seals the deal on having an SEC team here this year.

According to ESPN radio, Florida coach Urban Meyer kicked Marcus Thomas off the team during the Gators' win over Vanderbilt. (Notice Meyer didn't kick Thomas off the team in the LSU, Alabama, Auburn or Georgia games).

(Wow, here's a shocker - ESPN radio WRONG. Apparently Meyer told the team on Friday of Thomas' dismissal.)

Michigan's struggles with Ball State show just how hard it is to bring the A game for 12 consecutive weeks.

Arkansas is playing like a team with a lot of confidence.