This is a tough one. For reasons already cited, I just don't think MSU can score unless we help them. They're even more one-dimensional than LSU. Stop Fitzgerald's run game, and you stop them. I think we can handle that.
But as many have already mentioned, we're banged up on offense -- Ruggs, Smith, N. Harris, Jalen, Tua for sure, and the list is probably longer than that. And for maybe the first time, I don't think Saban is being forthcoming on a topic. Regardless of Saban's statements to the contrary, Tua's leg is clearly not 100%.
I'd love to see Jalen play, starting in the second quarter. But he was in a boot before pre-game warmups, and would have played only in an emergency against LSU. So there's just no way he'll be good to go a week later. Which means Mac Jones is the backup for the second week in a row, and I just don't think he's ready for no-fooling playing time outside of mop-up duty. All of that to say that Tua probably plays longer than any of us would like, and every snap exposes that knee another time.
Plus, it's hard to reach an emotional peak two games in a row. Point being, the point spread opened at 24, and has already moved to 26. I don't think we'll be meaningfully pushed as far as winning the game, but would be moderately surprised if we cover that.
With Citadel coming the following week, I could see us looking ahead to Auburn. By the way, it will be interesting to see how we moderate the emotion for the barn. On the one hand, we want a little payback for last year, so I don't see focus and emotion as being an issue. On the other, UGA awaits only a week later, and we need a full tank for them, too.
Two years of this [***censored***] injury bug is getting old.