Chapter 83 A thin line separates
In the seventh week of the 2016 NCAA regular season, one focus game after another was full of smoke and heat, and it was not inferior to the NFL.
Alabama, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA, faces Tennessee, which is ranked No. 7. The Alabama Crimson Tide, which faced doubts about the quality of its victory after six consecutive victories, faced a strong opponent for the first time because its previous opponents were not strong.
Before the start of the game, there were countless bustling discussions and analyses. Although Alabama was still favored to win, professionals generally believed that the University of Tennessee, which was in good shape this season, could cause trouble for Shaban's team and become Levi's team. touchstone.
However.
"49:10".
Alabama in front, Tennessee in back.
The game was a waste. The defending champion responded to all doubts with an absolutely strong performance and unstoppably extended the winning streak to seven games.
Levi, who stood quietly under the spotlight, once again delivered a perfect answer:
180 yards on the ground. Three running touchdowns.
Levi teamed up with Jacobs and Clark to completely destroy Tennessee's ground defense. Everyone knows that the Crimson Tide is a traditional running back school, but only those who have experienced it personally can know what it is like to face the Crimson Tide running backs——
So scary.
The Crimson Tide Storm running back team scored a total of five running touchdowns, and their overwhelming performance overwhelmed the Tennessee defense team, which was dizzy and unable to breathe.
Originally, people were looking forward to a strong conversation. Even if Tennessee couldn't win, it could at least test Alabama's bottom line.
But they didn't expect that the game was completely one-sided, and the suspense was lost in the first half. The Crimson Tide's ability on both ends of the offense and defense was a whole new level, making seventh-ranked Tennessee look like a seven-year-old child.
The melon-eaters who were waiting to watch the show returned disappointed.
Fortunately, there is more than one game worthy of attention this week, and the real focus is not here. People can always believe in "Jackson VS Watson".
Watson, a junior, was a popular candidate for the Heisman Trophy last season, finishing third. This season, he has grown and upgraded in an all-round way. Clemson, which has been a strong team in the past few seasons, has taken a step forward and completed its transformation. Become a super strong team and make bold claims to win the championship before the start of the season.
Jackson, a sophomore, is a rising star. He has been reborn this season like a comet. His playing style of passing and running is absolutely pleasing to the eye and has won the favor of countless fans. He single-handedly brought the University of Louisville, which had no such player, to the top of the pyramid and became the champion. Popular.
Currently, the two teams are ranked third and fifth in the NCAA, which is almost the same; but no matter who it is, the Crimson Tide Storm's throne is still stable. Anyone who wants to challenge Shaban's team must test the quarterback's ability. Condition——
Offense, whose offense can break down Alabama's shield?
This showdown is a preview.
Before the game, the two teams were engaged in a constant war of words, with smoke and sparks flying.
The competition lived up to expectations.
In the first quarter of the game, the two teams had such a strong desire to win that they performed abnormally and made constant mistakes. As a result, no one scored. The fans who were looking forward to a battle were very disappointed.
"0:0".
You can feel the tension of this matchup from the score, but after this stage, both teams have completed their warm-up——
Full firepower.
"42:36".
Combined, the two teams scored a total of ten touchdowns in the game, six passing touchdowns, four running touchdowns, and multiple free kicks.
Until three minutes before the end of the game, the Louisville Cardinals still led "36:34", but Watson showed a big heart and completed a 25-yard long pass for a touchdown in the final push. , and took a risk and successfully attempted a two-point conversion, coming from behind to kill the game. The ups and downs and twists and turns of the game ended with the victory of junior Watson.
Jackson, who has been going smoothly so far this season and is unbeatable, has hit a wall for the first time, and the Heisman Award odds have quietly changed.
Although Jackson still ranked first, Watson quickly narrowed the gap. The two were inseparable, which undoubtedly became the biggest attraction in this year's college competition.
Jackson was also feeling aggrieved, but he didn't expect that something even more depressing and irritable was yet to come.
"who?"
Jackson couldn't believe his ears.
Why did he hear the name of a running back in the postgame news interview when he faced off against Watson, the two quarterbacks who are the strongest contenders for the Heisman Trophy?
Running back! That's a running back!
However, the reporter didn't care. Seeing Jackson's expression made him even more excited.
On one side, Alabama won, and on the other side, Louisville lost; on the other side, Levi's continued strong output earned more and more attention, and on the other side, Jackson hit the wall head-on in front of Watson, and Jackson lost to Watson and Watson. Theson's loss to Levi, rounding off, is the same as Jackson's loss to Levi?
Anyway, there is a thin line between heaven and hell.
Now, reporters are eager to piss Jackson off.
"In the seventh week of the game, the Crimson Tide won the game. Levi rushed for three touchdowns. The top seed defeated the University of Tennessee with an absolutely strong performance. What do you think of this?"
Jackson took a breath, this... this is simply unreasonable!
He is going to talk about Watson, he is going to talk about the future duel between himself and Watson, he is going to talk about the outcome and feelings of this game, he is going to talk about the prospects of the Heisman Award, he Prepare to talk about the future prospects.
But Levi?
What the hell is this.
The string of reason in the young and energetic Jackson's mind was still broken, because it was too ridiculous, so he couldn't hold it back and laughed in anger.
"That's just Tennessee. There's no need to make such a fuss, right? Alabama didn't face Florida State, it didn't face Clemson, and I don't think their win was anything to discuss."
"Let me tell you, I don't think Alabama is the favorite to win the championship. NCAA rankings have never been of reference value. You don't understand."
"Don't forget, the last time they faced that so-and-so, that team ranked 17th or 19th, they almost capsized in the gutter, didn't they? In the next game, their so-called offensive strength The team tag will be revealed soon, trust me, you won’t have to wait long.”
Regarding the University of Mississippi, Jackson really didn’t mean it——
He really wasn't paying attention, and he really didn't care.
It is precisely because of this that when reporters were besieging Levi's questions at this moment, Jackson became more and more ridiculous and angry, unable to believe his ears.
There was a sound of burning anger above the eardrums. Jackson had to use all his strength to control his urge to explode and rein in the precipice.
"For now?"
"I don't care about other teams or other players. We will focus on ourselves, sum up the experience of this game, continue to improve and progress, and grow into a strong team."
"At the end of the season, the championship is ours."
An understatement, but a statement.
Jackson means it, 100 percent.
The seventh update.
(End of this chapter)