Alabama didn’t so much win their game against Tennessee on Saturday as much as they escaped. Despite playing one of their worst games of the year they managed to keep their undefeated season alive as nose tackle Terrance Cody blocked a potential game winning field goal on the last play of the game to preserve a 12-10 victory for the Crimson Tide. Alabama held a tenuous 12-3 lead late in the game before a Tennessee touchdown and recovered onside kick had them facing the specter of the defeat for the first time this season. Instead, Alabama improved to 8-0 while Tennessee slipped to 3-4.

College football pointspread players who took Tennessee as +14 road underdogs were in good shape throughout the contest and eventually cashed their tickets. The Vols improved to 4-3 against the spread while the Crimson Tide dropped to 5-3 versus the number.

After the game, Cody recounted his blocked field goal attempt that saved the day:

“I didn’t really get off the ground. I just reached my arm up. That’s how I got it. I knocked the blocker back. He was on his back.”

First year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin wasn’t taking a ‘moral victory’ from the game:

“It’s a difficult loss to deal with. You come into a hostile environment and play the No. 1 team in the country, as I said before by far the No. 1 team in the country and the best-coached team around. You come in here and outgain them by nearly 100 yards and miss three field goals. I don’t believe in moral victories, we should have won that game.”

He explained the difficulty that placekicker Daniel Lincoln has getting elevation on his kicks since a quadriceps injury:

“He can’t kick the ball up high. If you kick the ball up high it’s never going to get there, so we can’t allow the penetration up front.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban views the game as a learning experience:

“You talk about how fragile a season is. You’re controlling a game, even though you may say it’s winning ugly. We’re still ahead 12-3 and totally controlling the game with 3 minutes, 29 seconds and the ball. That’s how fragile a season can be. You make one mistake and you have to go overcome it. I hope that there’s a lot of lessons our team can learn from this.”

Alabama has a week off before a tough game at home against LSU on November 7. They’ll play at Mississippi State the following week. Tennessee hosts South Carolina next Saturday and Memphis the following week. They’ll play at Ole Miss on November 14.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer specializing in mixed martial arts, college football and NFL betting. He serves as a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is a noted authority on Internet sportsbook betting of all forms. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and several pet geckos.

San Diego Charger tickets are already in high demand, several months before the season even opens. Fans, loyal for years, are excited about a new year and the possibilities open to them starting September 5, 2009. Deals are still being made, as to who they are trading, keeping, and who they are picking up, but that will not stop fans from anticipating a spectacular year and hope of a championship title.

The team had a phenomenal year last year, and were able to determine what their weaknesses are. From this, they decided to focus only on strengthen these weak points and nothing else. Management has chosen to look at the draft - only - for new players. There is a possibility, if absolutely necessary, that a trade or free agent may have a chance, but not as far as anyone knows right now. Fans are excited and know that, at this point, just about anything can happen.

The Chargers originated under the ownership of Barron Hilton, Conrad Hilton’s son, in 1959. These were the days were managing a football team still had some joy in it; you were not tied down by all of the red tape and legalities. When it was time to make changes to the team, it took no time at all compared to what it takes today.

In 1960, the Chargers set foot on the field for the first time as a team; however, they did this in Los Angeles. Not until 1961 were the Chargers known as the San Diego Chargers and they found a stadium in San Diego that they could call home. Players like Lance Alworth, John Hadl, and Paul Lowe brought the old team to fame as they were coached by Sid Gillman. This is where the San Diego Chargers came from; this is their foundation to greatness.

Hilton did not hold on to his franchise for long; after the sale, things began to look up for the team. This is the year the Chargers played against other amazing teams like the New York Jets - and they won! Their fan base began to grow exponentially at the news that the Chargers beat Super Bowl Champions! Unfortunate news came to the team when they found out that Gillman would be leaving due to health problems. However, moral was boosted when Charlie Waller - current offensive backfield coach - stepped into Gillman’s shoes. A number of changes occurred throughout the 60’s, but this only made the team stronger.

The San Diego Chargers are currently fighting their way towards their well-deserved Championship title. Near the end of the season in 2008 the team was at a 7-win, 8-loss record. This, right here, made fans begin digging for an available ticket they could find.

Their record, in 2008, gave the Chargers the chance to play the Denver Broncos - this was no easy feat. With a final score of 52-21, in favor of the Chargers, the Chargers now held an AFC Western Division Championship title. This win allowed the team to move forward in the playoffs, giving them one of their best seasons yet.

The excitement from last year has kept the fans anxious for an amazing season in 2009, one that will give them a Super Bowl win! As preparations are made, for the 2009 season, management focuses on strengthening their weaknesses, and making them the team the fans are expecting to see. There is no doubt that season tickets will be in high demand and many fans may be left watching games on the big screen.