Delusional Optimism is Just That

This is not the Game of the Century, part whatever. When LSU and Bama faced down in 2011, those were too juggernauts who met in the middle of the field and bludgeoned each other with hammers until Eric Reid made a spectacular interception and we all went home happy.

This 2018 team is not that team. I’d be lying to you if I tried to tell you this team was that juggernaut. It’s not. It’s a team that was picked to finish fifth in the SEC and started the season with the coach, inexplicably, on the hot seat.

And this Bama team is every bit as good as you’ve heard. I’m not sure if they are the greatest team of all-time good, but their roster is stacked with talent. They’ve got a Heisman contender in Tua under center, which takes the spotlight away from their two running backs who both average over six yards per carry.

Sure, their schedule sucks. They’ve also beaten everyone on their schedule by at least three touchdowns. The biggest nailbiter they have played in was 31-13 at the half. We do ourselves no favors by pretending that Bama is some paper tiger on an illusion of the schedule. This team is awesome.

LSU is a double-digit underdog, and not for the first time this year. Let’s check what happened the last time LSU was a double digit underdog? Oh, right.

Bama is better? So what? Bring them on. LSU was left on the side of the road a long time ago. Hell, we’re still hearing how we’re not that good and at any moment Bobby Ewing is going to step out of the shower to reveal it was all a dream.

You think this team gives a rat’s ass about the odds? According to the odds, LSU has three losses already. If this team gave a crap what anyone outside the locker room said, they wouldn’t have even bothered to suit up this season, much less storm their way to the top five.

Even the Death Star had a weakness in the ventilator shaft. All we need is for one of our Jedi masters to deliver that photon torpedo in the right place at the right time. And LSU doesn’t need nearly that level of miracle to win the game.

We don’t need magic. We don’t need a refereeing conspiracy. Nope, we just need to rock the earth. We need our playmakers to make plays. We need unexpected heroes to stand up and become new heroes. We need someone to become a legend.

Because if not us, then who? Bama’s remaining games are against Mississippi St, the Citadel, and Auburn. That’s it. The only thing standing between Bama and a 12-0 season is LSU and that collection of second teamers. OK, then Bama would likely play Georgia, a team that lost to LSU by 20. I’m just sayin’, this is the last real line of defense.

Either college football is completely overrun by these humorless automatons, or LSU nips this in the bud right here. No one believes in us? Par for the friggin’ course. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

There is no reason why LSU should win this game. Alabama ranks first in the SEC in yards/play. LSU ranks dead last. LSU ranks 13^th in yards per rush and 12^th in yards per pass in the SEC. Know what? It hasn’t stopped us from winning so far.

This whole year has defied logic. Why start concerning ourselves with it now? Yes, Delusional Optimism is meant to be ironic. There’s nothing delusional in believing in one of the most talented teams in the country with one of the best runs of recent success would continue that run of success. But now we are running head long into the Valley of Death.

There is no Leonard Fournette this year. There’s not even a Jarvis Landry. What we have instead is 85 guys who bleed purple and gold who have leapt over obstacle so far and slowly built the most successful team in the country against the most difficult schedule. There’s no reason why it should be this team, but it was. Football doesn’t have to make sense.

It’s been seven long, painful years since the Game of Century, the last time LSU beat Alabama. There’s no reason why this year should break that streak. But nothing about this year or this team has made sense so far. Why start now?

I believe. The coaches believe. I guaran-damn-tee you that every single player in that locker room believes. Most teams lose to Bama before the game is ever played, scared of the big, bad bully. Well, we know how to deal with bullies. You punch them in the face. Again. And again, if you have to.

There’s no logical reason to believe LSU is going to upset Bama this weekend. That’s precisely why this team is going to do it.

The question is, do you believe?