Okay let’s think about this for a moment.

Thanksgiving, a day when we give thanks to God for all of his many blessings in our lives, is on Thursday. Families, some who haven’t seen each other since last Christmas, will gather around a table overloaded with more food then you would find in some third-world countries. They will enjoy re-telling old stories, will tell jokes, will laugh, will cry, hug, kiss, you name it. It will be a beautiful thanksgiving day.

But then…things will change.

When the sun drops below the horizon on Thursday afternoon, something crazy will happen. As the midnight hour approaches, an ominous, almost ghostly transition will take place in homes all across the state. Those very same families that were so loving and kind late Thursday afternoon, will enter the kitchen for breakfast on Friday morning with a new “attitude.”

Some will be donning red and white, others, orange and blue.

One group will wear hounds tooth jackets, will have big red and white A’s on their shirts, and a few of those same “types” will actually be seen wearing large hats that include a box of “Tide” laundry detergent, sandwiched between two rolls of toilet paper (roll – tide –roll).

The other type will not be much prettier. They will have tiger prints on their shirts, hats and underwear, and a few will have a tiger tail sticking out of their pants (or the trunk of their car – I never really GOT that one).

The Iron Bowl is on Friday. A day when some wives won’t talk to their husbands, some kids won’t talk to their friends, and many of those sweet, adorable, loving grandma’s who spent the last three days making turkey, dressing and sweet potato casserole to die for, will become more angry and obnoxious than a character from the new Left 4 Dead video game.

There is more anticipation for and passion over this one single game than any other sporting event throughout the year. At least in the state of Alabama.

The transition from good to bad this coming Thursday and Friday hasn’t been this drastic since “W” moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Obama moved in.

So in the spirit of both emotion-filled days, I will take a moment to mention some things I am thankful for, then tell you who will win the game.

Things I am thankful for:

-That Jesus Christ died for me

-My parents, who always loved me, supported me and encouraged me

-My family, church, country and all the blessings God has bestowed upon me over the last 44 years.

-Our brave and dedicated troops as well as the veterans who have put their lives on the line to protect our country and our freedom.

-The health of my three children

-Computers with Internet access (when it functions properly)

-My mom’s spaghetti sauce recipe

-Electricity

-Deodorant

-Rainy Sunday afternoons

-Andy Andrews books

-Softball season

-Indoor plumbing

-Movies staring Isla Fisher, Nicole Kidman, or Sandra Bullock

-Those little car air fresheners that look like trees

-The fact that Obama will probably only be a one-term president

-Weekends

-Monday night football

-Living on the beach

-Great things God has in store for me in the days to come

Now, about the game:

(#2) Alabama at Auburn – Alabama’s next three games don’t get any bigger. Auburn, their in-state rival, followed by Florida for the SEC Championship. If they get past both of those, a shot at a national title, more than likely against the Longhorns. Auburn would like nothing more than to get the Tide back for blasting them 36-0 a year ago, and to ruin their perfect season.

Tide QB Greg MeElroy, who is a native of Texas said it best when he said this game “is the greatest rivalry in college football.”

But here is the problem for the Tigers. They have given up more points then any team in the SEC this season, and they have to stop a very effective Tide offense led by Heisman Trophy contender Mark Ingram. That could be a tough job. Their only hope is that Ben Tate, the SEC’s third leading rusher, and their fast paced offense, will have their biggest game of the year.

I think it will be close for 2 and a half quarters, but like in other games this year, Auburn will run out of gas. Bama just has too many weapons.

Alabama 31 – Auburn 21

Everyone have a happy thanksgiving AND a fun, exciting and event free Iron Bowl Friday.

-Hit ‘em straight