Alabama-Kentucky is No Longer a Trap Game for the Crimson Tide

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The Alabama Crimson Tide came away with a smooth victory in Week 1, hammering East Carolina by a score of 48-10 this past Saturday in a result that surprised no one.

Now, Alabama will get its first taste of SEC play as it heads to Lexington to face the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend.

Obviously, Kentucky will represent a much bigger challenge than East Carolina. Everyone knows that, including the Crimson Tide.

So can this really be considered a trap game for Alabama?

It's easy to understand why some are concerned about this matchup for Kalen DeBoer's group. It's on the road against a less-heralded SEC opponent, and the Crimson Tide are favored … albeit not heavily.

But I actually do think Alabama will come very prepared for this affair, and for multiple reasons.

First of all, the Crimson Tide do not play a ranked opponent until facing Georgia on Oct. 10. Typically, trap games occur before or after a big game, because the favored team tends to overlook the underdog. That won't happen here.

Alabama just faced East Carolina and will then have unranked Florida State at home in Week 3. Yes, 'Bama may have revenge on its mind after getting embarrassed by the Seminoles in the season opener last year, but just how tough of an opponent is Florida State in Tuscaloosa?

Second, Kentucky is no joke. It has a new, innovative head coach in Will Stein, who had previously served as Oregon's offensive coordinator. It has a talented transfer quarterback in Kenny Minchey, the former Notre Dame commit who looked terrific in Week 1.

The Wildcats also possess some very intriguing wide receivers — such as explosive freshman Kenny Darby — as well as a pair of really good tight ends in Willie Rodriguez and Mikkel Skinner.

Is Kentucky's offense as loaded as Alabama's? Certainly not, but it's good enough where it represents a change for the Crimson Tide defense.

And finally, do you honestly think DeBoer is not going to have his team ready to play given all of the pressure surrounding him this season?

DeBoer cannot have any slip-ups against inferior opponents. He knows that. It would be bad enough to lose to Georgia or LSU; let alone Kentucky, a team that everyone expects Alabama to defeat.

I would be very surprised if the Crimson Tide didn't head into Kroger Field and take care of business this Saturday. There is absolutely no reason for Alabama to turn this into a trap.

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