Question of the Day: Sugar Bowl Edition

As if you didn't already get enough of President Palmer reminding you at every other commercial break that our economy absolutely sucks right now...

Allstate Sugar Bowl (8 PM ET, FOX) What Effect, if any, will the suspension of Andre Smith have on Alabama's Offense? In all honestly I did not think the loss of the Outland Trophy Award winning left tackle was going to be that big of a deal before a few days ago, when I read in a preview that the last time Alabama played without Smith they were held to just 172 total yards of offense - by far their lowest total of the season, and actually their lowest offensive output total in eight years (!).

The fact that such a stat could come against a team as mediocre as Tulane does not bode well considering the Crimson Tide will be going up against a fairly strong Utah defensive front. I know people like to brag about how Utah's defense has never seen such a physical offense but remember that Utah coach Kyle Wittingham comes from a defensive pedigree and that his Utes actually ranked a surprising 14th in rush defense and 17th in total defense in the entire country this year. This will be a highly motivated Utah team and if Alabama struggles to establish an offensive identity early without Smith than the Crimson Tide could be in for a real battle the rest of the game.