DeVonta Smith more than making up for absence of Jaylen Waddle

DeVonta Smith dominated Mississippi State in the first half without Jaylen Waddle.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs had no answer for DeVonta Smith in the first half.

With Smith’s receiving buddy Jaylen Waddle out for the season with a broken ankle, he went out there on a mission to single-handedly destroy Mississippi State in primetime. Smith had nine catches for 159 yards and three trips to pay dirt. Conversely, the entire Mississippi State offense mustered a grand total of 38 yards on the Alabama Crimson Tide defense. This one is already over.

Alabama may be shorthanded, but the Crimson Tide are far from out of it

Alabama will remain a top-two team when the latest AP Top 25 Poll drops on Sunday afternoon. Though the Crimson Tide hasn’t usurped the Clemson Tigers just yet, they just might do it this week, especially with Clemson having to overcome an 18-point deficit vs. the Boston College Eagles at home. Yes, it was without Trevor Lawrence, but it didn’t need to be that close.

As for Alabama, the Crimson Tide continue to buzz saw through its SEC competition. Thus far, the high-octane offense of the Ole Miss Rebels was the only team to give them consistent trouble through four quarters. Though the Georgia Bulldogs led at halftime two weeks ago, the Dawgs turned into a pumpkin in the final two frames. Smith and Alabama continue to crush everyone.

Not having Waddle hurts Alabama in the postseason, but Smith and his teammates are doing just fine.

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