20/20 Hindsight: Alabama vs Kentucky

On a day full of higher-profile contests being played elsewhere, Alabama's effort against Kentucky early in the day was regulated to mostly just honed down versions of the AP story around the web. But there were a few pundits out there providing a bit more than the just-the-facts-ma'am breakdowns.

Cecil Hurt |  Tuscaloosa News

For most of a blustery first half, the Kentucky Wildcats had to feel like they had a chance to upset the No. 3 University of Alabama. But in the space of little more than a minute, that chance was gone with the wind.

Chip Cosby |  Lexington Herald-Leader

UK stood toe-to-toe with the rough-and-tumble Crimson Tide for most of the first half. It had some success running the ball and forced Alabama into a trio of three-and-outs. But just before halftime, the same kind of meltdown that took Kentucky out of the Florida game struck again.

Ray Melick |  Birmingham News

Talk about your killer instinct. This Alabama team is like an assassin, completely unconcerned with all the commotion going on around it, calm in the midst of what seemed like chaos.

Chris Low |  ESPN

One of the reasons I believe Alabama to be the most complete football team in the SEC at this point is the Crimson Tide's ability to score points in a number of different ways... The Tide can play better. That's for sure. But even when they're not on their A-game, they're capable of putting up big points.

Truzenzuzex | A Sea of Blue

Just as most Kentucky fans suspected (judging from the remarkable absence of people in the open game thread), Kentucky was not up to defeating the talented, powerful Crimson Tide.  Alabama played nearly mistake-free football, having relatively few penalties and no turnovers.

Mike Herndon |  Mobile Press Register

Alabama might not have looked like a championship team for parts of Saturday's game. But on a day when it wasn't at its best, the Crimson Tide still beat a respectable SEC opponent by three scores. That's what championship teams do.

Tim Gayle |  Montgomery Advertiser

For a few anxious moments, Alabama fans must have thought the college football gods were conspiring against them... When Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson slammed Tide runner Trent Richardson to the turf in the end zone for an apparent safety, the Commonwealth Stadium faithful of 70,967 smelled an upset. Then, just as quickly, the winds shifted. So did Kentucky's fate.

Gentry Estes |  Huntsville Times

Kentucky did everything to hang with third-ranked Alabama except stay out of its own way... Saturday's game was essentially a statistical toss-up. Kentucky tallied more first downs and passing yards, but the Wildcats (2-2, 0-2 SEC) couldn't recover from a 107-second stretch that spanned into both halves and featured two turnovers and 21 points for the Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0).

Michael Casagrande |  Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Alabama had been among the worst in taking possession away from the opposition with just four turnovers coming into Saturday. It doubled that total with three interceptions and a fumble recovery that helped steal any momentum away from Kentucky.