Kudos to Nick Saban for actually getting the old timeout-before-the-field-goal trick to work. If not, we'd have a ballgame here.

Morgan Hull appeared to make a 40-yarder just before the half, but Saban called a timeout moments before the snap. On the second shot, Alabama blocked it. Huge momentum shift back for the Crimson Tide.

Other than that, the only thing you need to know about the first half was Glen Coffee, who ran for 99 yards on 11 carries, with a nifty 41-yard touchdown scamper up the sideline that gave the Crimson Tide a 10-0 lead.

Auburn doesn't look beat, but it sure looks like it's in rough shape.

Other notes, thoughts, etc:

• Clinton Durst has five punts and is averaging 41.4 yards. And that's with a shank that only went 20.
  

• Auburn's big-time weapon, its kick return unit, did next to nothing in the first half. The Tigers averaged 16.7 yards on three attempts, none going longer than 18 yards.

• Kodi Burns has gotten better the last few weeks, but he still has no touch on the ball. He throws a 7-yard crossing pattern the way he throws a 30-yard post -- 100 mph.

• Passing stats: Burns -- 5-for-14, 47 yards; John Parker Wilson -- 5-for-10, 53 yards.

• Total yards: Alabama 159, Auburn 96.

• First downs: Alabama 8, Auburn 6.

• Rushing stats: Burns -- 7 carries, 16 yards; Mario Fannin -- 6 carries, 14 yards; Team -- 18 rushes, 49 yards.

Anyone want to put odds on Auburn scoring 11 points in the second half? I'll wager it's somewhere in the 30-to-1 range.