Crimson Tide will roll over the Irish like a tsunami

Fourteen national titles. Twenty-three SEC championships. Thirty-three bowl wins. One hundred seven All-Americas. One Heisman Trophy winner.

The "Bear." Gene Stallings. Nick Saban. Impressive resume? Yes. Front-runner? No.

It's 1992, I'm 8 years old and just beginning to play the game of football. My father, a die-hard Alabama fan, introduces the Crimson Tide to me. My first two games witnessed: The inaugural SEC title game against Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators, followed by the national-title game against Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and the Miami Hurricanes.

Two games, two wins.

I was instantly hooked. So what's the tie to 'Bama besides my dad being a fan since the Bear Bryant era? My aunt was a dean of women at Alabama during the 1970s.

I stuck with the Tide during a 17-year title drought that included probation, coaching changes, failed expectations, etc. I did not jump on the "bandwagon" in 2008 like some might assume.

Now, on to the game. Alabama vs. Notre Dame. The Tide and The Irish. Catholics vs. Cousins.

Two institutions that personify the great game of college football.

Notre Dame back in the title picture for the first time since "Dr. Lou" Holtz led the Golden Domers to glory in 1988.

The hype is great, all of the pregame analysis and breakdowns get you only more amped up and craving this epic clash of the titans even more.

But trust me, once the whistle blows and the game is under way it will be a beatdown of biblical proportions.

Irish fans, please explain to me how you believe you can compete? I'm sorry, but 3-point wins over Purdue and BYU? A lucky break against Stanford? Routing a pathetic Miami team? Needing three overtimes to beat Pittsburgh? I think you get my drift.

I'll take the Tide, 34-13, in this game. Alabama lost to a young quarterback in Johnny "Football" Manziel, but youngster Everett Golson isn't Mr. Manziel, who went on to win the Heisman.

From a weapons standpoint on offense, I can't see anybody posing a matchup problem to 'Bama except Irish tight end Tyler Eifert. The Tide will show plenty of balance on offense and be too much in the trenches for the Irish.

Notre Dame hangs in for a half, but 'Bama wears them down in the second half, proving that the SEC is a different animal. Much like Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o did in the

Heisman race, the Irish will finish second.

Hey, Irish fans, there's nothing to be ashamed about. Second out of more than 100 college teams isn't bad. It's just not good enough to be deemed national champions.

A BCS dynasty is before us, and Saban cements his legacy as the greatest college football coach in the BCS era. Roll damn Tide.

Nick Kayal is a SportsCenter anchor on the Mike Missanelli Show and producer of Brian Baldinger's show on 97.5 FM The Fanatic and hosts Sunday mornings and also does midday fill-in work during the week.