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Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley stiff-arms a would-be tackler during an interception return for a touchdown in Alabama's 63-7 win over Georgia State on Nov. 18, 2010, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

In looking for a silver lining, in trying to find something positive to say about the Alabama-Georgia State game, it’s hard to say more than this:

It won’t be the biggest mismatch in Alabama history. But only because this 800-pound gorilla has met that 98-pound weakling after school once before.

Alabama actually had the total lack of shame to accept Bill Curry’s bizarre homecoming request and line up against the Panthers in their very first year as a football program in 2010.

Blame Curry, the first coach in Georgia State history and quite possibly the most unpopular coach in Alabama history, for putting the wheel of that steamroller in motion. Blame Alabama for not saying, “Thanks, but can we buy some donuts or just write you a check instead?”

If 63-7 can be considered a charitable contribution, that one was.

Once should’ve been enough, but guess who’s coming to T-town again Saturday? A Georgia State program in its fourth season of existence, its first year as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

There’s simply no excuse, no legitimate reason, no plausible explanation whatsoever for what’s going to happen this weekend in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The best program in college football has no business playing what is quite possibly the worst team in the sport. Georgia State is 0-4 this season, with two of those losses to Samford (31-21) and Jacksonville State (32-26 in OT).

Georgia State gets nothing out of this encounter other than a fat check for the program and a few Instagram photos for the players during their wide-eyed walk-through. Alabama gets nothing out of it beyond a lot of playing time for freshman phenoms such as Derrick Henry who haven’t yet earned legitimate snaps.

It’s nice that Georgia State coach Trent Miles’ wife, Bridget, is a 2001 Alabama graduate, but can’t she get back to campus on her own time?

Don’t remind me that Terry Bowden and Akron almost beat Michigan, as Nick Saban did during his Monday press conference, as some kind of lesson in what’s possible Saturday. It’s not possible, and besides, Akron’s been playing football since 1891.

Not good football, but still. The Zips started playing in Division I-AA in 1980 and moved to I-A in 1987. They’ve even played in a bowl game.

Alabama deserves some sprinkles on its schedule like everyone else, but there should be a limit on how far down the food chain the two-time defending champions are willing to travel.

Not to mention, for the eleventy billionth time, if Alabama is going to play this kind of game, there are starving FBS programs in this state, too. UAB, Troy and South Alabama, to name a few.

Charity should begin at home. Meanwhile, there's only one way for Alabama fans to protest this kind of overpriced and unnecessary abuse this weekend. Stay at home.