Today is officially the beginning of the 2010 college football season. With that in mind I think there is no better time to do a season breakdown for Alabama.
Game 1: San Jose St. - The Spartans come to Tuscaloosa, having not beaten a ranked team on the road since the 1980’s. Alabama will play it’s first game without Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, with that in mind, this shouldn’t be much of a test. Sorry Spartans maybe you’ll break that streak next year? Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 2: Penn St. - The first true test for the Crimson Tide this year. A chance to see this young defense play against a proven opponent early in the season, maybe even see them grow up before our eyes. As Penn St. comes in after winning the 2010 Capital One Bowl against another SEC foe, the LSU Tigers. This could be the last time Joe Paterno steps foot inside of Bryant Denny Stadium, as he enters his 45th year as the Head Coach of the Nittany Lions. Penn St will try to establish some type of a ground game early, if they can not get one started this could be a long one for the offense. Alabama will have it’s work cut out for them while playing a scrappy defense, more than likely still without Ingram. In the end Alabama’s offense is just too strong and will make enough plays. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 3: Duke - Returning the favor to finish off this home and home series with the Blue Devils, the Crimson Tide will travel to Durham, NC to take on Birmingham native and Head Coach of the Blue Devils, David Cutcliffe, better known for his days at The University of Tennessee. This game might be close at the end of the 1st Quarter, but Alabama should soon blow the doors off this thing. (Random Fact: Ex-Alabama head coach and former great Wallace Wade, who won 3 national championships at The University of Alabama, left Alabama for Duke in 1931 where he lead the Blue Devils to their first Rose Bowl. The field is named after him “Wallace Wade Stadium”) Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 4: Arkansas - The Razorbacks get a chance to avenge the 35-7 loss handed to them by the Crimson Tide in 2009. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who some believe could be the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft has all the intangibles of any NFL quarterback. Mallett threw for 3627 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, while only throwing 7 interceptions. The Razorbacks have the offense to make this game a nail biter, but the lack of a defense may come back to haunt them in this one. Greg McElroy is hoping to recreate his performance from 2009 in which he had his best statistical game throwing for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns while throwing no interceptions. This game could be interesting, especially since it will be played at Razorback Stadium where Alabama has tended to have a bit of a problem playing at. I want to give this game as a toss up but I feel like I have to make a prediction. Arkansas’ lack of a defense shows up in a major fashion during this game. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 5: Florida - The rematch of the last two SEC Championships, the last two national champions, and the two programs in the SEC that are light years ahead of the rest. The post Tim Tebow era will get it’s first true test of the season, coming to Bryant Denny and playing under the lights. This game could be the first of two this season depending on how the East and West shake out at the end of the season. After Alabama’s first loss in 2008 at the hands of Tim Tebow and company in the SEC Championship, the Crimson Tide looked for revenge, for 365 days they trained, practiced. Got stronger, faster, smarter and overall…better. They got their chance last year and destroyed the Gators chance for a “dynasty”, Tim Tebow’s shot to win the Heisman two times in his career, and broke apart Florida’s chance for their first ever undefeated season as they dismantled the Gators 32-13 in the Georgia Dome. Now it’s Florida’s turn, they have heard all year they are second best to Alabama, they sat at home and watched as Alabama held up the crystal ball they so dearly wanted. John Brantly will have his work cut out for him against a young but talented Nick Saban coached defense, while on the other side of the ball, the Gators lost a lot but just as Alabama, they don’t lose it they just reload. This game has national title implications all over it. If Alabama can get it rolling early and get the crowd into it, this could be a lot like the last time Florida made a visit to Bryant Denny in 2005, when Alabama took down the Gators 31-3, but if the offense struggles and puts their young defense in a bad situation against this high powered offense this could be a bad sight for Alabama fans. I think Alabama puts some points on the board early, gets the crowd into it, and holds on late. It’s tough to beat Florida once, can they do it two times in a year? We will have to see. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 6: South Carolina - Steve Spurrier fields one of his best teams yet while at S. Carolina. Quarterback Stephen Garcia has heard complaints all offseason from his coach about his play and willingness to show the attitude needed to be a winner in the SEC. When the Crimson Tide come rolling into town, it’s time to put up or shut up. S. Carolina should have a sturdy defense, and with Marcus Lattimore a 6’0 215pd 4 star running back on their roster they should be able to be less one demential on offense. Columbia, South Carolina can be an intimidating place to play at night especially after coming off two big games in a row (Arkansas & Florida) there is a chance for a let down game, as Alabama will be dinged up and tired. On the flip side, S. Carolina will be coming off a bye where teams sometimes tend to be a little flat out of the gate. If S. Carolina shoots out of the gate with a couple of quick scores this could be another game that goes down to the final minutes. With Nick Saban at the helm, Alabama will always be in the game no matter what the score is. I think this could be another toss up, but with that said, S. Carolina not having a proven defense, and an offense that does tend to sputter out sometimes I think Alabama gets this one done as well. Final Prediction: Alabama
6-0 through the first 6 games, still a number one ranking and lots of BCS repeat talk. The back half of Alabama’s schedule is a complete disaster waiting to happen, as every team in the final 6 games has a bye week before they play the Crimson Tide. Could benefit them or it could hurt them. We will have to wait and see. It’s tough to stay mentality ready for 12 games in a year, especially when your playing in such a tough conference.
