Nearly a week after Alabama’s first loss in 19 games it’s time to put the first half of the season behind us and move on to the second half of the season. This half of the season may offer just as many chances for slip ups as it’s counterpart did. The next 6 games also consist of 6 straight teams coming off bye weeks before playing Alabama. We all saw what a week can do for a team after the egg we laid in Columbia.
Everyone also needs to remember, that we can still control our own destiny for our quest for back to back titles. A 13-1 Crimson Tide team would more than likely get the nod over an undefeated Boise St. or TCU. Strength of schedule will play a role in this fight as well, in which Alabama would win easily.
I am out of the first 6 games with a record of 5-1, called the Arkansas game almost completely correct. My lone loss was Alabama’s lone loss, South Carolina. Time to move on to the breakdowns.
Game 7: Ole Miss - Ole Miss comes rolling into Bryant Denny at what could be the worst possible time for the Rebels. Alabama is still angry about a loss against S. Carolina and will try to get their season back on track against the 64th ranked total defense in all of college football. Ole Miss is allowing a little over 360 yards per game to their opponents which could pose a very serious problem for a team that will try their best to stay in the game. Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt has a reputation for pulling one major upset a year and this could have the makings for that upset if Alabama’s defenses head is still spinning from that upset last week in Columbia. Julio Jones is still questionable after sustaining a hand injury which required surgery after the South Carolina game. I think Alabama comes out a little sluggish against the Rebels and this game could be close through the first quarter and some of the second quarter. Alabama will slowly pull away with a strong running attack and balanced offense and homecoming will go as planned with the Crimson Tide leaving Bryant Denny with a win. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 8: Tennessee - The third Saturday in October. Pride. Tradition. Bad Blood. This game will have all of these . Though this Tennessee isn’t what it has been in years past this game will still be a tough one, any game in Knoxville is a battle. The Volunteers rank 78th in scoring defense allowing 27.50 points per game to their opponents. Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley, who was taught by Nick Saban, stepped into a bad situation in Knoxville but has them looking in the right direction. A close loss to LSU, a hard fought game against Florida, and an almost perfect first half against Oregon, this team can keep it competitive with almost any team in the country. Alabama will try to improve their road record to 3-1. I think the Crimson Tide will start again slow on the road, but this team is not S. Carolina, the two weeks keep this game closer than it should be, much like last years match up which ended 12-10 with a game winning field goal. It won’t require a miracle to win this game but this game will be closer than expected. Alabama gets out alive, and crawls into their bye week to get healthy. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 9: LSU - Death Valley. Night game. Those are enough words to strike fear in most of any team in the SEC or the nation for that matter. LSU is 201-59-3 in home games played at night since 1960. One of the best home field advantages will test the Crimson Tide who will be playing one of the best defenses in the nation as well. LSU holds the 5th best total defense in the nation giving up less than 250 yards per game, led by Patrick Peterson who is an electric cornerback and return man. The toughest road game for Alabama this season and the biggest test to date. Alabama vs LSU games are always some of the hardest hitting, old school football you’ll see. There is nothing but bad blood between these two teams. LSU spent their offseason practicing in purple shirts that had script “A”s on them as a symbol that to be the best, you have to beat the best. In Alabama’s last visit to Death Valley in 2008 the Crimson Tide escaped in overtime with a 27-21 victory which sealed up their first division title since 1999. As if Baton Rouge wasn’t already going to be electric, Nick Saban comes back to LSU for the second time as an Alabama head coach, 7 years after leading the Bengal Tigers to a national championship in 2003. This game will be a tough one, and a toss up for two reasons. 1. How will Alabama handle the most hostile environment it has ever been in? 2. Can LSU’s defense keep up the impressive numbers against a balanced Alabama offense? If Alabama establishes the run game and forces LSU to beat them through the air the Crimson Tide could win this game by 10-14, but if Alabama can’t establish a ground game this game could come down to a last second field goal in which could go either way. Much like the 2008 game. I have a feeling Alabama can pull this one out, on the back of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. This will be a low scoring defensive struggle and one of the most physical games all year. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 10: Mississippi State - The Crimson Tide come back to Bryant Denny for it’s first home game in 3 weeks as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Mississippi State’s offense is based around the Spread formation which is a mostly run first type scheme, the benefit is being the 23rd best rushing team in the nation averaging 211 yards per game on the ground, the downfall is being the 72nd best passing team in the nation averaging only a little over 200 yards per game in the air. Alabama will turn the Bulldogs into a one dimensional offense and force the Bulldogs to beat them through the air. This game will be tough but the Tide pulls away in the second half and wins this one easily. Dan Mullen just doesn’t have the talent there yet, they are still a year or two away from being a serious contender for the West. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 11: Georgia St - Georgia St comes to Bryant Denny for the first time, this isn’t because we have never scheduled this team before, it’s because this college simply didn’t have a football program until this year. Led by former Alabama coach Bill Curry the Panthers come into Bryant-Denny a week before the Iron Bowl. Former Alabama quarterback Star Jackson will be on the sidelines for Georgia St after transferring there earlier this year. The emotion will be out of the stadium by half time and the game will have been decided by that time as well. This game has no makings of a Louisiana Monroe game from 2007, nor does it have the Appalachian St win over Michigan feel to it. This game simply won’t be, well, a game. The fans will watch an over matched Panthers team try to hold on for dear life as they battle an Alabama team ready to get to Auburn. The Tide will roll in this game by 20-30+ points. Final Prediction: Alabama
Game 12: Auburn - The Iron Bowl. A possible matchup of top 10-15 teams. Cam Newton, a Heisman candidate. Mark Ingram, the reigning Heisman trophy winner. The Tigers will bring in their high powered offense into Bryant-Denny for the first time since 2008 where they folded like a cheap tent 36-0. This Auburn team is different, this Auburn team has playmakers, Auburn team has speed, and finally this Auburn team has a quarterback. Alabama will spy Cam Newton all game and force him to throw the ball, something he hasn’t been comfortable with so far in this season. They will take their chances in the secondary as this defense has no excuse about being young 12 games into the season. Simply put, this Iron Bowl is what the Iron Bowl should be, two top teams going at it for not only the SEC West championship, a chance to go to Atlanta and play in the SEC Championship but also a chance to jump higher in the polls and put themselves in the National Championship game. Last year Alabama had a game winning drive that stopped the potential upset from derailing their national championship chances. This year both teams are in the hunt. Playing at Bryant-Denny will be an advantage for the Crimson Tide, feeding off of 101,000+ fans who will be keeping Tuscaloosa rocking all week long. I think Alabama gets off to a fast start, and starts to sputter out towards half time. Auburn puts themselves back in the game in the 3rd quarter but Alabama finally keeps back into gear and wins this game by 10-17 points, stopping Auburn’s potential dream season and sending Alabama back to Atlanta looking for revenge on their mind with a possible rematch with South Carolina looming. Final Prediction: Alabama
Regular Season Record: 11-1
Those are my thoughts on these games. I hope that you enjoy them and take them for what they are worth. I hope I am right on these breakdowns, thank you so much for reading.
