Bryan Albin’s College Football Preview

After the long, long wait, I am finally ready to debut my #1 team in the Country. Let’s just say we will start 2010 where we left off in 2009.

1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

2009 Recap-         Alabama was coming off of a very difficult end to the 2008 season when a loss to Florida in the SEC title game denied the Crimson Tide their national championship aspirations. Then a loss to Utah in the Sugar bowl left ‘Bama looking for a big year in 2009. A win over Virginia Tech in Atlanta got the Bowl rolling for the Tide in 2009. It took a last second field goal block to survive Tennessee. Then, in the last game of the regular season, after falling behind Auburn 14-0, Alabama staged a late comeback to win 26-21. Then, Alabama throttled Florida in the SEC Championship and then rolled over Texas 37-21 in the BCS Title game. RB Mark Ingram won the Heisman trophy, as Alabama is officially the nation’s new powerhouse under Nick Saban.

Offense- The Alabama offense returns most of its starters from a year ago, which is certainly great news for the Rolling Tide. Alabama scored 32.7 points per game last year, and they did it behind a strong rushing attack. Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram is back and he will be backed up by RB Terry Richardson, who might be the best #2 back in the Country. With QB Greg McElroy returning, as well as star WR Julio Jones, Alabama has all the weapons it needs at the skill positions to have an explosive offense in the defensive SEC conference.

Defense- The Alabama defense was stifling a year ago. Opponents scored 11.7 points per game against the Crimson Tide in 2009. However, Alabama lost a ton of key players from that team. DT Terrence Cody, LB Rolando McClain and CB Javier Arenas are all gone from last years team. The defense is going to need Dont’a Hightower to step u and become a key performer now that he is returning from injury. True freshman CB will DeMarcus Millner is going to have to be able to step in right away and replace Arenas. Normally I would be worried about a team that has to replace as many starters on defense as the Crimson Tide has to, but Nick Saban has the ability to stockpile defensive talent like no one else, so I have faith that the ‘Bama defense will be ready to perform from the get-go.

Schedule- There’s going to be a bunch of challenging games on the Alabama schedule in 2010. On September 11th, ‘Bama has a huge game against Penn State in Tuscaloosa. A brutal three game stretch at Alabama, home against Florida and at South Carolina will really test Alabama and prove what they bring to the table this year. Road games against Tennessee and LSU will also be difficult tests for the Crimson Tide, but probably not as difficult as the Iron Bowl rivalry game against Auburn will be in the last week of the season.

Prediction- I believe Alabama will get off to a 2-0 start after a statement win over Penn State in the 2nd win of the season.  Arkansas will be trailing, but find a way to win at Arkansas. After another brutal win over Florida at home and a road win at South Carolina, Alabama will have solidified its # 1 ranking. Road wins over Tennessee and LSU will not come easily, but Alabama will get it done and then seal a 3rd straight 12-0 regular season with a win over Auburn. A win over Florida in the SEC title game and then a win over Boise State in the BCS title game will have Alabama firmly established as the best College Football program in the nation.