Football

From the outset, Alabama was aggressive Saturday, particularly on offense, where new coordinator Brian Daboll didn’t return the Crimson Tide to stoic roots so much as he re-taught the offense how to lean forward. Gone was much of Kiffin’s finesse elements; in their place, more NFL-level schemes, strategies and attitude. When everything was clicking, this offense hearkened back to the best years of Jim McElwain and Doug Nussmeier.

Tennessee’s collapse against Kentucky will likely prove to be the pick that cost the Predictions Dept. a 90-percent success rate in 2011. Even with a correct prediction in this week’s SEC Championship Game, the best the Dept. can record is 89.7% for the year. Still, this has been the best season ever for the Predictions Dept., and we’ve had fun along the way. Now, our prediction for the SEC Championship Game.

Disclaimer: This is not an official University of Alabama document. The depth chart is taken from individual practice and game observations, and is color-coded....

Faced with the task of stopping Alabama’s balanced, efficient offense, Michigan State made the understandable call to sell out to stop Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry and force Alabama to put the game in QB Jake Coker’s hands. Three hours later, Michigan State coaches were asking for a mulligan.

Opinions vary greatly on Missouri's immediate future in the SEC. On one hand, this is a team that has become a dangerous offensive presence...

Disclaimer: This is not an official University of Alabama document. The depth chart is taken from individual practice and game observations, and is color-coded....

After a one-year experiment with a pro-style attack that ultimately cost Gene Chizik his job, Auburn is back to the land of the no-huddle spread offense under Gus Malzahn, who returns to Auburn after a year at Arkansas State. The Tigers hope to return to the glory days of 2010, but to do so, they'll have to do it without a quarterback anywhere near the level of Cam Newton, not to mention a defense that has been in a rut for years and a general lack of playmakers on offense.

The problem for Georgia is where there’s a hole, it’s a big one. The Bulldogs have no proven players at wideout or running back, and the secondary, while veteran-filled, didn’t play nearly as well in 2010 as its statistics indicated.

Projected Depth Chart for Alabama vs. New Mexico State. The depth chart is taken from individual practice and game observations, and is color-coded.

As gameplans go, the one Alabama used to defeat Florida for the 25th SEC championship in school history was stunningly simple: Alabama would use its defense to choke the life out of an anemic offense forced to work behind a thin, under-talented offensive line. Then the Crimson Tide would feed Florida a steady dose of Derrick Henry until the Gators wilted under the constant pressure. Sometimes, gameplans don’t play out the way they’re put together on chalkboards. But this one did.