Post-mortem: Bama ended up mostly meeting expectations
Alabama mostly met expectations this year, in regards to what kind of team it put on the field. In respect to what it accomplished, Alabama probably exceeded expectations. TideFans.com projected Alabama to capture the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff (behind No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oklahoma and ahead of No. 4 Clemson), but with a regular-season loss to LSU in the mix. When LSU overreacted to an early losses to Wisconsin and Auburn, though, and fired Les Miles, the chances of LSU beating Alabama mostly evaporated.
Clemson wrap-up: Tide loses a heartbreaker on 2 controversial TDs
January 10, 2017 Comments Off on Clemson wrap-up: Tide loses a heartbreaker on 2 controversial TDs
Alabama’s bid to win a second straight national championship fell short thanks to a combination of injuries, a lack of depth on its defensive line that finally came to a head and the struggles of a true freshman quarterback who seemed to run out of gas a bit down the season’s stretch.
Continue reading …Clemson preview: Tigers look for revenge, Tide looks for continuity
January 6, 2017 Comments Off on Clemson preview: Tigers look for revenge, Tide looks for continuity
The same dynamic exists this year as last: Clemson will use a talented dual-threat quarterback to trigger an offense that has its roots in spread football and tinted by pro-set alterations, while Alabama will base from a multiple, pro-style attack that has been dabbling with the spread.
Continue reading …Washington recap: Ugly win sends Bama to title game
December 31, 2016 Comments Off on Washington recap: Ugly win sends Bama to title game
Alabama will get the winner of Ohio State-Clemson next, which will provide someone a rematch opportunity. If Clemson is the opponent, Alabama will need to figure out how to get better production in the passing game. The Tigers are not nearly as easy to shut down offensively as was Washington, thanks to Deshaun Watson’s higher-quality skill set.
Continue reading …Washington preview: Huskies’ offense could turn up the pressure on Bama
December 26, 2016 Comments Off on Washington preview: Huskies’ offense could turn up the pressure on Bama
Despite taking off the better part of the month, Alabama comes into this game still beaten up from the SEC gauntlet, with two key defensive starters out and several other important team cogs gimped in varying degrees. It would surprise few people outside the circle of Alabama diehards if the Crimson Tide got a tougher game from the Huskies than it was expecting.
Continue reading …Auburn preview: Tiger defense will keep AU in it
November 23, 2016 Comments Off on Auburn preview: Tiger defense will keep AU in it
Depending on how deep one’s crimson blood runs, news Monday that initial Las Vegas lines were coalescing around an 18-point spread in Alabama’s favor could either be considered easy money, or a sucker’s bet.
Analysis of the two teams suggests the latter, especially if Alabama’s earlier game against LSU this season is any indication. Alabama and Auburn will meet at Bryant-Denny Stadium – where Alabama has been effective lately, but not historically, against Auburn – but the key issue is not the venue, but the strength of an Auburn defensive line that is a clear step above the LSU line that gave Alabama fits earlier this month.
Continue reading …MSU preview: Suddenly, Bulldogs have everyone’s attention
November 9, 2016 Comments Off on MSU preview: Suddenly, Bulldogs have everyone’s attention
Alabama opened as a four-touchdown favorite in this game, and with the kickoff at 11 a.m., Mississippi State is hamstrung even further as the road team. Still, Texas A&M was ranked No. 4 in the country, and the Bulldogs slayed them. Alabama can’t treat this game as part one of a two-part walkover leading up to its game against Auburn.
Continue reading …LSU wrap-up: Alabama goes back to its future to beat Tigers
November 6, 2016 Comments Off on LSU wrap-up: Alabama goes back to its future to beat Tigers
Since Nick Saban took over at Alabama, most of the other 13 SEC teams have, at one time or another, suffered the sensation of Saban’s boot squarely in their butt. Only one of those teams has more of less been able to keep such an occurrence (and thus, a blowout loss to the Tide) at bay – LSU, Saban’s former home.
Continue reading …LSU preview: Tide must quell rejuvenated Tigers’ emotions
November 2, 2016 Comments Off on LSU preview: Tide must quell rejuvenated Tigers’ emotions
As the schedule enters November, LSU finds itself under an interim head coach, Ed Orgeron, a different offensive identity, a new quarterback and right in the thick of the race for the SEC West. In fact, if LSU beats Alabama Saturday, the Tigers control their own destiny in the West and would go to Atlanta if they won out.
Continue reading …Texas A&M preview: Bama will see a familiar face in battle for SEC West
October 19, 2016 Comments Off on Texas A&M preview: Bama will see a familiar face in battle for SEC West
If this turns out to be yet another national championship year for Alabama, fans and sportswriters alike have a game they like to play: Find the one or two teams Alabama will struggle with on its way to the playoffs. Texas A&M is playing better than anyone left on Alabama’s schedule, and while LSU is more talented (and perhaps Auburn is as well), the Aggies seem to have jelled behind new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, and the leadership of Knight.
Continue reading …