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Alabama football stuff - October 22 (predictions, news, quotes, etc.)
Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:56 pm
Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:56 pm
Bleacher Report's CFP Prediction
1. Baylor
2. Ohio State
3. Alabama
4. Clemson
1. Baylor
2. Ohio State
3. Alabama
4. Clemson
quote:
Alabama finds its groove
In its first four games, Alabama threw on 52 percent of plays. It seemed like an odd choice given the Crimson Tide's traditional run-first tendencies and their question mark at quarterback. In the three games since, Alabama has run the ball on 64 percent of plays, giving opponents a heavy dose of Derrick Henry. The Crimson Tide have won each of these conference games by comfortable margins.
With its 41-23 win over Texas A&M, Alabama's playoff probability rises to 37.1 percent, third in the nation behind Baylor and Ohio State. The Tide will get tested by LSU and Mississippi State, but they look on track to win the division and play in another SEC title game.
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Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:59 pm to TideSaint
Bleacher Report Week 8 Predictions
Michael Felder - Alabama
Barrett Sallee - Alabama
Adam Kramer - Alabama
Ben Kercheval - Alabama
Greg Couch - Alabama
quote:
Elsewhere in the SEC, Alabama hosts Tennessee. In a rivalry game that has lost a bit of luster recently, the Vols hope to keep the momentum going from their upset of Georgia two weeks ago. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs was the catalyst for the Vols offense that day and must do the same against a Bama defense that is starting to show signs of being a dominant unit once again.
Michael Felder - Alabama
Barrett Sallee - Alabama
Adam Kramer - Alabama
Ben Kercheval - Alabama
Greg Couch - Alabama
Posted on 10/21/15 at 11:59 pm to TideSaint
Bleacher Report Mid-Season Grades
quote:
At the beginning of the 2015 college football season, just about everybody could lay claim to being a playoff contender. That's the benefit of being 0-0.
Through seven weeks, however, that list has realistically narrowed to a series of undefeated and one-loss teams making up the Top 25 polls. From perennial powers like Alabama and Ohio State, to surprises like Utah and Iowa, the list of playoff contenders is still wide open enough to provide intrigue, but narrow enough to create focus.
Not all of these teams are created equally, though. Some, like Stanford, are playing their best football now. Others are recently coming off loses and hoping to rebound before the playoff hopes are gone for good. With that in mind, we're checking in on teams ranked in and around the Associated Press Top 15 with a chance to win their conference title. Midseason grades are based on performances, signatures wins, injury problems and depth/key position concerns. Additionally, we look at how things could shape up in the second half of the year.
Teams are ordered alphabetically.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:00 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama
Grade: B
Despite losing at home to Ole Miss in September, Alabama is the second-highest ranked SEC team in both major polls and certainly not out of the playoff picture. The game against the Rebels went about as poorly as it could with five turnovers, yet the Tide still had a chance to win the game late. That should tell you what this team is capable of doing when it takes better care of the ball.
Quarterback Jake Coker has had his good and bad moments, but his running ability has been a pleasant surprise. Linebacker Reggie Ragland has even gone on the record to call Coker "Baby Roethlisberger" in reference to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (h/t Alex Scarborough, ESPN.com).
The offense is definitely moving, though—running back Derrick Henry is averaging nearly 130 yards per game and receiver Calvin Ridley is a breakout star—and the defense is as advertised.
The biggest remaining hurdle is the home game against LSU in early November. However, the Tide do not control their SEC destiny if Ole Miss wins out.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:01 am to TideSaint
Free Rivals' Content
quote:
The University of Alabama's first two games had gone well. The Crimson Tide had powered through Wisconsin and Middle Tennessee, and sat No. 2 in the AP's top 25. Everything appeared to be going according to plan.
That may have been exactly what the problem was.
UA lost 43-37 to Ole Miss that weekend. After four quarters against the Rebels and five turnovers, the season was in danger. The players knew it. The Crimson Tide held a players-only meeting in the days following the loss to set things straight.
"Ever since then, guys have been on each other," senior linebacker Reggie Ragland said. "Guys that weren't normally talking are talking. Guys that were lazy ain't being lazy no more. We're doing our jobs and coach is holding us (accountable) a lot now."
Head coach Nick Saban has said that his team has handled its emotions and been more focused in the weeks since then. The Crimson Tide posted a shutout the next week, then followed that with an emphatic performance at Georgia.
"It's human nature that you don't respond to things properly when they're going well," Saban said. "The bad has to happen for people to want to change and do things that they could have done way before something bad happened. I'm not saying that's the case with our team. I know we have a lot of competitors on our team that were not satisfied with that performance and we have tried to get better."
Ragland said there may have been distractions from outside the program that took a toll on players before the Ole Miss game. Some were "worried about accolades and stuff like that," he said. Those concerns have been put to the side now.
Alabama has two wins against teams that were ranked in the top 10 at the time of their meeting since that loss. Both of those games came on the road. Along with the season opening win against Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas, Saban noticed that his team's three best games have all come away from Bryant-Denny Stadium.
He said this is the first season in which he's thought playing at home might be more of a distraction than playing on the road.
"Just because you're at home, whether it's family, friends, the atmosphere, the distractions that that can create - as a mature competitor, you can't be affected by external factors," he said.
The Ole Miss game may have more distractions than the average home game. It was the first major game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2015, was a prime-time TV game, and the site for ESPN's College GameDay that week. Alabama hasn't faced that kind of distraction since then, home or away.
But a road game can still be a respite. Even in hostile environments, it can be easier to focus at times.
"You hear the fans talking all that trash," Ragland said. "And once you get all that trash, it makes you want to go even more."
The trip to Athens was when things fell into place, Ragland said. But players pointed to their meeting after the Ole Miss game as a critical moment when the distractions were set aside.
It was still early enough in the season for Alabama to still have all of its goals in front of it, quarterback Jake Coker said. There was still time for change.
"I think everybody just realized the position we were in and realized what we had to do and everybody just pulled together and played well," Coker said.
A home game against traditional rival Tennessee could be another potential distraction. But Ragland said the team has grown since the loss to Ole Miss.
"We're not worried about the outside stuff," Ragland said. "We're just worried about each other on the inside and getting better each week. Ever since we're doing that, the team's been a whole lot better. The team is communicating better. The DBs are unbelievable and the guys up front are doing their jobs. The offense is coming along. Everybody's doing the job. That's the main thing. Once we do our job, we're a hard team to be beat."
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:03 am to TideSaint
Bleacher Report Alabama-Tennessee Game Preview (over 8 posts)
quote:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It may have been the quickest answer running back Derrick Henry has given since he arrived at the University of Alabama three years ago.
He didn’t even wait for the end of the question, because as soon as the reporter got out “Have you thought about the Heisman,” Henry started repeatedly saying “no.”
“We're not focusing on that,” he said. “That's not our goal. Our goal is to get a team win every Saturday and go from there. We're not worried about that.”
While it sounds like rhetoric, to a man Alabama is claiming that’s been the difference in the Crimson Tide since the team held a players-only meeting following the loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19.
According to Jonathan Allen, among those who spoke out during the 30-minute session included Reggie Ragland, Jarran Reed, A'Shawn Robinson, Derrick Henry, Eddie Jackson and Cyrus Jones, although the defensive end added that it was more of a team thing than any individual players speaking out.
The message was simple: Stop paying attention to what everyone else was saying, set aside individual concerns and put the team first.
"Can’t worry about accolades and us being No. 1 or No. 2, none of that stuff," Ragland said. "So we just worry about ourselves and trucking along now."
Since then Alabama has knocked off two Top 10 teams on the road and has also notched a shutout. With rival Tennessee visiting on Saturday, the defense has especially been clicking and last week outscored the Texas A&M offense thanks to three interception returns for a touchdown.
"Everybody started making plays out of nowhere," Ragland added. "Everybody was doing their job and everyone really focused and zeroed in the Georgia game, on the defensive side and offensive side."
Here’s everything you need to know for Saturday’s game against Tennessee, a long-standing rivalry known as the "Third Saturday in October."
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET)
Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: CBS
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, Vol Network, ESPN Radio, Sirius 84, XM 84
Spread: Alabama -15, according to OddsShark.com.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:03 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama Keys to Victory
Don’t get behind
It’s a formula that’s not only worked well for the Crimson Tide against the Vols but also this season. Only two opponents have had a lead against Alabama this season, Arkansas (3-0) and Ole Miss. The Rebels jumped out to a 30-10 advantage but then had to hold on 43-37.
Tennessee has lost eight straight against Alabama and nine of the last 10. It hasn’t had a lead in the series since it was up 3-0 in 2011.
Swarm
Alabama has picked up the defensive intensity and has already defeated two Top 10 opponents in October. Even though they have to go one more week before enjoying a bye, the Crimson Tide can’t afford any sort of letup defensively.
“If we do what we can do, nobody can beat us,” defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “When we execute to the best of our ability to play physical up front and then the back end, we feel like we’re a tough defense to score on, and if they can’t score, they can’t win. So we feel it’s always up to us. The defense needs to score all the points and stop, so be it. The offense needs to score all the points, so be it. We feel like if we do what we need to do, there’s not a team can beat us.”
Stay sharp
For the second straight week the Crimson Tide’s opponent is coming off a bye, giving it a chance to heal and recover beforehand. But one thing that’s worked to Alabama’s advantage this year is having deeper rotations and continuing to rotate in defensive players even against uptempo offenses.
“Georgia had about a 15-yard run on us when we had to put nickel in and they were in regular because we had to get dime out,” Coach Nick Saban said. “So they ran a sweep and we didn’t do a very good job on it and they ended up gaining some yards. There’s gonna be plays where maybe it’s not the most advantageous thing, but I do think it’s helped us some on third down.”
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:04 am to TideSaint
quote:
Tennessee Keys to Victory
Win special teams
Tennessee is one of three teams in the FBS that is in the top 20 nationally in both kickoff returns and punt returns. Averaging 37.25 yards per kickoff return and 16.25 on punt returns, it ranks first and 16th, respectively.
Alabama is ranked 107th in the nation in kickoff returns, 100th in net punting and 73rd in punt returns. Also, of its six fumbles, five of which were lost, all but two were on special teams.
Turnovers
By picking off four passes and returning three for touchdowns against Texas A&M last week, Alabama leads the SEC in both categories but is still only plus-three in turnover ratio (16 gained, 13 lost).
Tennessee is also plus-three but with much lower numbers (eight gained, four lost).
Get Alabama’s defense off balance
Alabama leads the nation in forcing three-and-outs by averaging 6.86 per game (Clemson is second at 6.5) and also in passes batted down by the defensive line with 15. Individually, Dalvin Tomlinson has six, two more than anyone else in college football.
It is also first in the Southeastern Conference in total defense, rushing defense and pass-efficiency defense and second in scoring defense.
Tennessee has a lot of weapons and had extra time to get ready for this game, so expect some surprises, but opposing quarterbacks are completing just 50.8 percent of their attempts and have a passer efficiency rating of just 97.3 against the Tide.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:04 am to TideSaint
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Alabama Players to Watch
Center Ryan Kelly
Kelly left in the second quarter of the Texas A&M game and everyone realized just what he meant to the offense when Alabama’s next four possessions resulted in just 16 yards of total offense. Kelly is expected back sometime this week after he clears the medical staff’s concussion protocol, but in the meantime the coaches have a chance to get either redshirt freshman JC Hassenauer or sophomore Bradley Bozeman ready.
“It’s tough for a guy to come into a situation like that when you can’t hear a thing,” quarterback Jake Coker said about Hassenauer filling against the Aggies. “I was trying to talk to him face to face and you could barely hear what each other was saying. For him to come in and play, during the week he’s not working with that group of guys, so everything changes a little bit with the timing of the snaps. As you could see it was a little bit different.
"It wasn’t his fault some of those false starts or anything, but it just took some time to get used to him being in the game. As soon as we did, everything picked up.”
Linebacker Reggie Ragland
The linebacker credits losing a little weight doing the offseason for his better range this season, but Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs is probably the most mobile quarterback Alabama has faced this season. That means a contain-first approach, which the Crimson Tide got a little work at when facing Texas A&M's Kyler Murray last week.
Last year Ragland had a big game against Tennessee with nine tackles, 1.5 for a loss, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
Quarterback Jake Coker
Coker’s ability to run with the ball is gaining more attention with each game, but it went to a new level when he dropped his shoulder on a Texas A&M defender last week. Senior linebacker Reggie Ragland disclosed to reporters that one of the nicknames subsequently going around the locker room is “Baby Roethlisberger.”
"He's a tough guy,” coach Nick Saban said. “Sometimes I wish he wouldn't take the hits, but I kind of like to see the other team's reaction when he does that.”
Coker said he’s a “little sore” after playing seven straight weeks, but so far his recovery process hasn’t had to include anything extra.
“I went fishing yesterday, so that helps a lot, just sitting on a boat,” he said on Monday. “I feel a lot better after that.”
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:05 am to TideSaint
quote:
Tennessee Players to Watch
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs
This is the third time Dobbs will face the Crimson Tide but the first time that Alabama will actually prepare for him. In 2013 he made his collegiate debut against Alabama, completing five of 12 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Last season Justin Worley and Nathan Peterman were initially the only Tennessee quarterbacks to play, and Dobbs was expected to redshirt. After Alabama jumped out to a quick lead, he entered the game and completed 19 of 32 passes for 192 yards with two touchdowns. He also had 75 rushing yards.
“Joshua Dobbs at quarterback is a very diverse guy playing the position, running and passing,” coach Nick Saban said. “They've created a lot of issues and a lot of problems, scored a lot of points this year.”
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Tennessee, which is ranked ninth in the SEC against the run, runs a 4-3 base defense in which neither starting defensive tackle weighs more than 300 pounds and both interior linebackers are smaller than Alabama running back Derrick Henry (6'3", 242 lbs).
However, at weak-side linebacker Reeves-Maybin is the Vols’ leading tackler. His average of 9.3 tackles per game is fifth in the SEC and 23rd in FBS, and he’s been credited with eight tackles for a loss. He had a career-high 21 tackles earlier this season against Oklahoma but just five during last year’s game with Alabama.
Running back Alvin Kamara
The former Alabama running back returns to finally play in Bryant-Denny Stadium, only he’ll be on the visiting sideline. While Jalen Hurd is Tennessee’s leading rusher with 126 carries for 572 yards, Kamara has 45 carries for 255 rushing yards.
He’s also been a receiving threat, with 15 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns, so look for some wheel routes out of the backfield.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:05 am to TideSaint
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What They're Saying
Nick Saban on facing Tennessee:
“[Tennessee] could arguably be undefeated or a one-loss team very easily this year. Two teams came back and beat them late in games, and they came back and beat somebody when they were behind 24-3 that's a pretty good team. They've got good players.
“Offensively, they're very, very good. The quarterback does a good job. The offensive line does a good job. They're nationally ranked in a lot of categories. They've got two really good running backs. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara have both done a great job for them.
“Joshua Dobbs at quarterback is a very diverse guy playing the position, running and passing. They've created a lot of issues and a lot of problems, scored a lot of points this year.
“Defensively, I know they've got a couple of guys that have been nicked up, but they play hard, they're physical, and for the most part they've been hard to score on. That's something that I feel, when we can control the ball it's going to be key for us in the game. It's really important to how we play and what we do against this team.
“This team is very sound and solid with their specialists and on special teams. I think Butch Jones has done a really good job. They've gotten better and better every year. This is the best team they've had for a while.”
Butch Jones on facing Alabama, per his Monday press conference:
"They are very, very talented. They are as talented of a football team that we have faced so far, when you look at the number of NFL draft choices that are in their program. When NFL scouts come through, I always ask them about our opponents. How many prospects does each program have? [Alabama] has been at the pinnacle of that.
"There are a number of individuals on both sides of the ball that will have long and productive years in the National Football League. That's a byproduct of recruiting and development and standing the test of time over a long period of time. They have done a great job with that."
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:06 am to TideSaint
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Prediction
Tennessee hasn’t won in Tuscaloosa since 2003 in the five-overtime game—4,382 days ago.
The Vols haven’t beaten a team ranked in the Top 10 since defeating No. 10 Georgia, 51-33, in Athens on Oct. 7, 2006—3,304 days ago.
That was also the last time they defeated a ranked team on the road, having lost 22 consecutive games.
That adds up to a lot of extra motivation for Tennessee, but all this week Alabama players have been asked why they’ve played better on the road this season.
“I've talked about friendly fire before, but I look at our team and I'm like, we play different when it’s 28-6 than we do when it's 0-0,” Saban said. “Well, there's not supposed to be a scoreboard. You're supposed to have enough killer instinct to keep playing at a high level and execute and do your job.
“It can't be the scoreboard. It can't be playing at home. It can't be the fans. All those things should be positive things that enhance your chances of competition [and] affects the other team. Something that we've just got to continue to address and try to get the players to focus better and do a better job.”
Look for Alabama to light up cigars for the ninth straight year.
Prediction: Alabama 27, Tennessee 17
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:08 am to TideSaint
Free Al.com Content
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Alabama prepping for QB that gave it 'fits and trouble' last year
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Tennessee had fallen behind by 21 points late in the second quarter.
One yard from taking an early lead, standout running back Jalen Hurd was tackled in the backfield and fumbled. The loose ball was recovered by Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who ran 96 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.
Georgia's lead grew to 17-3 when — following a Tennessee three-and-out — Bulldogs punt returner Reggie Davis returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown.
Up 24-3, Georgia had the momentum. Five of Tennessee's first seven drives had ended either without gaining a first down or after picking up just one. The Bulldogs were in complete control.
Then Volunteers quarterback Josh Dobbs showed what he's capable of while displaying the dangerous dual-threat ability Alabama will have to deal with when the No. 8 Tide hosts Tennessee Saturday.
Dobbs threw two touchdowns during the final 1:04 of the second quarter to trim the Volunteers' deficit to 24-17. A Dobbs 1-yard touchdown run tied the score at 24 early in the third quarter. Another Dobbs scoring run — a 5-yarder with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter — proved to be the game-winning touchdown in Tennessee's comeback 38-31 victory.
"Definitely a big guy. Very fast. Can throw the ball. Athletic," Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said of Dobbs, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior. "Very talented. He's definitely a special player that we have to study on and do our game-planning on and come up with a game plan for."
After Tennessee fell behind 24-3, Dobbs completed 15 of his final 24 passes for 203 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions during the final two-plus quarters.
He also ran for 81 yards and two scores on 13 carries during the last two-plus quarters.
He finished 25 of 42 for 312 yards with the three touchdowns and an interception while also running for 118 yards and the two scores on 18 carries.
On an early designed run that went for a 27-yard gain, Dobbs ran through the middle of Georgia's defense, stiff-armed a Bulldogs defender to the ground after around 15 yards, ran through another tackle attempt and eventually fell forward to the 1-yard line while being tackled by a Georgia defensive back.
On the game-winning touchdown run, Dobbs cut back after spotting an opening, bounced back to the edge and ran through a Bulldogs defender on his way into the end zone.
The touchdown was set up by Dobbs completions of 34 and 24 yards.
"Joshua Dobbs at quarterback is a very diverse guy playing the position, running and passing," Tide coach Nick Saban said.
Dobbs started Tennessee's final four games as a freshman in 2013.
His first game action as a sophomore came against Alabama late last October.
After not playing in the Volunteers' first seven games, Dobbs entered on Tennessee's third series vs. the Tide after Alabama jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Eventually down 27-0 early in the second quarter, the Volunteers got back into the game behind Dobbs.
Dobbs threw two touchdowns — a 9-yarder during the second quarter to cut the Tide's lead 27-7 and another 9-yarder to trim Alabama's advantage to 27-17 midway through the third quarter before the Tide held on to win, 34-20.
Dobbs finished 19 of 32 for 192 yards with the two scoring passes and one interception.
He also ran for 75 yards on 19 carries.
He had a 30-yard run on a quarterback draw, breaking a tackle from inside linebacker Trey DePriest around the line of scrimmage and running free through the middle of the Tide's defense before being tripped to the ground.
"He came in and he gave us fits and trouble," Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland said, "so we'll do our job to keep him contained."
Dobbs is one of just three SEC players during the last 20 years to post 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in a single game.
He has done it twice — once against South Carolina last year and vs. Georgia this season.
Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel are the other two players.
Dobbs' numbers are modest this year. He has completed 58 percent of his passes, is throwing for an average of just 183.5 yards per game and has only eight touchdown passes in six games.
However, he threw for the 312 yards against Georgia, ran for a combined 254 yards vs. Florida and Georgia, and has only thrown two interceptions.
Led by Dobbs and Hurd, Tennessee is third in the SEC in scoring with an average of 37.2 points per game.
"He had a good game against us last year ... [and] he's gotten better," Saban said. "You can tell he's got a great understanding of what the expectation is for him and what he needs to do on offense. I think he's, it looks like he's a good leader. I've seen the players responding positively to him. I don't think there's any question about the fact that the guy is really playing well. I think he's had a great year so far."
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:09 am to TideSaint
ESPN Article on Jake Coker
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Jake Coker is Alabama's 'Baby Roethlisberger' at quarterback
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Despite being a 6-foot-5, 232-pound quarterback, Alabama’s Jake Coker can move.
When he decides to tuck the ball and run, would-be tacklers are going to pay a price. Just ask Texas A&M defensive back Nick Harvey, who was bowled over by Coker during Saturday’s 41-23 Crimson Tide victory in College Station.
Coker doesn’t run often, but when he does, he’s usually successful. Seven times this season he’s rushed for 10 yards or more, 12 times he’s run for a first down, and he’s already racked up 26 yards after contact.
Teammates have noticed.
According to senior linebacker Reggie Ragland, some on the team call Coker, “Baby Roethlisberger.”
Both Coker and Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger are 6-foot-5. Coker is only eight pounds shy of Roethlisberger’s 240.
But the nicknames don’t stop there. Coker said he’s been called “Vanilla Vick” too.
“There's a couple more," he said. "It’s getting out of hand."
Unfortunately, coach Nick Saban didn’t offer up any aliases for his senior quarterback. But he is a fan of his running ability.
Saban said that part of him would rather see Coker protect himself, but at the same time that’s his QB's personality and he’s not going to coach that instinct out of him.
“He’s a tough guy,” Saban said. “Do you want him to run out of bounds? Sometimes I wish he wouldn’t take the hits, but sometimes I like to see the other team’s reaction when he does that.
“I mean, it’s the personality of the player. Jake’s a tough, competitive guy. He’s a big, physical guy. He’s getting better every week. So I don’t want to take his aggressiveness away because we’re fearful something bad is going to happen. I just don’t coach that way.”
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:10 am to TideSaint
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LSU at Alabama, Nov. 7: You thought this year might be different, but you were wrong. Auburn collapsed, Ole Miss stumbled and Arkansas experienced some growing pains. Change never arrived in the West. The dust settled and there Alabama and LSU stood, ready to resume their roles as the class of the division. Once again, the Tide and Tigers will have to duke it out to see who owns the inside track to Atlanta. On one side, you have Heisman Trophy front-runner Leonard Fournette. On the other is Derrick Henry and his 12 rushing touchdowns. This game has everything: two star running backs, two great defenses, two all-time great coaches and all the NFL prospects a single scout can stand.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:10 am to TideSaint
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Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 28: Back to the scene of the Kick-Six. Auburn’s hopes of a national championship run might be long gone, but the Tigers still can derail their rival’s dreams. Alabama looks like the superior team now, but the Iron Bowl changes things. At the end of the year, with potentially everything on the line, how will a one- or two-loss Tide respond? You better believe they will hear about the end of the 2014 game all week before they head down to The Plains. If they wind up playing tight and turn the ball over, Auburn could make the end of the regular season very interesting.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:11 am to TideSaint
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ALABAMA
What we want to see: More Minkah Fitzpatrick would we great. He's a offense's nightmare and isn't afraid to get dirty on special teams. Why not just stick him out there on offense for a play or two and really throw Tennessee for a loop?
What we'll see: Calvin Ridley is having a sneaky good year and Tennessee is giving up 248.5 passing yards per game and has allowed 10 passing touchdowns. Try not to smile too wide, Calvin.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:13 am to TideSaint
Free CBS Sports Content
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College football has limped to the midway point of the 2015 season. Seven weeks in, seven weeks to go and the sport has practically had to be carted off the field. You can almost populate an All-America team with players who have suffered season-ending injuries.
And that was before Jalen Watts-Jackson sacrificed a hip to beat Michigan.
If it isn't coaches' conduct, it's their bosses' impatience. Five teams enter the second half with interim head coaches.
It seems we read more about substance abuse rehab than replay. Steve Spurrier is gone and forgotten -- at least his team in midseason.
The on-field disappointments have been numerous and profound -- Auburn, Oregon, Nebraska, USC and Central Florida among them. One minute Florida's quarterback is playing at an All-SEC level; the next, he can't play for a year.
The team with the most to lose (Ohio State) still hasn't. Still, the No. 1 Buckeyes haven't played up a standard they themselves set winning the past 20 games.
The Tigers of LSU might be the poster children for the first half of 2015. They've gotten to the halfway point facing four consecutive opposing backup quarterbacks. That's not diminishing a 6-0 start, that's the way of the college football world these days. Besides, Mother Nature probably owed LSU a break -- not of a limb, obviously -- after washing out the opener against McNeese State.
Here are some stories, trends and stats to follow in the second half of the season ...
Wide open: Six teams got first-place votes this week in the AP Top 25. Six! Of the top 11 teams in that poll, 10 will play each other in the final seven weeks.
You don't need to be told the College Football Playoff race is wide open. We're at the point that the American Athletic Conference may have a playoff contender (see below).
We told you before the season, the playoff was a closed shop. Not so much now. The Big 12 could get two in. Same for the Big Ten. Notre Dame could be a party crasher. How's that going to play with the conferences left out?
Get ready for a national harangue over the postseason that will make the BCS look like a tea party.
These 19 teams all have a realistic shot at getting in the top four:
ACC: Clemson, Florida State
Big Ten: Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa
Big 12: Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU
Pac-12: Stanford, Utah
SEC: Alabama, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
Independent: Notre Dame
AAC: Houston, Memphis
SEC Armageddon: In this season of parity, don't scoff at the possibility of a two-loss SEC champion. Alabama (6-1) isn't the powerhouse it used to be. LSU still has to go to Alabama and Ole Miss. All it might take is for the SEC East champion (Florida? Georgia?) to pull what looks from here to be a mild upset in the SEC title game.
What you've got to hope for is LSU or Alabama running the table. Don't discount Ole Miss reheating and winning the SEC at 11-2. Then what? Stay tuned.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:34 am to TideSaint
ESPN's 2nd Half Predictions
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Back in early September, I predicted South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier would retire. The Head Ball Coach hung up his visor Oct. 12.
I told you at least one team from outside the preseason top 10 would make the College Football Playoff (hello, Utah), and I told you a running back would win the Heisman Trophy for the first time since 2009. (Full disclosure: I picked Georgia's Nick Chubb and not LSU's Leonard Fournette, the clear front-runner.)
I also predicted the SEC would have a two-loss champion, which still might happen, and that Oregon transfer Vernon Adams Jr. would be a Heisman Trophy finalist, which probably won't happen.
So I'm batting about .500 on my preseason predictions, which is a lot more than you can say about the Chicago Cubs' hitters these days.
With seven weeks in the books, here are my predictions for the second half of the season:
1. Alabama will win the national championship
The Crimson Tide are starting to look a lot like the 2014 Ohio State team, which played better and better every week en route to winning the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Since losing to Ole Miss 43-37 at home Sept. 19, the Tide have reeled off four consecutive victories, including a 41-23 win at No. 9 Texas A&M on Saturday. Alabama plays only one more regular-season game against a team that is currently ranked -- at home against No. 5 LSU on Nov. 7. The Tide will win a close game against the Tigers to finish 11-1 and then will defeat Florida in the SEC championship game. They'll be the only one-loss team in the playoffs.
Like the Buckeyes last season, the Tide will be the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff and will win the national championship. Alabama will upset No. 1 seed Ohio State in the semifinals and knock off No. 3 Baylor in the title game.
Posted on 10/22/15 at 12:35 am to TideSaint
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9. South Carolina will hire Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart as its next head coach
Smart, who has been the Tide's defensive coordinator since 2008 and won the Broyles Award as the country's top assistant in 2009, is exactly what the Gamecocks need in a new head coach. Smart, 39, knows the SEC inside and out after playing and coaching at Georgia, his alma mater, before coaching at LSU and Alabama. Former Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier admitted he was a "liability" in recruiting because of his age, and few assistants have recruited the Southeast as well as Smart during the past nine seasons.
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