Alabama 2012 SEC Football Schedule: 5 Bold Predictions for the Tide in SEC Play

With only the bowl games left, the college football season is rapidly coming to a close.

The SEC has just released its schedule, and there are quite a few great matchups to look forward to.

There is no conference that is more appealing than the SEC. It's already considered the best conference in the sport by many, but it should be an even better next year with the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri.

This conference continues to get even stronger.

While we still have a few games left, it's never too early to make predictions for next season. But anybody can make plain and boring predictions.

Here are five early bold predictions for next year for the Alabama Crimson Tide in conference play.

Alabama Will Shut out Ole Miss

This may not sound like a bold prediction but shutting a team out is a difficult thing to do on any level.

Alabama has won the last eight meetings against the Rebels and in the last three meeting they've scored 20 points combined. Ole Miss doesn't appear to be getting any better and the Crimson Tide defense will remain one of the best in the country.

In the meeting this season, Ole Miss scored a touchdown and didn't score the rest of the game. Expect nothing to be on the board next year.

Alabama Will Lose to Arkansas

If you thought the Razorbacks had a good offense, averaging 37 points per game this season, imagine just how explosive they're going to be with nearly everybody returning and a healthy Knile Davis at running back.

That's really one of the reasons they lost to the Crimson Tide this season, as you can't have a one-demonsional offense against a great defense like Alabama.

Expect Arkansas to be healthy this time and give Alabama its first loss of the season.

Alabama Will Beat LSU

Regardless of what happens in the national championship, I like the Crimson Tide to knock off the LSU Tigers.

One reason is because the game is at Tiger Stadium and for whatever reason, they have better recent success there than at home against them. The Tigers are also losing both of their starting quarterbacks after this season. Sure, they rely on their running game to win games but against a top defense you can't be one-dimensional.

It will take time for the Tigers to adjust to a young quarterback taking over and Alabama will take advantage of that.

Alabama Will Lose in the Iron Bowl

Of course I had to save this one for near the end because Alabama fans will accept anything but a loss to the hated Auburn Tigers.

The truth is, despite the season Auburn had, they do have a very talented team. And now all of those youngsters have a year under their belt and will want to make up for the embarrassing 42-14 loss they suffered this season.

Also, you look at the history and the last time Alabama beat Auburn three times in four seasons, they ended up losing six games straight.

I don't expect Alabama to struggle like that again, but I do expect them to lose on November 24.

Alabama Will Still Reach the SEC Championship with Two Losses

Even though I boldly predict the Crimson Tide to lose two games in the SEC next year, they'll still reach the SEC Championship Game. 

Alabama is returning an extremely talented team and I think a year under quarterback AJ McCarron's belt will make this team that much more lethal. LSU is a strong candidate to come out of the West but losing two starting quarterbacks and depth at the offensive line may cost them. They also didn't get any favors having to play Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas on the road.

Alabama may lose a game or two but it should still be good enough to earn another trip to the SEC Championship.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]