Alabama Fans Daring to Take the Long Look Ahead

Alabama's sitting just where it was this time last year, 5-0 and looking optimistic after a rather unchallenged start.

Looking ahead is never a good idea for a coach or a team. It has caused far too many upsets and stumbles. But for fans, it's a totally different matter. So with that in mind, let's look forward through the regular season and look at the schedule and potential pitfalls.

Ole Miss

This was the game that was supposed to be the first test, but Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks already gave us the answer key to that test. Pressure Snead and he can't perform.

That leaves Dexter McCluster to find a hole in the Great Wall of Bama. Good luck with that, Dexter.

Bama, 37-17

South Carolina

Brings a defense just as good as Va. Tech's, which caused Alabama some early troubles. They are about as good a team as we will face. Unfortunately for them, they are bringing a much worse offense.

If you don't score, you don't win.

Bama, 24-10

Tennessee 

A repeat of the South Carolina game. Great defense against a struggling offense.

Bama, 31-10

LSU 

If they keep the offense going, this is a team with the best shot to knock Bama off its perch as a front runner for the SEC West title. There's all kinds of build up to this game and the eyes of the nation will be upon Tuscaloosa for this battle.

Last year's game went to overtime. This game will be Alabama's closest. Alabama may wear them down by the fourth quarter in a close one.

Bama, 28-24.

Mississippi State 

No overlooking the dogs as Alabama has done before. Dan Mullen's done a great job, but is still 20 guys short of being competitive week in and week out. Alabama simply overwhelms them.

Bama, 35-13

UT Chattanooga 

Are you kidding me?

Bama, 42-3

Auburn 

At 5-0 themselves right now this game has intriguing possibilities. If Auburn gets beat by LSU and Georgia then I expect them to roll over and play dead for us. But if they somehow still come to the game undefeated it will be the war to end all wars. There will be so much hype, it's all the news will be talking about for days.

I even think if they come in with only one loss, to say LSU and are still in the hunt for an SEC title shot, then they come in with the same enthusiasm.

Auburn's new offensive coordinator will throw everything and the kitchen sink at Alabama and some of it may work.

Like any last game of the season, so much depends on injuries between here and there. But for all of Auburn's strides forward from last season one big truth remains. While the starting teams do well, they have no quality backups in the key positions and Bama will simply wear them out by the fourth quarter with their bench.

Both teams leave the field proving much, but Bama leaves with the win, 31-24.

In the end, Alabama ends the season with yet another 12-0 mark.

Now the question is can they do more with it than they did last year? Only time will tell, and that's a story for another day.