Alabama Football: High Tide For The Crimson Tide in 2008?

What will Alabama look like in 2008?

Even though on paper the schedule looks daunting, there is only one fairly certain losable game, and even that one if things break for the Tide can be winnable. 

In this article, I will take an honest look at this schedule.  College football is a heart and guts sport, thus I tend to trust my gut more than my head.

For example, I told people that if Alabama did not beat LSU, then with the makeup of the team I felt they would tank, since many of the seniors would look at the situation and say "we can't win anything but a bowl bid" and lose out.  And unfortunately, it happened.

Clemson (Atlanta)

I think this is a critical game in terms of how they play.  Even in a loss, Alabama can gain some respect.  But I don't think this is a loss.  Clemson is good, but not great.  Remember, this is the team that lost to Auburn, who installed an offense in about two weeks.

Score: 30-24 Alabama

Tulane

Easy game, although LSU did get into a little trouble last year. The Tide should have no trouble here. In these games, favorites should hit the 50-point mark.

Score: 54-20 Alabama

Western Kentucky

In an even easier game, the Tide had better hit 50 points.

Score: 62-17 Alabama

@ Arkansas

The easiest SEC road game.  Arkansas lost a chunk of their offense, plus Alabama has a better team.  Alabama should win.

Score: 35-21 Alabama

@ Georgia

Deja vu?  I am having a hard time calling this game.  Georgia will have Arizona State and Alabama back-to-back and that is the sole reason on being undecided.  Depending on how that game goes, it will affect this game.

A win with no complications over Arizona St. and Georgia beats Alabama, but if Georgia hobbles out of Tempe, anything can happen.

Score: Toss-up

Kentucky

Rich Brooks is a good coach, but this is not the same Kentucky team from last year.  Kentucky will be game but Alabama pulls away.

Score: 28-17 Alabama

Ole Miss

A very dangerous game.  Ole Miss has talent and now a good coach, The good news is, this is a home game.  If Alabama is close to the record that I say they will have at this point of the season, this shouldn't be a problem.

Score: 30-20 Alabama

@ Tennessee

Revenge game alert, but I am not a believer in Tennessee this year.  They will be a good team, but not good enough for Alabama to have an automatic loss.

Score: 28-24 Alabama

Arkansas State

See Western Kentucky.

Score: 56-21 Alabama

@ LSU

The Tigers will be tough, but I think Alabama according to my tracking being on a high and they will remember how close they were last year.  A very brutal game but I smell a upset.

Score: 23-21 Alabama

Mississippi State

This will be quick and ugly, a revenge game.

Score: 35-10 Alabama

Auburn

It will end at some point, and I think this is the year.  Auburn will probably still be working the kinks out of the spread.  This is a type of offense that will need at least another year to be completely effective.

Score: 21-17 Alabama

I understand this looks like a typical Alabama fanatic writing on a ridiculous season.  But the only real certain losable game is Georgia. 

Nick Saban seems much more confident in this system.  I never once last year heard him say Applewhite's name, but he has on a few occasions said Coach M's name and said "Coach Mac", I don't think Nick Saban says nicknames unless he really likes the person.

What is lost in many people's analysis of Alabama is that forgotten first class Saban recruited, not the No. 1 class this year, but the 2007 class, they will have a big impact on this year. 

I realize that 11-1 is probably too ambitious, but what you can't argue is that most of these games are within reach of Alabama, and that folks you can't argue.

Please leave some feedback either here at Bleacher Report or my email at [e-mail] (though please leave a sensible subject line).