BCS Bowl Predictions: 11 Reasons Why Alabama Wins It All

The 2011 Alabama football team is playing for a purpose greater than winning a BCS National Championship. 

After a tornado decimated Tuscaloosa in late April, killing 52 people and wiping out several parts of the city, including parts of the Alabama campus, the process of rebuilding one of the state’s pillars began. 

College towns across the country are joined at the hip with their institutions, but with the University of Alabama, it may take on even a deeper significance of being tied together.  

With their community determined to get back to its normal state as soon as possible, Alabama’s football team has taken on the responsibility of providing a release to the cities and residents who were affected by the storms.  

The greatest attribute of a championship team is how it responds when faced with adversity.

Clearly, the Crimson Tide are determined to embody the spirit and resilient nature of the citizens of Tuscaloosa.  

So it should not come as a shock that the Crimson Tide remained calm after finding themselves down 7-0 against No. 12 Florida just 19 seconds into their hyped showdown with the Gators. 

The crowd in the Swamp, just over 90,000 strong filled with orange and blue faithful, was roaring in all of its glory and seemingly had the Tide on the ropes.  

Little did they know what was about to hit their beloved Gators.  

The Tide would not allow another touchdown for the rest of the night and would go on to pummel the Gators 38-10.  

For the rest of the nation that watched this primetime affair, Alabama made a statement that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

They possess a smart and balanced offense, a dominant defense and an elite coaching staff that is battle tested and motivated by the lessons they learned from their failures last season.  

Here are 11 reasons why Alabama will win it all in 2011.  

11. QB Questions Answered

Coming into the season, the biggest question mark was who would be the signal-caller for the Tide.  

Saban carried the fall competition between sophomore AJ McCarron and freshman Phillip Sims into the season.  

After both quarterbacks struggled in the season-opener throwing two interceptions apiece, McCarron calmly led the Tide to a 27-11 win on the road at Penn State.

Since that performance, he has improved greatly to the point where the passing game is no longer viewed as a liability. 

Perhaps most importantly, he has firmly entrenched himself as a team leader, and he has not turned the ball over since the Kent State game.  

10. Running Back Combo

Alabama lost Heisman Trophy winner and starting running back Mark Ingram to the draft, but Trent Richardson has thrived as the new big man on campus.  

Richardson has proven himself to be a complete back, and no performance personified that more than his career high 181-yard, two touchdown effort against Florida last weekend.  

Meanwhile, sophomore Eddie Lacy has taken over Richardson’s old role as the bruising hammer that spells the starter while pounding hapless defenders late in games.  

The duo has rushed for a combined 1,019 yards and 15 touchdowns through five games, and their physical running style is reminiscent of the Ingram/Richardson combo that carried the Tide to the 2009 national title.  

9. Balanced Offense

While the running game will undoubtedly be the focal point of Alabama’s offense, offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has kept opponents honest by dialing up a steady dose of play-action passes and screens.    

Wide receiver Marquis Maze has proven to be an effective playmaker as a return man and in the passing game, along with tight ends Michael Williams and Brad Smelley.  

Another underrated facet of Richardson’s game is his pass-catching ability, which is part of what makes him one of the best backs in the nation and a Heisman Trophy candidate.  

There may not be a receiving threat that is the caliber of departed star Julio Jones, but the Tide are versatile enough to strike quickly or methodically pound defenses into submission.

8. Talent

When you look up and down the Crimson Tide roster, there are spots filled with former high-school All-Americans at every position.

Since Nick Saban has taken over in Tuscaloosa, the Tide have become a fixture near the top of recruiting rankings.

Ponder this thought for a second. 

How many schools could overcome the loss of four first round draft picks and conceivably be better the next year?

This year’s team may have four first round picks on defense alone!

To summarize that prospect in one word: insane!   

7. Strength in the Trenches

Lost in Alabama’s hot start this season has been just how dominant they have been up front on both sides of the ball.

Despite losing first-round draft choice James Carpenter on the offensive line, Alabama’s four returning starters have paved the way for an offense averaging 438 yards and 38 points per game.  

Meanwhile, the defensive line lost a first-rounder in Marcell Dareus, but JUCO transfer Jesse Williams has filled in nicely, helping the Tide’s ferocious front maul their opponents so far this season. 

Alabama is allowing only 8.4 points per game, which makes the Tide defense the stingiest unit in the country

6. Dominant Defense

There’s a fierce debate at the top of the rankings, with Alabama currently residing in the No. 2 spot trailing only LSU.  

It is no coincidence that most observers around the country continue to argue about which SEC powerhouse has the better defense.  

Alabama came into the Florida game without their best coverage linebacker (C.J. Mosley) and still shut down the Gators dynamic running back duo of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps by limiting them to a combined 42 yards of total offense.  

The Crimson Tide arguably have the nation’s best set of linebackers AND the best secondary, with both units featuring multiple players who figure to be prominent names in next April’s NFL Draft.  

5. Friendly Schedule

Last year, the Crimson Tide were at a great disadvantage due to the way its schedule played out. 

Nick Saban was more than displeased with facing six SEC opponents who had the good fortune of facing the Crimson Tide after a bye week. 

Alabama would go on to lose three of those games and fall short of defending their national and conference titles.  

This year, the Tide have already conquered two tough road opponents and now will have a bye before the impending mega tilt against LSU on Nov. 5

4. Biggest Test at Home

Since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, the LSU game has usurped Tennessee as the Crimson Tide’s second most heated rivalry. 

With the Tigers sitting as the only team ranked above Alabama, this year’s contest is shaping up to be the closest thing to a playoff game in college football, with the winner looking to capture the SEC West crown and a likely path to a berth in the BCS national title game.  

LSU won last year’s meeting in Death Valley, but this year, they have to make the trek to Bryant-Denney Stadium, where the Crimson Tide have won 23 of their last 24 games.  

In a match up where literally everything looks to be almost equal, the team playing at home usually gets the nod.  

3. Championship Experience

Alabama last claimed the national title after going 14-0 in 2009 and beating Texas 37-21 in the championship game. 

Several players from that team, including four starters, remain as key figures on this year’s squad. 

Guys like guard Barrett Jones and wide receiver Marquis Maze experienced the thrill of winning it all in 2009 and the agony of falling short in 2010. 

Having leaders who have been through the fire and know what it takes to win it all is an invaluable trait that many teams lack when compared to the Tide.  

2. Last Year's Failure Is This Year's Motivation

Most teams would consider a 10-3 season with a New Year’s Day bowl victory a successful season. 

With a team that was expected to repeat as national champions, the 2010 season will forever be viewed as a team that underachieved. 

Adding to their misery was the fact that they blew a 24-0 lead at home to in-state rival Auburn, only to watch them come back for an improbable 28-27 victory on their way to the national championship. 

That bitter taste was the only thing to comfort them during the offseason, and something tells me that the only way to get rid of it is to finish the job this season. 

1. Nick Saban

The architect in charge of the renaissance of Alabama football is arguably the best coach in the country. 

He’s hated by many (hello LSU fans) and feared by more than a few (duck, media members), but regardless of how he is perceived, there’s no doubt that Nick Saban is respected as one of the top minds in the game.  

He has assembled a staff that is meticulous in its preparation, which trickles down to his players and is exactly the reason why this team looks like a fine-tuned machine on Saturdays. 

There are many teams who are good enough to be considered as contenders for the 2011 national title. 

However, having Nick Saban gives Alabama a trump card no one else has, and that’s precisely why the Tide will win it all.