To build excitement for the upcoming season, I will be releasing an individual team preview for each of my top 25 teams every day until the season starts. The preview continues with #2 Alabama.
2013 Review
The Tide were the two time defending champions and were ranked #1 in the country week one. They opened the year with a dominate 35-10 win over Virginia Tech, followed by a high scoring 49-42 revenge victory over Texas A&M. Alabama would continue to roll through the season with a dominate defense, winning eleven straight games, giving less than 10 points in nine of them. Alabama was 11-0 and still ranked #1 in the nation going into the rivalry against Auburn. They would battle back and attempt a 50 yard game winning field goal as time expired. The field goal would fall short and Auburn's Chris Davis would return it 109 yards for a touchdown, ending Alabama's national title hopes in seconds. Alabama would have to settle for a Sugar Bowl bid where Nick Saban's team came unprepared and lost 45-31 to Oklahoma.
Season Outlook
Alabama is ranked #2 this year, but the goal and prediction stays the same. They are still expected to win the SEC and make the playoffs. They will open the season with three easy wins against West Virginia, Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss. before their conference opener against a much improved Florida. After back to back road games against Ole Miss and Arkansas, the Tide host Texas A&M followed by back to back road games against Tennessee and LSU. They will end the season with three straight home games against Mississippi State, Western Carolina and Auburn. The Iron Bowl against Auburn will be a classic no matter what the result, but I think that Nick Saban will have his team ready to take down the defending SEC champions to lock up a spot in the first ever playoffs.
Season Prediction
12-0 (8-0) 1st in SEC West
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