2014 College Football Picks and Predictions: Alabama Crimson Tide Season Preview

2014 College Football Picks and Predictions: Alabama Crimson Tide Season Preview: When anything less than a national title is a disappointment, there is a good chance your season is going to end on a sour note. However, few could have predicted the crushing fashion in which the Alabama Crimson Tide lost their chance to three-peat as champs. When rival Auburn returned a missed field goal as time expired for a game-winning touchdown, the Crimson Tide’s season was essentially over. Sure, Alabama earned a big to the Sugar Bowl, but with a national title shot already lost, the Crimson Tide put forth a lackluster effort in a lopsided defeat to Oklahoma. Despite back-to-back losses to close last season, expectations haven’t changed for Nick Saban’s team. The Crimson Tide will open the year ranked No. 2 in the polls with a spot in the college football playoff and a national title as the primary objective.

The Good News:

Alabama is absolutely loaded with offensive weapons. T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry anchor the backfield, and Amari Cooper leads a receiving corps that returns its top three targets. Paving the way for the Crimson Tide’s skill position players will be one of the best offensive lines in the country. Three starters are back from last year’s unit, and five-star prospect Cameron Robinson will join the mix, as well. With such a loaded offensive line, Alabama should have no trouble playing the brand of punishing power football that Saban loves to use to physically dominate opponents and control the tempo of games. The Crimson Tide also have some playmakers on defense. Experienced linebacker Trey DePriest will anchor the unit, and defensive end A’Shawn Robinson will lead what should be a rejuvenated pass rush. In the secondary, safety Landon Collins has shown all the signs of becoming a game-changer.

The Bad News:

Quarterback A.J. McCarron is off to the NFL after an incredible career. He was often called a game manager, but McCarron provided stability under center. He rarely made mistakes, and when the game was on the line, he made the plays he needed to. Senior Blake Sims is set to open the year as the start while Florida State transfer Jacob Coker gets up to speed, but neither is a proven commodity at this point. Defensively, Alabama had plenty of talented athletes, but the fact remains that just four starters are back. On paper, the unit should be as good as ever, but until the players are able to prove themselves on the field in game situations, there are always going to be question marks.

Outlook:

If McCarron was back under center, it would be hard to imagine the Crimson Tide losing a game given all the powerful offensive line and all weapons this team has. However, breaking in a new starter rarely comes without a hiccup. Looking at the schedule, a road date with LSU seems particularly ominous. McCarron engineered a late comeback to help the Crimson Tide sneak by the last time they visited “Death Valley,” but he won’t be around to save Alabama this year. That being said, the talent level on this team is through the roof, and with Auburn and Texas A&M coming to Tuscaloosa, I don’t expect the Crimson Tide to lose more than one game on their way to winning the SEC West.

Prediction: 11-1, SEC West Division Champions