vs Hawaii - There's a big question mark over this game mainly because Bama doesn't know how good Hawaii really is, and we all don't know how good Bama's defense is. What's for certain is that Bama's running game will be solid if Wilson can keep from turning the ball over. And the Hawaii defense won't be able to stop the run. If it gets to be a shootout, and if Bama can control the new NCAA game clock, we should pull it out... if not, Bama could start out the season with a horrifying loss. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Vanderbilt - Vandy always has a knack of playing Bama tough for some reason. They can play Bama to the 4th quarter then play Middle Tennessee State and lose by 40. I don't get it. But this year should be different. There is no more Jay Cutler to help the Vandy offense. The defense however is a strong group that will help keep them in games. But without a real scoring threat this season and a tiring defense (due to lack of offense), the door should shut on Vandy by at least a couple of TD's. I foresee Bama's defense scoring twice in this game. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Lousiana-Monroe - It's Louisiana-Monroe, people. If we lose this game, we have serious problems. We have lost to Louisiana Tech in the past, but L-M isn't even that. Big game for the Tide. Too much Darby and the running game will end this game pretty quickly. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at Arkansas - Ok, up until now, if Bama's not favored to win and we don't win, Shula's got problems with the rest of the season. Easy picks so far.... but now, at Arkansas, this is where the season really starts. Last time Bama went there, Shula was in his 2nd season and we nearly pulled out the win if it weren't for Matt Jones, the one-man Bama-killer. I still remember that great TD run Hudson made in that game. But Arkansas held on, then tacked on an extra TD to pad the score. Bama got their revenge last year; but this season, Bama looks to extend the streak. With Nutt on the hotseat after a disappointing 4-7 season last year, the Hogs are playing for their coach's job. It will be a tough game, but Bama should pull it out in a tight, tight game. Both running games will be key to winning this matchup. Bama by a whisker. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs at Florida - Last year, Bama showed up in a big way and in front of a national audience on CBS. Everyone saw that 'The Tide was Back' as shown by SI's weekly publication. Bama won 31-3 and should been more had Prothro's punt return for TD counted. Bama had the huge play to start the offense out 7-0, and the defense put up a huge Goal Line Stand once again. Now, Bama heads to the swamp with a 3-game winning streak against the Gators. In fact, Bama has only lost one time to Florida and that was my sophomore year at Bama - 1991. Bama lost 35-0. That was the last game Bama would lose until 1993 when Bama went on that huge winning streak... we all know what happened in between. But now the gators want serious revenge after getting blown out last year in Bryant-Denny. With 2nd-year coach Urban Meyer finally getting his team in stride after a subpar 8-3 season, the gators want to win the SEC West, and Bama is a huge obstacle in their way. The crowd will be loud, and Chris Leak will be a senior. Who knows if Tebow will have won the job by then. In any case, the loud UF crowd could get to a lot of the Bama underclassmen... and a mistake or two by Wilson could be the fate of the Tide this day. Bama could win, but UF will be a little too much for the Tide as the crowd lets the Tide have it. Plus, this is the 2nd tough road game in a row. Can Bama handle the road pressure of 2 huge SEC games back-to-back? We're a bit short. Bamadog's Early Pick: Florida
	vs Duke - Aaahhh. An ACC game. Ok, Duke should lose, but they won't be a pushover. This is definitely going to be a battle of the conferences with Duke wanting a huge win over an SEC team. I don't see Duke winning this game, but I do see them keeping it close by halftime. Bama should pull away in the 2nd half and chalk up another home win for Shula. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Ole Miss - Bama thought Ole Miss would be a pushover last year in Oxford. Well, they gave us a run for our money, and speaking of 'Money', Jamie Christensen is the one that booted a FG in the waning seconds of the game to give Bama the 13-10 win. Now, we're back in newly-renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium and the crowd will be loud for this one. This is the first 'big' game of the season for the home crowd. In this game, there will be too much of the Bama running game, and by this time, Wilson should have broken out of his shell to start putting up some good numbers. With the home crowd behind them, Bama should win big, but Ole Miss won't stop fighting against a defense that is slowly starting to come together. Overall, there will just be too much Tide to overcome. The Rebels drown on this Tide day. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at Tennessee - We're looking way far ahead at this point because anything is possible. UT could be undefeated and huge favorites against the Tide... or it could be the other way around. Either way, the spread should be under 10 points either way. UT's home crowd will be into it as usual, and now the offense finally has David Cutcliffe back to call the plays. Phat Phil is still reeling from last season. 5-6 and no bowl for the first time Fulmer has been head coach. Both teams are trying to find their identity this year, and neither team will be very dominant. It looks to be another grind-it-out kind of game like last year. But this is a series of streaks - and long ones. Something tells me, Bama starts another streak here to put the Tide up by 2. UT just seems out of whack... and Bama is slowly but surely rising to the top. Close one, but Bama gets it done in Knoxville, even in the hostile crowd. We learned our lesson in the Florida game and we keep our poise here. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Florida International (HC) - I should be at this game and on the field for the Alumni Million Dollar Band Presentation. Yep - look for the hardhat. Bama won't overlook FIU. And frankly, this should be a blowout as FIU just doesn't have the athletes to compete with the Tide. They are one of THE worst teams in the country, and won 1-2 games a year ago. With Bama hoping to get better and stay on track to get into a BCS bowl, FIU won't have a prayer. Bama big. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Mississippi State - Wouldn't Croom love to win one against the Tide in Tuscaloosa? You bet. But will he? Only if the Tide just gives up. MSU is still hurting player-wise. They have good athletes, and they actually hung with the Tide last year until the 2nd half arrived. Just too much Bama and Shula definitely outcoaches Croom once again. MSU is flustered; and for good reason. They're just not going to win as many games as they want with Croom at head coach. I look for the hot seat to be pretty warm these days in Starkville. I guess Jackie Sherrill isn't as bad as they thought, huh? Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at L.S.U. - This was the point last year when Bama pretty much rolled over. When J.B. Closner went down, that was our last hope until the Cotton Bowl. Now, Bama's OL is much better and making big holes for Darby and Co. to run through. And normally, an 'at LSU' game would mean a win for the Tide, but in recent years, Bama has finally gone up against a brick wall in Baton Rouge. Bama has lost the last 2 of 3 games there after winning every game there since 1969. LSU has had great recruiting, and that has aided new coach Les Miles. Last year, he had an incredible year going 10-2 overall and making it to the SEC Championship game by way of beating Auburn. Then they smashed Miami in the Peach Bowl. Talent in Baton Rouge is plentiful these days, but it's getting very crowed at a lot of spots, especially at QB. Not everyone is happy these days. Anyway, this is LSU of the 2000's, and not a lot is stopping them right now. I don't see them slowing down this year, but I guess anything is possible. The beating won't be as bad as last year mainly due to a revamped Bama OL, but it will be enough for Baton Rouge to celebrate another LSU victory. Hostile crowd keeps LSU in it in the 4th quarter. Bamadog's Early Pick: LSU
	vs Auburn - We finally have a chance to beat Auburn IN Tuscaloosa. We did it last year with Tennessee, and now it's time for the Tide to win an Iron Bowl for the first time since 2001. Has it really been that long??? Crap. Tide, these Seniors (and especially last year's) deserve better. It is time we put a freaking stake in the heart of that lame 'feat-the-thumb' idiots in Cow-pattie land. This game is always unpredictable, and the stats can be thrown away. Auburn will be good this season, and the winner of Auburn LSU could win the West, but Bama is team keeping Auburn from going to the Championship Game. Bama wants to end with a 10-2 regular season. Bama wants to win in T-town against Auburn for the first time. Bama will have the heart of a champion this day after a close-fought game in Baton Rouge. This one is everything. And Bama sticks that big fat thumb up Tubberville's ###. Got it? Enjoy the Iron Bowl. I know I will. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA

EAST Florida Georgia S. Carolina Tennessee Kentucky Vanderbilt	WEST LSU Auburn Alabama Arkansas Ole Miss Miss St.
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP - L.S.U. -

Now don't forget, people, that this is early, early, early, early... get it? It's early and some of these predictions will change as the weeks go on. But on the front end, LSU is just stacked. Auburn, unfortunately, is still very good, and Bama is still playing catch-up with the scholarship losses. We have a full 85-man scholarship limit, but most of that is still very young. Give Bama 2 more years and we'll be back where we're supposed to be. In the East, Florida finally has a breakout year over Georgia, and Mark Richt takes a step to the right to allow the Gators to pass. But S.Carolina will be knocking on the door all season with UT right there with them. We could have some serious congestion at the top of the East standings by season's end as it's really anyone's game over there. In any case, the West team, whether it be LSU, Auburn, or Bama, will win the SEC Championship. The powers that be have shifted, and I feel a Western Division surge in the next couple of years. Here's to Bama and a great 2006 season...

And here's to sticking Tubby's thumb where the sun don't shine, people. ROLL TIDE!

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The Bamadog