2008 EARLY SEASON GAME PREDICTIONS & TEAM ANALYSIS

It's great to start up the college football season yet again, and much Alabama high-expectation is in the air as usual. Alabama enters the fall with a 24 and 26 ranking in the polls, not that that means much in August, but it does give them a good spot to work their way up quickly having to face 4 of the top 10 teams in the country, including now top-ranked Georgia in Athens. Throw in a little LSU and initial #9 matchup with Clemson, and Bama will be on their way up FAST if we can pull out a few quality wins against those guys. Last is the game against Auburn - the only REAL game in Bryant-Denny Stadium this season, as all the tough games are on the road.

Before I make my picks for the SEC, let's take a look at Bama's opponents and a VERY EARLY GUESS as to where Bama might fall at season's end. Obviously, injuries and playmakers will emerge throughout, but based on what we KNOW (which isn't much, thanks to Coach Saban), I'll do what I can. Keep in mind the schedule is BRUTAL, and we return basically the same players as last year... Let's take a look.

	vs #9 Clemson (in Atlanta) - Ok, this is the game that's getting all the preseason hype. ESPN's College Gameday Crew will be there starting Thursday; Bama's heralded freshman class will finally see some action including #1 overall Julio Jones; Saban finally shows us what we have all been missing in preseason practices; and John Parker Wilson finally shows us what he can do as a senior. Now Clemson is #9 in the country, and for good reason - BUT - it IS just a number. No one has even played a game, so now we'll settle it on the field. Can Bama win this game - YES. Will they? Probably not this early against the caliber team Clemson has. Davis and Spiller (Thunder/Lightening) are as good as advertised, and Bama will need at least one game to get our inexperience LBs some hits. We just have too many new guys up front right now to shut down a team like this. But maybe, just maybe they have done things in practice that we haven't seen yet - after all, anyone guessing what Bama will do is doing just that - GUESSING. Because Saban isn't letting anyone see what's going on. How do you honestly make a good prediction on a product you haven't seen? It's tough, but Clemson's experience get the nod, but Bama just might surprise a lot of people. We shall see.... Bamadog's Early Pick: CLEMSON
	vs Tulane - Quite honestly, I don't see much threat from this 4-8 team of 2007 in Conference USA. Let's hope I'm right. These guys will play hard, but in Bryant-Denny, and one game under our belt, it might get ugly. Don't underestimate them though - NEVER underestimate your opponent. Remember LA-Monroe of 2007...... Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Western Kentucky - The Hilltoppers could make some noise in their 2nd year of D-I football. Next year, they join up the Sun Belt Conference. For now, they have quite a bit of inexperience on both sides of the ball with questions at QB. It's definitely a game Bama should win at home unless the wheels fall off. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at Arkansas - McFadden is gone. Jones is gone. Nutt is gone. Monk is gone. Did I mention McFadden and Jones are gone along with the psycho coach?? In comes Bobby Petrino in his first year at Arkansas. Casey Dick looks to be their star player and that's not good. He'll throw the ball around a lot and hand off to a very talented freshman named De'Anthony Curtis... but given what they lost added into the fact that they got slaughtered by Missouri in the bowl game - it doesn't look good early for the Hogs this year. The might actually end up in the cellar of the SEC West if they're not careful. Bama still has too much talent over the Hogs to lose this one - even in Fayetteville. Tiffin also redeems himself after his aweful Fayetteville visit of 2006. It'll still be a close game - it always is. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at Georgia - Five games into the schedule and we get the #1 team in the land, assuming they don't lose to South Carolina again and then Arizona State the week before they play Bama. Richt has a 72-18 record while at Georgia, so you know he knows how to win football games. Now winning in Georgia will be even harder. Imagine UGA losing the week before to ASU in the desert... they will come back with a vengence, so Bama has to be ready. Plus, they know how bad we want to win this one after they beat us in OT last year. RB Moreno is as good as advertised. He got better as the season went along and Matt Stafford is doing well too. They destroyed Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl last year and they have a defense with 9 returning starters. They didn't give up a lot then - and they won't give up a lot now. To beat them at home will be something short of a miracle for Bama. The talent gap is still not favoring the Tide just yet but it's closing slowly. UGA gets the win but Bama fights to keep it close yet again. Bamadog's Early Pick: GEORGIA
	vs Kentucky - Kentucky lost too much talent from last year's team to go 8-5 or better in 2008. They whooped up FSU in the bowl game, but now they have no more Andre Woodson nor 4 of the top WRs of 2007. They have revamped their offense to have more of a rushing attack this year, and will rely on their defense to keep them in games. Strong as that defense may be, you still need offense to score, and UK is starting their 3rd stringer from last year... it doesn't look too well for Kentucky right now. The Woodson days are over - and so are the days of them pulling off the LSU upset. Shouldn't happen here with UK playing Bama in T-Town either. Thing is, going into this game, UK might even have the better record due to it's easier first part of the schedule. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Ole Miss - Houston Nutt. I thought I recognized that clown. Yeah, he left the Hogs to be with another loser team. Eddie just couldn't get the job done, so they hired the next best thing. :) No, but really, Nutt should turn around that program in just a couple of years once he gets his own players there. He's a good coach, just crazy. But in his first year, he has some talent to work with, but in T-Town, he'll experience his 2nd loss in a row to Bama - both in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Bama's picking up the pace at this point... Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at Tennessee - This is really a huge toss-up game. It's too early to tell what may happen. But Bama should have an ever so slight edge over the Vols this year. Last year, Bama struggled bigtime and still whooped up the Vols with great defense. For whatever reason they stopped running Foster last year, I'm glad. This year, we'll get a dose of possibly the SEC's #1 or #2 back in Arian Foster (Moreno would be the other RB). He's a big bruiser that can get you those tough yards and then some. But with him comes inexperience at QB. It's very hard to win in the SEC with rookie QB's - that's why Bama has a good chance this year, because JPW has been there in now his 3rd year as the starter. UT does have a bit of depth at WR and 4 OL starters return. In the end, it could come down to FGs to see who wins this one. Last year was a blowout, but I don't see that happening again in Knoxville. Close game that could really go either way. I'll pick the good guys. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Arkansas State (HC) - Another Sun Belt Conference team. The Red Wolves. Strange mascot name, huh? This is Bama's homecoming game, and I will definitely be there for this one.... I'll be on the field for pregame festivities in the Million Dollar Alumni Band - look for the hardhat, people. :) As for the game, it's an easy pick, but Bama will still have their hands full with RB Reggie Arnold. He's a quick runner that has been banged up the last 2 seasons and has still run for over 1000 yards each season, so you know he's for real. But the rest of the team shouldn't pose a huge threat as Bama takes care of another cupcake at home. Again, STILL do not underestimate any team. :) Take care of business and get ready for LSU the next week, aight? Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	at L.S.U. - Even though LSU lost a ton of talent in Glenn Dorsey, Early Doucet, Jacob Hester, and Matt Flynn (and Periloux due to team rules violation), they are still stacked. They still have speedster Holliday and some serious talent on the defensive side of the ball. Bama had a HUGE chance last season to pull off the upset but fumbled late in the game to give it away. This year, LSU will be operating on slightly less talent and definitely less experience. Bama's in the same boat but have experience in the field general area (QB). This is LSU's main concern right now - at the QB spot. With no starts at this position, no one knows exactly how well LSU's offense is going to mesh. But given the fact that LSU always comes to play on both sides of the ball, I expect a dogfight. Bama could win, but until they prove they can win against the big dogs, LSU chalks up another win here unfortunately. Maybe this is the year the Tide turns the corner - we shall see - but again, remember, it's only August and things could change come LSU game week. For now, it's Tigers in a close one. Bamadog's Early Pick: L.S.U.
	vs Mississippi State - State returns a nice nucleus of players from the 2007 team, but still lack that playmaker that some teams have. Carrol will be the QB again and hopes to improve. At this time in the season, everyone will have their feet wet and we'll know more, but right now, Bama looks for some serious revenge in T-Town as the bulldogs have beaten the Tide 2 times in a row. THIS streak must come to an end as does next week's game streak. If we shut down Anthony Dixon in this game, which I believe we can, Bama should pull out the win. I don't expect to see State run back an interception 100 yards this year. Hopefully we learned our lesson - and this year, no, we shouldn't have 5-6 players suspended for selling books... call last year an asterisk game even though it still counted. It won't happen this year. Period. Now, Croom will get Sabaned. Bamadog's Early Pick: BAMA
	vs Auburn - Tubbs and the Awbies went 9-4 last year and finished with a win against Bama's 1st opponent, Clemson, in the bowl game. They are definitely a good team - a team that Tubbs somehow always has ready for Alabama. He has won 6 in a freaking row. It pains me to even think about it. Looking at the schedule, if Bama played AU early on, I think I'd favor Bama, but as the season goes on, AU seems to get better unfortunately, and as of late, Bama has gotten worse. Unless that changes in 2008, Bama's going to be hurting for another 365 days. This game, again with such an early prediciton is too close to call. I'm really hoping things pan out with JPW and company and I can change this pick come game week... because the last freaking thing I want to see is Tubby holding up 7 fingers. I think I'll throw up...... Bama, DO NOT LOSE THIS GAME! Bamadog's Early Pick: AUBURN

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

I know what you're thinking - I'm just hopping on that Georgia Bulldog bandwagon. Well, in case you missed it, I called last year's division champs and overall champ to a tee, not that many people DIDN'T pick LSU to win it all, but yeah, I picked UT as well, which is what happened. Here's why it goes down like you see it:

In the East, it comes down to the Cocktail party in Jacksonville. Whoever wins that game will likely represent the East in the SEC Championship game. I have to favor Georgia because of their defense. Defense wins championships, and UF's defense has been decimated with injuries and just won't be able to stop UGA from moving the ball. Moreno will have a hay-day. On the other side of the ball, it will be the Tim Tebow show, but he'll be limited to how much he can actually carry the team because 1 vs 11 just won't work for 60 minutes. UGA's defense will just be too tough down the stretch for UF to pull out the win. Last year was a good example of that, and last year, UF's team was better. Things WILl change however with injuries hitting Georgia as well, but in the end Georgia edges out UF and UT. UT won't win with such an inexperienced QB, so that only leave S. Carolina. Sure they beat UGA last season, but they couldn't seal the deal and beat everyone else. So it's down to UF/UG. Period. Flip a coin, but I think 3 times out of 4, it still lands in Georgia's favor.

I the West, quite honestly, it comes down to scheduling. Bama looks to go 7-5 or 8-4 realistically this year. It could be better or worse though. Bama's road schedule is one of the toughest out there. Auburn, on the other hand has all of their tough games at home. Advantage Auburn. LSU lost a ton of talent, not to mention the fact that it's so dang tough to REPEAT in the SEC, much less a national title. With that much talent leaving Baton Rouge, it will come down to the AU/LSU game to see who ends up with 2 losses and the tiebreaker on the season (Bama would have 3 losses and be out). Playing in Auburn definitely favors the Plainsmen, and throw in the defense Auburn will throw at first year QB <insert inexperienced QB Name here (ha ha)> in only the 4th game of the season, the ball is in Auburn's court unfortunately. LSU has the means to win, but will they? Possibly, but in the SEC West, anything could happen. Bama might actually surprise some people and go 10-2 somehow. Too bad we can't see practice in the preseason, right?

Overall, Georgia has the advantage. They play in their home state in the championship, and also end up getting a rematch with Auburn, the team that might have beaten them in the regular season... and you know how the rematch goes? The loser usually wins the 2nd time around (except Bama in 1999 vs UF). Georgia comes back with a vengence and plays in the Sugar Bowl once again unless there are just some weak freaking teams atop the Top 25 polls again. How else can you explain a 2-loss LSU team playing for a National Title in 2007? Too bad the SEC beats up its own so much else we'd have an undefeated team every year. UGA is on the outside looking in but still have a great year and represents the SEC well in the bowl game.

As for Bama's offense, what can I honestly say. I have seen (along with everyone else) only one play made that leaked out - the pass from JPW to Julio Jones for the TD after he stiff-armed Johnson. We know Grant can run, and we know Coffee can do it all. Arenas will now play some DB as well as his normal Superman duties at PR and KR. That guy is just freaking awesome. I love Javier. The qustion is, can the returning OL actually get better in 2008?? I think if we don't have a textbook scandal, we should be ok there. The other question is the QB/WR in-sync mentality. Will JPW be on the same page as his WRs this year? Will he STOP trying to copy Andrew Zow and keep throwing the ball out-of-bounds to give absolutely NO ONE a chance to make a play on the ball? Will he get benched at any point in the season? Well, he likely won't get benched unless he just starts sucking like a ho... but I DO expect him to do better than in years past. His Sophomore year was sensational - hopefully he can return to form and finish what he started. At WR though, those guys will have to step up big. We lost 3 good guys in Hall, Brown, and Caddell. But waiting in the wings we DO have some good talent, the best of which are Mike McCoy and Julio Jones. These guys have great hands and JPW will go to them early and often. Based on what I have seen in available practice video and coach's comments, Julio IS AS ADVERTISED. He's got great hands, size, and the ability to beat you deep. That's all we can ask for. Throw in those other guys on offense, especially Nick Walker at TE, and we have a nice set of weapons at our disposal. We'll keep it interesting.

On Defense, Bama looks to find some serious playmakers up-front. Cody, Bama big BIG man in the middle will likely see some goal line work until he grasps everything in the main gameplan. Once he learns everything he'll flourish in this defense. On the ends, Bama should be ok with Greenwood and Deaderick. They just have to pick up the pace where Gilberry left off. LB is obviously the position where we hurt the most - and that's a huge reason why it will be difficult for Bama to take 1st of 2nd place in the West this year. You need solid play in the trenches and LBs that hit hard and that have speed. We're slowing getting that talent, but it's still young. We're still about a year away of where we really want to be in this area. Then in the 2ndary, Bama looks ok losing Castille to graduation. That's the one place Bama has recruited quite well, even in the Shula era. We have enough DBs to field another team, so finding existing talent here won't be difficult - then add in the super DBs in the freshman class (most of which will be redshirted) and the future looks bright here. So far, Jackson has solidified one CB slot and Arenas could play the other CB if he's not playing nickelback. Johnson will be the defensive captain after walking on 3 years ago, and Woodall could possibly start at the other S spot. Lots of guys should get playing time here though as no one has really stepped up to BE THE MAN just yet. Definitely some good competition here it he DB area. Overall, a good unit, but things will be better when Prince Hall finishes his 3-game suspension - just in time for the start of Bama's brutal SEC road schedule.

Last, special teams look pretty solid as Tiffin returns for his 3rd year and Fitzgerald punts for the Tide. P.J. has been working on his mechanics to actually get more 'pop' on the ball when he punts, so we'll see how that goes come gametime. As usual, Arenas will be the main return man with Marquise Maze possibly getting in some mop-up work if Bama gets the big lead. But this should be a solid unit overall as players improve from season to season - hopefully that holds true for Bama's kicking games. If so, we're looking good here.

Now........Bring on Saturday! I'm ready to see the Tide Roll over Clemson in Atlanta!!

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The Bamadog