🏈 Ranking 6 toughest oppts: #1 AU (6. MSU / 5. UF / 4. Ole Miss / 3. A&M / #2 LSU)

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Fair or not, Alabama's taken some flack in recent years about its schedule. This year is no different, as the Crimson Tide once again avoids SEC East favorites Georgia and South Carolina. But plenty of challenges exist. There's no telling how good some of these teams ultimately will be -- the Crimson Tide certainly didn't expect Virginia Tech to be unranked to start 2013 -- but we're taking a look at the six teams that currently appear to be Alabama's toughest competition in 2014.

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[BAMANEWSBOT]

No. 6: Mississippi State, Nov. 15

2013 record: 7-6, 3-5 SEC
Last meeting: Alabama 20, Mississippi State 7 (2013)
Returning starters: 16 (8 offense, 8 defense)
Players to watch: QB Dak Prescott, junior; RB Josh Robinson, junior; WR Jameon Lewis, senior; DT Chris Jones, sophomore; LB Benardrick McKinney, junior

Why Alabama fans should be concerned: Even when Alabama sees a potential letdown on the horizon after its annual 60-minute heavyweight brawl with LSU, Mississippi State always finds a way to give the Crimson Tide more trouble than it probably should. Last year's showdown in Starkville was, perhaps, the most extreme example, as the Bulldogs hung within striking distance from start to finish against a seemingly uninspired Crimson Tide. In 2011, Alabama led 10-0 heading into the fourth quarter before it put away the Bulldogs. The talent gap that typically allows Alabama to beat the majority of its opponents in convincing fashion just doesn't seem to factor in as much against Mississippi State.

This year's version of the Bulldogs promises to be much better than the one that gave Alabama a fight in 2013. Presumably, Prescott, a dual-threat option who has the potential to be the SEC's best quarterback, will be healthy. Who knows what would have happened if he were able to play in last year's game? The same defense that limited Alabama to its lowest point total of 2013 is largely in tact and its strength promises to center on stopping the run. While Alabama will face LSU in Death Valley the week before this Nov. 15 showdown, Mississippi State will host UT-Martin.

Why Alabama fans should be confident: History. It's that simple.
Alabama's lost just three times to Mississippi State during the 21st century and only one of those defeats came at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Even in these recent "hangover" games, Alabama has played far below its potential but still escaped with a double-digit victory. The games where Alabama has showed up and played well have typically ended like the one in 2012, when the Crimson Tide routed a then-undefeated and No. 11-ranked Mississippi State, 38-7.

From a personnel standpoint, the Bulldogs have some questions to answer along the offensive line in light of all-SEC guard Gabe Jackson's departure. Though there are a couple of bright spots, Mississippi State's running backs and wide receivers aren't among the league's best. The Bulldogs made just 10-of-21 field goals last season and plan to utilize some of the same specialists in 2014.

 

[jdpas29]

No.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

No. 5: Florida, Sept. 20

2013 record: 4-8, 3-5 SEC
Last meeting: Alabama 38, Florida 10 (2011)
Returning starters: 14 (7 offense, 7 defense)
Players to watch: QB Jeff Driskel, junior; RB Kelvin Taylor, sophomore; OT DJ Humphires, junior; DL Dante Fowler, junior; CB Vernon Hargreaves, sophomore

Why Alabama fans should be concerned: No one hit rock bottom harder than the Gators did in 2013. On Oct. 5, Florida sat atop the SEC at 4-1 (3-0) after a 30-10 victory over Arkansas despite having lost Driskel for the season weeks earlier. After a 37-7 loss to Florida State, the Gators entered the offseason with seven consecutive defeats and plenty of time for soul-searching. If that sounds like a reason for Alabama to be confident, it is, but it's also a reason to believe that the Gators are poised to bounce back. Remember, Auburn and Missouri, who squared off at the 2013 SEC Championship, combined for two conference victories in 2012. Major programs don't stay down for long, especially ones that have as much talent as Florida.

Driskel was never considered to be one of the conference's best quarterbacks, but his injury was devastating. His return should help at least stabilize a Florida offense that was an absolute mess by the end of 2013. The Gators have better experience and depth at running back and wide receiver, two positions in which they've underachieved in recent years. They'll be running an offense that promises to feature more shotgun snaps and more uptempo pace, as new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, formerly at Duke, has been tasked with fixing all that went wrong in 2013. The defense, which has been solid throughout Will Muschamp's tenure, has a number of talented players and should be one of the tougher units Alabama faces in 2014.

Why Alabama fans should be confident: The Gators are ranked in most preseason top 25s because of their potential. As plausible as it seems that they'll reassert themselves as a contender in the SEC East, they could very well remain the same or sink even further. Remember that thing we said about big programs not staying down for long? Tell that to Tennessee fans. As the competition within the SEC elevates with each passing year, it's possible if the Gators don't make the proper adjustments.

Driskel is a solid but not spectacular quarterback. Florida's offensive line is young, inexperienced and features a few question marks. There are just as many questions as stars along the defensive line and in the secondary. The atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium promises to be nutty, as fans will be jazzed for the Crimson Tide's SEC opener after two warmups against Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss.

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[bama alum]

Definitely would have switched #s 5 and 6

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

No. 4: Ole Miss, Oct. 4

2013 record: 8-5, 3-5 SEC
Last meeting: Alabama 25, Ole Miss 0 (2013)
Returning starters: 15 (6 offense, 9 defense)
Players to watch: QB Bo Wallace, senior; WR LaQuon Treadwell, sophomore; OT Laremy Tunsil, sophomore; DL Robert Nkemdiche, sophomore; S Cody Prewitt, senior

Why Alabama fans should be concerned: After landing one of the nation's top recruiting classes, Rebels coach Hugh Freeze was quick to dismiss the hype surrounding his team as it entered the 2013 season. He'll have a tougher time doing that at SEC Media Days later this month now that a number of those players have already proved to be legitimate SEC starters. There are also a number of key veterans -- most notably Wallace in his third year at quarterback and C.J. Johnson at defensive end -- sprinkled along the roster to make the Rebels much more dangerous than they were last year at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The score of that game is a bit misleading, as Alabama held a tenuous 9-0 lead entering the second half and benefitted from a number of risky play calls from Freeze that didn't pan out. It's safe to assume Ole Miss will be a bit more conservative on its home field in 2014.

If the Rebels can get past Boise State in their season opener, they'll likely enter their first home game against Alabama since 2011 at 4-0 and potentially ranked in the top 10. The atmosphere in Oxford promises to be nothing short of bonkers. It will be Alabama's first true road game and potentially its first game of the season against a ranked opponent.

Why Alabama fans should be confident: Look what happened last year when the upset-minded Rebels came to Bryant-Denny Stadium. They didn't score any points. Now go back a few years to 2009. The No. 20 Rebels were hoping to shock the world against the eventual national champions, but all they could muster was a field goal in the 22-3 Alabama victory. Sure, it will happen some day, but this sort of history is enough to carry a believe-it-when-you-see-it mentality into this annual matchup.

The Rebels' offense is potent and one of the fastest-moving in the country. It always seems to give Alabama fits in the early part of the game, but the Crimson Tide has found a way to adjust. The Rebels will miss Donte Moncrief, who is now in the NFL, and have a couple of question marks along the offensive line. Whoever wins the kicking job has zero college experience.

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[TerryP]

Ranking Alabama's 6 toughest opponents: Loaded with young talent, No. 4 will have home-field advantage


That's the title to this article and it bothers me every time I see someone use Ole Miss and home-field advantage in the same sentence.

Over the last ten years Ole Miss is 18-26 at home when playing a SEC team. If we go back fifty years and include a good portion of the run they had under Johnny Vaught they're 70-77 at home against SEC teams. If we limit it to Hugh Freeze's tenure they are 4-4 at home. Those four wins came against an 0-8 Auburn, a 4-4 Miss. State, a 5-3 LSU, and a 0-8 Arkansas.

Which parameter do you want to use here? No matter which one you pick, there is no home field advantage.

 

[bama alum]

Bo Wallace is going to have an exceptionally difficult time navigating past our front seven.

 

[planomateo]

I don't see Miss State as the lowest on the list, they'll finish ahead of Ole Miss this year.

 

[bamaraider]

Florida is still looking for answers on offense, and I'm still not sure how well Driskel will do with a young offensive line with Alabama's front 7 this year being stout. I think with Alabama being at home, its an easy victory. In the last 3 match-ups, Alabama's average margin of victory vs Florida is 33-9.

Ole Miss definitely on the road should be a concern. I know they're known for "pulling an Ole Miss" and all, but this year could be different with more experience back and a smarter HC.

 

[TerryP]

Florida is still looking for answers on offense, and I'm still not sure how well Driskel will do with a young offensive line with Alabama's front 7 this year being stout. I think with Alabama being at home, its an easy victory. In the last 3 match-ups, Alabama's average margin of victory vs Florida is 33-9.

Ole Miss definitely on the road should be a concern. I know they're known for "pulling an Ole Miss" and all, but this year could be different with more experience back [BCOLOR=rgb(255, 255, 0)]and a smarter HC.[/BCOLOR]

Smarter, versus last years decisions in the game?

If he starts coaching differently in one game that'll throw his team off worse than making some of the calls he did last year.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

No. 3: Texas A&M, Oct. 18

2013 record: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
Last meeting: Alabama 49, Florida 42 (2013)
Returning starters: 15 (6 offense, 9 defense)
Players to watch: QB Kyle Allen, freshman; OT Cedric Ogbuehi, senior; WR Ricky Seals-Jones, freshman; DL Gavin Stansbury, senior; CB Deshazor Everett, senior

Why Alabama fans should be concerned: The Aggies have scored 71 points against Alabama over the past two seasons. For some perspective, Tennessee has scored 58 in its last six games against the Crimson Tide. Of course, Johnny Manzielhad a lot -- OK, close to everything -- to do with Texas A&M's success vs. the vaunted Alabama defense, but coach Kevin Sumlin and the offensive coordinators he's hired to devise these game plans deserve some of the credit, too. Once they settle on a quarterback -- a two-man battle between Allen and sophomore Kenny Hill -- they'll have plenty of pieces to work with amid significantly lowered expectations. The offensive line should once again be among the conference's best, and there's plenty of talent at running back and wide receiver to keep opposing defenses on their toes.

The defense, which allowed 32.2 points and 475 yards per game in 2013, simply can't be worse. Five-star freshman Myles Garrett is anticipated to make an immediate impact and Everett gives the secondary a lockdown cornerback. Most of the Aggies' starters from 2013 are back.

Why Alabama fans should be confident: Manziel is gone. Manziel is gone. Manziel is gone.

Is that enough? OK, a few more reasons.

So is wide receiver Mike Evans, the monster target that torched whomever tried to guard him in last year's shootout. The Aggies have a number of talented receivers, including five-star Speedy Noll, but they don't have another Evans.

And about that defense ... it's still very much a work in progress. Certainly, the Aggies will be better, but it's hard to believe they'll crack the top half of the SEC in any defensive categories. Everett was the lone Aggie defender to make one of Phil Steele'sfour preseason all-SEC teams. He won't be able to help much if teams are able to target and thrive on the opposite side of the field.

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[bamaraider]

Smarter, versus last years decisions in the game?

If he starts coaching differently in one game that'll throw his team off worse than making some of the calls he did last year.

Still a young HC and I'd say smarter than Houston Nutt wouldn't you?

 

[TerryP]

Still a young HC and I'd say smarter than Houston Nutt wouldn't you?

Still young as a college head coach. He's been coaching for damn near 25 years as I recall.

Smarter than Houston Nutt? Impossible to answer with having the head job three years (including Arky State.) Given the choice I'd certainly take Nutt over Freeze if it were up to me to hire a head coach.

 

[TerryP]

@bamaraider I included his coaching experience at Briarcrest when I mentioned a quarter of a century in football coaching. Sure, it was high school. But at the same time, he was making decisions there that affected the outcome of games. I don't think it's a time period one can dismiss.

He'll have some talent in some areas, sure. But that talent is loaded with question marks.

Take Wallace for example. In SEC play his INT to TD ratio last season was 9 to 8. Decision making isn't his strong suit. He did put up numbers when it came to YPG, but that came at the expense of one of the worst rushing attacks in the SEC.

I'd question him helping Ole Miss get on the map. I don't see anything now that differs from their past under Nutt—except higher expectations in 2009— or in recruiting when Orgeron was there—except a little looser with the rules.

I'm certainly not from Missouri, but I'm standing firmly on the cliche, "show me." I've not seen the Black Bears come into a game and win one outright in years.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

No. 2: LSU, Nov. 8

2013 record: 10-3, 5-3 SEC
Last meeting: Alabama 38, LSU 17 (2013)
Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense)
Players to watch: RB Leonard Fournette, freshman; OT La'El Collins, senior; OG Vadal Alexander, junior; DL Jermauria Rasco, junior; LB Kwon Alexander, junior

Why Alabama fans should be concerned: It's a primetime showdown in Baton Rouge. Nothing ever comes easy, no matter how the teams supposedly match up entering the game. If not for the AJ McCarron-T.J. Yeldon heroics in 2012, Alabama would be entering this year's trip without a win in Death Valley since 2008's overtime thriller. The Crimson Tide hasn't won a game in Baton Rouge by double digits since its 2002 31-0 shutout against the Nick Saban-led Tigers. In all likelihood, both teams' hopes of winning the SEC West will be alive and well. Both will be coming off a bye. The anticipation will be huge because, well, it's Alabama-LSU.

The Tigers have fresh faces at their skill positions, and they'll be counted on to produce right away. Fournette and five-star wide receiver Malachi Dupre will be plenty seasoned by the time Alabama comes to town. They'll also have eight games under their belt with whomever wins the quarterback battle. It seemed that was the proper amount of time for Zach Mettenberger to hit his stride in 2012, as he threw for 298 yards in a losing effort. The offensive line could be one of the best in the SEC. The John Chavis-led Tigers' defense should be its typical stout self. Alexander could be one of the conference's best linebackers.

Why Alabama fans should be confident: Yes, the Tigers are reloaded at the skill positions, but it's hard to imagine they'll be as productive as Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham and Jeremy Hill were in 2013. Mettenberger's departure looms largest at the moment, as sophomore Anthony Jennings and true freshman Brandon Harrisare expected to compete throughout camp and potentially into the season. Jennings was 7-for-19 for 82 yards and an interception in the Outback Bowl. Dupre could be a star but he's inexperienced just like the rest of LSU's receiving corps.

For a second consecutive year, LSU has to replace a number of defensive players who left early for the NFL. When the Tigers went through the process last year, it wasn't easy and they surrendered some uncharacteristic numbers. Though the defensive line should be strong, there are question marks galore at linebacker and in the secondary. LSU hasn't beaten Alabama since Nov. 2011, which isn't that long at all, but the number of Tigers on the roster who can claim a victory against the Crimson Tide is dwindling.

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[bamaraider]

Still young as a college head coach. He's been coaching for damn near 25 years as I recall.

Smarter than Houston Nutt? Impossible to answer with having the head job three years (including Arky State.) Given the choice I'd certainly take Nutt over Freeze if it were up to me to hire a head coach.

He first coached in college at Lambuth from 2008-2009, then was a OC at Arkansas State in 2010, then became a HC there in 2011. Now he's been the HC at Ole Miss since 2012. 5 years at the college level is still pretty young. My point is, to me, Hugh seems like a kind of coach who will take advantage of what he's given. He will have the talent, he has the QB, and he's helped Ole Miss get on the map since he's been there. I'm just saying we should be concerned at least.

 

[bamaraider]

Alright lets skip the talk about Ole Piss and go onto A&M.......I got nothin'

 

[TerryP]

Alright lets skip the talk about Ole Piss and go onto A&M.......I got nothin'

I got started thinking about this when I was riding this morning. With UGA fans, and others that prop them up in the pre-season, I tend to roll my eyes. They can make a run but never seem to be able to finish.

When I hear the same things about the Black Bears it riles me up a bit. You might remember my rant about Pete Roussel last year when he was pushing his pick of an Ole Miss win over Bama. I couldn't find anything to support is claim and his reasons...well, weren't reasons. It was a bunch of "I think." That led me to looking at his credentials in more depth only to find out he used to be on the coaching staff at Ole Miss and was living in Oxford at the time. It was the fan in him talking.

I remember it back in 2009. Most there were talking up Snead and Nutt. I was thinking the same thing then as I am now. It sounds good to them, but there's nothing to back it up.

But OK, we can set aside Ole Miss for now. I have to admit, I'm looking forward to watching their game @Vandy in week two. Afternoon kick on ESPN I believe and likely the best conference game that weekend (UT vs Arky State intrigues me.)

A&M? I'm glad Mike Evans is gone—more so than Manziel.

 

[TerryP]

No. 2: LSU, Nov. 8


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Toughest game, IMO.