Why to watch: Alright Alabama, now we're all watching you. Head coach Nick Saban might be urging everyone to temper their expectations after a dominant 34-10 win over Clemson in the Georgia Dome, but no one's buying it. If you can blow away a national title-caliber team that badly, your time is now and the spotlight is on. The Tide will blow through the next two weeks against Tulane and Western Kentucky, will go through the motions and beat Arkansas, and then it's on. The September 27th game at Georgia now looks like something special. First, the Tide has to prove that it can keep its head on straight against a Tulane team playing its first game of the year. If it's possible to use Alabama as a tune-up game in some way, Tulane has to do it with a key Conference USA battle against East Carolina next week.
Why Tulane might win: Don't forget, most of the players on last year's team that clunked in the second half of the season are back. If UL Monroe can win in Tuscaloosa, then so can Tulane. The Green Wave has a nice back in Andre Anderson to take over for Matt Forte, while the offensive line is solid enough to keep the chains moving for a few stretches. There's no way, no how Alabama will maintain the same intensity two weeks in a row. The letdown is coming.
Why Alabama might win: Besides the fear of a deadly hurricane putting the school and the city under water, relocating to be able to practice, and the worries of having their lives turned completely upside down for the second time in three years, what does Tulane have to worry about? Some off week. Thankfully, all appears to be as good as could be expected, but the distraction won't help an already tough situation. If Alabama generates the pressure it did against Clemson, this won't be pretty.
Who to watch: 22-of-30, 180 yards, two touchdowns, 19 rushing yards, one rushing score. That's exactly what Bama fans and coaches are hoping for from John Parker Wilson, the up-and-down streaky senior who finally appears to have settled into his role as the leader of the upgraded offense. He doesn't have to come up with many YouTube Julio Jones-like heaves; he just has to keep his mistakes to a minimum and he has to be efficient. He can do that.
What will happen: Alabama will be pumped up out of the tunnel, but will have a hard time bringing the intensity for the first half. Even so, the defense will tee off on the Tulane running game, the Green Wave passing attack won't work well enough, and the Tide will come away with a sloppy win.
Line: Alabama -29.5
Must See Rating: (5 Entourage premiere - 1 One Tree Hill premiere) ... 2
Fearless Prediction: Alabama 30 ... Tulane 9
