🏈 Who has the best shot at beating Alabama this fall?

[BigAl]

LSU or maybe Florida or someone else? What do you think? I don't think the cow college can do it or Arkansas. Penn State or Miss State could be a possibility but, I really don't see anybody beating us unless we beat ourselves. Comments welcome.

 

[kudzu]

I hate to sound arrogant but I think if we can play at a high level like we should in a consistant manner, I think we can handle anyone on our schedule. It's easier said than done of course.
I do believe LSU matches up well with us and Muschamp will have Florida ready. I think that Texas game is probably still on his mind. He's got the talent there to cause problems. Especially for a young QB.

 

[bamatommy]

Florida, LSU, Penn State & Auburn are the main ones that come to mind. Yes, Auburn lost Cam Newton and a lot of other good players, but the game is at Jordan Hare and Auburn almost beat Bama in 2009.

 

[Tider27]

I would only bet on LSU having the best shot, Arkansas, Florida and Auburn possibly.

LSU is always tough.

 

[planomateo]

easy, the only team that beats Bama is Bama

I'd also say the same for a few other programs.

 

[TerryP]

I would only bet on LSU having the best shot, Arkansas, Florida and Auburn possibly.

LSU is always tough.

Top two in that order; LSU then Arkansas.

The two games I consider to be the ones to watch are LSU and—there are some that disagree with this—the Mississippi State game.

Florida is looking at only having 10 starters returning. Tennessee might be a decent gauge on how their offense is progressing. At this juncture, I don't know if UK will tell us a lot the week before our game with the Gators. We are playing in the Swamp and have to take that into account. It'll be our first SEC road contest. I don't know how much of a bearing the new staff will have on how Florida does. I suspect their defense will be more than up to par. How their offense does? I can't escape the thought that Boom's system isn't going to mesh that well with the great White Whale's offense.

Auburn? Who knows. Fact is the team favored by Vegas wins the game about 80% of the time and we'll likely be favored in that game. Quite frankly, I don't think anyone can make a judgment on Auburn until we see them in a few games this season. By games, I mean SEC games. South Carolina should help define their offense, Arkansas their defense.

 

[RollTideWendielu]

Y'all REALLY think Penn State will be that good? I'm sort of surprised by that. There is almost no "buzz" up here about this year's PSU team. :headscratch:

 

[planomateo]

The Penn State game will be in happy valley, breaking in a new QB. that is what I think will be the biggest challenge during that game.

 

[TerryP]

Y'all REALLY think Penn State will be that good? I'm sort of surprised by that. There is almost no "buzz" up here about this year's PSU team. :headscratch:

It's going to be a good test for our running game. They've got a great corps of linebackers coming back. Their offense should be OK, better than last year for sure.

I look at their QB, Rob Bolden, a lot like I did Tyrod Taylor a couple of years ago. He's going to have some growing up to do. That said, I'd bet we get burned a couple of times by their WR Moye. He's a good one.

 

['65 Cobra]

I think Muschamp and Weiss are not going to work out too well for UF. Arkansas is going to be very, very good. We would do well to take them seriously. I'm glad that one is at home. Having said that, however, if we play up to our level, we will beat them.

LSU could be very tough - they look very good on paper. This is a vengeance game for us, though, and pay-back is a b!tch!

Auburn - even though it is at The Barn - is the ultimate vengeance game this year. The way lost last year, our guys are going to be out for blood to avenge an inexcusable loss. For me, this one could actually turn out to be a slaughter on the plains. RTR!!

 

[TerryP]

I'm not sold on Arkansas.

They are replacing two tackles and one of the options they had just got booted from the team? That doesn't bode well for a first year starting QB. I've seen many 'Backs fan hope their OL can gel in their first three games. Missou State, New Mexico, and Troy doesn't give them the slightest glimpse of the talent they are going to face 9/24.

That game has a very good chance of being down-right ugly.

The interior of their line is going to be damn good. But, with Petrino, do you really expect them to pound the ball up the middle?

 

[jdpas29]

i believe Arky has the best shot at beating alabama with LSu a close second.

Arky will have a better QB than last year and has pretty much improved every year under petrino. Their defense i expect to get better this year also.

LSu's talent level is enough to make them dangerous even with a hit or miss QB. i'm eager to see what their running game will look like this season.

 

[Southern Bama]

Id have to say LSU.....My feeling is that the winner of the Bama / LSU game is in the drivers seat for the National Championship.......they will control their own destiny. That being said....its SEC football....who the hell knows on any given Saturday . I have alot of concerns about our QB situation this year. My confidence in GMAC before him starting in 2009 was very high......and I dont have that with McCarron....but who knows...McCarron may do fine. I will say this....I think the Penn State game is going to be closer than what alot think and tough for a new starting QB.....that game will tell us alot.

 

[TerryP]

i believe Arky has the best shot at beating alabama with LSu a close second.

Arky will have a better QB than last year and has pretty much improved every year under petrino. Their defense i expect to get better this year also.

LSu's talent level is enough to make them dangerous even with a hit or miss QB. i'm eager to see what their running game will look like this season.

That opinion is based on what? One games results against the arguably the worst secondary in the SEC?

They are replacing both tackles, as said a few times, and this isn't a case where you have a tackle learning the blocking schemes on just one side of the line. They play a strong side / weak side tackle and guard rotation. They are looking at starting a true frosh that might challenge Austin Shepard in our rotation: might.

Please convince me.

 

[BamaCore]

I'm with '65 Cobra. I see this years Iron Bowl looking more like 2008 than the last two years.

 

[252BAMA]

FSU. OU loses at FSU. Bama and FSU both win at UF. Bama goes 14-0 beating FSU in the BCSNCG. Remember where you heard it first!

 

[LBS]

I find it scary how similar Bama and LSU are. It either team had 1 thing changed going into the season, that being a proven QB, that team would be to run away favorite to win the NC title. But here is the thing, LSU has 2x contenders who have more snaps than our top two combined. That goes a long ways toward being able to say that they are closer to being the complete them than Bama. Sure, their starter is proven...proven to have not been good enough given two seasons...but him being a talented senior with a QB guru-coach added this year is enough to justify concern from this Bama fan. Bama has a supremely talented team, 2x Elite 12 QBs, a weekoff before the game, and home-field advantage. These, as minute as they feel at this point, are why I think we win this game...our most competitive game.