In 2012 the Alabama Crimson Tide went 11-1 in the regular season, with the only blemish on the record coming at home to the upstart Texas A&M Aggies (the #5 team in our ranks) and the eventual Heisman winner Johnny Manziel before defeating the Georgia Bulldogs (#3 in our ranks) in the SEC Championship game and then destroyed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (our 10th ranked team) in the BCS National Championship game, the Tide's second straight title and their 3rd in 4 years. Just going off that 2012 resume could you realistically see any other team taking the top spot in our preseason top 10 rankings?
The Tide does not lack in talent on offense. Led by senior quarterback AJ McCarron, Heisman hopeful tailback TJ Yeldon and Amari Cooper at wide receiver, the Tide has plenty of fire power on offense. McCarron threw 30 touchdowns in 2012, 11 of which were hauled in by "Baby Julio" as some fans refer to Cooper, a tribute to former Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, and Yeldon scored 13 touchdowns in 2012 despite splitting carries with Eddie Lacy.
With the level of success Alabama has had over the last few seasons, and all of this playing in the South Eastern Conference, known for it's great defensive football and head coach Nick Saban's defensive roots the Tide also field one of the finer defensive units in the country. CJ Mosley and Trey DePriest are the returning leaders of the Crimson Tide defensive unit and look to improve on very solid 2012 seasons from the linebacker position.
The Tide will kick off the quest for a 3rd straight championship in the Chick Fil-A Kickoff game against Virginia Tech, and then after that they get the chance to potentially avenge a late season loss to Johnny Manziel and the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station in their 2013 SEC opener. The Tide then host Ole Miss in the home opener and then host Georgia State and then head to Lexington to take on Kentucky and new head coach Mark Stoops before taking on Tennessee and Arkansas, two teams many feel will be much improved in 2013.
The home stretch for Alabama will be very telling for them, they face LSU in a game that has historically become one of, if not the best rivalries in college football and every year the Les Miles and Nick Saban coaching match up ends up being one of the more entertaining games of the season. Then after taking on Chattanooga and Mississippi State they end the season with in state rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
I feel the Tide was blessed by the schedule makers. They avoid perennial SEC powers Georgia, South Carolina and Florida before a potential SEC championship, which has become a must win in college football in order to play for a BCS Championship. Which sets them up for a very solid 2013 campaign on paper. I see at the worst a 10 win season, with an undefeated regular season very possible. But Texas A&M, LSU and Virginia Tech have more than enough talent to knock them off. Only time will tell.
- Josh Gamez
@itsjoshgamez
josh.projectcfb@gmail.com
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