With the season drawing near, it’s time to gaze into the crystal ball and predict the final records for both the Tide and Tigers, including bowl games. Please note, these scenarios are unbiased as depicted, although the author realizes that some may disagree with his opinion.
ALABAMA
Final Record 10 – 3 (bowl game included)
Alabama vs. Clemson
Crimson Tide 31 – Tigers 21
Bama takes Clemson by air in this early season shoot-out. Tommy Bowden has a good offense returning, but his defenders will be unable to stop Alabama’s senior quarterback and his new arsenal of talented receivers. BAMA 1 – 0
Alabama vs. Tulane
Crimson Tide 35 – Green Wave 13
J.P. Wilson and his “quick-strike” offense put this game away by halftime. Saban has the luxury of playing many of his new players in this glorified scrimmage. BAMA 2 – 0
Alabama vs. W. Kentucky
Crimson Tide 42 – W. Ky. 14
By now most of Alabama’s future opponents are realizing that Julio Jones and B.J. Scott are going to be a dangerous tandem. The offensive line (one of the best in the country) is beginning to click. BAMA 3 – 0
Alabama vs. Arkansas
Crimson Tide 28 – Razorbacks 17
This road game will be important for Bama’s confidence. Petrino Ball will take awhile to become potent, and Saban’s defense gains momentum by giving the Hogs a tough day. BAMA 4 – 0
Alabama vs. Georgia
Bulldogs 24 – Crimson Tide 21
The Bulldogs are too deep and talented for the Tide to take down in their house. Bama keeps the score close, but one point is as good as a thousand. BAMA 4 – 1
Alabama vs. Kentucky
Crimson Tide 31 – Wildcats 13
Rich Brooks had some great talent last year, but that was last year. Bama will be too fast and talented for Kentucky to keep pace. This game will be over before the 4th quarter starts. BAMA 5 – 1
Alabama vs. Ole Miss
Crimson Tide 28 – Rebels 21
Nutt always plays Alabama tough. This game will be no different from every game against Houston. The Tide will defend its home turf, but Ole Miss will be hard to beat. BAMA 6 – 1
Alabama vs. Tennessee
Tennessee 24 – Crimson Tide 21
Fulmer’s Vols are looking to exact some revenge for last year’s debacle in T-town. The Tide has its second road loss on the SEC trail of tears.
BAMA 6 – 2
Alabama vs. Arkansas State
Crimson Tide 48 – Arkansas St. 10
This game will serve as an excellent tune-up for Alabama’ next trip to Baton Rouge. The Tide can work on their depth. BAMA 7 – 2
Alabama vs. LSU
LSU 21 – Crimson Tide 20
This will be the Tide’s third road loss of the year. It will also be the last time they lose a game during the 08 campaign. BAMA 7 – 3
Alabama vs. Miss. State
Crimson Tide 28 – Miss. St. 10
Bama has the talent and depth to put Croom’s Bulldogs away. This game starts a roll that Auburn can’t stop. BAMA 8 – 3
Alabama vs. Auburn
Crimson Tide 31 – Auburn 17
The Tide brings the streak to a screeching halt. This game will signify a new era in the Tide/Tiger series. BAMA 9 – 3
Alabama vs. opponent (bowl game).
It doesn’t matter who the Tide plays because they will be on a roll after they finish-off the Bulldogs and Tigers. BAMA 10 – 3
P.S. I do not think Alabama will represent the West in the championship game – LSU will.
AUBURN
Final Record 8 – 5 (bowl game included)
Auburn vs. La.-Monroe
Auburn 42 – La-Monroe 21
Auburn’s new “Tony Franklin spread” takes flight and the Tigers are especially upbeat because they just beat the team that beat Bama last year. AUBURN 1 – 0
Auburn vs. Southern Miss
Auburn 35 – So. Miss. 7
Southern Miss. without Jeff Bower is like UAB under Callaway, an average conference USA team. Ole Tony is starting to think about head coaching positions after this one. AUBURN 2 – 0
Auburn vs. Miss. State
Auburn 21 – Miss. St. 14
Many think this first road game is a trap for Tub and his Tigers. I think Auburn will roll into Starkville on a mission – right over Sly’s Bulldogs. AUBURN 3 – 0
Auburn vs. LSU
LSU 27 – Auburn 17
Les Miles has enough raw talent left from the Saban era to win one more SEC title. The small flaws that surfaced against Miss. St. on the offensive side of the ball will become larger problems when the Cajun Tigers wreak havoc on Tony’s spread. AUBURN 3 – 1
Auburn vs. Tennessee
Vols 28 – Auburn 24
Phil Fulmer has a score to settle with Tuberville. The Volunteers have the personnel on their roster to start making Tuberville chew on Franklin’s ear. Tubs pulls Kodi Burns from the lineup and makes Tony Franklin install Chris Todd, who hands the ball to a running back for the entire second half. AUBURN 3 – 2
Auburn vs. Vanderbilt
Auburn 24 – Vandy 14
Tuberville has threatened to revert back to three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust plan, so Tony calls a conservative game to please the boss. Actually the Commodores always play the Tigers tough. AUBURN 4 – 2
Auburn vs. Arkansas
Auburn 27 – Razorbacks 20
Tubby whips Bobby Petrino and the Hogs the old-fashioned way. He gets his point across to his team about how badly he wants to beat the new commander of the team he wanted to coach this year. AUBURN 5 –2
Auburn vs. West Virginia
West Virginia 35 – Auburn 24
Those Mountaineers are going to show Tubby and Tony how the spread is supposed to look. Pat White can strike anywhere at anytime. The Tigers will not be able to keep up. Reality sinks in. AUBURN 5 – 3
Auburn vs. Ole Miss
Auburn 31 – Ole Miss 17
Auburn handles Nutt and his Rebels with ease, with a strong performance following the West Virginia debacle. AUBURN 6 – 3
Auburn vs. Tenn.-Martin
Auburn 48 – Tn-Martin 7
This opponent makes the spread look lethal after the Tigers throw for 400 yards and pad the stats. AUBURN 7 – 3
Auburn vs. Georgia
Georgia 31 – Auburn 21
For the third year running, Mark Richt and his Dogs hunker down on Tommy’s Tigers. Tony Franklin’s spread is about to be permanently modified. AUBURN 7 – 4
Auburn vs. Alabama
Alabama 31 – Auburn 17
Tuberville realizes by the middle of the third quarter his days as the head coach at Auburn are numbered. He lets Tony Franklin handle the post-game press conference. Tuberville is too busy planning his next move. The streak is over. AUBURN 7 – 5
Auburn vs. opponent (bowl game).
Tuberville will have his Tigers prepared to mash any team the bowl committee chooses. By the way, Auburn will play great defense and use a conservative offensive attack to whip some middle-of-the-pack “Big Ten” representative.
AUBURN 8 – 5