Alabama 2014 Forecast: The Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

There are two extreme Bama camps: The ultimate optimists and ultimate pessimists. Of late, the latter have been the more vocal crowd, with good reason. But there are always the doomsdayers, and after laying two eggs to the end the season, expect their chorus, while still a minority, to grow bit louder as the season approaches.

So, in case you are in the rare “We’ll see” camp, here is an Alabama 2014 season forecast, as seen through the eyes of the ultimate extremes of Bama fans:

Aug. 30 – vs. West Virginia (Atlanta)

Optimist: Another out of conference foe, another walloping. We do what we’ve done to Michigan, Clemson, Va. Tech. Muscle flexing time.   Result: Bama wins, 42-10 (1-0)

Pessimist: The Mountaineers came to play. And we haven’t worked out the finer details of our evolving game, and our quarterback situation is still in flux. Jacob Coker is dismal in his debut.   Result: WVU in a shocker, 24-13 (0-1)

Sept. 6 – vs. Florida Atlantic

Optimist: Why even bother?   Result: Bama 63, FAU 3 (2-0)

Pessimist: More struggles from the QB position, and the defense gives up more points than necessary in the blowout.   Result: Bama 42, FAU 28 (1-1)

Sept. 13 – vs. Southern Miss

Optimist: Clicking on all cylinders against sub-par opponents.   Result: Bama 56, USM 10 (3-0)

Pessimist: Bama struggles early, but uses depth and sheer athleticism to come out on top.   Result: Bama 27, USM 21 (2-1)

Sept. 20 – vs. Florida

Optimist: Florida is still not that Florida. We show who is boss during this generation   Result: Bama 38, Florida 16 (4-0)

Pessimist: Oh, no, they’re that Florida again. They Fun and Gun the daylights out of us and we lose a footrace.   Result: Florida 41, Bama 38 (2-2)

Oct. 4 – at Ole Miss

Optimist: A couple of stellar recruiting classes do not make you a contender. Being The Boss is what matters. Dominance early and often.   Result: Bama 31, Ole Miss 14 (5-0)

Pessimist: Turns out a couple of stellar recruiting classes make a huge difference. And they’re no longer intimidated by the big boys coming to town.   Result: Ole Miss 28, Bama 14 (2-3)

Oct. 11 – at Arkansas

Optimist: They may be trying to right the ship, but not against this Tide. Jacob Coker begins to enter the Heisman discussion.   Result: Bama 52, Arkansas 17 (6-0)

Pessimist: Bret Bielema has the Hogs back on track, and they stifle a struggling Tide offense.   Result: Arkansas 24, Bama 10 (2-4)

Oct. 18 – vs. Texas A&M

Optimist: Oh, no Johnny Football? Well, let’s have a one-sided shootout then.   Result: Bama 63, Texas A&M 10 (7-0)

Pessimist: Oh, no Johnny Football? No problem. Turns out Kevin Sumlin can coach the 11 he brought to the ball.   Result: Texas A&M 42, Bama 30 (2-5)

Oct. 25 – at Tennessee

Optimist: Lane Kiffin’s return to Neyland is met with boos and hisses and then … silence. The fast clicking offense shows why Lane was the right hire, and Kirby Smart is still, well, smart.   Result: Bama 56, UT 3 (8-0)

Pessimist: Comeuppance is a distasteful dish. The Vols answer every question Kiffin poses, and power smash mouth football down Bama’s throat in an old school brawl.   Result: UT 17, Bama 13 (2-6)

Nov. 8 – at LSU

Optimist: Death Valley at night, where no one can win. Except Bama. Again.   Result: Bama 27, LSU 21 (9-0)

Pessimist: Yet another hurry-up comes a callin’. And it works. Again.   Result: LSU 31, Bama 25 (2-7)

Nov. 15 – vs. Miss. St.

Optimist: Dan Mullen’s big contract extension does little to change the talent imbalance. Jacob Coker continues to impress on the SEC stage.   Result: Bama 43, MSU 17 (10-0)

Pessimist: Dan Mullen’s contract extension shows MSU knows you get what you pay for. A stifling D goes toe-to-toe with the Tide and comes out on top.   Result: MSU 21, Bama 20 (2-8)

Nov. 22 – vs. Western Carolina

Optimist: It’s Western Carolina.   Result: Bama 62, WCU 3 (11-0)

Pessimist: It’s Western Carolina.   Result: Bama 49, WCU 10 (3-9)

Nov. 29 – vs. Auburn

Optimist: Sweet, sweet revenge. The gimmick is up, Gus.   Result: Bama 38, AU 17 (12-0)

Pessimist: Here we go again.   Result: AU 28, Bama 27. (3-10)

Postseason:

Optimist: Four team playoff: Bama vs. Oregon, Ohio State vs. FSU   Bama trounces Oregon, FSU trounces OSU. The title game? Let us handle what you couldn’t Auburn.   Result: Bama 34, FSU 14

Pessimist: Some people actually utter those three words. Fire. Nick. Saban.

Where does the truth lie? Optimist? Pessimist? Somewhere in between. It will all become clear starting Aug. 30.