Power Ranking The SEC Western Division Teams

Aug 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban leads his team on to the field at the start of the 2014 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

3) Alabama Crimson Tide

I know. It was hard for me to type it, too. I’m prepared for the flames from the fans as well. I just don’t think we have enough to go on yet for me to bump them up there. Yet.

As most of the ones reading this know, the Tide has wins against West Virginia and Florida Atlantic.

There were miscues on defense and the offense was new, as well as having a new quarterback under center getting his first start. Are we a two or three loss team or did West Virginia improve? Remember when I said this could change? This is what I was talking about at that time. We just don’t know yet.

The Tide gave up 393 yards of offense to the Mountaineers with 365 of that coming in the air. Part of that was the team missing Trey DePriest’s leadership as well as the ability to get people lined up correctly.

He returned for Florida Atlantic and the Tide held them to 145 yards and the defense has not given up a rushing touchdown this season.

The quarterbacks are doing what is asked of them, and both are putting up great numbers. Blake Sims is 36-47 for 468 yards with two touchdowns and Jake Coker has added 202 yards on 15 completions from 24 attempts in the Florida Atlantic game. Amari Cooper leads the receiving with 319 yards on 25 receptions.

The rushing is not a problem with T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry both rushing for over 130 yards and averaging more than 5 yards per carry. They didn’t rush that much against Florida Atlantic but I think that was more by design so the quarterbacks could get some more passing experience.

We should know more about the Tide after Florida comes to town weekend after next and maybe move them up a bit. You don’t know how difficult it was for me to put them at three.