For Alabama Football, week one of the CFB season includes a hyped game that marks a turning point for the Crimson Tide. The contest in Atlanta vs. the Miami Hurricanes is the last neutral-site, regular-season game on future Alabama Football calendars.
The Alabama Crimson Tide can answer some questions about itself against the Canes. What changes has Bill O’Brien brought to the Tide offense? Is Bryce Young the next great Alabama Football quarterback, as is expected? Will the 2021 Crimson Tide defense earn its preseason projection as perhaps the best in college football?
This post does not offer any predictions, other than to say Miami will not be one of the Tide’s toughest games.
Big SEC Games in Week One
Easily the biggest game is the Georgia Bulldogs at Clemson. Billed as a key game for CFB Playoff chances, Georgia would get a big boost with a win and incur the most damage with a loss. A one-loss Clemson and probable ACC Champion would still have a good chance to make the final four.
LSU travels to the Rose Bowl to take on UCLA. The Bruins handled Hawaii with ease in week zero. Chip Kelly hopes to gain from playing a bunch of young players last season. Some college football experts think an upset of LSU is possible. The Bengal Tigers should be able to win on talent differential alone. A close win by LSU would suggest Ed Orgeron may not have his team back from last season’s 5-5 record.
Other SEC Games
With Louisiana Tech coming off a 5-5 record, Mississippi State should not have a tough time in week one. If they do, Mike Leach might be in for another tough SEC season.
Ole Miss travels to Louisville. The Cardinals are not the worst team in the ACC. That distinction will likely be given to Duke or Syracuse. If Ole Miss deserves the preseason buzz it has been getting, Lane Kiffin’s guys need to win easily on the road.
Auburn, Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas A&M have zero stress games against Akron, Louisiana-Monroe, Eastern Illinois, and Kent State.
Neither Florida nor Missouri are expected to have any trouble with Florida Atlantic and Central Michigan. Arkansas should also take care of Rice.
That leaves two more, week one games for SEC teams. Tennessee should overwhelm Bowling Green by four or five touchdowns – but the Vols’ program is such a mess – maybe not. Vanderbilt should have an easy time with East Tennessee State – but predicting a Commodores’ win is always iffy.
Week three will be big for Alabama Football
In a brief preview of what comes next, the Crimson Tide has a practice game (with Mercer) in week two. Then comes a big tilt in The Swamp. And just that quick 25 percent of the regular season will be over.
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