Alabama Football: Can a week one game derail a season?

A general answer to can a week one game derail a season, is no. Alabama Football has one of the more difficult games for SEC teams in week one. But even so, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s game against Middle Tennessee State is closer to a practice game than a stiff challenge.

Among SEC teams, LSU Florida and South Carolina have the only games that should be tough for the SEC team to prevail. Other opponents for SEC teams are South Dakota (Missouri), Virginia (Tennessee), Ball State (Kentucky), Western Carolina (Arkansas), Mercer (Ole Miss), UMass (Auburn), SE Louisiana (Mississippi State), UT Martin (Georgia), New Mexico (Texas A&M) and Alabama A&M (Vanderbilt).

None of the ten underdogs have less than a four-touchdown spread between them and their SEC opponent. Tennessee plays a Power Five team, but the Virginia Cavaliers could possibly be the worst Power Five team. All the others are cupcakes, gaining a payday and an embarrassment in the process.

Week one is quite different for LSU, Florida and South Carolina. On Sunday, LSU takes on Florida State in Orlando. The game is being pitched as an early contest between two CFB Playoff contenders. Neither will be out of the Playoff hunt with a loss. Even a one-sided early loss can be overcome, but the winner will receive an important boost going forward. Prediction algorithms have the Bengal Tigers as a slight favorite. Alabama football fans might find it difficult to embrace, but an LSU win would be good for the Crimson Tide.

Utah will be playing at home against Florida, but possibly having to start a third-strong quarterback. The Utes can survive a loss, but running the table the rest of the way and winning a Pac-12 championship carries diminished clout. Florida, coming off a 6-7 season needs a resume-building win, but the Gators’ schedule offers more the potential of more signature wins later. In year two, Billy Napier is already feeling heat. His roster may not have enough talent for a turnaround after more than 30 players exited through the Transfer Portal.

South Carolina and North Carolina have a bragging rights game. It is no make-or-break game for either team’s season, but the winner will get some recruiting boost in the Carolinas.

Alabama Football and Week Two

Next week the same derail question will apply to the Alabama vs. Texas game. The winner will gain an early boost in CFB Playoff chances. Neither team will be knocked out of contention with a loss. The biggest downside in a week one or two loss is pretty much all of a team’s margin for error disappears.

Best of all this week is the return of the Alabama football season.