#28 – Alabama Crimson Tide 10-2 SU; 4-7-1
ATS
Fargo’s Take
- Unranked to start the season, Alabama
came out of the gate with nine straight wins and
it looked at though something special might unfold.
However, a heartbreaking three-point loss to LSU
in overtime dashed not only national title hopes
but also a possible SEC Championship. The following
week, the Tide couldn’t recover and fell
to arch-rival Auburn in a game where the quarterbacks
were sacked an unheard of 11 times. Alabama did
salvage the season with a solid win over Texas
Tech in the Cotton Bowl. For the second straight
year, the Tide finished second in the country
in total defense but now with just four starters
back, matching that ranking again will be tough
to accomplish. The offense should be better despite
the loss of quarterback Brodie Croyle and while
an SEC title is not out of the question, it will
take head coach Mike Shula’s best coaching
job ever to attain it.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 9 Croyle was 13-2 in
his 15 career starts and while trying to replace
that would be difficult for most teams, Alabama
believes it has the right man for the job. Sophomore
John Parker Wilson lacks experience but he makes
up for it in talent and if he can get comfortable
in the offense, the Tide can flourish. The offensive
ppg average has decreased in each of the last
four years but that run should come to an end.
All of the starting receivers as well as both
starting backs return this year which will take
a ton of pressure off Wilson. Kenneth Darby, who
rushed for 1,294 yards last season, will be the
focal point early on. The offensive line allowed
37 sacks last season but four starters are back
and the experience that those young guys got last
year will go a long way in 2006.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 4 No team allowed fewer
points per game than what Alabama allowed in 2005.
Auburn was the only team to score more than 21
points on the Tide and they held Texas Tech to
a season low 10 points. Things are not going to
be as dominant this season but the cupboard isn’t
bare despite the return of only four starters.
The defensive line will be the strength again
with two starters coming back as well as end Bobby
Greenwood, who was a freshman All-American, filling
in on one side. Juwan Simpson is the only starting
linebacker returning but keep an eye out for senior
Terrance Jones who will be a force. The secondary
is full of depth but there is a lack of standouts
especially at both safety positions. The defense
will take a step back but not a big one as defensive
coordinator Joe Kines, regarded as one of the
best in the country, will find a way to get it
done.
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Schedule
- A very favorable schedule had a lot to do with
the strong start Alabama had last season but that
will not be the case in 2006. The Tide do start
out with three easy home games against Hawaii,
Vanderbilt and La-Monroe but then back-to-back
road tilts at Arkansas and Florida will pose huge
challenges. It’s back home for two wins
against Duke and Mississippi before another tough
road trip to Tennessee. Another slight break comes
next with sure win games against Florida International
and Mississippi St. and then it’s déjà
vu all over again with games against LSU and Auburn
to end the season. Eight home games are certainly
a nice thing to have on the schedule but road
games at Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and LSU
are not. Missing Kentucky and South Carolina doesn’t
help matters either.
You can bet on…
The big question to be answered is whether last
year was an overachieving fluke or if Alabama
is back to once again be a perennial contender.
The latter is the likely answer since this team
is just finally starting to recover from the probation
and reduced scholarships that were imposed. A
year like last season will have many recruits
wanting to come to Tuscaloosa. Despite the ten-win
season last year, backers had their wallets emptied
as the Tide went just 4-7-1 against the number.
They went just 2-6 ATS as a favorite and that
can be attributed to the offense not being able
to put up enough points to cover. That should
change this year with a stronger offense but it
will boil down to the defense and exactly how
much regression there will be from last season.
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