And so my annual prediction of the season for the Crimson Tide. This year’s schedule looks brutal and while I think they can repeat as national champions, I doubt they will be undefeated. To the schedule…

09/04/10 vs. San Jose State
I guess they needed the huge payout or ‘Bama wanted a scrimmage. Should roll here.

09/11/10 vs. Penn State
It’s a home game so that is a huge advantage for the Tide. The Tide is more talented than Penn State but … it’s Penn State. They have a habit of playing down and up to the level of their competitor.

This is also the National Championship of All-Time College Uniforms. Both of these looks are awesome and any athlete would be proud to wear either one of these unis.

Pick: Tide

09/18/10 at Duke
Thank God it’s not basketball. Another W.

09/25/10 at Arkansas
And here is where the road gets rocky. It’s AT Arkansas, then Florida, then AT SC. Not an easy 3 game stretch. Alabama always seems to get the upper hand on the Hogs since Saban has been around. Mallet will be better but he doesn’t play defense.

The Tide in another nail-biter.

10/02/10 vs. Florida
Tide could lose this game — but I’m betting no because they’ll be at home and all hyped up. Another close game but no Tebow. He’s wearing another shade of orange and blue.

10/09/10 at South Carolina
This is one of the two games I think ‘Bama will go into flat and have a let down. The other one is the LSU game. Both on the road, both coming off big rival games, both home teams coming off a bye. Just spells ambush for the Tide. I’m picking the Tide to win this one…not as confident going into Death Valley.

10/16/10 vs. Mississippi
Ole Miss could be in for a long year – injuries, NCAA issues, and the always present Houston Nutt discovering another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Tide wins.

10/23/10 at Tennessee
Another win. Knoxville is one of the coolest stadiums in the world though.

11/06/10 at LSU
In Red Stick, LA. This is an ambush game and you wouldn’t think so with Saban having coached there but it is. No one (except LSU fans) expects much out of the Bayou Tigers and that’s when they are so dangerous. My head says it’s a loss, my heart thinks it’s a loss.

11/13/10 vs. Mississippi State
Rack ‘em up. It’s a win.

11/18/10 vs. Georgia State
This is Georgia State’s first year to play football and this game could get ugly quick. Why is it on the schedule? Bill Curry, former Alabama coach is starting up this program and needs cash to get some stuff done. “Bama said — come on over. We’ll give you a big fat check along with a big fat punch in the mouth.

11/26/10 vs. Auburn
The other team in Alabama is deeper this year (24 seniors return to this squad) and they’ll be plenty motivated as they pushed Alabama to the 4th quarter last year. It’s on the plains so anything could happen. I’m going with the Tide.

Overall — an 11-1 season and a birth in the SEC championship game. A W there and it’s National Championship game all over again.

To much to hope for?

Would you believe that the Broncos would be 2-0 and on top of the AFC West?

Yes. I did. Because I figured the Chargers would beat the Raiders and lose to Baltimore. Turner and the Chargers have a habit of blowing games they should win at the beginning of the year. The Ravens however look to be a beast of a team this year with Flacco having no sophomore slump so far. I had a hunch KC would lose to the Ravens but beat Oakland. That left Denver as 2-0 and on top of the division. It lasts one more week as Denver plays the Greatness (sarcasm). After this week — the descent begins.

Watching the Chefs implode, squander scoring opportunities, and mismanage the clock was painful on Sunday. The truth of the matter is that KC is talent poor right now. I think Todd H. and Scott Pioli will change that eventually but this is going to be just as long if not longer season for Chief fans as it is Bronco fans.

Alabama/Arkansas square off this Saturday and there will probably be ample enough trash talk for Hog fans that read this blog. Up until last year, the games were very close. I think the Hogs will make it interesting in the first half, then Bama pulls away in the second. Although I’m very proud of one of my former students – Clay – who is on the Razorback team. Roll Tide…then after this weekend Go Hogs.

Here’s what I know – Florida hasn’t seen a defense like ‘Bama’s. Of course, Alabama hasn’t seen an offense like Florida’s either. And the Georgia Dome will be a fast track. Alabama has had to win at Georgia, at LSU. Florida hasn’t had to leave the state this year except to play Tennessee.

Going to be a great game.

Roll Tide.

Here’s hope to be saying Rammer Jammer later.

Rinse and repeat.

Alabama is Number 1 in the polls for the first time since 1980. We’ll see if Alabama can stay focused. With LSU this weekend, Auburn two weeks after that, then more than likely Florida in the SEC Championship – the road is far for done.

Texas Tech played lights out and jumped over Penn State in the rankings. I don’t have a problem with that. Penn State is a good team that really has only played one other good team – Ohio State. Yes, they have Michigan State left but is anyone really going to compare them to Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma? I don’t think so.

In other sweetness – USC wins a blowout shutout and falls two spots. There is justice in college football after all.

The bottom line for Tide fans is this – IT ISN’T OVER YET!!!! Yes, they are starting to play their best football of the year right now – which is awesome. But one loss sends this thing into mass chaos.

There is a part of me that wishes it would send it all into chaos. They way the FBS picks a national champion is ridiculous and it’s the only division that does this. Can you imagine Alabama, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Florida, and Oklahoma State all finishing with one loss? Then trying to pick which team is the best out of that mix? Any one of those teams would destroy Penn State or USC.

But for now…time to focus on Tigers.