Alabama Crimson Tide 2010 NCAAF Preview, Schedule, Odds, and Predictions: My philosophy has always been that last year’s National Champion is number one until someone beats them holds true this year with the Alabama Crimson Tide. As much as I hate to admit it, Nick Saban has done it again and built one of the best teams in college football. He won the title at LSU, gave a brief effort at an NFL Coaching career, and now took Alabama to a 14-0 record beating an undefeated Florida and Texas on the way to the BCS National Championship. Along the way he coached running back Mark Ingram to Alabama’s first ever Heisman Trophy-winner. Vegas odds makers have the Alabama Crimson Tide +350 odds to win the 2011 BCS National Championship.
Saban’s past history cautions him as after winning the title at LSU the team was a mediocre 9-3 the following season, saying “The No. 1 thing you worry about is complacency with players. I haven’t seen that in our players to this point. But it remains to be seen.” Three consecutive top ranked recruiting classes have given Alabama impressive talent on both sides of the ball and they have 8 starters returning on offense. The odds makers at SBG Global have the Alabama Crimson Tide middle number listed at over/under 10 wins for the 2010 NCAA Football regular season.
2009 Heisman winning running back Mark Ingram, backup running back Trent Richardson, star wideout Julio Jones and solid starting quarterback Greg McElroy lead the returners on a loaded offensive unit. McElroy, a former Texas prep star, who hadn’t lost a game he had started since eighth grade, still hasn’t lost a game, having gone 14–0 in his first season in charge. “The way Coach Saban has recruited and everything,” McElroy says, “I think we all look at it not so much as a rebuilding year but more a reloading year.” Vegas odds makers have Alabama Crimson Tide’s Mark Ingram +500 Heisman odds to win the 2010 Heisman Trophy.
The defense has to replace 10 starters, but with another great recruiting class, it will be doing so with blue-chip recruits at every turn. The biggest concerns for this talented team are that it needs both a punter and kicker. My NCAA College Football Predictions have the Tide rolling to an SEC West victory with a 11-1 regular season record and a berth in the SEC Championship game. Stay tuned for my NCAAF Top 25 coming soon!
2010 Alabama Crimson Tide College Football Schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Sat, Sept 4 vs San Jose State 7:00 PM ET
Sat, Sept 11 vs Penn State 7:00 PM ET
Sat, Sept 18 @ Duke 3:30 PM ET
Sat, Sept 25 @ Arkansas TBD
Sat, Oct 2 vs Florida TBD
Sat, Oct 9 @ South Carolina TBD
Sat, Oct 16 vs Mississippi TBD
Sat, Oct 23 @ Tennessee TBD
Sat, Nov 6 @ LSU 8:00 PM ET
Sat, Nov 13 vs Mississippi State TBD
Sat, Nov 20 vs Georgia State TBD
Fri, Nov 26 vs Auburn TBD