Just in time for college football season, the Journal is back. Thanks for your patience over the summer during my "Sa-blog-tical."
A couple things I'll be looking for Saturday night when the Tide and Tigers kick off the season:
For Auburn: How will true freshman safety Daren Bates (one of perhaps a dozen freshmen first-year coach Gene Chizik says will play against Louisiana Tech) handle the bright lights on Opening Night? I know high school football in Texas is big, but this is the SEC.
Then there's Chris Todd. He won the starting quarterback job early in fall camp, showing plenty of zip on his passes - velocity that was missing last year when Todd began the season as Auburn's starter, despite an injury that diminished his velocity and eventually required surgery. Can he run Gus Malzahn's offense efficiently and effectively? Does Auburn have enough weapons for Todd to deploy?
Meanwhile in Tuscaloosa... Boy, nothing like a peaceful fall camp devoid of distractions. That is if you don't count a player getting shot, another player getting arrested, and the eligibility of your two best offensive players in question until 72 hours before kickoff. Can Alabama put aside the sideshow and do what it takes to beat a very good Virginia Tech team?
Didn't work out so well in the Sugar Bowl, when Andre Smith's absence (downplayed by Nick Saban and the Tide players before the game) became a hamartia (big word we learned in college - means "tragic flaw").
The other big thing I'll be looking for in the Georgia Dome: Bama's revamped offensive line, minus NFL rookies Smith and Antoine Caldwell. How much drop-off will there be? Can they open holes for Mark Ingram and Co., and protect new starting quarterback Greg McElroy?
Should be fun to find out.
So here we go with our first picks of the season:
ALABAMA 24, Virginia Tech 17 - Says here the Tide's defense will cover any offensive shortcomings.
AUBURN 31, Louisiana Tech 21 - Not without a few tense moments, but as longas Auburn's defense avoids key injuries, the Tigers should be in good shape.
KENTUCKY 42, Miami, Ohio 17
TENNESSEE 49, Western Kentucky 14
GEORGIA 27, Oklahoma State 24
MISSISSIPPI STATE 35, State 17
ARKANSAS 49, Missouri State 7
FLORIDA 63, Charleston Southern 7
VANDERBILT 35, W. Carolina 14
LSU 49, Washington 21
OLE MISS 38, Memphis 21
Enjoy the games! See you next week.
God bless - Jeff
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