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2009 Alabama NCAA Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on August 3, 2009

bama 8309 After finishing the 2008 regular season 12-0, the Alabama Crimson Tide came up just a little short against Florida in the SEC title game or they would have been playing for a BCS title in head coach Nick Saban’s second season in Tuscaloosa. The expectations are now higher than they’ve been in quite some time for Crimson Tide fans. Find out where I have the Tide finishing in the SEC West in this 2009 NCAA football betting preview. Alabama is listed at +2,500 to win the 2009 BCS title at Sportsbook.com.

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Offense – Three-year starting quarterback John Parker Wilson has departed and that opens the door for junior Greg McElroy, who blew away the competition in spring practice. McElroy will basically be asked to manage a run-first offense, but he is capable of making plays when called upon. Running back Glen Coffee is gone, but the Tide still have sophomore Mark Ingram, who rushed for 728 yards and 12 scores last season. He will team with Roy Upchurch and talented freshman Trent Richardson. Julio Jones certainly lived up to the hype in his freshman campaign, catching 58 passes for 924 yards and four scores. Saban intends on moving Jones all over the field to disrupt defenses. You can count on Jones being one of the premier playmakers in the country this season. The offensive line lost a lot. Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith and All-American center Antoine Caldwell are gone. Saban and his staff are big on juco transfer tackle James Carpenter, though, and feel the line will remain a strength.

Defense – This is the side of the football that will keep the Tide in the national title hunt. Bama ranked 7th in the country in scoring defense ( 14.3 points per game allowed) and tied for 3rd nationally in total defense (263.5 yards per game allowed). The Tide were particularly stingy against the run, allowing just 74.1 yards per game (2nd nationally). Nine starters are back from the unit which produced the aforementioned numbers. The defensive line is led by massive 6′5”, 354-pound nose tackle Terrence Cody. He is one of the premier interior run stuffers in the league. He is flanked by defensive ends Brandon Deaderick and Lorenzo Washington. All three are experienced seniors ready to dominate the line of scrimmage. Rolando McClain is coming off a 95-tackle season at one of the inside linebacker spots in coordinator Jim McElwain’s 3-4 defense. He should emerge as one of the best backers in the SEC in 2009. The Bama backers should be one of the strongest groups in the league with all four starters returning. The secondary loses Rashad Johnson and his playmaking ability, but the other three starters are back, including Justin Woodall, who picked off four passes last season.

Prediction: 1st SEC West – The Tide were a perfect 8-0 in SEC play in 2008, and I expect them to bring home the SEC West again behind the division’s premier defense. Another showdown with Florida in the SEC title game could determine which team makes a trip to the BCS title game for a second straight season. Alabama is listed at +375 to win the SEC at Bookmaker.

Beat the college football odds this season with the help of Jimmy Boyd’s expert football picks!

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