Alabama Crimson Tide Football vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
With the game looming tomorrow and my schedule full, I can only give my quick overview this week.
Let me start with the outcome. With Ole Miss one week away, a game most of us circled a year ago on the calendar, I expect to see lots of players in this game and starters coming out as early as possible. Let's hope the team takes this game seriously and puts the game on ice early. Pair that with a Hilltopper team much deeper than most mid-majors (they get lots of talented transfers from places like UAB and Louisville), I see the Alabama team scoring declining toward the end of the game and not producing as much of a blowout as some would expect from last week's piece by piece dismantling of USC.
The Hilltoppers finished 12-2 last year and won a bowl game, so perhaps the game will be interesting and fun to watch. No one on either team expects Bama to lose, but this team will come in with confidence and determination to make a great showing.
I do expect to see Jalen Hurt start, though Blake Barnett is not out of this competition at all. There are teams his arm can truly pick apart with this highly talented receiver group that will make itself a factor in ways that we did see last week. I would also expect to see Bateman in this game. The thing I was most pleased about from last week is adding a QB run threat from inside the 10 that has been a missing dimension at Alabama since the 70s.
Despite the tendency of Coach Saban to find his QB and make the number two guy disappear, I also see in Coach that he is developing a bit more of a tendency to be unpredictable in response to the way teams prepare for Alabama. Is this the year we actually see two QBs on a regular basis? I think it could be a way to keep teams off guard, or at least make them prepare two game plans. Why not?
As for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, they are not cupcakes. This team won its last five games by scoring 63, 49, 45, 45 and 46, including their 46-14 last week over Rice. Admittedly, that is against a schedule heavy with Conference USA opponents, but they did win the conference title.
Their strengths include returning nine offensive starters to go with a transfer QB who was a two-year starter before having to sit out 2015. His efficiency rating last week was off the charts high. He completed 25 of 31 and topped out at 517 yards with 3 TDs. White was Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week last week. I don't expect anywhere near that this week but he will have his moments and they have capable receivers that will make a few plays and give them scoring opportunities three or four times in this game.
Despite a solid defense, the Hilltoppers seem a bit less talented in the middle than at the ends, so I suspect we will see Bo do a bit better this week as he splits time with Damien. Watch for DE Nick Dawson-Brents, a transfer from Louisville who has capability to hold his own. Interestingly, this defense is coached by DC Nick Holt, who served under Pete Carroll in the mid 2000s during some championship years. He's not known for creativity, preferring to line up in a 4-3 and see who can push the other team around. In this case, that will not work. He will need to blitz more and take more chances. In passing downs he reverts to a 4-2-5. I think OJ will see some action and Ridley on the slant pass will be unstoppable.
Generally, it will be a fun game with a few moments of spectacular plays. Bama will pick of two passes. Bama receivers and RBs will both have explosive plays. The Hilltoppers will have two or three explosive plays but lots of three and outs. But by the second quarter, Bama will show its superior talent and pull away.
RUNNING TALLY OF SEASON PREDICTIONS:
Prediction: Bama 38/USC 20 Actual: Bama 52/USC 6
Prediction: Bama 42/WK 10.
Let me start with the outcome. With Ole Miss one week away, a game most of us circled a year ago on the calendar, I expect to see lots of players in this game and starters coming out as early as possible. Let's hope the team takes this game seriously and puts the game on ice early. Pair that with a Hilltopper team much deeper than most mid-majors (they get lots of talented transfers from places like UAB and Louisville), I see the Alabama team scoring declining toward the end of the game and not producing as much of a blowout as some would expect from last week's piece by piece dismantling of USC.
The Hilltoppers finished 12-2 last year and won a bowl game, so perhaps the game will be interesting and fun to watch. No one on either team expects Bama to lose, but this team will come in with confidence and determination to make a great showing.
I do expect to see Jalen Hurt start, though Blake Barnett is not out of this competition at all. There are teams his arm can truly pick apart with this highly talented receiver group that will make itself a factor in ways that we did see last week. I would also expect to see Bateman in this game. The thing I was most pleased about from last week is adding a QB run threat from inside the 10 that has been a missing dimension at Alabama since the 70s.
Despite the tendency of Coach Saban to find his QB and make the number two guy disappear, I also see in Coach that he is developing a bit more of a tendency to be unpredictable in response to the way teams prepare for Alabama. Is this the year we actually see two QBs on a regular basis? I think it could be a way to keep teams off guard, or at least make them prepare two game plans. Why not?
As for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, they are not cupcakes. This team won its last five games by scoring 63, 49, 45, 45 and 46, including their 46-14 last week over Rice. Admittedly, that is against a schedule heavy with Conference USA opponents, but they did win the conference title.
Their strengths include returning nine offensive starters to go with a transfer QB who was a two-year starter before having to sit out 2015. His efficiency rating last week was off the charts high. He completed 25 of 31 and topped out at 517 yards with 3 TDs. White was Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week last week. I don't expect anywhere near that this week but he will have his moments and they have capable receivers that will make a few plays and give them scoring opportunities three or four times in this game.
Despite a solid defense, the Hilltoppers seem a bit less talented in the middle than at the ends, so I suspect we will see Bo do a bit better this week as he splits time with Damien. Watch for DE Nick Dawson-Brents, a transfer from Louisville who has capability to hold his own. Interestingly, this defense is coached by DC Nick Holt, who served under Pete Carroll in the mid 2000s during some championship years. He's not known for creativity, preferring to line up in a 4-3 and see who can push the other team around. In this case, that will not work. He will need to blitz more and take more chances. In passing downs he reverts to a 4-2-5. I think OJ will see some action and Ridley on the slant pass will be unstoppable.
Generally, it will be a fun game with a few moments of spectacular plays. Bama will pick of two passes. Bama receivers and RBs will both have explosive plays. The Hilltoppers will have two or three explosive plays but lots of three and outs. But by the second quarter, Bama will show its superior talent and pull away.
RUNNING TALLY OF SEASON PREDICTIONS:
Prediction: Bama 38/USC 20 Actual: Bama 52/USC 6
Prediction: Bama 42/WK 10.
Philip predicted the Tide – Hilltoppers score to be 42 - 10. Practically perfect prognostication, P! Blog on!
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