Who is the team to watch that people are overlooking this season in the NCAA?
Garrett Eagan
Sports Editor
Ryan Chell
Sports Reporter
Guru:
One of the teams to watch that people already know about is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Yes, they are not even considered in a conference like the SEC with LSU and Florida, but this team will turn heads this year. Coming into this season, a lot of pressure was shifted to Nick Saban and whether or not he could push this team over the hump this season. Last year, the Tide was impressive, and I even considered one of the best teams in the SEC. However, this season already John Parker Wilson looks strong, the offensive line is getting better and the defensive line is in great shape. I had the upset in their first match-up with Clemson, where they just suffocated the Tigers 34-10. Saban will push into one of the bigger Bowls this season. And they could even be a name thrown into the National championship race.
The Ex:
Alabama had their day in the sun the other day against Clemson( I guess they didn’t rub Howard’s Rock enough, or maybe it’s because Lee Corso broke it in that commercial), and let’s be honest, Clemson every year is thought to be very good, and Tommy Bowden disappoints. They were not the #8 team in the country. And here is why Alabama is going to disappoint this year: LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, and their Iron Bowl rivals, Auburn. John Parker Wilson throws too many interceptions and disappears in big games to be considered an elite quarterback. Alabama will lose 4-6 games this year, and fall off the map, and people will be calling for Saban’s head in only his second year in Tuscaloosa. But I got one for you-Wake Forest in the ACC. Two years ago, freshman quarterback Riley Skinner led this team to a 10-2 record and winning the ACC before suffering through a lot of injuries in the 2007 campaign, and is now healthy and ready to play. Their only contest comes against Clemson on October 9th, and it is very possible that they could run the table, play a team like Virginia Tech (who looked suspect against ECU on Saturday) in the ACC Tournament, and go to the Orange or Gator Bowl in December. As long as Skinner is behind center for the Demon Deacons, look for them to be a big player in the ACC this year.