SEC Fastball: Alabama has the O-line to win it all

By Robert Rousseau  |   Monday, September 29, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Alabama Crimson Tide
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SEC Fastball is not about long-winded introductions. So, let’s get to it.

1. Alabama has the offensive line to win it all: This is not a prediction; after all, there's a team from Oklahoma that also has a pretty good O-line. Still, upon seeing what the Tide’s offensive line did to Clemson during Week 1, many figured that it was just another example of a Tigers implosion.

That shouldn't have been the case, though, as Alabama's blockers, led by wrecking-ball left tackle Andre Smith and the unbelievably consistent Antoine Caldwell, are a force. Against both Georgia and Clemson, the group opened huge holes and allowed the offense to grind out tough yards on a regular basis.

You know how it works. Teams with dominant offensive lines are usually contenders, particularly when their defensive lines are also solid. Such is the case with head coach Nick Saban’s Tide.

2. Congratulations to Houston Nutt: The scrutiny surrounding Houston Nutt last season in Arkansas was rather severe. Because of that, people seemed to forget that Nutt is a proven winner on the sideline.

Last weekend, Nutt’s Ole Mississippi squad managed one of the biggest upsets of the weekend when it took out the Florida Gators, 31-30. On the flip side, Nutt's old team, Arkansas, was on the wrong end of a 52-10 decision against Texas.

3. Vanderbilt is about to get the chance to prove itself: The undefeated Commodores have an Auburn team with a quarterback controversy on their hands coming to town this weekend. A win over the Tigers would immediately prove that Vanderbilt is for real. This is a huge game for both teams, as Auburn also needs to get back on track after a dismal offensive performance in a win over the Tennessee Volunteers last weekend.

4. Georgia shouldn’t give up on a national title: Even after getting smoked by Alabama last weekend, stranger things have happened. If the Bulldogs were to go undefeated from here, the possibilities could be endless.

Remember that LSU went to the national championship game last season with two losses. Georgia could certainly go with one.

5. Kentucky is also undefeated: Of course, the Wildcats open their SEC schedule at Alabama this weekend. Guess is that they may not be undefeated next week at this time.

Then again, the situation is ripe for a Tide letdown.
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About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or ...
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