AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 20
Thursday, September 20, 2007
How much does Alabama have in the tank?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. How much will be in Alabama’s energy tank when Georgia gets to Tuscaloosa? Folks I talk to in Tuscaloosa tell me that the Alabama team came out of the Arkansas game pretty beat up. Emotionally, the Crimson Tide laid it all on the line to beat the Hogs while Georgia was fooling around with Western Carolina. Nick Saban will do everything he can to recharge those batteries between now and Saturday night at 7:45. But sometimes the spirit is willing but the flesh has a tough time answering the bell. Can Alabama play at that level for two straight weeks? We’ll find out.
2. What do we really know about Miami? The two teams the Hurricanes have beaten, Marshall and Florida International, are a combined 0-6. They lost to Oklahoma (51-13), which looks like one of the best three teams in the country. So the answer is we really have no idea about the ‘Canes. If Texas A&M (3-0) comes to the Orange Bowl tonight and wins easily, that means Miami is in trouble.
3. Will Tennessee be ready to play? Yeah, it’s Arkansas State. But the Sun Belt team played Texas tough before losing (21-13) and then just walloped SMU (45-28). But Tennessee, which is still hurting from being embarrassed by Florida, could be looking ahead to the open date and the Oct. 6 home game with Georgia. Phillip Fulmer needs a convincing win to calm things down on Rocky Top.
4. How will Cullen Harper play on the road? The Clemson quarterback from Alpharetta has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. But all of that happened in three home games in the friendly confines of Death Valley. How will Harper perform in front of a hostile crowd?
5. Will Auburn struggle with New Mexico State? Given the state of Auburn’s offense, which is not very good, Auburn can’t afford to look past anyone. If the Tigers are going to get this season out of the ditch, they are going to have to do it with Brandon Cox at quarterback. Freshman Kodi Burns can run around a little bit, but defenses will catch up to that after a series or two. Tommy Tuberville and OC Al Borges have to coach up Cox, give him some confidence, and find somebody on the offensive line who can block.
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