Many "National" bobbleheads have been touting what a great job Alabama has done in 'marquee' opening games each season. So I thought it would be good to really look at who they opened with as a 'name marquee' opponent like USC last season and see if their wins were really against good teams. On the surface, USC would have been one indication EXCEPT USC went 1 - 3 to open the season, changed QB's and then ran off 10 wins. So even though USC looked great in the Rose Bowl was that really a great Bama win. Did they dominate the USC team that ended the season 11 - 3 or just dominate the 1 - 3 team that started the season.
Then a closer look reveals that maybe the marquee openers were that in name only. Just check out the final records of most of those teams.
2016 - Opened in Dallas against USC - won - 52-6 USC finished 11-3 losing to Stanford and Utah
2015 - Opened in Dallas against Wisconsin - won 35-17; Wisky finished 10-3; lost to Iowa and Northwestern also.
2014 - Opened in Atlanta against West VA - won 33-23 - WVa finished 7 - 6
2013 - Opened in Atlanta against Virginia Tech - won 35-10, VT finished 8 - 5
2012 - Opened in Dallas against Michigan - won 41-14; UM finished 8 - 5
2011 - Opened at home against Kent State
2010 - Opened at home against San Jose State
2009 - Opened in Atlanta against Virginia Tech - won 34-14; VT finished 10-3 lost to UNC and GT
2008 - Opened in Atlanta against Clemson - won 34-10; CU finished 7 - 6
2007 - Opened at home against Western Carolina - NOTE: lost to FSU in Jax 21 -14 and OC Fisher beat former HC Saban.
So when looking at what many point to as Alabama's great opening games and domination, upon further review, is it really?. Most of the opening victories were not against good teams from 'name' schools.
Unless you think that FSU will go at best 9 - 4, which would make them the 4th best team Bama opened against (based on final records), then maybe the 'marquee opening games' Bama has won to start the season were not really against top opponents. Maybe FSU should not be a top 10 team. Or maybe FSU might just be the best team Saban's Alabama team has opened against and all those other games don't tell you much.
Then a closer look reveals that maybe the marquee openers were that in name only. Just check out the final records of most of those teams.
2016 - Opened in Dallas against USC - won - 52-6 USC finished 11-3 losing to Stanford and Utah
2015 - Opened in Dallas against Wisconsin - won 35-17; Wisky finished 10-3; lost to Iowa and Northwestern also.
2014 - Opened in Atlanta against West VA - won 33-23 - WVa finished 7 - 6
2013 - Opened in Atlanta against Virginia Tech - won 35-10, VT finished 8 - 5
2012 - Opened in Dallas against Michigan - won 41-14; UM finished 8 - 5
2011 - Opened at home against Kent State
2010 - Opened at home against San Jose State
2009 - Opened in Atlanta against Virginia Tech - won 34-14; VT finished 10-3 lost to UNC and GT
2008 - Opened in Atlanta against Clemson - won 34-10; CU finished 7 - 6
2007 - Opened at home against Western Carolina - NOTE: lost to FSU in Jax 21 -14 and OC Fisher beat former HC Saban.
So when looking at what many point to as Alabama's great opening games and domination, upon further review, is it really?. Most of the opening victories were not against good teams from 'name' schools.
Unless you think that FSU will go at best 9 - 4, which would make them the 4th best team Bama opened against (based on final records), then maybe the 'marquee opening games' Bama has won to start the season were not really against top opponents. Maybe FSU should not be a top 10 team. Or maybe FSU might just be the best team Saban's Alabama team has opened against and all those other games don't tell you much.
