Alabama (6-6) vs. Colorado (6-6)
December 30, 8 p.m.
New coach, same bowl for the Tide.
We said at the beginning of the year it would take some time, and we said it when the 'Tide beat Arkansas. But they'll get there.
Nick Saban inherited a defense that's already pretty good, so expect it to be back in the top 10 within just a few years.
Alabama is 6-6 because of the offense, a unit that will go as far as John Parker Wilson will take it -- which is not very far. But this isn't a state of the program, it's how will Bama do in the Independence Bowl? D.J. Hall is one of the best receivers in the country, but will be blanketed by Terrence Wheatley, so it'll be up to Wilson to get the ball to Matt Caddell and Terry Grant on underneath routes.
Well, against Colorado, you have two very vanilla teams playing each other. Cody Hawkins leads a Buffalo offense that offers little outside of running back Hugh Charles. Quarterback Cody Hawkins is just a freshman, so it's important to establish the offense on the ground.
But the defense in this game is defense. Alabama has a unit, while Colorado centers everything around Jordan Dizon and Wheatley.
The line: Alabama -3.5
The pick: Alabama