How the 2011 SEC West Will be Won

This is part seven in a series previewing the 2011 SEC college football season.

SEC West Division Team Previews

Alabama Crimson Tide

This must have been what it was like when Bear Bryant was head coach at Alabama (1958-1982). Each year Nick Saban reloads and regardless of the fact that he’s losing a two-year starting quarterback and a Heisman Trophy winning running back, most of the country expects him to win another national championship. With 7 starters returning on offense, 8 if you count Trent Richardson, and 7 returning on defense one can start to understand the hype.

Bama is not without some major holes before everyone crowns them national champs again. They need to replace their starting LT James Carpenter, QB Greg McElroy, RB Mark Ingram, and WR Julio Jones. Saban recruits talent to Tuscaloosa like no one else but those holes are huge! Yes they have talent but its recruiting stars given from websites and practice squad talent at this point. No one doubts the ability of Trent Richardson as a change of pace back and with this offensive line he should be a 1,000 yard rusher before they meet Tennessee. Defenses will put 8 in the box until Bama can prove they can throw the ball.

If Bama is to recapture their championship form of 2009 their defensive unit can carry them. Linebackers (Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw) and secondary (Dre Kirkpatrick and Mark Barron) are amongst the best in the country. Their defensive line is young but coverage sacks should help these guys get better.

Bama’s schedule is grueling just like the rest of the SEC West and they play at Penn State, at Florida, and at MSU. If they end up 10-2 this could be one of Saban’s best coaching efforts. Bama should be in a top tier bowl, perhaps a BCS Bowl, but Arkansas, Florida, LSU, and South Carolina will have something to say about that before the season is over.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Plug in and keep on playing. This will be Bobby Petrino’s theme forArkansas’ 2011 season. Petrino will try to keepUniversityofArkansas’ momentum going after last years BCS run to the Sugar Bowl; the first BCS visit for the program. Like Alabama, Arkansas has a few important holes to fill before announcing their team as the SEC champs or a BCS Bowl team, namely starting quarterback.