By Staff
Justin Schuver, Sports Editor
It’s clich/ to say it, but this is the time of the year when everyone is a contender. Each team is undefeated and each team has as equal a chance as any other to make it to Birmingham’s Super Six. In the first week, Alabama’s high schools always play a non-region game, but that doesn’t mean the intensity will be any less than during a region contest. These games are for pride and for preparation, and although there are only three games on the schedule this weekend you can be sure they will all be exciting games. Here we go with the predictions.
Hartselle Tigers (0-0) at Austin Black Bears (0-0): This is a pretty tough one to pick. Austin coach David Norwood is 0-2 against his alma mater, but both the losses have been very close. Last season, Hartselle squeaked out of Ogle Stadium with a nail-biting 28-22 victory. I believe this Tigers team has the potential to have a very good season, but I also think the third time is the charm for “Stump” Norwood…Black Bears 31, Tigers 28.
Danville Hawks (0-0) at Falkville Blue Devils (0-0): Last season, Danville just barely eked past Falkville with a 6-0 victory where the only points were scored in the fourth quarter off a fourth-down conversion for a touchdown. The Hawks went on to have a mediocre 4-6 season. If Danville wants to bounce back this year, it can kick start that effort with a win against its county rival…Hawks 24, Blue Devils 17.
Brewer Patriots (0-0) at Priceville Bulldogs (0-0): At the end of a Priceville-Brewer basketball game last season, where the Patriots squeaked by with a one-point victory, the Bulldog partisans started chanting, “Let’s play football,” at the end of the contest. Well, Priceville, here’s your chance…Bulldogs 35, Patriots 28.
And with the addition of a 12th game to NCAA football schedules, this is also the beginning of college football’s grueling march to Glendale, the site of this year’s BCS Championship. There are some great opening games, and here’s a few of those picks as well.
Hawaii Warriors (0-0) at Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0): This is far from a gimme home opener. Hawaii is a team that passes first and asks questions later, and against a young Crimson Tide secondary it might have some success. But the Warriors are abysmal on defense and Kenneth Darby should have a field day…Crimson Tide 35, Warriors 21.
Washington State Cougars (0-0) at Auburn Tigers (0-0): The amount of hype on the plains is as high as it’s ever been. These Tigers have the feeling they can be a special team, and they can get 2006 off to a roaring start with a home win against a sub-par BCS conference team. On the other hand, 2005’s home opener also featured a sub-par BCS conference team, and we know how that ended. Auburn won’t make the same mistake twice…Tigers 31, Cougars 21.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (0-0): This is a scary game for an opener; just ask Auburn. The Yellow Jackets have one of the best wide receivers in the country, and talented wide receivers ate up the Irish secondary last year. On the other hand, Notre Dame’s got a pretty good passing attack of its own and the Jacket secondary is very young in places. The Irish were unbeaten on the road last regular season, and that trend continues into 2006…Fighting Irish 48, Yellow Jackets 28.