Originally posted on 07/30/2013:

Quote Originally Posted by bama11braves View Post

wait til you see the kids they replace them with. OL will be very similar to last year and DL will be much better this year. The Bama defense will be wayyyyy better this year. They lost only Jesse Williams and Dee Milliner, everyone else will be upgraded this year.

20 pts is a lot not sure its worth it, A&M game will be the game to hammer this year with them.
Listen to this guy ^^^ He actually knows something about Alabama football.

Alabama's offensive line will be one of the best in the nation. And as difficult as this may be for some to believe, Ryan Kelly is actually an upgrade at the center position over Barrett Jones.

Whether Alabama's defensive line will be an improvement over last season will be contingent upon the ability of Brandon Ivory, et al to hold the point. Last season's results when Ivory was pressed into action were not exactly encouraging. The good news for Bama backers, however, is twofold. First Alabama is very deep at the nose so if Ivory doesn't get it done, there is likely someone on the roster who will. Secondly, Ivory will be going up against the Virginia Tech offensive line, so his best will likely be good enough.

Yes, Alabama's starting defensive ends and 2-deep will be much improved over last season. Ed Stinson is returning, and Jeoffrey Pagan is certainly an upgrade. Dalvin Tomlinson and LaMichael Fanning (of suplex fame) will see a lot more time this season making Alabama very formidable on the edge.

Overall, this season's defense will rival the record-setting defense of 2011, and I will be mildly surprised if Virginia Tech finds the end zone in this game.

Alabama will likely score in the 40s, or come very close to it. The high water mark for VT is probably 10 points. Alabaterf's initial score estimate of 38-10 is a solid albeit conservative final score estimate.