Fact or Fiction: No one will compete with Alabama this year
In today’s Fact or Fiction national columnist Mike Farrell looks at three big recent topics in college football and decides whether each statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
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1. Wisconsin will still win the Big Ten West.
FICTION. I had the Badgers at 11-1 this season. Can you believe that? Now, after watching so many faults in Wisconsin's 16-10 loss to Penn State, I feel than nine wins is a reach and I like Iowa better to win the West. The Badgers' offensive line, their trademark, was unimpressive while Graham Mertz was awful.
On defense, Wisconsin is solid but the secondary clearly needs more focus as it was beaten deep often and only Sean Clifford’s poor passing saved them. I am on the Hawkeyes now.
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2. No one will compete with Alabama this season.
FICTION. The Crimson Tide looked great, don’t get me wrong. It was new weapon after new weapon for Alabama while Ohio State’s and Oklahoma’s defenses look suspect and Clemson’s offense was inept.
But how about Georgia? And that Texas A&M defense looks very special as well even though it was against an inferior opponent. Obviously, someone will give them a run this year but I still think Alabama will win it all.
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3. Georgia has the best defense in college football.
FACT. I thought Alabama would be the No. 1 defense in college football this season but what I saw from Georgia against Clemson was beyond impressive. The only issue I saw was in solo coverage with Derion Kendrick and Kelee Ringo being lost here and there (and handsy) but with this front seven and the aggressive nature of Dan Lanning, every team they play will have trouble keeping their quarterback upright. D.J. Uiagalelei learned this quickly and the blitz packages are so fun to watch.