T'Row's Top 25...No. 3 Alabama

Originally Published: Sep 3, 2010 6:5 PM CDT

If youre ranking Alabama #1 based on the fact that theyre the defending champs...I get it. But if youre ranking them #1 based on returning talent...Im not buying it.

The Tide lost 10 of 11 defensive starters off a team that hung its hat on defense. They also lost their kicker, punter, return specialist and arguably their two best offensive linemen. And now their Heisman winning running back is out for awhile. Still think theyre the #1-ranked team?

Dont get me wrong. Bama is good. #3 good. I think theyll win almost every game. They have a steady quarterback (Greg McElroy), a superstar receiver (Julio Jones), eventually a Heisman winning back (Mark Ingram), and a head coach that could coach-up defense in his sleep (Nick Saban). But the Tide have a huge target on their backs in 2010 and are missing a ton of talent from their title winning team.

Alabama will either lose at Arkansas, at LSU or to Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Prediction: 11-1