Fansided

5 teams wrongly ranked in 2016 Preseason Amway Coaches Poll

By John Buhler

Dec 5, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) walks off the field after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 45-37 in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) walks off the field after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 45-37 in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Side judge Rob Skelton speaks with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban speaks during the fourth quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama won 31-6 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Side judge Rob Skelton speaks with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban speaks during the fourth quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama won 31-6 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

The Alabama Crimson Tide are considered the No. 1 team in the country, according to the 2016 Preseason Amway Coaches Poll, but should they be? Well, the Tide did win the second annual College Football Playoff and are the only team in the Power 5 to make both national semifinal tournaments to date.

Do the Crimson Tide have the best head coach/recruiter in Division I? Yes, Nick Saban belongs on college football’s Mount Rushmore of head coaches, but winning a National Championship this January will be easily his toughest championship to date.

The Crimson Tide have uncertainties very close to the football on offense. They’ll start a new quarterback, have a trio of unproven tailbacks, and center Ryan Kelly now plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Alabama’s offensive strengths rely out on the perimeter, which is rarely good in terms of winning at the line of scrimmage.

Yes, Alabama will reload in the front seven like they always do, but the secondary seems to be a false strength entering 2016. Saban is a former defensive back himself and always knows where to best put his secondary players in positions to make plays. Though he gains Jeremy Pruitt as defensive coordinator, losing Kirby Smart and Mel Tucker to Georgia doesn’t help at all.

Lastly, Alabama’s schedule is especially difficult this season. Most of its toughest games are on the road: neutral-site versus USC Trojans, at Ole Miss, at Arkansas, at Tennessee, at LSU. Alabama isn’t coming out of the 12-game regular season unscathed, they might even lose two or three times.

Surely, the Crimson Tide are the safe pick to have at No. 1 in any poll, but one has to wonder if they should be given the benefit of the doubt this season. LSU, Tennessee, and Ole Miss are good enough to beat them head-to-head.

Even Georgia or Florida could make things interesting in the SEC Championship if Tennessee doesn’t win the East. Alabama may not even get to Atlanta this year. Alabama belongs in the top five, but Clemson are Oklahoma are probably more complete teams at the start of the season.

Next: 1. Oregon Ducks.

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