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Alabama Football: Ranking Tide’s 2019 opponents by toughness

By Dakota Cox

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 35-28 in the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 17: Tyrie Adams #12 of the Western Carolina Catamounts looks to pass against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 17: Tyrie Adams #12 of the Western Carolina Catamounts looks to pass against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

12. Western Carolina (Nov. 23 — Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Playing a team outside of the Power Five in November is always frowned upon. This is known as the cupcake week of the SEC. Almost every team in the conference practically takes the week off as they prepare for their rivals.

To be fair for Alabama, they have no reason to be the first team to fix this in their schedule. If they were the only team to do this in the SEC, they would be at a distinct disadvantage in the Iron Bowl and the SEC Championship. Every November, Alabama plays LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn. If they add another tough team instead of a team like Western Carolina, it will be even harder for the Tide to go through unscathed.

Now, anything can happen in any game. Teams get upset all the time. The Citadel kept around with Alabama for the first half in this week last season. That was certainly a surprise for Alabama last season.

In games like these, health is incredibly important. Alabama has lost too many players to injuries in games that don’t matter. If this was a video game, you would simply simulate the game and move onto the next week. Alas, this game must be played.

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