The Alabama-Birmingham Blazers last had a winning season back in 2004, when they went 7-5 and faced Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. Since then they have gone 31-76 and from 2009 thru 2013, they won 5, 4, 3, 3, and 2 games. With that pattern they will win either 2 or 1 game this year. This year they have a new energy with 15 starters back and a new HC (Bill Clark), which does give them a shot at 3 or more wins this year, but the schedule may not allow that. Preview & schedule below.
The offense last year put up 26.3 ppg, but they will be losing both QB’s and their top RB from that team. Juco QB Cody Clemens looks to lead the blazers this year, and will have the top 3 targets back from last year, including big play threat Jamarcus Nelson, who averaged 20.1 yards per catch last year on 46 receptions, while finding the endzone 8 times. The running game loses a 900 yard back, but also returns a nearly 900 yard back in Jordan Howard, who had 881 yards last year. The OL will be a solid group, with 3 starters back and some depth. Defensively, this team had many problems last year, as they allowed 43.8 ppg. This year 8 starters are back to this side of the ball and while it will improve, it is still a weak defense. The front 7 will struggle for the Blazers, but then secondary looks to be in good shape, as all 4 starters are back. Special teams are the strength of this team as they rate the best in Conference USA and 17th in the nation.
The Blazer offense will be an improved group and could approach putting up 30 ppg. The defense is another story, as they were so bad last year that even if the improve, they will still probably allow 35+ ppg. The Schedule is tough with their tough, with North Texas, La Tech and Marshall at home, while having to travel to MTSU, FAU and WKU, in the conference and Miss State and Arkansas out of the conference. They should bag wins vs FIU and Alabama A&M at home, which means the only way they get to 3 wins will be by beating Southern Miss on the road to end the year. This is an improved team, but it will not show up in their record. KEY TREND: 1-7 ATS on the road vs a .500 or better opponent.
2014 UAB Blazers Football Schedule
Aug. 30 – TROY
Sept. 6 – at Mississippi State
Sept. 13 – ALABAMA A&M
Sept. 20 – OPEN
Sept. 27 – FIU*
Oct. 4 – at Western Kentucky*
Oct. 11 – NORTH TEXAS*
Oct. 18 – at Middle Tennessee*
Oct. 25 – at Arkansas
Nov. 1 – at Florida Atlantic*
Nov. 8 – LOUISIANA TECH*
Nov. 15 – OPEN
Nov. 22 – MARSHALL*
Nov. 29 – at Southern Miss*
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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