The College Football season may be a long way off but Matt Fargo is already deep in study and will once again provide his take on each and every NCAA team. We start from the bottom and move up so keep checking in for more previews!

No. 112 UAB Blazers
2007 Record ~ 2-10 SU ~ 6-5 ATS
Starters Returning ~ Offense (7) Defense (9)

Conference-USA is an up and coming conference but it is no BCS league and finishing near the bottom means being one of the worst teams in the nation. That is where UAB fell last season and it does not look much better in 2008. The win total has dropped in each of the last three seasons and the only reason it won’t drop again is because the Blazers had just two wins last season and there are at least that many winnable games on the schedule. Another last place finish in the C-USA East looms however.

In all fairness, the cupboard was left bare by previous head coach Watson Brown as UAB came into last season with only four returning starters on each side of the ball. This season, it increases to a total of 16, but depth is still a huge concern and youth remains plentiful. Offensively, the success will rely upon the maturation of quarterback Joe Webb who split time as signal caller as well as wide receiver. The running game finished 104th and there is no hope in sight. The offensive line has no seniors in the two-deep lineup.

While the rushing offense did nothing last season, the rushing defense was much worse as bad as that sounds. The Blazers ranked dead last in the country, allowing 256.8 ypg on 5.7 ypc. The good news is that five of the front seven are back but that could also be considered bad news. The front four is undersized and extremely young while the linebackers are a huge question mark. The secondary will be the strength with three senior starters but the swiss cheese rushing defense takes away any edge.

The schedule is not horrible and there are many games that can be won. The problem is those games can just as easily be lost as well. The Blazers open conference play right out of the gate but it is against C-USA West favorite Tulsa. Three of the next four are on the road including games at Tennessee and South Carolina. The lone home game is against 1-AA Alabama St. The C-USA slate is a mystery with the majority of games being losses. This team should be an early fade and depending on the start, a possible late fade as well.
 

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