Staff Predictions for Alabama vs Chattanooga

Forget about the opponent's name for a second. Alabama fans should be excited to head to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the final home game for one simple reason: sending this senior class off with the support it deserves. 

That's going to be the main reason most people have any interest in this matchup. The vast majority of college football has already started looking ahead to the Iron Bowl. But we're going to take it one game at a time with these predictions.

Chattanooga visits Tuscaloosa to pick up a paycheck and avoid any kind of injuries before the FCS Playoffs begin. Despite a loss last week to Samford, the 21st-ranked Mocs won the Southern Conference with an 8-3 record overall.

Baron Huber (Host of Houston & Huber)

Alabama has a live scrimmage Saturday at Bryant-Denny before taking on the Tigers and I'm sure the score will reflect as such. However, playing Chattanooga does provide benefit in the style offense they run. With a heavy emphasis on the zone read and designed quarterback runs Chattanooga should provide a basic skeleton of what we will see in Jordan-Prayer next Saturday. Alabama 49, Chattanooga 0

Martin Houston (Host of Houston & Huber)

The march to 16 National Titles continues this week, as Chattanooga become the next to get wash over by the Tide. The Tide will use the Saturday game to polish up on and get the bad taste of the Mississippi State game out of their mouth. Make sure you get there early, because the best part of the day will be honoring this Senior Class. Going deep into the bench, the Tide rolls! Alabama 63, Chattanooga 3

Chris Stewart (Host of The Chris Stewart Show)

This is actually a best-case scenario for Alabama, coming off of the struggles in Starkville and leading into the showdown in Auburn next week. Alabama needs to play, and they get a solid (albeit lower-division) opponent, that runs a similar offense to Auburn's. This is much different from two years ago, when the Tide faced a very good Georgia Southern team, running the triple option - which Bama hadn't faced before or since. Saturday should be a great Senior Day. The Tide eliminates the mistakes of last week, gets to play a lot of players, and turn their attention to The Plains before the clock hits 00:00. Alabama 45, Chattanooga 3

Ryan Fowler (Host of The Game)

Alabama looks to reestablish some confidence on the offensive side of the ball against an inferior FCS team before lining up against in-state rival Auburn. Alabama should have their away with the Mocs on Saturday afternoon as 16 seniors play their final game inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. I can only imagine the sound of the crowd when AJ McCarron is pulled from the game in the 3^rd quarter. With reserves expected to receive a significant amount of playing time, I think Alabama gives up a couple of late scores. Alabama 38, Chattanooga 6

Ryan McMunn (Producer of The Game and The Chris Stewart Show)

I wish I could say this would be the end of the terribly scheduled games, but I’ve seen our non-conference schedule for next season, so I can’t really say that. Not much analysis to this game: Alabama is bigger, faster, and stronger at every position, and this is just going to be a glorified scrimmage game for the Tide. Chattanooga is a formidable opponent on the FCS level, but that rarely has any effect against a team like Alabama. I know I said this last week, so maybe I won’t jinx us again, but this game will get out of hand even quicker, faster, and in more of a hurry than Mississippi State. Cooper makes some great catches, Yeldon runs the ball hard, McCarron continues being McCarron, and the defense doesn’t allow a point, making one last statement before the Iron Bowl next week. Alabama 45, Chattanooga 0

Trey Brooks (Producer of Houston & Huber)

These games are never as high-scoring as they should be, and Bama will be more concerned about injuries than anything else. No style points are needed as Bama's strength of schedule is far better than the other three undefeated contenders. Everyone and their mother knows that the coaches, players, fans and equipment managers have already turned their focus towards Auburn. However, Chattanooga does have a running quarterback, and how Bama attacks him may be indicative of how they defend Nick Marshall in the Iron Bowl. Alabama 48 Chattanooga 7

Ben George (Digital Managing Editor)

If you want to take the Samford score into consideration, you also have to credit Chattanooga for beating Georgia State 42-14 a month before Alabama beat them 45-3. That's the best I can do to create drama in this game. The Mocs might cause some problems with the zone read offense, but Alabama will work on execution and get plenty of work for the backups. Will the student section make it past halftime? Alabama 35, Chattanooga 0