UAB Blazers Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

UAB Blazers Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds

As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.

2010 Record: 4-8 C-USA Record: 3-5 (5th, East) 2011 Returning Starters: 14; 6 offense, 7 defense, punter

Coach: Neil Callaway, 15-33 (4 years)

Offensive Coordinators: Kim Helton Defensive Coordinators: Tommy West

2011 UAB Players to Watch: QB Bryan Ellis, RB Pat Shed, WR Patrick Heam, OL Matt McCants, LB Marvin Burdette, LB Lamanski Ware, CB T.J. Ballou, S Jamie Bender, S Chase Daniel

2011 UAB Strengths:
The Blazers will have an experienced offensive line, strong rushing attack and strong play at quarterback. There is a supply of experienced receivers on hand. Nine returning starters and a new defensive coordinator should make the defense a plus.

2011 UAB Weaknesses:
Defense has been a problem in recent years, but it doesn’t appear to be a trouble spot this season. Making up for the loss of TE Jeffery Anderson and WR Frantrell Forrest could be problematic, as could finding areliable placekicker.

2011 UAB Offense:

Take away the tight end position, and UAB has talent and experience everywhere you look on the offensive side. And playing without a tight end is an option for coordinator Kim Helton’s offense. The offense starts with senior quarterback Bryan Ellis, who developed into a top-notch signal caller in his first season as a starter. He threw for 2,940 yards and 25 touchdowns in basically 10 games last season. Ellis also has plenty of dependable targets, including a promising batch of youngsters. The potential star of the group is veteran Patrick Hearn, who had 35 catches last season despite playing through the pain of a sports hernia most of the year. Freshmen Jamarcus Nelson, the team’s fastest player, and D.J. Vinson are future stars, and Nick Adams is healthy after missing last year with a torn Achilles tendon. Running back Pat Shed is poised for another big year after contributing 177 total yards per game last season. His backups Greg Franklin and Georgia transfer Dontavious Jackson are potentially outstanding. Tying everything together is an offensive line that features experience at every spot. Tackle Matt McCants is a returning All-Conference USA player, guards Terence Edge and Caleb Thomas have been solid throughout their careers, and going at least two deep at every position shouldn’t be a problem. Center Darion Smith is among the best at his position in the conference.

2011 UAB Defense:

Former Memphis head coach Tommy West takes over as UAB’s defensive coordinator. Can he work miracles and turn UAB’s defense around? He can’t if the Blazers don’t find some help up front. Defensive tackle Elliott Henigan has NFL potential but is surrounded by inexperience. The Blazers can’t have success if junior college tackles Tevin Wells and Jewel Christian aren’t ready to join the rotation right away. Defensive end is also filled with question marks. Other than that, though, the Blazers could be solid. Middle linebacker Marvin Burdette is tackling machine, and his backup junior college transfer D.A. Autry might be just as good. Both are surrounded by some experienced playmakers. Cornerback T.J. Ballou is outstanding, and the Blazers have experience on the other side with Marquis Coleman and Terrell Springs. If Chase Daniel is healthy then he’ll team with Jamie Bender to give UAB one of the best safety tandems in the conference. Of course, that’s if they can fight off the challenge of junior college transfers Johnny Cockrell, Calvin Jones and Lamar Johnson, who turned some heads during the spring.

2011 UAB Special Teams:

Placekicking was a disaster last season, with the Blazers missing 10 of 17 field goal attempts. To that end, UAB signed two kickers from Georgia who will vie for the starting job – Colin Anderson and Ty Long. Trey Ragland will be the punter for the third consecutive season. He averaged 42.0 yards per punt a year ago. Shed was the primary return man last season.

2011 UAB Football Schedule | UAB Football Sportsbooks

2011 UAB Predictions:

One of the first things that West did after taking over the defense was simplify things for his group. If simple means better, then Neil Callaway could have his first winning season as UAB’s head coach. Of course, only time will tell if the defense is ready to help the Blazers become a winner. UAB’s offense is good enough to carry the Blazers. But is it good enough to help them reach bowl-eligibility after maneuvering through a rugged schedule that includes road games at Florida, East Carolina, Troy and Tulsa? If not, then Callaway might not be around for a sixth season.

2011 UAB Betting Odds:

UAB Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000

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