UAB Blazers 2010 College Football C-USA Predictions & Odds: Stability is usually key to success, something Neil Callaway is striving for in his fourth year as head football coach of the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers. This year will be the fourth consecutive year that Callaway and his coaching staff have had to build a program students and backers can be proud of. While UAB is not currently one of the favorites in the C-USA East Division, they return a strong nucleus to build on.
Online sportsbook BetUS.com lists UAB's odds of winning the C-USA championship at 20-to-1 or +2000.
UAB returns eight starters on offense and nine on the defensive side, but the Blazers will have to replace quarterback Joe Webb, last year’s Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. Webb accounted for 73 percent of UAB’s total offense last season as he passed for 2,299 yards and ran for 1,427. Webb also accounted for 32 touchdowns.
The heir apparant at quarterback is sophomore David Isabelle, an athletic type who can make plays with his arm and his legs. Isabelle won the job after some hard fought competition with junior Bryan Ellis.
Senior wide-receiver Frantrell Forrest, the team’s leading returning receiver (34 catches, 558 yards, 9 touchdowns in 2009), ranks in the top five all-time at UAB in three different receiving categories. Forrest is No. 3 in receptions (125), No. 4 in receiving yards (1,657) and No. 3 in receiving touchdowns (16).
The Blazers return 11 of their top 12 tacklers from 2009, including second-team All-Conference USA safety Hiram Atwater who paced the team in tackles with 89. Atwater also returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in UAB’s win over Southern Miss.
The bottom line: Pundits often take the easy road by predicting traditional favorites and overlook teams capable of making some noise. The Blazers are such a team. UAB came very close to playing in the bowl season in 2009 and should get there this year. The one key question is the play of Isabelle at quarterback. We are going out on a limb and predicting a 7-5 season for UAB.
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