No. 1 Alabama Guarding Against Overconfidence
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Alabama coach Nick Saban wants his team to strike that "balance between humility and confidence."
That's the challenge for the Crimson Tide, which rose to No. 1 after an easy opening win over Michigan. Next up, Alabama faces 40-point underdog Western Kentucky on Saturday.
Saban says he's "really, really upset" about media coverage building up his team or making it sound like this game was a sure victory.
Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart has done his part, too. He called Alabama "the next expansion team in the NFL."
Saban can point to Alabama's shaky recent track record in this scenario. The Tide started the 2008 and 2009 seasons against top 10 Clemson and Virginia Tech teams and won both by double digits, then struggled against lesser opponents the next week.