Alabama is in the College Football Playoff and is largely being discounted by the national media, but bet against Nick Saban at your own risk.
For the last seven years, I’ve half-jokingly said Alabama would win the national championship every year so long as Nick Saban was still on the sidelines. It’s kinda like Chris Berman picking the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers to meet in the Super Bowl pretty much every year in the 90s. With four national titles in that span, the odds were in your favor that Alabama would be the last team standing and that’s why they were my preseason pick.
Fast forward to the end of December and we’re days away from Alabama meeting Clemson for the third consecutive year in the College Football Playoff. Alabama snuck in the last spot despite not winning their own division and having an inferior strength of schedule. I’m not here to debate the merits of Alabama over Ohio State, because that’s old news, and because I thought Alabama was deserving of the fourth and final spot.
I am here to tell you this is not an Alabama team that can be so easily dismissed like many are doing. Alabama is a three-point favorite by the oddsmakers, but make no mistake, Alabama is the prohibitive underdog to a Clemson team that is without quarterback Deshaun Watson but still possesses a nasty defense and the unflappability of Watson’s successor, Kelly Bryant.
Clemson is the better team on paper and had the better season, but I’m not ready to say the Tigers are going to waltz to a third straight National Championship Game. I’m not crazy enough to bet against Saban and Alabama.
Would you bet against Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl?
Would you bet against Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA title?
Not if you like winning money you wouldn’t.
I’ve heard it all year. This is Saban’s weakest Alabama team in years. The defense is too banged up. The offense doesn’t have enough playmakers on the perimeter. Jalen Hurts can’t beat teams with his arm.
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Some of those claims may be true, but I’m taking it to the bank that Saban and the Alabama coaching staff has benefitted from six weeks off to prepare for the biggest game of the year. I believe in him like a four-year-old believes in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
The notion that Alabama is the underdog and they’re just lucky to be in the College Football Playoff is ridiculous. This team knows how to win in January.
I don’t know if Alabama is going to beat Clemson on New Year’s Day when the last two national champions meet in the Sugar Bowl, but I do know, I’m not going to bet against the Tide.