Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports
This fall, a new era begins in Tuscaloosa as Kalen DeBoer replaces the legendary Nick Saban.
With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams and the SEC adding Texas and Oklahoma — Alabama is priced at 14/1 to win the national championship at DraftKings.
The Tide is also priced at +800 to win the SEC and +100 to make the CFP.
Let’s take a look at Alabama’s roster and schedule to find out if there’s any value in the futures markets.
Offensive outlook
DeBoer helped Michael Penix Jr. develop into a Heisman finalist and first-round draft pick at Washington.
He’ll now look to do the same with Jalen Milroe, who had 35 total touchdowns in 2023.
Milroe has excellent arm strength, consistent deep-ball velocity and big-play rushing ability.
If he can clean up some of his mechanics and learn to read the field better, he could push for Heisman votes this fall.
The Crimson Tide will have to replace three starters on the offensive line, their top three pass-catchers and their leading rusher.
Junior wideouts Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice are poised to make a significant impact, while transfer Germie Bernard has earned high praise as a former DeBoer recruit at Washington.
Justice Haynes and Jam Miller headline a versatile running back room.
Parker Brailsford should be a stabilizing force on the offensive line.
Defensive outlook
Alabama lost a combined 25 sacks among Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell and Justin Eboigbe, all NFL draftees, and eight of the top nine players in total snaps are gone from last season.
However, the Tide reloaded in a typical fashion, and the defense is loaded with former blue-chip recruits at all three levels.
DeBoer also landed three defensive backs — Domani Jackson, DaShawn Jones and Caleb Sabb — expected to compete for starting roles.
Kane Wommack is the team’s new defensive coordinator.
He was most recently the head coach at South Alabama, which had a top-30 scoring defense each of the last two seasons.
2024 schedule
The runway is clear for a fast start as Alabama should be a near double-digit favorite against non-conference opponents Western Kentucky, South Florida and Wisconsin.
A home matchup against Georgia on Sept. 28 will be the first huge test of the DeBoer era.
The Crimson Tide also play challenging road games against Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma.
Missouri should come to Tuscaloosa with a high-powered offense oozing with plenty of confidence.
Home games against South Carolina, Mercer and Auburn help cushion the schedule, as does a road matchup against Vanderbilt.
Final verdict
A natural downgrade in the market should be expected when a team loses an all-time great coach such as Saban.
However, DeBoer has won at every stop of his career, and the high standard Alabama has set shouldn’t go anywhere.
The Crimson Tide ranks second in the country in Bud Elliott’s blue-chip ratio, giving DeBoer the most talented roster he’s ever worked with on paper.
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An excellent head coach, a roster loaded with talent and an incredible football culture should translate to wins.
I love getting plus-money on Alabama to go over 9.5 wins this fall, but my favorite way to invest in this team is betting on it to make the CFP at +100 odds.
A 10-win Crimson Tide team should be a lock for the postseason, and it’s not impossible that nine could sneak them into the field.
If you want to bet on upside, I love Milroe’s Heisman odds at 15/1.
He should put up video-game numbers in DeBoer’s offense, and if the Crimson Tide are in the CFP, he’ll be at the forefront of the Heisman conversation.
Recommendations: Alabama to make the CFP (+100, DraftKings) | Jalen Milroe to win Heisman (15/1, DraftKings)