Alabama Football: Three Bold Predictions for Bama vs Mississippi State

2. Alabama Football: Defense gets on the board

The Alabama defense has been impressive so far this season, allowing just 13.5 points per game despite playing against what are presumed to be two of the better offenses in the country in Texas and Ole Miss.

The unit has forced five turnovers, but has yet to convert any into immediate points. It has actually been a much more disruptive group than the turnover statistics indicate. In a stroke of bad fortune, Bama has forced six fumbles in four games and has managed to recover just two of them.

Vintage Nick Saban-coached Alabama teams thrived on forcing turnovers and finding the end zone for defensive scores. This 2023 unit has shown that it has some of the instinctual qualities of those classic defenses, and I think this is the week it cashes in.

Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell are statistically the best pass-rushing duo in college football. The two have racked up tackles for loss, sacks, and hurries this season, both ranking in the top-5 in the SEC in each of these categories.

The pair has also combined to force three fumbles through four games. It is only a matter of time before they start causing turnovers at a high rate.

In the secondary, Alabama might have the best collection of playmakers in the country.

Cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold are developing into a shutdown tandem on the perimeter. Interestingly, both also double as return specialists. Kool-Aid is a first-team All-American as a punt returner, while Arnold had a kickoff return for a touchdown called back against USF. Arnold also showed his ability with the ball in his hands last week against Ole Miss, picking off a Jaxson Dart pass and weaving his way for a 37-yard return.

In addition to McKinstry and Arnold, Bama boasts two ballhawks at safety in Malachi Moore and Caleb Downs. These two are incredibly explosive and instinctive in the Crimson Tide secondary. I’d bet my last dollar that one of them gets a defensive touchdown before the year is over, and it might just come this week.