Recently, The Big Lead published a story about college football programs primed to be the next dynasty. The Alabama Crimson Tide was mentioned, but not as a program that is primed for greatness. Instead, the piece opened with: " When Nick Saban retired from Alabama, he effectively brought an end to one of the greatest dynasties in college football history. Alabama no longer sits atop the sport."
The only exception that Alabama football fans can take with the quote is "one of the greatest" should be 'the' greatest dynasty in college football history. Otherwise the statement about the Crimson Tide is 100% accurate.
The three programs Jobe Morrison defined as primed for dynasty greatness are Georgia, Ohio State, and Indiana. The Bulldogs and the Buckeyes are sound picks. As much as Alabama fans would like to debate Indiana's inclusion, we have no basis to do do. The Hoosiers beat the Crimson Tide like a drum in the Rose Bowl playoff game.
More insult to injury for the Alabama Crimson Tide
Adding insult to injury is Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. Crawford predicted the regular-season records for every SEC football team. He predicts the Crimson Tide will go 9-3, with losses to Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU. That is not an unfair prediction. Even if Alabama wins in Knoxville (that's my prediction), Alabama will be an underdog in Tuscaloosa against Georgia and perhaps an underdog in Baton Rouge.
It is Crawford's additional prediction that is so troubling. He predicts the SEC will have four Playoff teams, and Alabama will not be one of them. According to Crawford, Ole Miss (as an 11-seed) will bump the Crimson Tide from the Playoff field. Crawford has Texas as a 2-seed, Georgia as a 5-seed, and LSU as a 9-seed in the Playoff.
Measuring Alabama's playoff chances, Crawford wrote: "The Crimson Tide's three losses all come against quality opponents -- Georgia, Tennessee and LSU -- but that's part of the problem. Kalen DeBoer's team would enter Selection Sunday without a signature victory to offset those setbacks. The committee has consistently rewarded teams that beat playoff-caliber competition, and Alabama's résumé in this scenario comes up a little light."
Crawford's prediction for Texas A&M is 8-4, which would be the Crimson Tide's best win. If beating the Aggies proves not to be enough, Alabama will need a win over Georgia, Tennessee, or LSU to gain a playoff at-large selection.
Optimistic Alabama fans can point to a Crimson Tide talent advantage over the Vols. It is not unrealistic that even if Georgia and LSU have some talent advantage, Kalen DeBoer and his staff can outcoach the Georgia and LSU coaching staffs.
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