Am I the only one who doesn't understand the confidence around Alabama this year?

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

I'm seeing lots of so-called experts predicting they make the SEC Championship Game this year. Its almost a given to all the experts that they make the playoffs. I know they have an elite team on paper but lots of teams with great recruiting have been bad. See Texas before Sark and Texas A&M under Jimbo.

I have a feeling Alabama is set for a downturn. The days of being elite are obviously over. But I don't think its crazy to think they might be returning to the Brody Croyle days. I could easily see Alabama going 8-4 this year.

 

[vols 30]

Yes

 

[Big Orange Captain]

Second season for Debore. Usually the second year or third year is where great coaches have big success. Debore is a very good coach. Last season was a big adjustment for him and a transition from the Saban era it’s understandable that there was some hiccups along the way. I believe Bama will be a much more consistent and better team this season and they still have alot of talent on the roster and i don’t think they lost anybody in the portal which is crazy. Also Debore’s former OC at Washington is back with him now so i think that could be a huge difference from last season and Milroe never really fit in Debores offense but he was just stuck with him last season. I expect Bama to be back in the playoff and if they aren’t then Debore will definitely be feeling some heat.

 

[hUTch2002]

Second season for Debore. Usually the second year or third year is where great coaches have big success. Debore is a very good coach. Last season was a big adjustment for him and a transition from the Saban era it’s understandable that there was some hiccups along the way. I believe Bama will be a much more consistent and better team this season and they still have alot of talent on the roster and i don’t think they lost anybody in the portal which is crazy. Also Debore’s former OC at Washington is back with him now so i think that could be a huge difference from last season and Milroe never really fit in Debores offense but he was just stuck with him last season. I expect Bama to be back in the playoff and if they aren’t then Debore will definitely be feeling some heat.

I’d say you’re pretty spot on. If Simpson isn’t good the wheels could come off though. Of course, for Bama that means they’re still 9-3 or 8-4. There’s no chance Deboer can replicate Saban of course.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I picked them to win the SEC. I believe they are the most talented team in the league, top to bottom, and Debore always does very well in his 2nd year at a program. Plus he has his OC back from Washington. I'm low-key kind of dreading our trip to Tuscaloosa this year.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

i h

I picked them to win the SEC. I believe they are the most talented team in the league, top to bottom, and Debore always does very well in his 2nd year at a program. Plus he has his OC back from Washington. I'm low-key kind of dreading our trip to Tuscaloosa this year.

I’d say you’re pretty spot on. If Simpson isn’t good the wheels could come off though. Of course, for Bama that means they’re still 9-3 or 8-4. There’s no chance Deboer can replicate Saban of course.

Yep the big question is at QB for them.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

I picked them to win the SEC. I believe they are the most talented team in the league, top to bottom, and Debore always does very well in his 2nd year at a program. Plus he has his OC back from Washington. I'm low-key kind of dreading our trip to Tuscaloosa this year.

I got Texas beating Bama in SEC title game

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I got Texas beating Bama in SEC title game

I have Alabama beating GA in the SEC CG. I'm not completely sold on Texas yet. We'll see how they look against OSU this week.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

I have Alabama beating GA in the SEC CG. I'm not completely sold on Texas yet. We'll see how they look against OSU this week.

I hate Texas but unfortunately i think they are loaded for bear this season and Arch is going to be the real deal. But Sark has a history of choking in big games

 

[bamawriter]

It brings me great joy that D4H is predicting against Bama. I'll order my national title merch now.

 

[WaywardVol]

Bama is friggin loaded. I’d swap rosters in a heartbeat. The biggest question is QB, but DeBore has his OC back and they’ll be running his full playbook. He’s also dominating in recruiting.

 

[CAVPUT]

Bama is friggin loaded. I’d swap rosters in a heartbeat. The biggest question is QB, but DeBore has his OC back and they’ll be running his full playbook. He’s also dominating in recruiting.

Yep. The folks throwing dirt on Bama's grave are just a tad premature I suspect.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

This thread reminds me of @Nationdom old threads saying that Bama was on the decline 10 or 12 years ago. Deboer isn’t Saban. But it seems some think because Bama list what 3? 4 games dod the first time in forever that they are just done for.

I hope they are done for. I hope Bama never has another winning season EVER! But 8 have a bad feeling Deboer is gonna be much better than we want him to be.

 

[WillisWG]

You're very alone with a 8-4 prediction

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

You're very alone with a 8-4 prediction

Guess we'll see. I very surprised by the level of confidence Tennessee fans have in Alabama. I think its been about the coach more than the program in Tuscaloosa. I expect a regression back to the mean.

 

[stolitonic]

Second season for Debore. Usually the second year or third year is where great coaches have big success. Debore is a very good coach. Last season was a big adjustment for him and a transition from the Saban era it’s understandable that there was some hiccups along the way. I believe Bama will be a much more consistent and better team this season and they still have alot of talent on the roster and i don’t think they lost anybody in the portal which is crazy. Also Debore’s former OC at Washington is back with him now so i think that could be a huge difference from last season and Milroe never really fit in Debores offense but he was just stuck with him last season. I expect Bama to be back in the playoff and if they aren’t then Debore will definitely be feeling some heat.

While I agree that Bama should be pretty good this year, to be blunt-the dynasty is over. They will most likely just be another team who "could" win it all.

Bama lost a great deal when Saban left in terms of younger players transferring. They knew the deal with Saban-basically ride the pine for two years keeping your Ps and Qs in order then have a huge 3rd year and get drafted in the first round

DeBoer doesn't have that pedigree yet

He has recruited quite well, but has it been on the same level as Saban-nope.

Once you reach a certain level, base talent is what separates the men from the boys in many cases. We saw that last year vs Ohio State. We were a very good team last year but they threw us around like toddlers.

Bama will remain a 9-3 or 10-2 type team for a few years, DeBoer will get fired, and they will try to recreate the magic

 

[superdave1984]

bama football is kinda like Duke basketball. They are gonna be good. They recruit very well and do not usually beat themselves. I hate them, but it's just the truth.

 

[WillisWG]

Guess we'll see. I very surprised by the level of confidence Tennessee fans have in Alabama. I think its been about the coach more than the program in Tuscaloosa. I expect a regression back to the mean.

Yep it's just Tennessee fans...

ESPN releases updated FPI Top 25 rankings after Week 0 of college football season

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www.on3.com

 

[S.C. OrangeMan]

I'm seeing lots of so-called experts predicting they make the SEC Championship Game this year. Its almost a given to all the experts that they make the playoffs. I know they have an elite team on paper but lots of teams with great recruiting have been bad. See Texas before Sark and Texas A&M under Jimbo.

I have a feeling Alabama is set for a downturn. The days of being elite are obviously over. But I don't think its crazy to think they might be returning to the Brody Croyle days. I could easily see Alabama going 8-4 this year.

They are overrated and desperate to be relevant again. 8-4.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

We’ll see how Ty Simpson is.

 

[Tin Man]

I still want our Vols to upset them in their home stadium this season. Of course, I want the Vols to defeat them every time they play, but a victory on their home field would be oh so sweet!

Otherwise, I don’t care about B***.

 

[VOLtaism]

I'm seeing lots of so-called experts predicting they make the SEC Championship Game this year. Its almost a given to all the experts that they make the playoffs. I know they have an elite team on paper but lots of teams with great recruiting have been bad. See Texas before Sark and Texas A&M under Jimbo.

I have a feeling Alabama is set for a downturn. The days of being elite are obviously over. But I don't think its crazy to think they might be returning to the Brody Croyle days. I could easily see Alabama going 8-4 this year.

I saw nothing last year that tells me they have an SEC quality coach. They do have the players.

 

[PC Jr.]

I'm seeing lots of so-called experts predicting they make the SEC Championship Game this year. Its almost a given to all the experts that they make the playoffs. I know they have an elite team on paper but lots of teams with great recruiting have been bad. See Texas before Sark and Texas A&M under Jimbo.

I have a feeling Alabama is set for a downturn. The days of being elite are obviously over. But I don't think its crazy to think they might be returning to the Brody Croyle days. I could easily see Alabama going 8-4 this year.

Because Alabama has a blue chip index of 89% and their staff (while new) is not stupid.

 

[05_never_again]

A lot of it has to do with how good Ty Simpson is. Nobody really knows.

I'm seeing a lot of Texas is overrated, Alabama is overrated, LSU is overrated, UGA is overrated, South Carolina is overrated. I mean, somebody will win the SEC...

 

[adam.vol]

I'm seeing lots of so-called experts predicting they make the SEC Championship Game this year. Its almost a given to all the experts that they make the playoffs. I know they have an elite team on paper but lots of teams with great recruiting have been bad. See Texas before Sark and Texas A&M under Jimbo.

I have a feeling Alabama is set for a downturn. The days of being elite are obviously over. But I don't think its crazy to think they might be returning to the Brody Croyle days. I could easily see Alabama going 8-4 this year.

I’m surprised anyone can be that high on Bama. Despite having the most loaded roster, Deboer had one great year at Washington with a 5th year senior QB, in which their best accomplishment was beating Bo Nix twice (the same Bo who got offensive guru Gus Malzan canned at Auburn). He’s had fewer top 10 finishes than Josh Heupel so far.

I expect Bama to have another 3 loss season. Maybe a 4th loss if our O Line turns out to be any good.

Not saying anyone in the top 25 can’t go undefeated, but Bama isn’t in my top 20 to make it undefeated. Beamer has his daddy’s version of Michael Vick. Kelly, Venables, and Freeze are fighting to save their careers. Kirby wants to stay top dog for as long as possible. Heupel has worked too hard to take a step back now. Even Clark Lei and Drinkowitz are known to steal the spotlight.These are Bama’s opponents. Deboer had better realize that he took the pretty boy job in the toughest conference and more deserving coaches would love nothing more than to kick his teeth in.