Alabama Crimson Tide 2021 College Football Preview
Created August 7, 2021
2020 Recap
Record – 13-0
ATS – 9-4
ROLL TIDE, yo.
Alabama did what they do best, and that’s win Championships. They rolled through the schedule in undefeated fashion and finished things off with a blowout win over THE Ohio St University in the College Football Playoff Championship Game (W 52-24). That’s SIX National titles for Nick Saban at Alabama. Not much else to say. Let’s see how things look heading into 2021.
Alabama Crimson Tide 2021 Outlook
OFFENSE
The offense moved like a TREMENDOUS MACHINE and averaged 500+ YPG for the 3rd consecutive season (542, #4 FBS). They put up 48.5 PPG which was 2nd best in the nation next to Kent St (!). QB Mac Jones was RIDICULOUS (77%, 41-4 TD to INT) and it’ll be up to Bryce Young to carry on the tradition of excellent QB play. Young adds a dimension of mobility but obviously needs to prove himself as a passer, and note that he’ll be working without two star WRs in DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Smith won the Heisman LY (1,856, 23 TD!) and Waddle averaged 21 YPC LY. #2 John Metchie is legit (916, 16.7, 6 TD) and there are a few emerging stars ready to explode on the scene. Don’t sleep on TE Jahleel Billingsley (16 YPC LY) and true freshman WR Agiye Hall. Another yuuuuuge loss is RB Najee Harris who rushed for over 1,400 yards LY (26 TD) and caught 43 balls out of the backfield. There are several highly-regarded specimens ready to take over the #1 gig including Brian Robinson and Jase McClellan, but Harris was REALLY good. They lose a pair of STARS on the offensive line who were both chosen in the first two rounds of the NFL draft (LT, C) and will (once again) rely on the endless supply of raw talent to step up.
DEFENSE
Alabama wasn’t a brick wall in 2020 but they were still pretty good (#17 FBS rush D, #18 pass efficiency D, #4 SEC sacks per game). A pair of elite offenses gave them trouble (Ole Miss – 48, Florida 46) but they pretty much shut everyone else down including Ohio St. Eight starters are back but they’ll need to find replacements for a few excellent defensive pieces including #1 tackler LB Dylan Moses and #1 sack man Christian Barmore. The DL is loaded (again) and has an abundance of size. The LB group is the best in college football. Will Anderson (7 sacks), Christian Harris (#2 tackles, 8 TFL), and Christopher Allen (6 sacks, 13 TFL) are legit stars, and it’s almost unfair to add Tennessee transfer LB Henry To’o To’o to the mix. The secondary is elite despite the loss of #1 NFL DC Patrick Surtain and features a new potential star at CB in KOOL-AID McKinstry. Yup, the defense should prove to be obscene.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It’s almost comical that ROLL TIDE has one of the best PK in college football in Will Reichard (14/14 FG, 84/84 XP LY. Wut?) and they get a good punter from Troy to take over those duties. It hurts to lose the impossibly-gifted DeVonta Smith at PR.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They take on YOUR Miami Hurricanes in the season opener and that’s the only non-conference game that should even remotely induce a sweat. The SEC road docket is tough with road trips to Florida (!), Texas A&M, and Auburn. ROLL TIDE has only one road game after October 16th. That seems impossible but it’s a FACT CHECK TRUE.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Southern Miss (September 25th)
This is an SEC sandwich game (Florida, Ole Miss) and ROLL TIDE is often a good fade when taking on non-conference TOMATO CANS at home.
Season Win Total
per 5Dimes August 7
Over 11.5 +100
Under 11.5 -120
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under.
It’s not unthinkable that they lose one regular season game.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Departed superstars Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith combined for 55 TDs in 2020. Only EIGHT TEAMS had more than that last year. Amaze that PERPETUALLY-ANGRY, TRIPLE-MASKED and QUADRUPLE-VACCINATED KAREN with that trivia bomb.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
You didn’t come here for this particular HOT TAKE, but these guys are loaded and ready to make a run at another National Championship. It’s never easy to repeat, and even ROLL TIDE may struggle a bit with the loss of so much elite talent on offense. The defense looks elite, and you know they’ll be impeccably coached. Bank on another playoff appearance and we make them the favorite to win it all.
Want more Alabama football ?
WEBSITE
https://rolltide.com/sports/football
FORUM
http://tidefans.com/forums/football
http://www.secrant.com/rant/alabama-sports/
http://alabama.247sports.com/Board/Alabama-Crimson-Tide-Message-Board-Forum-116
https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Board/Bama-Board-102338
https://alabama.forums.rivals.com/forums/talk-of-champions.16/
NEWS
http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/
https://bamahammer.com/football/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/333/alabama-crimson-tide
Hashtags – #RollTide
Accounts to follow