Alabama looked poised for title surge after quick rebuild
The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a surprising defeat in the College National Championship Game at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs. Nick Saban’s men were aiming to become the first side to win back-to-back crowns since the college playoff system was reformed in 2015 after crushing Ohio State University in 2021.
Alabama were the favorites for the contest against the Bulldogs, having defeated their rivals in the SEC Championship Game. However, the Georgia defense were able to stifle Bryce Young and the Crimson Tide, who lose All-American wide receiver Jameson Williams during the contest, having already been without John Metchie. Even Heisman Trophy winner Young could not overcome the losses of his two key wideouts and threw two costly interceptions to allow Kirby Smart and his team to claim the crown.
Replenish The Ranks
Saban and his team will bounce back from their defeat. They’re the most consistent team in the college game due to the brilliance of their head coach and the talent on the roster that seems to replenish with ease every year. Once the next generation passes into the NFL Draft, another comes along to ensure that the Crimson Tide remain the dominant force in the CFB. It was the case with the transition from Tua Tagovailoa to Mac Jones, and Jones to Young.
Alabama has already moved to strengthen its roster with Williams and Metchie having declared for the NFL Draft. Jermaine Burton was part of the Georgia side that defeated them in the National Championship Game, but in the 2022 season, he will combine with Young in the passing game aiming to bring success to Tuscaloosa. Burton produced two solid campaigns with Stetson Bennett and now will now have the chance to raise his stock with Young. The pressure will be on to match the accomplishments of Metchie and Williams, and although he has talent on his side, slotting into place will not be easy.
JoJo Earle, Ja'Corey Brooks and Traeshon Holden are already on the roster and will provide stiff competition for the top two slots in the receiving corps. Agiye Hall has already been forced to transfer amid the talent at the top end for the Crimson Tide. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien also likes to use tight ends to great effect, and Cameron Latu had a game to remember against the Bulldogs despite the loss for his team. Latu will be aiming to enhance his skillset alongside Young amid the desire for all-round tight ends in the NFL.
Superstar Young
Young was nothing short of outstanding last season, offering an upgrade on Tagovailoa and Jones before him. He threw for 47 touchdowns to only seven interceptions along with 4,872 passing yards in 15 games, shattering a number of school records in the process. At the age of 20, he is scratching the surface of his potential. In his third year at Alabama, he should be even more explosive. The defeat to the Bulldogs will have hurt Young, even though he was on point throughout the contest. The injuries to Williams and Metchie loomed large as the replacements in the ranks failed to rise to the occasion. Now that he has had a full off-season to train with his new receivers, and the depth is well stocked, we should expect to see another exhilarating campaign, one which could live in the memory.
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Alabama, as ever, will begin the season as the leading contenders in the college football betting odds to win the crown. Betting on the outright is difficult to project even for the most experienced bettors, especially given the high level of competition in the college game with Alabama competing against the Bulldogs along with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Clemson Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish among others. One of the top betting tips available for sports bettors is to consider all the variables at hand before placing a wager. Managing your bankroll can be key when betting on the outright as well as the timing of your wager. The odds will be available before the start of the season, and they will likely be a solid price before the action commences. If a team such as Alabama has a great start and blows away the competition their price will drop rapidly. Betting at the right time can allow you to find the perfect value while using only a small stake.
Looking ahead to the 2022 campaign, the injuries to Metchie and Williams proved that Alabama were not as deep as they thought they were, which culminated in their National Championship loss. On the other hand, few teams have done more in the off-season to improve their side, therefore, a bet on the outright for Alabama should be a safe one, considering all the angles they have considered.
Considering All The Angles
The running game should continue to be just as effective, although Brian Robinson and Evan Neal are heading to the NFL. Neal was a dominant force at left tackle and is expected to be taken within the top five picks in the 2022 Draft. Tyler Steen is tasked with replacing Neal following his transfer from Vanderbilt, but he appears to have all the credentials required to make a seamless transition.
Jahmyr Gibbs has also made the move from Georgia Tech, offering a dynamic threat out of the backfield. In the past, Saban has preferred stout runners rather than speed and twitch merchants. However, Gibbs’ speed should further open up the passing game for Young, providing solid hands as well as a running threat between the tackles to keep opposing defenses honest.
Saban takes defeats harder than most and the loss to the Bulldogs will have surprised him even given the injuries to Metchie and Williams. He has worked hard in the off-season to replenish the ranks and provide freshness to the team to make another surge to the National Championship Game.
