The Alabama Crimson Tide finished the 2021 college football season 13-2 overall and 7-1 in SEC play. Alabama lost to Georgia in the College Football Playoff national championship game. Oddsmakers have given Alabama a projected wins total of 11.5. Alabama has reached the college football playoff every season but one since its inception in 2014 and is expected to again in 2022.
Alabama will have two of the best players in college football returning from last season with one on the offense, quarterback Bryce Young and one on the defense, linebacker Will Anderson Jr. Last season Young, who won the Heisman trophy, passed for 4,872 yards with 47 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Jahmyr Gibbs, who transferred from Georgia Tech, will be Alabama's top running back. In two seasons with Georgia Tech, Gibbs averaged 5.2 yards per carry and caught 60 passes that included five touchdowns.
Wide receiver Jermaine Burton caught a touchdown to defeat Alabama in the national championship game last season but has a transfer to play for the Crimson Tide. Alabama has two talented tight ends in Cameron Latu and Jahleel Billingsley, who combined for 43 receptions and 667 yards with 11 touchdowns last season. Alabama will have a rebuilt offensive line, which should give Young plenty of time to make his passes in the pocket and open holes for Gibbs to run through.
Alabama's defense begins and ends with Anderson Jr, who last season had 17.5 quarterback sacks and 34.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Playing opposite Anderson will be Dallas Turner, who last season had 8.5 quarterback sacks. Alabama is expected to also have Chris Braswell, the third best pass-rusher for Alabama, on the field at the same time as Anderson and Turner.'
Henry To'oTo'o returns and will start his second consecutive season for Alabama. The linebacker has great athleticism. Jaylen Moody will play alongside To'oTo'o as well as Deontae Lawson. The secondary is led by Jordan Battle, who last season had 85 tackles as the starting safety. Three players will battle for the two starting cornerback spots including Kool-Aid McKinstry, Khyree Jackson and Eli Ricks. Brian Branch will play opposite Battle at the other safety.
Free NCAAF Pick:
Over 11.5