For the second straight year, a team that didn’t even win its own division, much less a conference title, got into the College Football Playoff. That would be the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Can they win a fifth national title since 2009? Here are three reasons why they can. Be sure to check out the latest odds to win the 2018 National Championship at MyBookie!
The national semifinals will be the third straight year that Alabama and Clemson face off. Of course, they played in the past two national title games – both shootouts. Clemson won this past January and the Tide did the year before. Those Clemson teams had superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson. This one doesn’t. Plus, the Tigers lost at a bad Syracuse team in the regular season.
3 Reasons to Bet on Alabama to Win the 2018 College Football Playoff
Coaches All-@SEC Team
10 selected for @AlabamaFTBL #RollTide #OutworkYesterday pic.twitter.com/bAxBu2XgbP — Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 5, 2017
They Are Favored To Do So
Hey, who knows better than Mybookie.ag oddsmakers? Even though the Tide barely snuck into the playoff over Big Ten champion Ohio State, Alabama is a +180 favorite to win it all – and is a 2-point favorite over Clemson in the national semifinals and will be favored should it win against either Oklahoma or Georgia in the national title game.3 Reasons to Bet Against Alabama to Win College Football Playoff
The Tide are always favored! The last time they weren’t? An October 2015 game at Georgia, and Bama rolled to victory that day. That ended a 72-game run in which Alabama was favored by at least 2.5 points. The streak dated back to the day it beat Florida 32-12 in the 2009 SEC title game after being a 4.5-point underdog to Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer. Since its inception in 2014, Alabama is the only team to appear in all four College Football Playoffs and has appeared in the top five of every poll put out by the selection committee over the last four seasons.How Has the Team Done This Season?
Alabama’s offense scored 40+ points in eight games this season and prior to the Auburn loss had scored in every quarter this season. It ranks 11th in rushing offense nationally, rushing for over 265 yards per game. The Tide rank 12th in scoring offense at 39.1 points per game, up from 38 points per game from last year. Dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts has completed 135 of 223 passes for 1,940 yards and 15 touchdowns. The sophomore is also Alabama’s second-leading rusher, having gained 768 yards and eight touchdowns on 137 carries. In 644 snaps, Hurts has committed two turnovers. Alabama leads the nation in fourth down conversions on offense, going 12 for 12 on those opportunities this season. The Crimson Tide have scored two touchdowns on fourth down this year. Bo Scarbrough is the most often used on fourth down, converting eight times this year. Hurts also has a 13-yard scramble that setup a fourth quarter touchdown at Mississippi State.The Tide Know Clemson Well
The national semifinals will be the third straight year that Alabama and Clemson face off. Of course, they played in the past two national title games – both shootouts. Clemson won this past January and the Tide did the year before. Those Clemson teams had superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson. This one doesn’t. Plus, the Tigers lost at a bad Syracuse team in the regular season.
