Alabama has worst national championship chances since 2008

Alabama’s preseason betting outlook isn’t as rosy in the post-Nick Saban era. 

The Crimson Tide are currently +1500 (BetMGM Sportsbook) to win the national championship in Year 1 under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Those are Alabama’s worst preseason title odds in 16 years, during Nick Saban’s second season at the helm in Tuscaloosa in 2008, when the Tide was a +6000 long shot, according to Sports Odds History.

Since 2008, Alabama has been worse than 7/1 to win the national title just one time and hasn’t been worse than 12/1.

While expectations are a tad lower at Alabama, oddsmakers are still expecting a strong season for the Tide. 

Their national championship odds are tied for the fifth-best chances in college football with Ole Miss. 

Alabama’s win total over/under is sitting at 9.5 wins, and if they hit the over, the Tide would be all but certain to make the college football playoff, which they are +105 to crash.

They’ve won at least 10 games every season since 2008. 

DeBoer will have Heisman trophy contender Jalen Milroe, who is +1000 to win the award, running the offense in his second season at Alabama. 

The new Crimson Tide coach is coming off an excellent season at Washington that saw him lead the Huskies to a national championship game appearance before falling to Michigan. 

Betting on College Football?

Alabama will play tough road games against Wisconsin, Tennessee and LSU and also host Georgia at home, which could ultimately determine their fate next season. 

With Saban out of college football coaching, Georgia (+300) and Ohio State (+325) are the clear top-two favorites with Texas (+775) and Oregon (+800) trailing. 

Michigan, the reigning national champion that also had its legendary coach, Jim Harbaugh, depart for the Chargers, is +2500.