College Football Playoff 2023 prediction: Why the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide will make another title run

Debate rages over whether No. 4 Alabama (12-1) deserved to be included in the College Football Playoff over unbeaten Florida State. But, one way or another, the Crimson Tide are in the field and have visions of winning their fourth national title of the CFP’s four-team era. After beating two-time reigning national champion Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide won’t be daunted by facing No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl as they look to prove definitively that they still belong at the top of the sport.

This year’s Crimson Tide aren’t a historically dominant team like some of their predecessors under legendary coach Nick Saban, but they do boast three of the top 12 players in the 2024 CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings. They also have a quarterback in Jalen Milroe whose confidence is surging after he developed from a struggling starter into a reliable star during the 2023 season.

Saban is considered the greatest college football coach of all time for a reason, and with weeks to prepare and motivate his squad, the Crimson Tide should be in peak form against the Wolverines on New Year’s Day. Alabama is the most heavily tested team in the field and fully capable of being the last team standing when a champion is crowned in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 8. Here’s why the Crimson Tide are poised to win it all.

1. Saban has the motivational edge

There is only one coach in this year’s CFP field with a national title, and it’s Saban, who is the sport’s all-time leader in national titles with seven. Three of those national championships have come during the four-team CFP era, giving Saban a massive leg up with experience and comfort in these high-leverage situations. No other coach in this year’s field has even won a playoff game before, let…


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Author : David Cobb

Publish date : 2023-12-28 18:29:03

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