The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off back-to-back ranked wins, having beat No. 10 Georgia and No. 20 Vanderbilt in their last two games. The two wins have seemingly erased discussions about the program’s demise which were brought on by the Crimson Tide’s opening week defeat at the hands of the Florida State Seminoles.
Since starting 0-1, Alabama has won four consecutive games. In the process, Kalen DeBoer and company have managed to end Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak that lasted for six years. They also avenged last season’s shocking loss to Vanderbilt in their most recent outing.
Alabama’s winning streak has been propelled by the exceptional play of their quarterback, Ty Simpson. Simpson has thrown for 1,478 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just a single interception through the first five games of the season. He has firmly played himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation, while also catapulting the Crimson Tide into being a legitimate championship contender if he can keep it up.
Alabama Faces A Tough Schedule Ahead
Alabama’s tough schedule will not let up anytime soon. The Crimson Tide’s next two games are both against ranked teams. First up is a challenging road test against the undefeated Missouri Tigers—an opponent that Alabama has dominated in recent years. Since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012, they have an 0-5 record against the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s average margin of victory in those games is a staggering 28.6 points.
After the Missouri game, Alabama will face off against one of their most bitter rivals, the Tennessee Volunteers. Alabama has lost two of their past three meetings against Tennessee, including a 24-17 defeat in Knoxville last season. With that being said, Tennessee has not beaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 2003.
On top of the current difficult stretch, Alabama’s November schedule is arguably even harder. After having their second bye week after their game against South Carolina, the Crimson Tide will face No. 11 LSU and No. 6 Oklahoma in consecutive weeks. Both LSU and Oklahoma, like Alabama, are serious playoff contenders. It is certainly anticipated that both matchups will have major implications on which teams end up making the SEC Championship Game, and perhaps the 12-team playoff field as well.
The Tide Are In A Good Position To Win The SEC
Assuming Alabama doesn’t slip up in the coming weeks (which is certainly no guarantee), they will have the most impressive resume of any team in the conference. The Crimson Tide have the potential to finish the regular season with six ranked wins, a distinction that would make them a sure-fire lock to make the College Football Playoff whether or not they win the SEC Championship Game.
According to FanDuel’s latest odds, Alabama is the favorite to win the SEC at +210, placing them considerably ahead of the next closest teams. Mississippi currently has the second-best odds at +600, followed by a three-way tie between Texas A&M, Georgia, and Oklahoma at +650. These numbers make it clear as to which team the oddsmakers view as the best in the conference.
