Alabama Football: 3 reasons Tide are College Football Playoff lock

No. 1: Alabama’s defense is just too good

Another thing the Crimson Tide has going for them is an incredible defense. Whether or not you like Alabama, you can’t dispute that simple fact. Let’s break it down with some statistics.

Alabama gives up an average of only 282.8 yards per game, ranking them the No. 8 total defense in the country. They’ve only allowed more than 14 points three times all season (Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee). And they’re hitting their stride at the perfect time, having gone nine straight quarters and counting without allowing a single point – dating back to the fourth quarter against Tennessee.

The Crimson Tide, much like nearly every SEC school, will play a tune-up game against The Citadel Saturday, giving them a chance to get healthy or mix in some defenders who need reps. This opportunity could also be used to work out any kinks in the system, although it seems to be running like a fine-tuned machine.

With all of this information, do you actually see Alabama not making the College Football Playoff? Even a slip-up against Georgia in the SEC Championship would land the Crimson Tide in the CFP, likely bouncing the winner of the Big Ten or Big 12. Every Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Washington State, and West Virginia fan better be rooting for the Crimson Tide to win out, or else their chances at a College Football Playoff bid are doomed.