Alabama football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2023

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Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Kobe Prentice (80) runs the ball against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back De’Shawn Rucker (28) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders will be back this season and that’s bad news for the rest of the SEC. Those two make up one of the best quarterback-running back duos in the country. But that shouldn’t faze Alabama much at home.

The Razorbacks are going to be an improved team next year much like Ole Miss and Texas A&M, but I just don’t think they’re going into Tuscaloosa and stealing a win.

By this point in the season, we’ll be talking about Jalen Milroe as a legitimate Heisman threat.

Prediction: Win (7-0, 4-0)

I’m not nearly as high on Tennessee as some others are because the loss of Hendon Hooker is going to hurt, especially with Joe Milton replacing him. The quarterback position is going to see a downgrade this season and it’ll likely spell a step back, record-wise.

Tennessee will have talent everywhere else on the depth chart, but until Milton proves that he has more than just a cannon for an arm, I’m not buying stock in the 2023 Volunteers.

Alabama wins this one.

Prediction: Win (8-0, 5-0)

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