Can Alabama football contend for the SEC and the Playoff?

How many games will Alabama football win this fall?

Sept 2 Middle Tennessee W: The Crimson Tide will use this game like a preseason game. They’ll play two quarterbacks as they sort out who’s playing QB1.

Sept 9 Texas W: The Longhorns are looking at this game as the catalyst for a CFP run. The Crimson Tide know how close they came to losing last year. Trust Saban to get a close win against Texas in this one.

Sept 16 at USF W: Easy tune-up win before the conference schedule begins.

Sept 23 Ole Miss W: The Rebels have Quinshon Judkins, but the defense is why Alabama wins. Expect Alabama to run the football better this year against the Mississippi defense.

Sept 30 at Mississippi State W: Starkville is always a tough place to play, but no one knows what the Bulldogs’ offense will look like this fall.

Oct 7 at Texas A&M W: Speaking of challenging places to play, Kyle Field is among the best home-field advantages in college football. Trust Saban to outcoach Jimbo in this 50-50 game.

Oct 14 Arkansas W: The Razorbacks have KJ Jefferson, Rocket Sanders, and little else offensively. The portal hurt them, and that will show against Alabama.

Oct 21 Tennessee W: If you don’t think coach Saban has this game circled, you don’t know Saban. The Tide win at home by more than you think.

Nov 4 LSU W: The Crimson Tide get back to revenge games. This one could be the game of the year. Alabama has the advantage here because it’s a home game.

Nov 11 at Kentucky W: The Wildcats are the final game in a tough stretch for the Crimson Tide. This game will be challenging, but Alabama wins because of the talent advantage.

Nov 18 Chattanooga W: The Crimson Tide win their annual pre-rivalry FCS game.

Nov 25 at Auburn L: Auburn upsets the Tide for the most straightforward reason: this could be their bowl game. The Tide had better be careful if the Tigers have nothing else to play for but the Iron Bowl.

Prediction: 11-1, 7-1 SEC:

Alabama’s advantage is that most of its most challenging games are at Bryant-Denny. LSU, Texas, and Tennessee are at home. They do travel to Kyle Field to play the Aggies, and playing Kentucky at Kroger Field is a sneaky, challenging game. This all comes down to what the offense will look like and who’s playing quarterback.

Expect Milroe and Simpson to get time against Middle Tennessee as the offensive staff sorts out who starts for the rest of the season.