Alabama favored to beat Texas and Washington in hypothetical National Championship odds markets

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If Alabama can get through Michigan on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl, the Crimson Tide will be favored to win it all, according to sportsbooks’ hypothetical National Championship odds markets.

It would be a poetic end to the college football season if Alabama and Texas met in the National Championship. The Longhorns earned arguably the most impressive victory of the year when it took down the Crimson Tide 34-24 in a Week 2 night game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

However, Alabama has improved tremendously on both sides of the ball since the defeat.

Early in the season, Jalen Milroe and the offense were overly reliant on deep passes, resulting in Milroe tossing four interceptions in his opening five games.

But recently, the Tide’s offensive line has been performing head and shoulders above what we saw in September and October, and Milroe has only two picks in his last seven games. Alabama was the clear winner in the trenches against Georgia’s defensive line, getting plenty of push that led to 114 rushing yards.

If the Crimson Tide defeats Michigan, it’ll likely be thanks to another outstanding performance from the offensive line. If they can do it against the Bulldogs and Wolverines in back-to-back games, Nick Saban should feel extremely confident about Alabama winning the line of scrimmage in a Texas rematch.

Regardless of which team Alabama could meet in the National Championship, defending the pass will be of utmost importance. Quinn Ewers torched the Tide for 349 yards and three touchdowns in Texas’ Week 2 triumph, and Washington boasts the top passing offense in college football, averaging 343 yards per game.

Alabama should fare well against either team, considering its ability to create QB pressure with only four rushers puts less strain on the defensive backs. SEC Defensive Player of the Year Dallas Turner is a game-wrecker, tallying nine sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 50 total tackles.

The Tide recorded 38 sacks, the 10th-most in FBS. Alabama also has one of the top defensive back groups in the nation, led by stars like Malachi Moore, Caleb Downs, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Terrion Arnold.

When McKinstry left the SEC Championship with a concussion, Bama’s DB depth shone thanks to transfers Trey Amos and Jaylen Key stepping up. Carson Beck immediately targeted Amos when McKinstry left the game, and the former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun filled in seamlessly.

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