2008 Alabama Crimson Tide College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, An Expert College Football Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting college football this year, be sure to buy Alex’s college football predictions each week and guarantee a win!!

Alabama Crimson Tide (7-6, 4-4 in 2007, 5th place in SEC West)
The Nick Saban-era at Alabama looked as if it was going to push the Crimson Tide right back onto the national stage in a hurry. After pulling off a mild upset of #16 Arkansas with a late comeback in their third game of the season, the Tide were ranked #22 in the country, heading into their showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia won that tightly contested battled 26-23, but the Tide rebounded and found themselves 6-2 after beating Tennessee 41-17 in their best game of the 2007 season. A loss to LSU started a four-game losing skid, which included defeats to Mississippi State and most inexcusable, Louisiana-Monroe. Thirteen members of Tide return from their 7-6 team a year ago, and will hope to take the next step towards returning to SEC supremacy.

Offensive Outlook: It’s all about John Parker Wilson for the Alabama offense in ’08. The senior quarterback has had a career full of mixed results, and his inconsistency has made him a villain in Tuscaloosa at times. Incoming freshman Julio Jones could make a huge difference in the passing game, which should also open up more holes for the returning RB tandem of Terry Grant and Glen Coffee. Four of the five starters return on the offensive line, making Tide fans optimistic about their offense in 2008.

Defensive Outlook: Six starters return from last year’s stop unit, which could make for a year of learning for the Tide ‘D’. They’re not short on talent, but there are only two seniors projected as starters on the defense. Sophomore LB Rolando McClain will almost certainly be all All-SEC performer in ’08 as the catalyst in their 3-4 defense. Their secondary is thin, but does have an NFL prospect at safety in Rashad Johnson. Saban is high on sophomore cornerback Kareem Jackson.

2008 Preview: Alabama probably has the hardest schedule in the SEC West, and arguably has as difficult of a slate of games as Georgia does in the SEC East. There are cupcakes on the schedule, but games at Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU probably won’t make for a fun season away from Tuscaloosa. The Tide needs to take care of business at home this year, as they will be sizeable favorites in all six of their home games leading up to the “Iron Bowl” against rival, Auburn.

2008 will be a success if… Wilson makes himself a hero in Tuscaloosa as opposed to a goon. Football is a religion in Alabama, and having the fans behind you is of paramount importance. If Alabama is going to upset any of the big boys in the SEC this year, Wilson must play at peak level.

There’s plenty of talent on this Tide team, and it would be a shock to not see them in another bowl game this winter. McClain and Jackson will build that Tide defense up over time, but 2008 doesn’t look to be the National championship year for Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Prediction: 7-5, 4th place in SEC West