Predicting every game on the 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football schedule
After taking a minor step back a year ago, Alabama returns in 2023 with designs on returning to the top of college football, the sport it has dominated in this century, after missing out on the playoff for just the second time in the postseason's existence. But not without making some big changes on the roster, especially at quarterback, where head coach Nick Saban faces a mandate to find a successor to Bryce Young, while installing two new coordinators and patching up a team that struggled at times last season.
Related: A closer look at the 2023 Alabama football schedule
With kickoff fast approaching, where does the Crimson Tide stand against its opponents? Let's take a stab at predicting every game on the Alabama schedule in one sentence.
vs. MTSU: A tune-up for the Tide in the opener and our first glimpse at who Saban handpicks for the quarterback position and how he'll perform. Win (1-0)
vs. Texas: A year ago, Quinn Ewers looked impressive against Bama's secondary before exiting with an injury in an eventual 1-point loss for Texas, and a lot of that team comes back for this rematch, but it's hard to win at Bryant-Denny. Win (2-0)
at USF: This Bulls program hasn't won double-digit games since 2017 and is coming off a 1-11 season, an easy W for the Tide before going into the SEC slate. Win (3-0)
vs. Ole Miss: A reunion with former DC Pete Golding, who moved on to Ole Miss this offseason, combined with a Rebels attack that will run the ball well behind Quinshon Judkins and another aggressive passing game. Win (4-0)
at Mississippi State: A new-look Bulldogs team in the post-Mike Leach era, one focused more on playing sound defense and a more balanced offense, although Will Rogers is back under center to test the Tide's defenses. Win (5-0)
at Texas A&M: This has the makings for a trap game for Alabama, which lost at Kyle two years ago and played very close at home in '22, especially with a Bobby Petrino-led offense expected to be better, but the Tide should run the ball well against a front seven that allowed almost 209 yards per game a year ago. Win (6-0)
vs. Arkansas: KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders are a physical combo who will test Alabama's scrimmage defense on the ground, but the Hogs lack a difference-maker at receiver to balance things out and still have to sort out their 101st ranked defense. Win (7-0)
vs. Tennessee: Getting the Vols at home helps Alabama, as does UT losing the most important playmakers on its formerly top-ranked offense that tormented the Tide's tacklers in last season's game, and bringing in a pass defense that was 124th nationally a year ago. Win (8-0)
vs. LSU: It's been almost a decade since the Crimson Tide has lost to the same team in consecutive years, but LSU presents a malevolent front seven combo that could unsettle things early and has the power to strike deep and run the ball with authority. Loss (8-1)
at Kentucky: Transfer quarterback Devin Leary is in and working with some young, gifted receiving targets, but the Tide's secondary should win the day, even if the result is a little closer than expected. Win (9-1)
vs. Chattanooga: Cupcake Week should play out as expected as Saban trots out the backups to give them some needed reps, and his starters some rest. Win (10-1)
at Auburn: Alabama has lost three of the last five on The Plains and in each of its last three trips was trailing in the final minute of regulation, this time going against 1st year coach Hugh Freeze, who has 2 wins against Saban when at Ole Miss, but Bama should have the decided edge against an Auburn D-line low on depth and physicality. Win (11-1)
College Football HQ prediction for Alabama: 11-1 overall, 7-1 in the SEC, 2nd in West
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