Alabama is looking to win its third title in the past four years and sixth overall under Nick Saban, and this year’s Crimson Tide team could very well be one of the best ever. How good are we talking? Just ask a Las Vegas oddsmaker.
Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports spoke with the MGM Resorts Sportsbook in Las Vegas, and an oddsmaker told him Alabama would currently be a double-digit favorite over every single team in the country. The oddsmaker says the closest team to Bama is No. 4 Ohio State, and the Buckeyes would be a 10-point underdog against the Tide. Three current top-10 teams — No. 5 LSU, No. 7 Stanford and No. 8 Notre Dame — would be underdogs of 20 or more points.
While Vegas odds obviously don’t tell the entire story, that is remarkable. Alabama has destroyed its four opponents this season with an average margin of victory of 41 points, including a 62-7 win over Ole Miss and a 45-23 win over No. 23 Texas A&M. The Tide are making SEC programs look like FCS schools.
Of course, Saban doesn’t want to hear any of this. He recently reminded us how difficult it has been for him to manage expectations in Tuscaloosa, but it looks like that is the way it’s going to be all season. When Vegas says your team would demolish any opponent in its path, it’s hard to be modest.
