Alabama Will Lose Two Football Games in 2022
Which two games will trip them up?
Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach of all time.
He’s one of the greatest coaches of all time in any sport. Alabama has undoubtedly benefited from hiring Nick Saban. But with the ever-increasing competition in the SEC, can Alabama win the SEC West again in 2022?
Here’s my way too early prediction for the Alabama Crimson Tide for the 2022 college football season.
Game #1 — September 3: Utah State
Utah State went 11–3 in 2021. Their three losses came against Boise State (27–3), BYU (34–20), and Wyoming (44–17). Utah State had a high-powered offense in 2021, averaging 32.6 points and 446.6 yards per game. Their quarterback, Logan Bonner, returns for his senior season after throwing 36 touchdown passes in 2021.
Utah State is a talented football team that will likely have another good season in 2022. But let’s not get too crazy here. Alabama convincingly wins their season opener with superior talent.
Alabama wins 56–14.
Game #2 — September 10: at Texas
Texas is a talented football team that was a few plays away from winning seven or eight games in 2021. However, the Longhorns ended up 5–7 at the close of the 2021 football season. Highly recruited redshirt-freshman transfer Quinn Ewers will likely be the Longhorn's starting quarterback in 2022.
I don’t think “Texas is back,” but I do think they will be much improved in 2022. Even though Texas gets Alabama at home, it won’t be enough.
Alabama wins 42–20.
Game #3 — September 17: UL Monroe
Louisiana Monroe has a tough opening schedule — their first game is at Texas, and they play at Alabama two weeks later. The Warhawks were not a good football team in 2021. Their record was 4–8, including two losses to SEC teams — Kentucky (45–10) and LSU (27–14).
Alabama will have no trouble with the Warhawks.
Alabama wins 52–0.
Game #4 — September 24: Vanderbilt
As terrible as Vanderbilt was in 2021, their head coach Clark Lea and his staff managed to sign one of Vanderbilt’s best recruiting classes in program history. Most everyone ranked them in the Top 30 nationally.
I think Vanderbilt will improve from their 2–10 record in 2021 — but they still won’t have anywhere near enough firepower to hang with the Tide.
Alabama wins 48–7 (1–0 in SEC games).
Game #5 — October 1: at Arkansas
Alabam had better not be sleeping on the Razorbacks. In 2021, Arkansas went to Alabama’s home stadium and lost a close matchup — 42–35. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson is back for the Hogs after a highly efficient 2021 where he threw twenty-one touchdowns and only four interceptions. He had three touchdowns and 350 yards against Alabama last year.
I think this game will be an absolute brawl between two physical teams. I predict Alabama will win this game, partly because Arkansas travels to Texas A&M the week before this game. But if Alabama loses to Arkansas, Alabama will not win the SEC West in 2022.
Alabama wins 34–31 (2–0 in SEC games).
Game #6 — October 8: Texas A&M
This is the game Alabama has circled on their calendar. Alabama has been listening all offseason to the number one recruiting class news that Jimbo Fisher put together. They also remember losing to the Aggies by a field goal last year. This is a revenge game for Alabama — and they get it at home.
Texas A&M will be excellent if they can remain healthy — which was a big part of their problem last year. It’s nearly impossible to beat Nick Saban’s Tide twice in a row — only Les Miles and High Freeze have done it.
Alabama wins 35–24 (3–0 in SEC games).
Game #7 — October 15: at Tennessee
Tennessee should be rolling entering the Alabama game. They will have played a rebuilding Florida and LSU the previous two weeks. They should be either 4–1 or 5–0 when Alabama comes to town. Rocky Top is going to be rocking for this game.
Tennessee has a favorable schedule leading into this game — Alabama does not. The Vols' losing streak against Alabama will end on this day.
Alabama loses 31–28 (3–1 in SEC games).
Game #8 — October 22: Mississippi State
Mississippi State got to play Alabama after they lost to Texas A&M in 2021. They are unfortunate enough to play the Tide again after a loss in 2022. Mike Leach’s Bulldogs are winless against Alabama. In 2020, they lost 41–0. In 2021, they lost 49–9.
The result should be similar for the refocused Tide.
Alabama wins 45–6 (4–1 in SEC games).
Bye Week — October 29
After five conference games in a row, this bye week comes at a critical moment for the Tide. Likely they will have some injuries by this point, and this bye week will help get players back healthy.
Game #9 — November 5: at LSU
Both Alabama and LSU have an open week before this game. The Brian Kelly-led LSU Tigers will be improved from 2021. Despite Kelly’s southern accent, he is a fantastic football coach. This game might also be a night game, which will only intensify the emotions and physicality of the game.
LSU will be improved — but not enough to hang with Alabama for a full four quarters of football. Nick Saban’s Tide win with superior depth across the board.
Alabama wins 35–17 (5–1 in SEC games).
Game #10 — November 12: at Ole Miss
Full disclosure — I am an Ole Miss fan. The Rebels are replacing a tremendous amount of production on the offensive and defensive side of the ball in 2022. If this game were early in the season (like usual), I would say Alabama would win by at least two touchdowns. But late in the season, Ole Miss should have their identity — they will have figured out where everyone fits.
I’m going to make the homer pick here — but it’s also rooted in how the LSU game could wear down Alabama. Also, Ole Miss gets a bye week before this game against Alabama.
Alabama loses 42–38 (5–2 in SEC games).
Game #11 — November 19: Austin Peay
The Austin Peay Governors went 6–5 in 2021. Two of their five losses were by a combined three points — so this easily could have been an eight-win team if a couple of breaks had gone their way. However, Ole Miss did beat them 54–17 last season.
Austin Peay just doesn’t have enough talent to hang with Alabama for very long at all. This game won’t be close.
Alabama wins 60–10.
Game #12 — November 26: Auburn
The Iron Bowl will be played on Alabama’s home turf this year. Auburn somehow managed to nearly beat Alabama in 2021, eventually losing 24–22. Auburn football has had an eventful offseason — and not in a good way. I know this is a rivalry game, and you never know about rivalry games — but it shouldn’t be close.
Auburn doesn’t have the firepower to stay with the Crimson Tide in their home stadium.
Alabama wins 38–14 (6–2 in SEC games).
The SEC continues to improve around Alabama. It will be nearly impossible for any team to go undefeated in 2022.
Not even Alabama will escape 2022 without a loss — maybe even two. I think Alabama still probably wins the SEC West with two losses.
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