Alabama football game-by-game picks, postseason prediction for 2026 season

Alabama football theoretically took a step forward in the Kalen DeBoer era. Making a College Football Playoff appearance in season two together. But Crimson Tide fans feel underwhelmed compared to the Nick Saban days.

The days of the Saban-led Tide teams dominating the national rankings and claiming six national titles together are becoming a distant memory. DeBoer owns eight losses in two seasons already in Tuscaloosa. Plus fans will remind him of Alabama’s last game: Indiana’s 38-3 shellacking of the Tide at the Rose Bowl.

All the more reason season three of DeBoer comes with a make-or-break feel. Alabama taking a step backward will increase the heat on DeBoer’s job security in front of a growingly impatient fanbase.

The Tide’s week-by-week predictions paints the picture on if ‘Bama indeed progresses forward, or if the school will post its head coaching position opening on the Alabama website by December.

Week 1 Versus East Carolina

So this opener won’t be easy for the Tide. ECU arrives 9-4 from a year ago and as a closet American Athletic Conference contender. But the result won’t mimic last season’s debacle in Tallahassee for Alabama, as this will be the reverse of that.

Pick: Alabama 41, East Carolina 20 

Week 2 at Kentucky

Now comes the SEC opener, let alone Alabama’s first true trap game. Kentucky ignited new energy with former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein taking the head coaching reins. Lexington will be rocking but DeBoer leans into a more experienced defense here.

Pick: Alabama 27, Kentucky 20

Week 3 Versus Florida State

Here’s the zany part: Alabama could very well see last year’s thorn Tommy Castellanos, thanks to the NCAA injunction ruling impacting 2022 grads and undrafted NFL players. But Alabama also faces a quarterback they know well in Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels, who they beat. Between DeBoer and FSU head coach Mike Norvell, it’s the latter facing the most heat here.

Pick: Alabama 31, Florida State 17

Week 4 Versus South Carolina

Alabama barely escaped the Palmetto State with a 29-22 victory. Returning Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers handed ‘Bama fits last season with 289 total yards. But Alabama carries lessons learned from facing Sellers into this game here.

Pick: Alabama 30, South Carolina 17 

Week 5 at Mississippi State

The Bulldogs showed new strides under head coach Jeff Lebby. But it feels like Mississippi State is one more year away from becoming a bowl team. Alabama escapes here in Starksville.

Pick: Alabama 35, Mississippi State 19

Week 6 Versus Georgia

Alabama versus Georgia still hasn’t lost much luster post Saban. The winner here becomes SEC champion or goes on a national title run. But best believe this is the game DeBoer and ‘Bama will be thinking about following its disastrous SEC title game showing of a season ago. Unfortunately the Bulldogs are too deep in the trenches for Alabama.

Pick: Georgia 27, Alabama 17 

Week 7 at Tennessee

For all the scrutiny involving DeBoer, Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel took a step back from its 2024 CFP run. And this Volunteers team must figure out their own quarterback situation. Meanwhile, either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell will have a deeper wide receiver room to work with in Knoxville and not limited to Ryan Coleman-Williams.

Pick: Alabama 34, Tennessee 28 

Week 8 Versus Texas A&M

This late October showdown will clear up who the SEC contenders are. The Aggies have turned to recruiting classes and putting together strong transfer portal wins to overtake the conference one day. Having Marcel Reed and Mario Craver back at quarterback and wide receiver, respectively, puts TAMU at an edge. But same with safety tandem Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks who’ll keep Alabama’s wideouts in front of them and not blowing the top off their coverages.

Pick: Texas A&M 27, Alabama 23 

Week 9 at LSU

These battles were entertaining in the era of Saban and Les Miles, then briefly Ed Orgeron. Now Lane Kiffin entering the picture for LSU adds new pizzazz for the Alabama-LSU rivalry. Yet DeBoer features more familiarity with his roster compared to Kiffin. This game can shine a light on if DeBoer becomes more strategic compared to Kiffin.

Pick: Alabama 32, LSU 28 

Week 10 at Vanderbilt

Vandy fans will envision a repeat of the stunning 2024 upset with Alabama back in Nashville. But there’s no Diego Pavia to save the Commodores here and instead must likely trust true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis here.

Pick: Alabama 35, Vanderbilt 27 

Week 11 Versus Chattanooga

So this is a tune up game before Alabama faces a certain rival. Which means playing some more prized freshmen here to get an early glimpse at the future.

Pick: Alabama 55, Chattanooga 10 

Week 12 Versus Auburn

Now Alex Golesh can taste the famed Iron Bowl for the first time in his transition to Tigers head coach. He’ll also see and hear how loud Tuscaloosa gets for this contest, which will humble the newest Auburn leader.

Pick: Alabama 45, Auburn 24 

Final Alabama Prediction Including Playoff Possibility

Alabama takes advantage of having limited away games and goes 4-0 there. Losses to Georgia and Texas A&M doesn’t deter the Tide with a 10-2 mark. That record may not be good enough to get Alabama back into the SEC title game, but should be convincing for the College Football Playoff committee to add the Tide in for the first round slate. This likely means an SEC foe in round one once again for Alabama. Only this time with the Tide hosting against the fourth-best SEC team between either Texas or Texas A&M.

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