For the first time in a long time, Alabama Crimson Tide fans are worried about the future of their program. There was concern when former head coach Nick Saban retired, but second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer's seat got much hotter following a 31-17 loss to unranked Florida State in Week 1.
The 2006 season was the last time Alabama's record dipped below .500. In 2006, SexyBack by Justin Timberlake was one of the most popular songs, and former Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow helped bring the BCS National Championship back to Gainesville.
Needless to say, it's been a while since the Crimson Tide has been in a position like this. Bettors are left wondering how they should bet Alabama's futures odds, and I'm highlighting a pair of long-term wagers to place on the Tide.
Best odds: -143 at Caesars Sportsbook
The SEC is the toughest conference in college football. It may not have a team that stands as the clear national championship odds favorite, but the competitive balance from top to bottom is unmatched.
The schedule doesn't get any easier for Alabama as the year goes on. There are three games that I feel comfortable marking as easy wins: UL Monroe, Wisconsin and Eastern Illinois.
Here's a look at the Crimson Tide's SEC schedule:
Opening SEC play on the road against Georgia will be a challenge. The lookahead lines at FanDuel Sportsbook list the Crimson Tide as 6.5-point underdogs.
Vanderbilt would normally fall under the "easy win" category. However, that flipped when the Commodores upset the Tide last year as 22.5-point underdogs.
The four-game stretch against Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU and Oklahoma is brutal. Three of the games are at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and there's a bye after the South Carolina game, but all four teams have SEC Championship potential.
Alabama faces Missouri before the four-game stretch, and the Tigers may be ranked by the time that game kicks off. This could be a long year for Alabama fans. I recommend betting under 8.5 wins.
Best odds: -190 at DraftKings Sportsbook
If you expect Alabama to fall short of 8.5 wins, it makes sense to pair the wager with the Crimson Tide missing the College Football Playoff.
Last season, Clemson (10-3) had the worst record of any team to make the CFP. However, the Tigers earned an auto-bid by winning the ACC Championship.
DraftKings Sportsbook offers the best odds for Alabama to watch the playoff from home. But at -190 odds, you'd have to wager $190 to win $100.
Luckily, FanDuel Sportsbook allows you to parlay Alabama under 8.5 wins with the Tide missing the playoff. The parlay odds come out to -148, which is a bit more palatable than -190.
Alabama's box score in the Florida State loss was concerning. The Seminoles ran for 230 yards and four rushing touchdowns, while the Tide only picked up 87 rushing yards. WR Ryan Williams had 31 receiving yards, marking his ninth-straight game with fewer than 80 yards.
I could go on, but the biggest red flag was the lack of effort shown by some Alabama players.
If the Crimson Tide players can't get motivated for a Week 1 game on the road against Florida State, it's a major issue. I predict Alabama to miss the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive season.