Before the season started, I posted a list of stats making predictions on how Alabama’s season would go. And because around here we aren’t scared to bring back our old (generally bad) takes, we’ve got to go address them. Without further ado, let’s see how I did:
Team Rushing yards
My prediction: 2170
Actual results: 1562
Ouch. I expected a subpar year rushing the ball. Ryan Grubb was allergic to it the year before in Seattle. But I didn’t think it would be this bad.
Team Passing Yards
My prediction: 4400
Actual results: 3953
Not as bad, but still a ways off. Alabama’s offense just wasn’t as good as I thought they would be – which is crazy considering I wasn’t particularly high on them going into the season.
Points per game
My prediction: 36.5
Actual results: 29.5
Again… Ouch. Of course, I wasn’t really expecting the Tide to end with playing UGA/Oklahoma/Indiana (three of the best defenses in the country) in the SEC Championship and playoffs at the end of things. Take out the postseason, and the Tide scored 33.5 points per game in the schedule I knew about. Still, I way overestimated the offense.
Rushing Leader
My prediction: Daniel Hill with 810 yards
Actual results: Jam Miller with 504 yards.
Another big swing and miss.
Receiving Leader
My prediction: Germie Bernard with 1100 yards
Actual results: Germie Bernard, with 862
I got the player right! A couple hundred yards off, but hey, this is my closest prediction to being right yet.
Defensive points per game
My prediction: 16.3
Actual results: 19.2
Again, the postseason was the problem here. Alabama allowed 16.5 ppg in the regular season, but the gauntlet of post season play swung things north. Next year I need to specify.
Team Sacks
My prediction: 32
Actual results: 33
Hey, I finally got something almost right! And Alabama actually outperformed one thing I predicted!
Interceptions
My prediction: 15
Actual results: 11
Again, I expected a little better.
Leading Tackler
My prediction: Deontae Lawson with 103 tackles
Actual results: Deontae Lawson with 89 tackles
Not bad! Got the right player, and only about 10% off.
Sack Leader
My prediction: LT Overton with 8 sacks
Actual results: Yhonzae Pierre with 8 sacks
Well, I got the wrong guy… But I did at least get the right number. It counts for something, I guess?
Field Goals Made
My prediction: 11
Actual results: 16
The Tide definitely kicked more field goals than I expected based on how little DeBoer kicked in 2024.
Non-Offensive Touchdowns
My prediction: 3
Actual results: 3
Nailed it! Thanks, Zabien Brown!
Regular Season Wins
My prediction: 11
Actual results: 10
That FSU loss, man.
Final Win Total
My prediction: 13
Actual results: 11
I really was more optimistic than I should have been.
All-Americans
My prediction: 6 (Bray Hubbard, Daniel Hill, Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, Ty Simpson, Zabien Brown)
Actual results: 2 (Kadyn Proctor, Bray Hubbard)
I do disagree with all of the A.A. teams in that I think Zabien Brown should have still been an All-American player. He was excellent.
SEC Champion
My prediction: Texas
Actual result: Georgia
Well, the Longhorns were only a game out of making the SEC championship, so I guess it wasn’t too far off.
Heisman Winner
My prediction: Drew Allar
Actual Result: Fernando Mendoza
Hahahahahahahaha
National Champion
My prediction: Penn State
Actual results: Indiana
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
NEVER, EVER bet on James Franklin. Lesson learned.
And there you have it. I pretty much massively overrated Alabama across the board, and for some reason I thought Penn State would be good. In other words, don’t ever listen to anything I say.
