With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 29.
Alabama Crimson Tide
National title odds: 5-2 (opened 3-1)
Season win total: 11
FPI win total projection: 10.8
Phil Steele
Strengths: Alabama has my No. 2-rated secondary with 10 of the top 12 defensive backs returning, including Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison. The front seven is loaded with talent and includes my No. 1-rated linebacker corps. I rate Alabama's offensive line No. 2 in the country, and the line will block for the best set of running backs, a unit that boasts Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris and Najee Harris -- all of whom are capable of starting for any team in the country. Calvin Ridley and Robert Foster lead my No. 5 set of receivers, and Jalen Hurts is the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the first returning starter at quarterback for the Tide since 2013.