The 2026 college football season just dropped, and Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica is already calling out the SEC’s biggest blind spot: their denial. He’s got five futures bets ready, and the first bombshell is aimed squarely at Alabama, where folks seem to be in denial about a team that might not even hit the ‘Over’ on their win total. Seriously, everyone’s penciling in Bama for 8-4 or 9-3, but Fallica is waving a huge red flag on that!
Alabama’s Backfield Disappears
You heard it here first: Fallica is hitting the “Under” on Alabama’s win total, and he’s not messing around. Why? Because the Tide’s running game has been straight-up non-existent for the past two seasons! How can you be a dominant SEC team without a ground attack? He’s gotta see it to believe any improvement this year. They’ve got Keelon Russell at quarterback, who’s got potential but is inexperienced. Contrast that with last year’s QB, Ty Simpson, who had experience and went in the top 15 of the NFL Draft.
Remember last year? Bama survived four one-possession games, got absolutely blasted by a “terrible” Florida State team, and then got manhandled by Indiana in the Rose Bowl. That’s not exactly championship-level stuff. There are major questions hanging over this roster and staff. Sure, on paper, they look like they should start 5-0, but can anyone confidently say that? Outside of Chattanooga, every single one of their remaining seven games looks losable. Go find that Under and bet it with confidence!
FCS Jumps & Longhorn Headaches
It’s not just the SEC that’s got Fallica raising eyebrows. North Dakota State, everyone’s favorite FCS powerhouse, has jumped to FBS, and it’s a whole new ballgame for them. Playing a Power 4 team once a year as an underdog is way different than grinding through a full FBS slate. The new-look MWC isn’t exactly the toughest league, but the Bison are only bringing back nine starters, and guess what? Their quarterback isn’t one of them! They couldn’t do much in the portal either. NDSU is projected as solid underdogs against UNLV and New Mexico, and the games at Air Force and Hawaii are basically toss-ups. They could totally drop all four, and they’re not immune to getting picked off as a favorite either.
Then there’s Texas. Nine wins? That feels like their ceiling. Yeah, they’ve got one of the top rosters in the country, but Fallica sees at least five games where the spread is gonna be within a touchdown. This is exactly what Steve Sarkisian was talking about when he compared their schedule to Texas Tech’s. And how would the CFP even handle a 9-3 Texas? There’s even a chance they might face Ohio State without their star tackle, Trevor Goolsby. That’s a huge deal! John Mateer would’ve gone Over his total last year even with injury, but with Illinois State, Temple, and Kent State (which Mateer DNP) off the schedule and OU adding a ninth, things are shifting.
It’s clear that from the SEC titans to the FBS newcomers and the Big 12 contenders, this college football season is packed with question marks. Don’t just follow the hype. Keep an eye on those running games, those new QBs, and those tough schedules. This isn’t your grandma’s college football, folks, and the drama is already heating up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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