How Many Games Will Alabama Win Next Year Without Nick Saban?

The Nick Saban era is coming to a sudden conclusion for the Alabama Crimson Tide as the legendary coach is retiring after spending 17 years with the program. Winning was a common theme for Alabama throughout his tenure, and the six National Championships serve as an example of the success he experienced.

With Saban no longer coaching Alabama, FanDuel Sportsbook has posted a market for the Crimson Tide's 2024 win total. With the uncertainty that is now surrounding the program, let's look at reasons why the Crimson Tide could surpass -- or fall short of -- their win total next season.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

Alabama Football Win Total Odds

Alabama Football Over/Under 9.5 Wins

• Over: -106
• Under: -122

Alabama 2024 Football Schedule

Why Alabama Could Win Over 9.5 Games

Following the departure of Saban, Alabama will undoubtedly look to replace the sixth-winningest college football coach of all time with another prominent name. While some coaches could be wary of being the one who replaces Saban, others would surely love to take over the Crimson Tide.

There are certainly going to be recruits who elect to leave Alabama upon Saban's exit. At the same time, there are going to be players who wish to stay in hopes of helping the Crimson Tide remain a premier program in college football.

Some notable names who have been mentioned as potential replacements for Saban are Dan Lanning, Steve Sarkisian, Kalen Deboer, and Lane Kiffin. Landing a coach from a program that has had recent success could help the transition from Saban to his predecessor go smoother than expected.

Even with Saban making a sudden exit, Alabama has a strong foundation to build from moving forward. Whoever is hired next could also bring over their own notable recruits to ensure the Crimson Tide are still fielding an elite roster that can compete in the SEC.

Alabama has the fourth-best odds to win it all next year (+1000), per FanDuel Sportsbook's college football national title odds, so they are expected to remain one of the elites. With Jalen Milroe at quarterback and a roster full of talent, the post-Saban era could look a lot like most of the Saban era did -- read: a lot of Alabama wins.

Why Alabama Could Win Under 9.5 Games

Replacing Saban is much easier said than done. When Saban arrived at Alabama in 2007, he was inheriting a team that had just gone 6-7 in 2006.

In his first year coaching the Crimson Tide, Saban tallied a 7-6 record. Saban then proceeded to win 10 or more games in each of his next 16 seasons at Alabama.

The Crimson Tide achieved 10-plus wins in only three of their previous 10 campaigns before Saban took over in 2007. There's a chance that there is a major adjustment period with Saban leaving the program. It's never easy to fill the shoes of a legend, so while 'Bama will likely bring in a top-tier coach, said new Alabama coach will have a tall task in front of him.

On top of that, the SEC is littered with other talented programs, and there are more elite programs set to join the conference in 2024, with Texas and Oklahoma coming over. The result is a stiff 2024 schedule for the Tide. Alabama's 2024 schedule features five teams ranked in the top 17 of the final AP Poll (Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma) -- with three of those being away from home -- in addition to a road game at Wisconsin.

Saban made winning look easy, but there's no guarantee his replacement will have immediate success, particularly in an SEC that will be as stout as ever in 2024.

Interested in other college football win totals or looking for the latest college football odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the college football betting options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.