Perceptions of Alabama

The general consensus among college football analysts and fans seems to be that Alabama is one of the top teams in the country--at least top 6, if not top 4 (or even the best team in the country, as Lou Holtz said this morning). I even tend to believe this myself. What, though, is the objective case for this being true? It can't be based on the actual outcomes of games this year. They have one win against a top-25 opponent (#25 West Virginia in the opener), and their loss was to a team now out of the top 10 (#13 Ole Miss). They have covered the spread in exactly two of their eight games this season (Florida and Texas A&M). There are definitely lower-ranked teams with more impressive resumes (TCU, to name one). They can't, like Florida State, be getting the benefit of the doubt because of last year, since they lost their last two games (including getting blown out by Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl).

So why are we all convinced that Bama is so good? In my own case, I guess it comes down to a combination of recruiting rankings and respect for Nick Saban's coaching prowess. You just figure that a team with great talent and a great coach is likely could put it together and be truly elite at some point. Is that enough for everybody to be giving them the benefit of the doubt despite a slim resume? Should it be?

And to be clear, I'm not trying to rip Alabama. If I had to bet my house on the game in Tiger Stadium this weekend, I'd probably take the Tide and give the points. It won't surprise me at all if they win the national title. I'm just not sure how much of that is based on cold, hard, factual analysis and how much is based on the Bama "aura."