Joel Klatt predicts Alabama to land as the No. 10 seed in the first 12-team playoff

The college football season is here as Florida State and Georgia Tech will open things up in Dublin on Saturday while the rest of the sport begins next week.

It's time to wrap up the preseason grind and finalize those preseason predictions as kickoff is right around the corner.

Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt put pen to paper on his podcast when he declared his predictions for the first edition of the 12-team playoff field.

Sitting at No. 10 in his bracket is the Alabama Crimson Tide .

"I believe in Kalen DeBoer, I think Alabama is going to be the 10 seed. He is a great coach," Klatt said. "It's a roster that is loaded with elite talent... I know that Kalen Deboer will get the best out of his quarterback."

Klatt had legitimate reasons to slide the Tide down to No. 10 and was emphatic on why he doesn't have them in the SEC championship game.

"I am nervous a bit about their defense. You can't lose the godfather Nick Saban, you can't lose a safety like Caleb Downs and just replace him," Klatt said. "So that's why I don't have them in the SEC championship game. And that's why I have them as the 10 seed."

If the season goes as Klatt predicts then the Crimson Tide will cross the country to face Dan Lanning and the No. 7 seeded Ducks.

"In the seven (versus) 10 game, guys, who doesn't want to see this? Dan Lanning having to face Kalen DeBoer, "We got it (this coaching matchup) twice last year. I mean, this is an epic matchup right here."

Klatt didn't just predict who will place at each seed but also who will win each game.

"Oregon is ridiculously talented. I know Alabama is as well, but at home, I think, that that environment quite honestly surprises Alabama," Klatt said. "I think Eugene will surprise them. Autzen Stadium is phenomenal. I think Oregon wins that game and they go on to the quarterfinal."

So, according to Klatt the Crimson Tide make the playoff but bow out early and if that happens one question will emerge: was that a successful season for DeBoer in year one?

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