Alabama Football: Picking Every 2012 Game on the Board Against the Spread

The Golden Nugget has already laid odds on 111 college football games that will be played in 2012. Alabama has nine games that have been picked over already.

Vegas is in the business of making money, so most of their odds should be taken seriously. However, the Vegas gurus are only human. They can't get all of them right every time.

Let's take a look at the nine 'Bama games and see which ones they got right, shall we?

Michigan Wolverines

Showdown: Saturday, September 1 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX

Opening Line: Alabama (-12)

The Michigan-'Bama game is arguably the biggest opener of the 2012 season, and the game should live up to the hype.

If Nick Saban has more than 30 days to prep his team for a match, it will look a lot like the national championship game against LSU.

My Pick: Alabama wins and covers the spread. (Alabama -12)

Arkansas Razorbacks

Showdown: Saturday, September 15 at D.W.R. Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, AR

Opening Line: Alabama (-6.5)

Arkansas gets Alabama in Week 3. Alabama fields a relatively untested defense and starts SEC play a week earlier than usual.

Look for Alabama's youthful defense to learn some hard lessons against the Tyler Wilson-led Razorback squad.

Realistically, Alabama could pull this one out, but don't look for them to cover. This game will be decided by less than a touchdown.

My Pick: Alabama wins, but doesn't cover the 6.5-point spread. (Alabama -2)

Ole Miss Rebels

Showdown: Saturday, September 29 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL

Opening Line: Alabama (-31)

Last year, Ole Miss scored on the opening drive to put 'Bama down 7-0.

Alabama responded with 52 unanswered points to hand Ole Miss a disheartening loss.

Don't expect things to go much differently this year. Ole Miss can score two more TDs than they did last year, and 'Bama would still cover the spread.

My Pick: Alabama wins and covers the spread. (Alabama -31)

Missouri Tigers

Showdown: Saturday, October 13 at Faurot Field in Columbia, MO

Opening Line:  Alabama (-14)

Missouri will enter the SEC quite ready for the level of play from week-to-week. Since they are in the east division, these Tigers will only have to face Alabama from the powers of the west.

Missouri will be a contender for the eastern title from year one. Do not expect them to contend with the top three from the west for at least two years, though.

Alabama has a bye week before this game, and Missouri (led by quarterback James Franklin) plays an up-and-coming Vanderbilt squad (led by head coach James Franklin) during 'Bama's week of rest.

Saban will have his team prepared.

My Pick: Alabama wins and covers the spread. (Alabama -14)

Tennessee Volunteers

Showdown: Saturday, October 20 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN

Opening Line: Alabama (-17)

This will be Tennessee's last year in the bottom half of the SEC east. In 2013, the Vols will be contenders for the crown and an appearance in Atlanta.

That said, this is not 2013, this is 2012. After a slow (6-6 at halftime) start, Alabama went on to outscore Tennessee 31-0 in the second half last year.

The Vols will likely perform better than that this year, but would need to score more than two touchdowns more than they did in 2011 in order to stop 'Bama from covering.

That is seriously unlikely.

My Pick: Alabama wins and covers the spread. (Alabama -17)

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Showdown: Saturday, October 27 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL

Opening Line: Alabama (-24)

Last year, the Bulldogs lost to the Tide by 17 points. Mississippi State returns seven starters on defense.

With Alabama's returning offensive line and a seasoned A.J. McCarron calling the shots, the 24-point spread that's laid out before the Tide seems a little high.

Alabama will win, of that there is little doubt. However, it is more likely that the point differential from 2011 will repeat itself, even with the improvement on the offensive side of the Tide.

My Pick: Alabama wins, but doesn't cover the spread. (Alabama -16)

LSU Tigers

Showdown: Saturday, November 3 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA

Opening Line: Alabama (+2)

The gurus have picked the home team to win by a scant margin in this clash again. LSU has a bye week while 'Bama plays Mississippi State heading into this game.

LSU lost Morris Claiborne, Michael Brockers, Brandon Taylor and Ron Brooks to the NFL this offseason. Though Alabama lost some major first-round picks as well, Alabama seems better-poised on defense than people are giving them credit for.

Alabama reloads better than LSU does this year. Plus, if you've forgotten what happened in LSU-'Bama Round II, McCarron pretty much threw the football directly at the Honey Badger for the entire game.

The Honey Badger looked (and was) woefully inept at being himself in that game. Now he is the headliner of the Tigers defense.

My Pick: Alabama wins by a field goal or better. (Alabama -2)

Texas A&M Aggies

Showdown: Saturday, November 10 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL

Opening Line: Alabama (-20)

After having another fierce battle with the LSU Tigers, the Tide will succumb to a first-half letdown against the Aggies.

The Tide will be breathing a little easier after the toughest challenge of the season, and the Aggies will catch them a little off-guard.

This will set up a closer victory than Vegas is predicting, as the Aggies will have the Tide on their heels for about 15 of the 60 minutes.

My Pick: Alabama wins, but doesn't cover the spread. (Alabama -16)

Auburn Tigers

Showdown: Saturday, November 24 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL

Opening Line: Alabama (-18)

Alabama hosts the Iron Bowl this year, and after handing Auburn a 28-point loss in the Tigers' home stadium, there is little reason to believe this year will go any differently.

Call me crazy, but the 18-point spread seems like the wrong call here. Alabama will win by more than that.

My Pick: Alabama wins and covers the spread...easily. (Alabama -18)