How Kalen DeBoer and transfer portal exits have impacted Alabamaâs 2025 National Championship odds
Catena Media provides exclusive sports betting content to AL.com, including picks, analysis, tools and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.
It’s been a week since former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer became Nick Saban’s successor at Alabama, and a lot has changed in the short window of time. A laundry list of Crimson Tide players has entered the transfer portal, and DeBoer has hired an entirely new coaching staff.
Shockingly, the vast change in player and coaching personnel has caused no fluctuation in Alabama’s 2025 National Championship odds.
2025 National Championship odds: Alabama (+1000 or better) sits behind Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas in most markets
A team’s future betting odds are typically similar no matter which sportsbook you view, but that doesn’t apply to Alabama. The Crimson Tide are +600 to win the National Championship at BetMGM Sportsbook and +750 at Caesars Sportsbook.
At other regulated sports betting sites, Alabama sits at approximately +1000.
One of DeBoer’s early challenges is retaining players from Saban’s 2023 SEC Championship-winning roster. For now, it appears Jalen Milroe, Malachi Moore, and Deontae Lawson will be sticking in Tuscaloosa.
At the time of writing, 26 players have entered the transfer portal. The most notable is SEC Freshman of the Year Caleb Downs, the only first-year player to lead Alabama in tackles since at least 1970. Downs had three passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble and figured to be a crucial piece of the Tide’s defense for the next two seasons.
Kadyn Proctor made the SEC All-Freshman team, was the No. 1 offensive tackle, and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle, and he’s also leaving Tuscaloosa. The 19-year-old started all 14 games for Alabama last season.
Isaiah Bond joins Steve Sarkisian at Texas after leading the Crimson Tide with 48 catches. Bond trailed only Jermaine Burton in receiving yards and touchdowns, and with Burton entering the NFL Draft, Bond looked set to be Alabama’s WR1 in 2024.
247Sports ranks Downs as the best player to hit the transfer portal, while Proctor is No. 2 and Bond is No. 4. To make matters worse, Downs is projected to stay in the SEC and become a Georgia Bulldog.
Other players looking for new opportunities include Roydell Williams (560 rushing yards, five touchdowns) and Amari Niblack (20 receptions, 327 yards, four touchdowns).
DeBoer’s coaching staff overhaul doesn’t affect Alabama’s future betting odds
Alabama’s secondary was their strongest position group in 2023, making defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson’s departure to Georgia a pivotal setback. It’s also the likely reason Downs and other members of the secondary have decided to transfer.
ESPN and 247Sports report DeBoer worked hard to re-hire Robinson as a defensive coordinator but wasn’t successful. Instead, former South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack, who was the defensive coordinator at Indiana in 2019 when DeBoer was the offensive coordinator, is the Tide’s new DC.
Former Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will follow Kalen and take the same role in Tuscaloosa. DeBoer and Grubb worked together at Sioux Falls, Fresno State, Washington, and now Alabama.
The Huskies ranked 13th in average offensive yards and points per game and second in passing yards per game under Grubb.
DeBoer has hired other staffers who were head coaches last year and has made it a point to identify people with SEC experience.
Think you know Alabama and Auburn football? Play the AL.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes!
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.