Don’t fall for the hype or listen to the noise, Kirk Herbstreit said Thursday.

That’s the “GameDay” analyst’s warning when it comes to Alabama football. Don’t sleep on the Crimson Tide. Herbstreit joined Pat McAfee’s show Thursday to re-iterate once you think Nick Saban is done, he’ll come back and win a national championship.

In fact, Herbstreit – as of this week – is picking the Tide to win the title.

“Be really careful of listening to, David Pollack said, ‘it’s a new’ … that’s right when Alabama comes back and just throws their trump card down and whips everyone’s ass,” Herbstreit said. “I haven’t even really like dug in, I’m already leaning to Alabama to win the national championship. Just when you (expletive) say ‘Nick’s done, Alabama’s done, Kirby,’ goodbye. Here comes Alabama, they’re going to win it all.

“So if I’m betting right now, I don’t even know what it says in Vegas, I’m betting Alabama to win the national championship. At this point it’s guaranteed. We’ll see with injuries and what happens, but do not sleep on Bama.”

Herbstreit has been consistent on this point this offseason.

Last month, he said he was “leaning” Alabama.

“Whenever that happens in Tuscaloosa,” Herbstreit said of coaching changes, personnel losses and unforeseen losses, “If you’re going to Vegas, that would be a team I would not want to question,” he told On3. “Whenever they have a few losses. Or whenever they don’t quite chase their goals the previous year or whenever they have a new this or a new that … it’s like ‘Oh boy, Nick Saban’s in trouble.’

“I’m telling you he has the same energy he’s had in 2009 when he won his first title against Texas. He has great players like he had in ‘09, maybe better. He has a team that’s going to be upset with a chip on their shoulder.

“As we sit here on May 31, it’s hard for me not to lean toward Alabama in the SEC.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.