Tua Tagovailoa Hip Injury Sends Alabama’s National Championship Odds to +2000

• The Alabama Crimson Tide have lost Tua Tagovailoa (hip) for the season.
• Mac Jones, a four-star recruit, will lead the way for the Tide.
• Alabama will have to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl if they’re to have any hope of making the College Football Playoff.

The No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide earned a win on Saturday but their season took a turn for the worse when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa dislocated his hip. He’s now done for the season but it sets up an interesting scenario in the College Football Championship odds.

Can Alabama still get into the College Football Playoff and make some noise with Mac Jones under center?

2020 National Championship Odds

Odds taken Nov. 16th

Tide Lose Tagovailoa To Hip Injury

The Tide smoked the Mississippi State Bulldogs 38-7 on Saturday but the game was marred by the injury to Tagovailoa. The projected top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had to be flown to a hospital by helicopter after dislocating his hip on the final series of the first half.

There is some second-guessing going on as the Tide were up four touchdowns at the half. Some might say why even have him out there? He was a game-time decision to even play. However, it was still very early in the game and in many ways understandable. This wasn’t anyone’s fault; it was merely a part of the game.

How Good Is Mac Jones?

Obviously, the Tide would have loved to have Jalen Hurts right about now but he didn’t want to be Tua’s backup. He transferred to Oklahoma and has pieced together a Heisman Trophy-type campaign. That leaves Mac Jones to take over for Tagovailoa but how good is he?

Although Jones is relatively unknown, he is a four-star recruit. He was originally one of the jewels of Kentucky’s 2017 recruiting class but he flipped to Alabama. He started against Arkansas and went 18-of-22 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been solid, yet unspectacular so far, but he’s in a great situation to succeed.

The challenge is that Alabama is going from the possible No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to someone who isn’t as talented and lacks experience. For now, though, his only job is to get the team to a win against Auburn.

Are The Tide Still National Championship Players?

The Tide are in an interesting spot because the College Football Playoff Committee shouldn’t drop them based on merit. They just beat Mississippi State 38-7 on the road, so nobody else should leapfrog them. If it’s not solely on merit, they might drop them as the assumption will be they’re not nearly as good without Tua.

My guess would be is that they don’t drop them and they let everything come out in the wash. What Alabama does at Auburn will make or break their case for the College Football Playoff. If they blow them out or win, they’ll have a case to make. If Jones struggles and the team loses, then the rankings will take care of themselves.

But when you’re looking at the overall National Championship picture, I just can’t bet Alabama right now. I wasn’t sure of them with Tagovailoa under center. With Jones leading the way and their College Football Playoff hopes being tentative – at-best – I can’t find a good reason to bet them to win it all.