Anyone anticipating Alabama to finally take a step back under Nick Saban in the coming season will be sorely disappointed according to Phil Steele.

In fact, the publisher of one of the most recognizable annual college football preview magazines and ESPN college football insider believes the Crimson Tide will be favored by double digits in every single game next season. Not only that, but Steele projects Alabama to be favored by 17 points or more in every game outside of the season finale at home against Auburn.

Steele made these comments during a recent appearance on Birmingham-based WJOX 94.5 FM radio program 3 Man Front. When asked about the Tide, Steele indicated it doesn’t really even matter which quarterback starts for Saban’s team, Alabama should be a big favorite over every team it faces in 2018.

“I’ve got Alabama as a double-digit favorite in every game,” Steele said on the air. “The toughest test is probably the Iron Bowl, which is at home — which is huge. I would still have Alabama favored in every single game across the board and probably by a touchdown in every game, whether the starting quarterback was Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa.”

The college football insider took his opinion a step forward, indicating that every single upcoming regulars season game for Alabama will feature a spread of 17 points or more.

“There’s only two games that come to my mind where the spread is going to be 14 points or less: the first one is going to be the Auburn game — in Vegas (Alabama) is (currently) an eight-point favorite, but I think by the time the game rolls around Alabama will be favored by double digits; then the LSU game,” Steele continued. “Right now in Vegas, Alabama is an 11-point favorite. The other tough test but I still think Alabama is a 17-point favorite.

“The Mississippi State game, I think Alabama… Mississippi State has a lot of talent back this year and they played Alabama tough last year but I think the fact they played Alabama tough last year will make sure Alabama is in full-go. Remember, the last time (MSU) traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama won that game 51-3 and they also have a new head coach at Mississippi State. So I put them as a 17-point favorite in that one — at least.”

So much for parity in the SEC in the coming season. If Steele is indeed accurate, it’s likely every other program in the SEC will be fighting over second place in the league with the Crimson Tide lapping the competition the SEC has to throw at Saban’s program.