Alabama has seen a lot of wins since Nick Saban took the head coaching job in 2007 — 131, to be exact. That’s an average of almost 12 per season (11.9) since he arrived in Tuscaloosa.

Winning 86.8 percent of the time — which is how often the Crimson Tide have won under Saban — has helped provide a formula that determines certain marks they need to hit to give themselves the best chance at victory in tonight’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia.

Here’s a look at eight of those things that Alabama has done to yield exceptional results:

1. Offense rushes for 140 yards or more

Alabama has built its dynasty on an effective run game. Most people are well aware of that, but the numbers heavily favor the Tide when they rack up big yardage on the ground.

Since 2008, Alabama is 102-6 (.944 winning percentage) in games where the offense rushed for 140 yards or more.

The most recent example was last Monday when Alabama played Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. The Tide gained 141 yards on the ground, and they walked away with a convincing 24-6 victory over the Tigers.

2. Hurts throws for two or more touchdowns

Jalen Hurts has played in 28 games in two years at the Capstone. If there’s one thing we can bank on, it’s that Alabama is going to win if the sophomore quarterback throws for two or more touchdowns in the game.

Hurts was a perfect 8-0 in 2016 when tossing multiple touchdowns. He followed that up with another perfect record (4-0) in ’17.

It is concerning for the Tide that Hurts’ multiple-touchdown games have been cut in half this season. But Alabama will be in great position if he has one tonight.

3. Hold opponents to 22 points or less

Alabama’s defense has consistently been outstanding during the Nick Saban era. The team, since 2008, has rarely surrendered more than 22 points in a game.

We do know that the Tide are pretty darn good when they’ve held their opponent to less than three touchdowns. In fact, Alabama has won 112 of the 113 games (.991) in which their opponent scored 22 points or less.

The only team to score less and walk away with a victory was LSU in 2011 when the Tigers beat Alabama 9-6 in the regular season. In other words, if you want to beat Alabama, you better score more than three touchdowns.

4. Score a non-offensive touchdown

Alabama has been on quite the streak over the past three years. After putting up 25 non-offensive touchdowns between 2015 and ’16, the Tide came back down to earth this season — only putting up two.

Still, they’re 18-0 over the past three years when they generate a touchdown from somewhere other than the offense. That includes being 2-0 this season, 10-0 last season and 6-0 the season before that.

What’s also impressive is that they’ve generated multiple non-offensive touchdowns in seven of those 18 games.

5. Hold opponent to under 300 yards of offense

Again, Alabama’s defense has been outstanding under Nick Saban. Here’s more proof.

During the Saban era, including 2007, Alabama has held 96 of 151 opponents (63.6 percent) under 300 yards of offense. That includes 20 over the course of the last two years (12 in ’16, eight in ’17).

Alabama is a perfect 20-0 in those games.

6. Score on the first play of the game

It’s not common for a team to score on its first play of the game. In Alabama’s time under Saban, it has only done so five times:

  • Terry Grant: 47-yard TD run against Western Carolina (2007)
  • Mark Ingram: 48-yard TD run against Duke (2010)
  • Kenyan Drake: 87-yard TD reception against Florida (2014)
  • Amari Cooper: 80-yard TD reception against Tennessee (2014)

The fifth time came this season when Damien Harris took his first carry against Arkansas 75 yards for a touchdown back in Week 6.

Alabama has won all five games in which it has scored on the first play.

7. Convert over 28 percent on third down (Playoff opponents)

This statistic is strictly limited to Playoff opponents. When Alabama has converted more than 28 percent of the time on third down, they’re a perfect 4-0.

On the other hand, the Tide is 0-2 in games where they didn’t hit at least 28 percent — Clemson in ’16 (13.3 percent) and Ohio State in ’14 (15.4).

Now, it should also be mentioned that only one victory was around that 28 percent mark — Washington in ’16 (28.5). The other three victories saw Alabama find decent success — Clemson in ’17 (47.1), Clemson in ’15 (50.0) and Michigan State in ’14 (33.3).

8. Score more than 30 points (on Georgia)

Alabama has only played Georgia six times since 2000. Of those six games, the Tide is a perfect 3-0 when they’ve scored more than 30 points.

On the flip side, they’re 0-3 when they’ve been held under 30 points by the Bulldogs. Granted, only one of those three losses was under Saban.

Here’s a breakdown of the final scores.

  • 2015: 38-10 (Alabama)
  • 2012: 32-28 (Alabama)
  • 2008: 41-30 (Alabama)
  • 2007: 23-26 (Georgia)
  • 2003: 23-37 (Georgia)
  • 2002: 25-27 (Georgia)

The good news for the Tide is that they have the nation’s No. 12 scoring offense, putting up 37.9 points per game.

Of the 28 games that Hurts has been the quarterback, Alabama has scored 30 points or more 21 times — which bodes well for the team’s chances of reaching that mark tonight.

STAFF PREDICTIONS: Bama vs. Georgia: Who will win?