College football preview magazine guru Phil Steele has come out of preseason hibernation and delivered the goods.

The longtime analyst revealed his picks for this year's College Football Playoff and national championship during a radio appearance this week on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, the first time he has given these nuggets of info in sync with his annual magazine release.

Steele is projecting Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Georgia in the final four with Nick Saban's Crimson Tide winning it all.

"I'm going with Alabama this year" Steele said, as transcribed by co-host Mark Heim for AL.com. "When I look at Alabama, I see their defense being stronger than last year with six starters back. They only lost five draft picks this year. That’s light for that side of the ball.

“You have to look at 44-16. That is going to be a highly motivating factor for Alabama."

Steele credits the rise of Shea Patterson and the fact Michigan gets Ohio State at home as primary factors for picking the Wolverines. Michigan has not beaten the Buckeyes during Jim Harbaugh's tenure, but is favored in that rivalry showdown this fall, as well as every other regular-season game, Steele says.

Georgia will get back to the Playoff after a one-year hiatus as potentially the SEC's champion. Kirby Smart is hoping to become the first former assistant to ever beat Saban. As it stands, Saban has a 16-0 chokehold on former pupils and faces off with three former assistants during the regular season — Will Muschamp, Jimbo Fisher and Jeremy Pruitt.

Georgia is looking to reach the SEC Championship for the third straight year after winning the conference during the 2017 campaign before ultimately falling one play short of a national title in overtime vs. the Crimson Tide.

"SEC Country is OK with it, but the rest of the country is like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ but I’m picking two SEC teams this year," Steele said. "When you look at Georgia, they are loaded both offensively and defensively. They’re a better team than they were last year. And last year, they gave Alabama everything they wanted in the SEC Championship Game.

“I think you have an undefeated Georgia and an undefeated Alabama battling for the SEC title game. I still think the loser makes the playoffs.”

Steele's 350-page, full-color season preview is available on newsstands now and at his web site for $12.99. Known as "the book experts can't do without," Steele's magazine is celebrating its 25th anniversary as one of the most accurate preseason prognostications in the country.