It’s no secret that the Alabama Crimson Tide is nearly two-touchdown betting favorites on the road against Florida State in the season opener. FSU is in a win-win situation.
They don’t have to win to gain respect, and if they pull off the upset, it would send shockwaves through the college football landscape, especially after only winning two games last season.
It’s why I wrote that the Alabama Crimson Tide has ALL of the pressure going into the game. I get it. FSU was terrible last year, but it’s not like Alabama was some unbeatable force, losing four games for the first time in over a decade.
They will have a stout defense, no question, but the offense has some question marks. Nevertheless, one Alabama website believes by three touchdowns because FSU has a suspect defensive front.
The defensive front on last year’s team was definitely suspect, but all but one of the starters is no longer on the team. FSU has several new faces with experience and a new defensive coordinator whose calling card is stopping the run.
Alabama will start an inexperienced quarterback who has thrown 50 career pass attempts in college, and will be without its top running back. I wouldn’t assume Alabama will just light it up on offense. It’s not like they didn’t struggle offensively in several games last year against inferior opponents. Could FSU turn it over a couple of times to help them score with a short field? Sure, but I wouldn’t bank on random turnover luck going your way like that. If anything, Alabama’s inexperience at quarterback could handicap that offense some.
I’m not saying FSU can’t lose by three or more touchdowns, but I just think it’s less likely because Alabama will probably have some kinks to work out on offense and not put too much on their quarterbacks shoulders that early in the season.