There are already high stakes in the FSU vs. Alabama game to open the 2025 season. FSU will try to prove the 2-10 season was a fluke, and Alabama will be out to prove their first four-loss season in over 10 years was a fluke.
The talk between players of the two teams has already started, with FSU quarterback Thomas Castellanos saying Alabama isn't the same without Nick Saban as the head coach(he isn't wrong), and Alabama players have responded to Castellanos, saying he'll pay for the perceived disrespect.
Nobody expects FSU to be great in 2025, but there's a very low probability they'll have another two-win season. I expect them to win at least eight games, but I wouldn't expect them to win the opening game against Alabama. I expect them to compete and make it tough, but one Alabama writer says it's a lock for Alabama to beat FSU:
"My take is Alabama has six games that are 'lock' wins, and only one should be subject to any debate. The dead solid five begin with Florida State. If FSU had any chance for an upset, the Noles' brash quarterback Thomas Castellanos and his big talk slammed that door."
Eh, sir, Alabama is only a -13.5 betting favorite over FSU and lost two games last year where they were bigger betting favorites.
Alabama is a -610 betting favorite, meaning you'd have to bet $610 to win $100. The implied odds percentage is 85.92 percent, giving FSU about a 14-15 percent chance to win the game. That's not a 'lock' game. A lock game would be a game where the implied odds are at 99 percent, and a team covers a spread of like 30+ points.
I expect Alabama to win the game, but it's not going to be a gimme. Alabama will be on the road with a new, inexperienced quarterback, with a new offensive coordinator, against one of the better defensive coordinators, with an entire offseason to prepare.
Yes, Alabama's defense will likely be stout against FSU's offense. However, funny things happen in season openers, and I wouldn't count this one as a win just yet. Thomas Castellanos was right, because Alabama didn't look like a Nick Saban Alabama team last year, even in some of the games they won.