Happy Friday, everyone. At long last, Alabama plays a real football game tomorrow afternoon in Tallahassee. We’ll start with your previews and predictions from around the internet, per usual. Bumps and bruises can be expected from Alabama’s season opener against Florida State, especially with a new coordinator pairing up with a first-year starting quarterback, and […]
Happy Friday, everyone. At long last, Alabama plays a real football game tomorrow afternoon in Tallahassee. We’ll start with your previews and predictions from around the internet, per usual.
Bumps and bruises can be expected from Alabama’s season opener against Florida State, especially with a new coordinator pairing up with a first-year starting quarterback, and with a Crimson Tide defense looking to surpass its pass rush deficiencies against an elusive Florida State quarterback. Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era should start with a Crimson Tide win. It just may not be in the dominating fashion Alabama fans could be expecting: No. 8 Alabama 31, Florida State 17
The Alabama defense is too good to allow this to become a wild and crazy shootout, but that’s what it might turn into.
Expect plenty of mood swings. The Florida State offense will work, the team will look and play like it’s brand new compared to last year’s dud, and …
Alabama will take over in the fourth quarter by mashing away with that great offensive line. The Seminoles will lose, but they’ll look strong enough to signal to the world that they’ll be a player this season.
Alabama 34, Florida State 23
Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton form a very promising trio to help Simpson find his way, stack up some after the catch yardage, and compensate for the relative lack of a consistent ground game to help Alabama build an early lead.
Castellanos will provide a little razzle-dazzle to this Florida State offense to give the faithful enough confidence to think this season won’t be another dud, but the Tide have more firepower and will pull away in the second half.
College Football HQ picks …
Alabama wins 34-13
Covers the spread
And hits the under
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt discussed the Alabama–Florida State matchup on his podcast, “The Joel Klatt Show.” The 43-year-old offered a prediction — and he doesn’t believe the game will be close.
“Here’s the score I come out with,” Klatt said. “I think Alabama wins this game 34-17, which means they cover. I think Alabama covers the 13.5. I think the Tide are an excellent program, and I expect them to develop on offense to a point where this is going to be a playoff team. I really do. I really do. And I think they cover the 13.5, and No. 8 Alabama gets a big win early for [head coach] Kalen DeBoer in this season over Florida State on the road.”
While Florida State may find steadier footing after its offseason changes, it enters this matchup at a disadvantage in several key areas against an Alabama team motivated by last year’s disappointments. The Crimson Tide hold the edge along both lines of scrimmage, at the offensive skill positions and in overall roster strength as the nation’s leader in the 247Sports Team Talent ratings. Ty Simpson could have some shaky moments in his first road start, but over four quarters Alabama looks equipped to cover the number. Pick: Alabama -13.5
If FSU can score more often than not, which could happen if the Noles and their new QB can run Gus’s offense the way it’s supposed to be run, against a weakened Tide front and average defense, the Seminoles could keep this game close enough to pull out the win.
On the other side of the ball, to win the game, the defense will have to perform like they haven’t performed since 2023 in order to stop Alabama’s offense, and that will probably be difficult to do for 4 quarters.
However, the home crowd in the refurbished stadium will inspire the players to play harder, give 110% more effort, want it more, and play with more heart than their more talented opponents, keeping the Noles in the game allowing them to win by a field goal, and putting the nations college football media and fans on notice.
FSU Seminoles 34, Tide Podz 31
That last one is from FrankDNole over at Tomahawk Nation. Forgive him for inhaling too much hopium, last season was rough.
There is a 95% chance of rain and 61% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, which makes a delay likely at some point in the action and conjures up bad memories of the ugly win at South Florida in 2023. On one hand, rainy conditions should serve to make the crowd a bit less raucous as Ty Simpson makes his first college start on the road. On the other, a wet field will likely slow down Alabama’s explosive weapons outside that in normal conditions would have a significant matchup advantage over the Florida State secondary.
I’m honestly not sure why Florida State fans would have much confidence in their offense headed into this one. Might they develop into something as the season progresses? Sure. But, in this one they are about to face one of the most talented, deepest, and most experienced defenses in the nation with a new offensive scheme, a new QB, and an almost entirely new offensive line that has never played a game together. The hope seems to be that Thomas Castellanos will manage to put up a bunch of points with his legs, which is very difficult to do if the passing game isn’t much of a threat.
The biggest matchup advantage in this game is likely Alabama’s defensive backfield vs Florida State’s receivers. Even in good weather, Alabama was likely to make Florida State one dimensional. In rainy conditions, they may well be able to take the passing game away entirely. Castellanos will learn quickly that Alabama’s athletes on defense are a bit different than what he’s been accustomed to facing, the Tide offensive line will lean on the ‘Noles, and Alabama will walk out with a convincing but ugly win. Let’s call it 31-13, good guys.
Of course, that is merely my opinion. Vote below and give us yours in the comments.
Matt Stahl agrees that Ty Simpson getting acclimated quickly will be a key.
How quickly can Ty Simpson get comfortable?
It’s the story of the offseason. With Jalen Milroe off to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Alabama has a new quarterback.
Simpson was Milroe’s primary backup for the past two seasons. The now-redshirt junior won the job in camp, beating out fellow returnee Austin Mack and five-star true freshman Keelon Russell.
“Just play ball,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb Monday of his message to Simpson ahead of his first start. “I think that Ty plays his best when he stays calm and collected just like any quarterback. I think as long as he stays within himself and doesn’t try to make each play bigger than it is, he’ll be just fine.”
That’s easier said than done. Doak Campbell Stadium will be rocking, and Simpson might have to throw a wet football due to inclement weather.
If he can settle in and play his game, it will be an indicator that the Crimson Tide coaches made the right decision in their most important position battle.
Last, ESPN has lost another great writer.
Low broke the news of Nick Saban’s retirement, and it’s hard to imagine topping that as a sports journalist. Hopefully he continues to cover college football somewhere.
That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.
Roll Tide.
Category: General Sports
