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Alabama Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

By Erich Hilkert

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Alabama Crimson Tide mascot Big Al waves a flag in the end zone during the second half of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Alabama Crimson Tide mascot Big Al waves a flag in the end zone during the second half of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football head coach Nick Saban is trying to successfully guide a team from No. 1 in the preseason polls to the finish of the season.

We are just weeks away from the 2017 Alabama football season, so it is time to take a serious look at the schedule.

Aside from Da’Shawn Hand’s DUI arrest, it’s been a relatively quiet offseason for Alabama. The team lost several key players from the 2016 team to the NFL Draft, but Saban brought in a stacked recruiting class, as always.

The Crimson Tide open the season at the brand-new Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta against Florida State. Saban said the challenge has only added fight and focus to his team’s practices this fall.

Now, let’s take a look at a game-by-game prediction for the upcoming season, including an overall record estimate, for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama often opens the season with tough opposition, but this might be the most epic opener Alabama has seen in decades. Ultimately, this is a teacher-pupil matchup with Saban’s former assistant Jimbo Fisher facing his former boss for the first time. Unfortunately for Florida State fans, this student rarely defeats the master and that has certainly been the case with Saban, most recently against former offensive coordinator Jim McElwain in the SEC Championship game.

This isn’t likely to be like last season’s opening 52-6 drubbing of USC. This will be much more similar to Alabama’s 2014 opener, a 33-23 grudge match against West Virginia.

Florida State has an outstanding secondary, so Alabama will have to pound it out on the ground and with a great defense. Fisher is going to try to exploit Alabama’s secondary, but the Crimson Tide will test Florida State’s greatest weakness: the offensive line.

In the end, Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts will make just enough plays to squeak Alabama past a worthy opponent.

Final Score: Alabama 31, Florida State 27 (1-0)

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