Florida State vs Alabama is arguably the most anticipated game of the 2017 season and here’s what you should be expecting.
Every year, every week there is a college football game that is a must-watch contest with everything riding on it.
This is that game.
The No. 3 Florida State Seminoles and No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide will clash in Atlanta as the primetime game of the first major college football Saturday of the year. Despite being played early in the season, this type of game has major College Football Playoff implications and while the loser is not by any means eliminated from contention, it does give the winner a leg up should it come down to any tough decisions by the committee.
Alabama holds the overall all-time series over Florida State two games to none. The Seminoles did in fact beat Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in 2007, but the win was later vacated by the NCAA. Their previous meeting before that was back in 1974
Here’s how to watch Saturday’s Florida State vs Alabama game:
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Date: Saturday, Sept. 2
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
While we will be witnessing two of the most talented teams in the country in all aspects of the game, the focus will be on the matchup between these two young quarterbacks.
Crimson Tide sophomore Jalen Hurts struggled last year at times, but is always a weapon to explode and turn a game around with his big play ability. A cannon of an arm and always dangerous with his feet, it is important he takes care of the ball and keeps the Florida State defense on the field as much as he can.
For the Seminoles, Deondre Francois is coming off a big year and will be more than comfortable leading the offense in 2017. As his first year as a starter in 2016, Francois took awhile to get into a rhythm and entered the ACC in a hole as the Seminoles dropped their first two conference games. He finished the year with 3350 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also ran for five scores.
Keys to victory for each team run through their young quarterbacks and the blueprint to success is pretty much the same for both Hurts and Francois. Whichever quarterback can limit mistakes and manage the time of possession will put their team in a better position to win it at the end.
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Prediction
Both teams ended the year differently last season with the Seminoles winning a thriller over Michigan in the Orange Bowl and of course Alabama losing in the final seconds of the National Championship to Clemson. Both teams are going to come out hungry and wanting more from last season.
Florida State was a top 25 team a year ago stopping the run, which bodes well for them against Alabama star Bo Scarbrough. The Seminoles will hold their own against Scarbrough and jump out to an early lead, forcing the Tide to revert to the passing game and try and play catch up. Florida State holds off a late push from Alabama and narrowly escapes with a monumental-size win.
Since taking over Alabama in 2007, Nick Saban has never lost a season-opener with the Crimson Tide. There’s a first time for everything.
Final score: Florida State 27, Alabama 23