Week 1 of the college football season is here. One of the many high-profile matchups on tap this weekend is set to take place in Tallahassee. Alabama, lead by head coach Kalen DeBoer, just missed out on the playoffs last year with a 9-4 record. Florida State, following a disastrous two-win 2024 campaign, is looking for a massive turnaround this season.
Ahead of this massive ACC-SEC clash, here’s who the betting public is backing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
How is the public betting Alabama vs. Florida State?
Alabama enters Saturday with heavy -550 odds at winning this afternoon. The spread is currently 14 points in favor of the Crimson Tide. In comparison, Florida State has +410 odds at pulling off the upset. The over/under for this contest is set at 48.5 points.
Unsurprisingly, Alabama has a decisive edge in total bets, garnering 95% of all moneyline wagers. The spread isn’t much different for the Tide, who have received 82% of the action. However, this massive disparity might have more to do with the Seminoles. Plenty of bettors were burned by an FSU squad that entered last season with sky-high expectations.
It’s a similar story in terms of the handle, albeit not as split as total bets. Bama is getting 66% of all wagers on the moneyline and a whopping 88% on the spread. What does that tell us? Both sharp bettors and the general public are fairly aligned in their support of the Crimson Tide.
The most even bet on this game comes down to the total. 82% of bets are expecting this one to go over 48.5 points. However, a more modest 62% of the handle is backing the over. The public generally leans towards plenty of scoring, so these numbers are a bit low. Following a lengthy offseason for both programs, a sluggish start wouldn’t be all too shocking.
Most Popular Player Props
Here are the four player props in this Alabama-Florida State matchup receiving the most bets:
- Ryan Williams anytime TD scorer (-110)
- Richard Young anytime TD scorer (-190)
- Ryan Williams 2+ TDs (+550)
- Ty Simpson 2+ passing touchdowns (-153)
It’s all Alabama today when it comes to player props. The name generating the most interest is Ryan Williams, and it’s easy to see why. The wide receiver was a menace last season, recording 865 yards and eight touchdowns on 48 receptions. The most impressive part? He put up those numbers as a 17-year-old freshman. Entering Year Two in Tuscaloosa, the speedster has the potential to pace the SEC in most statistical categories. Williams only had one multiple-touchdown performance in 2024, a two-score showing in Week 1 vs. Western Kentucky.
One of the biggest storylines entering this game is Alabama’s running back room. Expected starter Jam Miller has already been ruled out due to a shoulder injury. That leaves Richard Young in line to handle the bulk of carries on Saturday. Last year, as a redshirt freshman, the rusher gained 146 yards and two touchdowns on the ground (5.4 YPC). Run defense was a major weakness for Florida State last season. If the Tide get out to a two-score lead, DeBoer will likely lean on Young.
To round out the list, the public is expecting a productive outing from Ty Simpson. The quarterback will be making his first-ever collegiate start, so it’s difficult to determine how he’ll perform. On the bright side, he’s not facing an elite SEC defense in Week 1. To be fair to FSU, this should be a much better unit this season. Still, it’s difficult to envision a dramatic turnaround in just one offseason. Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell will make stopping the run a priority. That could lead to some opportunities down the field for Simpson and this talented group of Bama wideouts.
