Florida State and Alabama are facing off on Saturday afternoon of Week 1. The game will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State is looking for a bounce-back season after a disastrous 2024, while Alabama is looking to get back to the College Football Playoff after just missing out last season.
The Crimson Tide are 13.5-point home favorites in this game on the DraftKings Sportsbook. Alabama is a -550 favorite on the moneyline, and the total is set at 50.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Florida State-Alabama game.
Florida State vs. Alabama Preview
Florida State Preview
Florida State had one of its worst seasons in 2024. After missing out on the College Football Playoff in 2023 only due to an injury to Jordan Travis, the Seminoles were supposed to be on a revenge tour in 2024 with an expanded 12-team playoff. They brought in veteran quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to replace Travis, and spent plenty more money in the transfer portal to concoct a roster they thought could win an ACC and national title. The team started the season in devastating fashion, losing to Georgia Tech in Ireland, and things just got worse from there. Florida State ended the season 2-10, in last place in the ACC. Mike Norvell is in desperate need of a bounce-back season to keep his job. Florida State brought in another transfer quarterback this season, Thomas Castellanos from Boston College, to help get back on track. However, just like with Uiagalelei last season, there are doubts around Castellanos’ ability as a passer at this level. Norvell hired Gus Malzahn to be the new offensive coordinator at FSU, hoping his run-heavy philosophy will help Castellanos succeed.
Alabama Preview
While Alabama’s 2024 season could in no way be compared to Florida State’s, it was still a disappointment. Alabama believes that it should make the playoffs every year with a 12-team field. It was a year of change in Tuscaloosa, with the greatest college coach of all time, Nick Saban, retiring. The Crimson Tide brought in Kalen DeBoer to lead their program, and they ended up going 9-3, narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff. It would have been a nice season for most programs, but losing to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt set off alarm bells for some Alabama fans. DeBoer is under pressure to get to the postseason this year, despite having to replace Jalen Milroe with unproven quarterback Ty Simpson. DeBoer hired Ryan Grubb, DeBoer’s offensive coordinator at Washington and Fresno State, back to his staff, which could be a huge help this season.
Florida State vs. Alabama Pick
My best bet for this game is for Alabama to cover the 13.5-point spread. DeBoer should be much more assured of himself heading into his second season with the Crimson Tide. He gets his offensive coordinator back with Grubb, and despite Milroe’s immense talent, Simpson is much more in the mold of a DeBoer/Grubb quarterback. This offense is full of weapons, including star receiver Ryan Williams and long-time DeBoer receiver, Germie Bernard. Castellanos might do well in the Malzahn offense against lesser competition, but in the second season under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, the Alabama defense should be much improved and make life tough for Castellanos. There are unknowns around both new quarterbacks, but Alabama has the coaching advantage and should win in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
