The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide will begin their national title defense this coming Saturday at a neutral site against the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes. Learn more about this game and check out our prediction for the winner and the final score below.
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Betting Preview for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs Miami Hurricanes NCAA Week 1 College Football Game on September 4, 2021
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
When: Saturday, September 4, 2021, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Alabama Crimson Tide (odds) vs. Miami Hurricanes (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (odds)
Record: 0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference
Alabama is still the team to beat in all of college football, and that’s even though the Crimson Tide no longer have quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith. The turnover in talent does not affect Alabama as much as other programs because…well, it’s Alabama. But instead of freshmen, the guys taking over the places of the aforementioned figures will be players who were in Tuscaloosa in 2020. Under center will be Bryce Young, who’s expected to produce alongside running back Brian Robinson Jr. and wide receiver John Metchie III. Then there’s Alabama’s defense that should be as suffocatingly good as always. In 2020, the Crimson Tide held opponents to only 19.4 points and 352.2 total yards per contest.
Alabama is 8-2 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Miami Hurricanes (odds)
Record: 0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference
The Hurricanes are fortunate that they will have quarterback D’Eriq King just in time for the start of the 2021 college football season. King suffered an injury in the bowl game last season but has progressed well in his recovery. Although Alabama is probably the last team any squad would want to face for its first game of a season, at least the Canes will be facing one that doesn’t have the Crimson Tide’s top QB, RB, and WR last season. Meanwhile, Miami is bringing back significant players on both ends of the field who could help it fare better in this game than what most people expect. The defense will have as many as nine starters returning to action. Young is talented but his lack of experience as the main guy of Alabama could be too much for him at least in this game against an upset-seeking Hurricanes group.
The over is 2-0 in Miami’s last two games.
Writer’s Prediction
Alabama wins, 40-20.
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