re: Alabama vs Florida State - who you got?

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You do know Bama is basically replacing their entire D, right?

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(a) not really true

(b) Oh no! Whatever will we do!

Obviously, Bama won't be as good as last season, defensively. However, FSU is going to struggle on that OL. Francois will be under pressure a lot. He'll have be on top of his game to be able to score and avoid turning it over.

FSU will be able to keep Bama's passing in check, but it's going to be impossible to stop their rushing attack. They can rotate 4 good backs in and out all game not to mention Hurts' running ability.

I'm thinking something like Bama 34 FSU 20

I'm not pulling for Bama, but I do think they will win.

Bama 31, fSU 0, That's right I am picking the Bama d to shut them out

Bama convincingly.

Nick U

28-10

I honestly think this could go either way....Fisher will have those boys ready.

I think FSU will be bringing a really strong team to Atlanta. They return a filthy defense with top-tier talent at every level. They do have a seemingly young OL, a unit that struggled at times last season. They will also have to replace a game changer in Dalvin Cook. Akers looks like a beast but only time will tell if he can come in and produce at the same level.

Offensively, Alabama returns the bulk of their production from last year. OJ Howard will certainly be missed; he was very tough to matchup/gameplan against and was a tremendous blocker. On defense the secondary returns pretty much in tact. The front 7, while having lost a fair amount of production, will still feature some familiar faces. IMO each level of the defense is anchored by a very reliable returner: Payne (controlling the LOS), Fitzpatrick (jack-of-all trades on the back end), and SDH (in the middle cleaning up the run game).

IMO, this going to come down to a couple of things. Alabama establishing the run. Leaning on that OL, rotating in backs and Hurts moving the chains with his feet. Relying on the run to set up the pass, not necessarily challenging the secondary but throwing enough to keep them honest. Secondly, Alabama getting pressure on Francois. Bama has historically be pretty stout against the run, but I believe Francois will pick them apart if he has time back there.

This could be a game where discipline and special teams determine the outcome. I'll go with something 24-20 Alabama (full disclosure: I already took Bama -7 and feel worse and worse about it by the day).

You do know you don't know what you're talking about, right? Bama gets back most of their secondary, Daron Payne up front and their ILB 's either started or played a ton.

Bama