Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide are huge moneyline favorites in NCAAF betting odds for their season opener vs the Miami Hurricanes.

Tide Heavily Favored To Roll Once Again In Season Opener

Led by sophomore quarterback Bryce Young, Alabama will feature a much different-looking offense when it kicks off the season in Atlanta against the Hurricanes. The defending national champion Crimson Tide opened as 19-point favorites to win their 20th consecutive season opener.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Miami Hurricanes
  • Date/Time: September 4, 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • TV Coverage: ABC
  • Sportsbook Odds: Alabama -19 | O/U 63.5 (Line History)
  • Alabama vs Miami Matchup Report

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Tide are no strangers to laying this many points, having been favored by two touchdowns or more in eight of their last nine games. Alabama still managed to cover seven of those nine contests and is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 as a favorite of 14 or more points.

Alabama News & Notes

Having to replace elite talent is nothing new in Tuscaloosa, but this year’s turnover was at the next level — especially on offense. Quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle all went in the first round of the NFL draft, while Alabama also lost three offensive linemen and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian from an attack that averaged the most yards per game among Power Five teams last year.

But if there’s a coach who can handle that type of offseason overhaul, it’s Nick Saban. Under the veteran coach, Alabama has dominated tough competition in its recent season openers, winning its last nine by an average score of 39-12.5. The Tide’s winning streak in season openers extends well past Saban’s arrival in 2007, with their last Week 1 loss coming in 2001 against UCLA.

The keys to the Alabama offense are now in the hands of Young, a dual-threat five-star recruit who threw 22 passes for 156 yards in limited action last season. His top weapon is expected to be junior receiver John Metchie III, who had 55 catches and six touchdowns in 2020.

Miami News & Notes

Judging by his final preseason scrimmage, quarterback D’Eriq King appears to be all the way back from the devastating knee injury he suffered in last year’s Cheez-It Bowl. King completed 20 of his 26 passes for 317 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions in Miami’s annual mock game.

King enters the season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender after throwing 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions last year, adding 538 yards and four scores on the ground. In his first season in Miami, he helped the Hurricanes increase their scoring average by nearly nine points per game.

Defensively, Miami’s strength is expected to be in the secondary, where star safety Bubba Bolden returns and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson makes his debut after transferring from Georgia. The Hurricanes could be exposed a bit up front in the season opener, however, after losing three defensive ends to this year’s NFL draft.

Staff Betting Pick: Miami +19

As tough as it is to bet against Alabama in a Week 1 contest, nearly three touchdowns seems like too much to spot this Miami team with a healthy King under centre.

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Shark Bites
  • Alabama is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.
  • The UNDER is 6-1 in Miami’s last 7 games as an underdog.
  • Alabama has not lost a season opener since 2001.
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