Alabama vs. FSU: 5 x-factors for the Crimson Tide to beat the Seminoles

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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Clemson Tigers defeated The Alabama Crimson Tide 35 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

1. Will Jalen Hurts be willing to throw the ball downfield?

This will be the biggest question mark of the game: Is second-year starting quarterback Jalen Hurts finally willing to throw the ball down the field with conviction? If the answer is no, then Alabama might be in a wee bit of trouble.

Hurts may have been SEC Offensive Player of the Year last year, but that might have been the worst offensive season we’ve season out of the SEC collectively in the modern era. What we got was a true freshman quarterback that scrambled for yards with an elite defense backing him up.

Given that Florida State’s strengths are in its defense, this could be a huge problem for the Crimson Tide. The Seminoles will have the pass rushers to make life difficult for Hurts if the Alabama offensive line isn’t playing up to par.

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To add even more difficulty, Hurts will be going up against arguably the best NFL talent in the college game today in safety Derwin James. If James is anything like he was pre-injury last year, he could make Hurts into a runner permanently in this game. Should Hurts be reluctant to move the sticks with his arm in this one, that could be an Achilles’ Heel not only for Alabama’s chances to win this game but the SEC as well.

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