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College football Week 1 schedule and predictions

By Nicholas Ian Allen

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide team take the field during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide team take the field during the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Deondre Francois (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Deondre Francois (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

No. 3 Florida State Seminoles vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (in Atlanta)

Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 2, 8:00 p.m., ABC

The heavyweight matchup we’ve waited for all summer is finally here. No. 1 Alabama squares off against third-ranked Florida State in what could be a College Football Playoff preview.

Florida State vs. Alabama: Three Things to Watch

1. Sophomore Signal Callers

Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors as a true freshman last year, and led the Crimson Tide on an undefeated run through the regular season before falling to Clemson in the national championship game. Hurts wasn’t immune to freshman mistakes, but completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions, and added 954 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

Deondre Francois was the ACC Freshman of the Year last season and put up 3,350 passing yards and 20 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 13 starts. Francois completed 59 percent of his passes, and gained 198 rushing yards and five TDs as well.

Both signal callers showed flashes of greatness in 2016, but both are capable of even more as sophomores. But which is capable of leading his team to a national title?

2. Defensive Playmakers

There will be five-star talent aplenty all over the field at Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday, but arguably the two best players can be found in the defensive secondary.

Florida State’s Derwin James missed the majority of last season with injury, but has All-America talent. As a freshman in 2015, James recorded 91 tackles and five breakups. Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off six passes last season and returned two of them for touchdowns. Fitzpatrick, who has started 25 games in two seasons for the Tide, also had 66 tackles, a sack, four TFLs and seven pass breakups a year ago.

3. NFL Talent

Pro scouts are sure to be drooling over the talent on display. Alabama and Florida State are two of the top five NFL talent-rich teams in the country according to NFL.com.

Led by running back Bo Scarbrough – who didn’t even start in 2016 and might not again this year – an amazing 12 Alabama players were listed among the Top 150 players in the country over the summer – more than any other program. Six Crimson Tide players were ranked among the top 50: Scarbrough (No. 11), Fitzpatrick (No. 20), safety Ronnie Harrison (No. 25), wide receiver Calvin Ridley (No. 38), Hurts (No. 41) and defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne (No. 44).

The Seminoles placed six players on the list (more than everyone but Bama, Ohio State, USC and Washington) including James, who will be the top rated player at No. 5 overall. Travarius McFadden (No. 17) and Francois (No. 47) rank among the top 50 players in the country.

Prediction:

Alabama and Florida State are two evenly matched teams. Both have capable quarterbacks, elite talent on defense and at the skill positions, and are stout at the line of scrimmage as well. It should be a great game, and a perfect way to celebrate Week 1.

Alabama 28, Florida State 24

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