Alabama Opens Defense of National Championship Against USC
On Saturday evening, a showdown between two ranked teams takes place when the No. 17 ranked Southern California Trojans play the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The current line at most sportsbooks has Alabama favored by 12 points with the over/under point total sitting on 52.5. The Crimson Tide is the defending national champions but has not yet decided on who will start at quarterback but that has not stopped Alabama from being ranked No. 1.
The two top signal callers for Alabama are Cooper Bateman a junior and Blake Barnett a redshirt freshman, while Max Browne has been given the starting quarterback job at USC replacing Cody Kessler who is now in the NFL.
Alabama has won 14 straight season openers, but USC’s streak is longer with 17 straight. The Tide will be trying to win its fifth national title in the last eight seasons. Head coach Nick Saban, starting his 10th season at the helm, does not seem to be concerned about the quarterback situation.
For USC, Browne has only thrown 19 passes during his career with the Trojans. This is the first full season, the Trojans will have Clay Helton as the head coach.
USC has one of the top receivers in the nation in JuJu Smith-Schuster a junior who had 89 receptions for 1,454 yards last season including 10 touchdowns.
Ronald Jones II ran for a school record of 987 yards for a freshman last season and will share rushing responsibilities with Justin Davis a senior who rushed for 902 yards last season.
Bateman last season threw just 52 passes while starting one game when Jake Coker was the No. 1 signal caller. Replacing Derrick Henry the Heisman Trophy winning running back is another tough chore for Saban.
However, Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough two sophomores will share the workload during week one against USC. At receiver, Alabama has depth with Calvin Ridley returning after setting a freshmen record in the SEC with 89 receptions. ArDarius Stewart who caught 63 passes will play opposite Ridley.
Alabama is 5-2 overall against USC and was victorious the past time the two met in 1985 at the Aloha Bowl.
Former coach at USC Lane Kiffin is the offensive coordinator for Alabama.
Osa Masina the linebacker for USC will not play after violating team rules and being handed a suspension. He is being investigated by Utah authorities over a possible sexual assault and in California for a criminal incident not specified.
Prediction:Â Alabama will win this game straight up as well as against the spread with superior defense that will shut the USC offense down.
