It’s Week 2, which means many SEC teams are taking it easy with paycheck games. Alabama is no exception, hosting Florida Atlantic at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
How to watch FAU vs. Alabama: Preview, TV/streaming, odds and more
Cupcakes are on the menu in Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide should be able to cruise to victory, but they still have some work to do. The quarterback situation is unsettled, and the secondary and special teams could stand to see some improvement. Can any of those issues be resolved against a team like Florida Atlantic? Probably not.
The Owls are coming off a 55-7 defeat at the hands of Nebraska, a game in which they managed just 200 yards of offense and gave up 784 (498 on the ground). With Alabama’s strong running game, the Tide could probably rush for 1,000 yards on Saturday, but they’ll probably air it out a little more to get a better look at the QBs.
How to witness
TV: Saturday, Noon ET, SEC Network
Radio: For a list of Alabama radio affiliates, check here; Florida Atlantic affiliates are also available in South Florida.
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Alabama is 1-0, ranked second in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Florida Atlantic is unranked and 0-1.
Vegas: Alabama opened as a big 39-point favorite, and that line has moved slightly to 40 points at most sportsbooks. The over/under is set at 50.5.
Weather forecast: Forecasters expect possible thunderstorms in Tuscaloosa Saturday, with highs in the low 90s.
Four names to know
Blake Sims and Jacob Coker, Alabama QBs
Sims was the surprise starter in Week 1 against West Virginia, and he completed 24 of 33 passes for 250 yards and an interception (if you want to watch all 33 pass attempts, Roll Bama Roll has you covered). Head coach Nick Saban has said the competition is still ongoing, and both signal callers should see time against the Owls.
T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, Alabama RBs
Quarterback may be a question mark for Alabama, but running back most certainly is not. Yeldon and Henry combined for 40 carries, 239 yards and three touchdowns against the Mountaineers.
Two things at stake
Alabama would like to make some progress toward choosing a permanent starting quarterback and stay healthy for the brutal SEC West slate still to come.
After last week’s shellacking from Nebraska, Florida Atlantic would like to avoid a Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland-type defeat.
Further reading
For more Crimson Tide coverage, check out Roll ‘Bama Roll. For news on FAU and the other football mid-majors, visit Underdog Dynasty.
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