The 2024 season was a disaster for Florida State. Hence, coach Mike Norvell is expected to make major staff changes. Also, another sizable portal class is coming to Tallahassee to help the program get back on track. An unproductive offense was primarily to blame for the ‘Noles’ College Football Betting decline. Every area of the offense contributed to the issues. Solving all the issues in one offseason is impossible. As a result, Norvell hired UCF head coach Gus Malzahn as the new play-caller. And then he selected quarterback Thomas Castellanos from the transfer portal to direct the offense.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida State Seminoles NCAAF Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, August 20, 2025, 3:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL |
| TV Coverage: | ABC |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -13½ -116 | 50½ -110 | -510 |  |
| Florida State | +13½ -104 | 50½ -110 | +390 | |
| ||||
Alabama Crimson Tide Team Overview
Alabama underwent a hard reset in the 2024 offseason when Nick Saban suddenly retired. As a result, the Crimson Tide hired Kalen DeBoer, fresh off a run to the national championship game with Washington. Alabama would go on to finish 9-4 during DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa. In the end, Alabama finished just shy of the field of 12. Thus, the Crimson Tide missed out on the College Football Playoff during DeBoer’s first season at the helm. Many expect the Crimson Tide to be right back into sportsbook contention for a CFP spot this fall.
Consider that the success of the Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban meant that the expectations each season were essentially a national championship or bust. Although the standards remain high, expectations need to be kept in check. Second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer continues to transition the program in the NIL age that drove Saban to retire. Consider that in 2024, almost 40 players left through the transfer portal or for the NFL Draft. Alabama plays a tough schedule. Still, it has enough talent to compete for a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff.
Florida State Seminoles Team Overview
At the onset of 2025, the Florida State Seminoles will look to reverse course in 2025 after a disastrous 2-10 season a year ago. College football had not seen anything like the Garnet and Gold’s 2024 campaign in the AP Poll era (1936). To show, the preseason top-10 squad lost its first three games (all to unranked opponents). And then it defeated just one FBS school (Cal) en route to its worst season-long performance in decades (excluding the 3-6 COVID year).
As a result, the Seminoles’ coaching staff and roster personnel under head coach Mike Norvell have undergone a significant overhaul. Both the offensive and defensive coordinators were replaced by former UCF head coach Gus Malzahn and former Nebraska DC Tony White, respectively.
There were 134 FBS College Football Betting teams last season. Consider that 133 of them allowed fewer than four sacks per game. Florida State is the one team that didn’t. In 2023, the Noles allowed 1.79 sacks per game.
Only four teams allowed more tackles for loss. And only five teams were worse at running the ball, and all this from an attack that was among the best in the country at cranking out big runs just two seasons ago. Thus, everything starts with this. More time to work, longer drives, and a more productive defense,
Alabama at Florida State SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Florida State is much further behind the Alabama program.
Alabama at Florida State SBG Best Bet: Alabama Crimson Tide.