Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide will travel to Atlanta, Georgia this week to take on the Clemson Tigers. Alabama will play as a visitor at the neutral site against the number nine ranked Tigers. The game will be broadcast live on ABC. College football picks odds at Sportsbook.com have Clemson as a -4.5 favorite and the game total at 46.
Nick Saban enters his second season at Alabama and, as always, the Tide faithful's expectations are through the roof. Saban's track record will certainly earn him some good will, but fans will definitely expect better than last year's 7-6 season. Despite the uninspiring record, Alabama did secure an Independence Bowl win over Colorado. The Crimson Tide return seven starters on offense and six on defense form last year's team. Quarterback John Parker Wilson returns and he will be protected by an extremely solid offensive line.
Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden enters his tenth year with the Tigers and he hopes to shed the team's underacheiving label this season. Despite Bowden's 69-42 record, his clubs have notoriously dropped big games. They will never have a better chance to either change their reputation than this year. The offense returns eight offensive and eight defensive starters from last year's 9-4 team.
The key match up in Saturday's game will be John Parker Wilson and the Crimson Tide passing game versus the Clemson secondary. Wilson threw 18 TD's and 12 interceptions last year; he will be working with a talented but inexperienced group in 2008. The Tigers pass defense was excellent last season (188 yards passing per game allowed) and they should be as good or better this year.
Sportsbook.com's line for Alabama vs Clemson:
Alabama +4.5 (-110), Over 46 (-110), +165 (Money line)
Clemson -4.5 (-110), Under 46 (-110), -190 (Money line)
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