NO. 1 ALABAMA VS. LOUISVILLE
8 p.m. at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
VIDEO & RADIO
ABC/97.3 & 99.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino doesn't have the best record off the field, especially when motorcycles are involved, but there is no doubting his impressive run as one of the best offensive minds in college football over the past decade. The Cardinals no longer have Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson at quarterback, but they have plenty of components returning from a unit that scored at least 21 points in every game last season and surpassed 30 points in 10 of 13 games. Alabama continually has the nation's No. 1 defense or very close to it, but this year's unit has eight new starters, including inside linebackers Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson. Both are former five-star recruits, but they have spent very little time as a tandem and will be challenged by what Petrino could throw at them in the early going. "Mack and Dylan have some experience and have played and even started some games," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I think that experience will be helpful to them in this particular game."
ONE TO WATCH
With Jackson now with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, redshirt sophomore Jawon Pass is behind center for the Cardinals. A former standout at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, he played in five games last season, completing 23 of 33 passes for 238 yards with two touchdowns, and he rushed 13 times for 62 yards. "I think he's an outstanding, talented player," Saban said. "He was very, very good in high school. He's got great size, and he's got a very good arm. He's a good athlete. He's kind of a Cam Newton-looking guy out there. When he had the opportunity to play last year, I thought he played very well and showed a lot of poise. They've got a very experienced offensive team, and that experience is going to help his confidence and playing in this first game."
IN THE END
The end will not be nearly as intriguing as the beginning of this contest, because the Crimson Tide head into today without Saban having announced the starting quarterback - either junior Jalen Hurts, who is 26-2 as the starter, or Tua Tagovailoa, who rallied Alabama from a 13-0 halftime deficit to a 26-23 overtime win over Georgia in January's national championship game. In his final public speaking opportunity before tonight's game, which was his weekly Thursday night call-in show, Saban said: "They've both earned the opportunity based on what they've done since they've been here. Jalen has played a lot of games that we've won, and Tua has come in and played very well in the biggest game we've ever had in the championship game, so he deserves the right to play, too." So look for both quarterbacks to play and for new Louisville defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder to have a long night with both.
PREDICTION: Alabama 48, Louisville 13