The first week of the 2017 College Football season is in the books and Week One blessed us with one of the most hyped up games of the year: a big time match up between preseason ranked No.1 Alabama and preseason ranked No.3 Florida State. Both teams are obvious favorites to take home the National Championship this season, so it was very exciting to see these two powerhouses square off this early in the season. Alabama emerged victorious 24-7 in a somewhat boring game that came down to a couple of huge defensive and special teams plays, including a blocked punt, a blocked field goal, and a botched kick off return.
The Seminoles kept the game pretty close early, trailing only 7-10 at the end of the first half. As far the second half goes…Alabama did what Alabama does best: play lights-out defense and force turnovers. Saban and the Tide shut out FSU in the latter portion of the game, recording two interceptions off of FSU QB Deondre Francois, and even managed to block a 34 yard field goal.
Other crucial plays for Alabama in this one included a Jalen Hurts 53 yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley in the second quarter and a fumbled FSU kick return. That botched return allowed the Tide offense to set up shop on the Seminoles 11 yard line. On the next play, running back Damien Harris trotted into the end zone to basically seal the victory for Coach Saban and the Crimson Tide.
As far as the whole SEC vs ACC rivalry goes, it doesn’t surprise me that ACC purists are already calling bullshit on this win. ACC fans will say that if it weren’t for a couple lucky bounces and some stupid mistakes that FSU would have been right in that game. However, I have to point out SEC teams are BIG GAME TEAMS; They never have to blame a loss on stupid mistakes because they have some of the most efficient programs in the nation and stupid mistakes aren’t tolerated. Hey ACC, if you wanna claim you are a powerhouse conference, your most hyped up team can’t be choking like that against real competition.
Side Note: If Auburn beats Clemson next week….The ACC is DEAD.