Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) runs in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
- The Alabama Crimson Tide host the South Florida Bulls on ESPN at 7 P.M. ET
- The Tide are 30.5-point favorites in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
- Read below for Alabama vs South Florida odds, spread and prediction for Saturday
A highly-anticipated contest is set between the Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) and South Florida Bulls (1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M. EDT at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and will air on ESPN.
The Saturday evening clash significantly favors ‘Bama. That said, the Bulls are coming off a dominant 48-3 performance against Bethune-Cookman, where the offense totaled 403 yards and 231 on the ground.
Here’s a breakdown of our betting prediction, and odds for Alabama vs USF.
Alabama vs South Florida Odds
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -30.5 (-110) | -10000 | O 64 (-110) |
| South Florida | +31 (-108) | +2500 | U 64.5 (-115) |
The Crimson Tide enter the weekend as -30.5 favorites on their home turf. For the betting public, it means a long shot to pick the +2500 ML in favor of USF. The Tide’s ML (-10000) offers little no value, even in parlays. Moreover, USF losing by 31 or more points is feasible, albeit a bit of a risky wager seeing how the Bulls are riding a wave of momentum offensively.
Historically speaking, USF and the Under appears to be more profitable. The ‘Tide and the Bulls last met at Raymond James Stadium in 2023. Alabama escaped with a 17-3 victory, and the two teams both leaned heavily on their defense and the rushing attack. Saturday’s game could have a strange feeling of deja vu.
The public evidently disagrees. 82% of bets are rolling with the ‘Tide to cover the 31-point spread, while just 18% are trusting the Bulls.
The total is getting the most love from the sharps. The line has jumped two points since it opened up at 62.5 on 9/1. While the steam is predicting a high-scoring affair, the volume rushing offenses of Alabama and USF could speed up the pace and make for a more conservative effort on both sides.
Alabama vs South Florida Prediction
Kalen DeBoer has an undefeated record as Alabama’s head coach. A 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky in Week 1 was a fitting way to succeed the legendary Nick Saban, and there’s no reason why the train has to slow up now.
Jalen Milroe completed 7-of-9 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns last week, proving that he’s still one of the top QB talents in the country. The junior also added 10 carries for 79 yards and two rushing touchdowns without breaking much of a sweat.
Considering Alabama didn’t make much movement in the AP rankings after last week, they will likely have a chip on their shoulder in Week 2. It’s difficult to pick against the ‘Tide when they have a statement to make. And that’s what they’re going to do at home on Saturday after they honor Saban in the pregame and halftime.
Despite their spread sitting above 30 points, they have a chance to do some serious damage against USF. That said, the score could be quite lopsided in Alabama’s revenge spot.
Alabama vs South Florida Injury Report
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor is doubtful on Saturday.
Saturday CFB Pick:
- Under 64.5 (-115)
The highly anticipated matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the South Florida Bulls is set to take place on Saturday, September 7th. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their season openers, with Alabama defeating Duke and South Florida defeating Wisconsin.
Alabama, the perennial powerhouse in college football, is once again favored to win this game. The Crimson Tide are led by head coach Nick Saban, who has built a dynasty in Tuscaloosa. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a Heisman Trophy candidate and will look to lead Alabama’s high-powered offense against South Florida’s defense.
On the other side, South Florida is looking to pull off a major upset against one of the top teams in the country. The Bulls are led by head coach Charlie Strong, who has experience coaching in big games. Quarterback Blake Barnett will need to have a strong performance if South Florida hopes to keep up with Alabama’s offense.
In terms of the odds and spread for this game, Alabama is currently favored by a significant margin. The Crimson Tide are expected to win by multiple touchdowns, reflecting their status as one of the top teams in the nation. South Florida will need to play a near-perfect game in order to keep this matchup close.
Overall, this game has the potential to be an exciting showdown between two talented teams. Alabama will look to continue their dominance in college football, while South Florida will be looking to make a statement with a win over a top program. Fans can expect a high-scoring affair with plenty of highlights on both sides of the ball.