Peach Bowl organizers are calling the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State the "GOAT," and on paper, it certainly feels like the greatest kickoff game of all time.
Alabama comes in expected to recapture the glory of its 2015 national title, while Florida State is being counted on as the team that will walk through the door Deshaun Watson opened when he left defending national champion Clemson a year early for the NFL.
What should you expect when the Crimson Tide and Seminoles tee it up?
Viewing information
Date: Saturday, Sept. 2 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium -- Atlanta
TV: ABC | Live stream: WatchESPN
Storylines
Alabama: The goal for Alabama all offseason was to become more explosive in the downfield passing game, and it's on sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to make that happen. It'll be challenging against a Seminole secondary led by safety Derwin James and corner Tarvarus McFadden, but might be necessary if the Seminole front seven can have success against the Tide ground game. Florida State's offensive line is susceptible, and Alabama's front seven typically terrorizes opposing quarterbacks. How much and how often it does likely will determine the outcome of "The GOAT."
What side of FSU-Alabama should you take? Visit SportsLine now to see why the FSU-Alabama line is way off, and see what X-factor determines the outcome, all from SportsLine's top college football expert last season.
Florida State: Quarterback Deondre Francois took a beating last year behind a bad offensive line, and now it has one of the game's toughest challenges right out of the gate. If Francois can stay poised in the toughest test of his career, there are more than enough weapons on the Seminole offense to make Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban sweat. How Florida State's defense attacks Hurts and how much it success it has against Bo Scarbrough and the running backs will be a big factor.
Prediction
Alabama drastically changes games when its defense rattles opposing quarterbacks and forces them into mistakes. Francois didn't do that as a redshirt freshman last year, and he won't as a sophomore. The Seminoles will score in the high 20s, put more pressure on Hurts than he's used to and keep it tight all the way throughout. Alabama has struggled with field goals during fall camp, and it'll cost the Crimson Tide the victory against the Seminoles. Pick: Florida State (+7)