Intro by Doug Kezirian
Whenever Nick Saban and Alabama take the field, they seemingly are breaking or extending a record -- and Saturday will be just the latest case. The Crimson Tide are poised to become the largest road favorite over an AP top-15 team since 2000, laying 15.5 points against the No. 11 Florida Gators.
"How much of this line is an overreaction to how dominant 'Bama was against Miami," pro bettor Jay Romano said to ESPN, referencing the Crimson Tide's 44-13 mauling in the season opener. "The Gators have a better defense than Miami. They're playing (at home) in The Swamp. They're familiar with this Alabama team and have been able to play with them the last couple years. And we haven't seen Bryce Young in a hostile environment."
Alabama is favored for an 83rd straight game, which is the nation's longest active streak, and is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games games as double-digit favorite. The public will ride the Tide and thus they will have to pay a tax to back Saban, who is 10-0 in his career against Dan Mullen.
"You're never going to make a living betting against 'Bama. I don't care about the situation. However, having said that, where is the Florida money coming from other than the sharps? This line is likely going up," Romano said. "It's taking everything in me not to grab the 15.5 points."