Alabama vs Florida State Picks - August 30

The 2025 college football season is finally here, and we have a tremendous slate of Week 1 action to start the campaign. One of the most interesting games on Saturday’s card is in Tallahassee, Florida, where the Alabama Crimson Tide are set to take on the Florida State Seminoles in what feels like a bounce-back game for both programs. With this SEC vs ACC clash nearly upon us, let’s dive into our expert’s college football predictions and NCAAF best bets for this matchup. 

Alabama vs Florida State Predictions

Pick #1: Alabama Crimson Tide -13.5 over Florida State Seminoles (-110) Click Here to Bet

Pick #2: Over 50.5 total points (-110) Click Here to Bet

Pick #3: Ryan Williams (Alabama) anytime touchdown scorer (-125) Click Here to Bet

PICK #1: Alabama -13.5 over Florida State (-110)

This is a fascinating contest from a number of different angles, and it all starts with Florida State trying to flush last year’s abysmal 2-10 season down the drain and start anew. Mike Norvell poached quarterback Tommy Castellanos from Boston College, but going up against a ferocious Alabama defense that is both deep and experienced isn’t exactly a winning recipe for a quarterback making his first start on a new team. 

As for the visitors, Alabama is loaded with blue-chip guys across the roster, but their most dangerous unit is their deep and uber-talented wide receiver room led by Ryan Williams. The sophomore is already one of the best receivers in the country, and he could certainly have a Rome Odunze-type of role from DeBoer’s 2023 Washington team this season. Despite the fact that they’re breaking in a new quarterback, the Crimson Tide should take a major step forward in 2025. 

With plenty of talent at the skill positions surrounding Williams, Alabama should be a quick-strike offense that can score from all areas of the field, along with the talent up front to run the ball whenever they want. Let’s back the Tide to make a statement on Saturday. 

PICK #2: Over 50.5 Total Points (-110)

Due to how grossly inept the Seminoles were on offense last season, we could be getting some value with Florida State to score some points in this one. Despite how bad last season went, things should be better for the Seminoles this year under Gus Malzahn, and it is also worth remembering how much Alabama’s defense struggled against mobile quarterbacks when plays broke down.

On the Alabama side of things, the Crimson Tide have offense everywhere, and even though they have a new signal caller to break in, there is no reason to think DeBoer and company won’t let him sling it. Ultimately, Ryan Grubb being inserted as offensive coordinator should signal a change in philosophy, and that means getting the ball into the hands of super-talented playmakers early and often.

PICK #3: Ryan Williams (Alabama) Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+100)

Ryan Williams is one of the most talked-about wide receivers in the nation, and he should expect to get plenty of targets in this game against a Florida State secondary that has a ton of questions to answer following an abysmal campaign a season ago. With plenty of points expected in this game, the star sophomore wideout figures to be the focal point of Alabama’s passing offense and a security blanket for his new quarterback. After finishing with eight touchdowns a season ago, let’s take Williams to find the end zone on Saturday.