Few Alabama football fans enjoy early kickoffs. It does not feel like an early time slot, long used for SEC also-rans, is fitting for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Saturday’s game against the Texas Longhorns is different. The Longhorns may prove to not be near the Tide’s elite level, but Texas is not an FCS team or a lowly measured Group of Five team.
What the Longhorns are, except to their fans, is a former blueblood program trying to climb back. Texas last won a National Championship in 2005. Since the one-sided loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2010 National Championship game, the Longhorns have had one, double-digit win season. That came in Tom Herman’s second season in Austin. After two more seasons, Herman was fired.
In between Mack Brown and Herman, Charlie Strong was the Texas coach for three seasons. Strong’s teams won a combined total of 16 games. The point is Steve Sarkisian inherited a proud program defined by faded glory.
Sark’s seat is already warm in Austin, after just five wins in his first season. The Texas game against an Alabama football team that is CFB’s benchmark for championship success will define the Longhorns again.
Both Fox and ESPN are showcasing the game. ESPN is doing GameDay in Austin. To be clear the Fox Big Noon Kickoff is based on Eastern Time. The game is scheduled for 11:00 AM CST. For those Alabama football fans who have any interest in what Urban Meyer thinks about the game, the pre-game show on Fox will be on at 9:00 AM CST.
FS1 will also stream the game and the pre-game. Kickoff at Darrell K. Royal Stadium is expected to be at 11:05 AM CST. You can also watch the game on fuboTV
The TV announcers are Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt, with Jenny Taft on the sidelines.
Another source for game coverage, more pleasing to some Alabama football fans, is the Crimson Tide Sports Network (CTSN) with Chris Stewart, John Parker Wilson, Cory Reamer and Roger Hoover. Along with the network’s radio stations, the broadcast can also be heard on Sirius/XM 81/81.
Alabama Football Game Prediction
As of Friday night, FanDuel had the spread at Alabama – 20.5, with an over/under of 64.5 points. Like quite a few Alabama football fans, I am more bullish on the Crimson Tide with a 45-17 prediction.
Alabama Crimson Tide Game Notes are available here.
More background information is included in Five Reasons Longhorns are in trouble and Nine Horns who must deliver. A review of the 9-game history between the programs is provided with an admission, that the Tide’s record against the Longhorns is embarrassing.
Bama Hammer will provide full post-game insight and analysis of the game Saturday afternoon, night and Sunday.