The best thing about football season is that no matter what happens the week before, there's usually another game the next week. That allows you to flush the game and re-focus on the task ahead. Perhaps no team in the country is more in need of burning the tape from a particular game than Alabama.
The Crimson Tide got embarrassed by Florida State last week, falling 31-17 in a final score that doesn't come close to showing how disappointing the performance was. Alabama fell from the No. 8-ranked team in the country all the way down to No. 21 in the AP Poll, the lowest ranking for the program since the preseason poll of 2008.
There isn't anything Alabama can do this week to wash away the stink from Tallahassee, but they can get better. That's all they can try to do right now.
This weekend, Alabama plays its home opener in Bryant-Denny Stadium in front of what will probably be a less-than-friendly and certainly impatient crowd. The opponent will be Louisiana Monroe, but that's irrelevant. Any opponent for the Crimson Tide right now should be faceless as they look to get back to playing to a standard.
Alabama has to prove it can play Alabama football, no matter who lines up against it.
How to watch No. 21 Alabama vs. UL Monroe in Week 2
- Date: Saturday, September 6
- Time: 6:45 pm C.T.
- Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): SEC Network
- Streaming: fubo TV
- Alabama record: 0-1
- UL Monroe record: 1-0
What are the betting odds for Alabama vs. UL Monroe?
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread: Alabama -37.5
Over/Under: 50.5
Moneyline: N/A
Injury report for Alabama and UL Monroe
Alabama:
- RB Jam Miller: OUT (Collarbone)
- DL Tim Keenan: OUT (Ankle)
- WR Ryan Williams: Questionable (Concussion)
- Jah-Marien Latham: Questionable (Lower body injury)
- WR Isaiah Horton: Probable (Lower body injury)
UL Monroe:
- NONE
Who are the announcers for Alabama vs. UL Monroe?
The SEC Network crew of Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter) will be in Tuscaloosa and on the call for the Crimson Tide's home opener on Saturday night.
What will the weather be like for Alabama football on Saturday?
The high on Saturday is 89 with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. The chance of rain is currently projected to greatly decrease in the evening by the time kickoff rolls around. It should be a beautiful night for football with temps in the 70s and partly cloudy skies.
Alabama vs. UL Monroe series history
Alabama holds a 3-1 all-time record in four meetings against UL Monroe. The last meeting between the two came in 2022 with Alabama blowing out the Warhawks 63-7.
The most famous meeting between the two programs occurred in 2007 when UL Monroe pulled off a stunning 21-14 upset of Alabama in Tuscaloosa during Nick Saban's first season as the Crimson Tide's head coach.