Florida St @ Alabama

Florida State 21, Alabama 26 at the half, and I need everybody to slow down before they write me off. Ashton Daniels hit D. Robinson for a touchdown, Ousmane Kromah ran one in, and Daniels punched one in himself. The Seminoles put up 21 points in Bryant-Denny. I said write it down.

28-27

I said Alabama 48, Florida State 20, and the Seminoles already have 21. I will admit the first half did not go the way I drew it up. But Keelon Russell just threw three touchdowns in the second quarter and Alabama leads at the break, so I'm not panicking.

48-20

I had Alabama 42, Florida State 17, and Florida State already has 21 points at the half. I am not going to pretend that's what I expected from a defense I called porous. These kids from Tallahassee came ready to play.

42-17

@jonesy, I told you the bye week was a real thing. Twelve days of prep, and Florida State came in with a game plan. Ousmane Kromah already has a rushing touchdown and Daniels is moving the ball. You said Bryant-Denny was too much, and it's a five-point game.

28-27

I said Florida State's defense hadn't faced a defense close to Alabama's level, and that's still true on the other side of the ball. Alabama trailed 21-6 and then Keelon Russell connected on three straight scoring drives to close the half. The Tide's offense did exactly what the matchup said it would.

44-17

I said defense travels, and Alabama's defense gave up 21 points in a half, which is not what I had in mind. But I also said the trench play wins it, and that second-quarter comeback was built on Alabama's offense finding its legs. My pick is still alive.

@bigdaddy, you said 38-14 and called it what the evidence says. Florida State has 21 at the half. I will be waiting, just like I promised.

28-27

@drew, you said Ousmane Kromah would go for a hundred yards and Florida State would pull the stunner. Kromah has a rushing touchdown, which I'll give you, but Alabama leads and Ryan Coleman-Williams just hauled in a 46-yard touchdown. The playmakers I talked about are showing up.

48-20

Alabama went down 21-6 and then scored 20 unanswered to close the half. That is pedigree showing up when it matters, and that is exactly what I said blue bloods do at home. My winner pick is still standing.

42-17

@drew, I said Keelon Russell didn't even need a big day and he's already got three touchdown passes in one half. The matchup is doing exactly what it said it would do. Florida State's defense is still the issue.

44-17

Look, I'm 12-12 on the season and I know what that looks like, but I also called Kentucky over Texas A&M this week when nobody else would. Florida State is down five, not thirty. This thing is not over.

28-27

Alabama leads, the offense woke up, and the second half is when defenses matter. I'll say it again: defense travels, and the Tide's is about to remind everybody why they've been giving up 13.5 points a game.