SportsLine projects Alabama win but backs Florida State to cover
The model forecasts a 33-20 Alabama victory in Week 3 while giving Florida State a 66 per cent chance of covering the 19.5-point spread.
SportsLine projects Alabama to defeat Florida State 33-20 when the teams meet at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, 19 September. The game is scheduled to begin at 3.30 p.m. ET.
The projection, reported by CBS Sports, makes Alabama a 19.5-point favourite. The line reportedly opened at 15.5 points before moving five points.
Despite the projected Alabama win, the model backs Florida State to cover the spread in 66 per cent of simulations. It also gives the over 49.5 total points a 53 per cent probability.
SportsLine says it simulated every FBS game 10,000 times. The 33-20 score remains a forecast rather than a match result, and the betting line and simulation percentages may change before kick-off.
Florida State covered a 3.5-point spread in its Week 1 loss to SMU, according to the CBS Sports report, and entered the matchup after a bye following its Week 0 appearance. Alabama reportedly beat Kentucky 45-17 in its previous game, although it trailed at half-time.
Florida State defeated Alabama in Tallahassee last year, the report said. The latest model therefore anticipates an Alabama victory while projecting a narrower margin against the spread.
