Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Alabama Crimson Tide Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 08/31/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Saturday, August 31, 2024

Venue:  Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL 

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  WKU +31, Alabama -31; Over/Under:  59.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  WKU +31.5, Alabama -31.5; Over/Under:  59.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  WKU +31.5, Alabama -31.5; Over/Under:  59.5 points

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  0-0 (0-0) (Conference USA)

Alabama Crimson Tide:  0-0 (0-0) (SEC)

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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  N/A

Alabama Crimson Tide:  N/A

Western Kentucky finished last season with an 8-5 record overall and they had a 5-3 record in their conference games too.  They were 4-2 in their home games, 3-3 in their road games, and they were also 1-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be on the road for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 30.5 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 28.7 points per game. Their offense also averaged 401.8 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 419.7 yards per game. Austin Reed led the team in passing yards with 3340, Elijah Young led the team in rushing yards with 474, and Malachi Corley led the team in receiving yards with 984.

 

 

 

Alabama finished last season with a 12-2 record overall and they had an 8-0 record in their conference games too.  They were 6-1 in their home games, 5-0 in their road games, and they were also 1-1 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be at home for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 34 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 19 points per game. Their offense also averaged 393.1 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 316 yards per game. Jalen Milroe led the team in passing yards with 2834, Jase McClellan led the team in rushing yards with 890, and Jermaine Burton led the team in receiving yards with 798.

The current betting odds have Alabama listed as a 31 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Alabama finished last season with a 12-2 record overall and managed to make the college football playoff by beating Georgia in the SEC Championship. That was the final season that Nick Saban coached the team as he retired after the playoffs, but now they have a new head coach who is looking to fill those shoes. Kalen DeBoer may be no Nick Saban but he did take a Washington team that was in the gutter over the last few years and transformed them into a solid team that even went to the National Championship last season, losing to Michigan in the Final. He is going to have a lot to prove this season with all of the players that left for the portal after Saban retired, but luckily for them this is more of a tune up game anyway. Western Kentucky was a solid team last season with their 8-5 record overall, but they struggled in the Conference USA with their 5-3 conference record. They weren't much of a threat to win their own conference last season and they won't be much of a threat to win this game either with the talent that they have. Western Kentucky also lost their starting QB and have had to replace a lot of key players that were in the lineup last season. This is going to be a very different Alabama team under DeBoer, but this is a great opportunity for him to show why he was the best man for the job. Alabama won't want to have any scares in this 1st game at home so expect DeBoer to come out with a point to prove in this game. The best way to place a bet here is on Alabama to cover the spread in this game. 

Western Kentucky Alabama Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, August 31, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Alabama 56 WKU 13.

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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: 9-2 ATS in the first quarter of their last 11 games. 7-3 (+6.25 units) on the first quarter moneyline in their last 10 games. 4-0 to the first half over in their last 4 games. 

Alabama Crimson Tide: 4-8 ATS in the first half of their last 12 games. 8-2 to the over in their last 10 games. 7-2 to the first half over in their last 9 games. 

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  None.

Alabama Crimson Tide:  D. Hill (RB) - Arm. J. Hale (WR) - Knee.

“I think we’ve had a great camp, I really do. We’ve been here for two and a half weeks at this point, we’ve got our installation in the way that we wanted to. I think our players – I said to them today in our unit meeting – this is the most fun I’ve ever had coaching. It’s year 23 for me and this is the greatest group of young men I’ve ever been around. It’s kind of coupled with the best coaching staff I’ve ever been around defensively and we’ve been able to have a great camp.” - Defensive coordinator Tyson Summers on the defense coming into this new college football season.

"He entered the portal, and we reached out to him. That's how that goes, right? So we did everything the way you're supposed to." - Kalen DeBoer on Miami-Ohio transfer Graham Nicholson joining the team as their kicker this season.

WR Smith, Dalvin

WR Johnson, Kisean

WR Mathison, Michael

WR Messer, Easton 

TE Helms, River 

QB Finley, TJ

RB Young, Elijah 

WR Bernard, Germie

WR Law, Kendrick 

WR Prentice, Kobe 

TE Dippre, CJ 

QB Milroe, Jalen

RB Haynes, Justice

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Coaches:

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Tyson Helton (6th season)

Alabama Crimson Tide: Kalen DeBoer (1st season)