Alabama vs. Miami college football odds, pick: Tide on 75-game winning streak as double-digit favorites; not lost non-conference in regular-season since 2007

There have been some amazing feats accomplished by the Alabama football program under Coach Nick Saban, and a few incredible streaks are on the line Saturday afternoon from Atlanta (click for model pick) when the top-ranked defending national champions face No. 14 Miami (Fla.). The Tide are 19.5-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook and have won 75 straight games as at least 10-point favorites, by far the longest streak in the nation. No. 2 is Clemson at 42 in a row. 

It's the record 81st straight game Bama is favored. As of this writing at Caesars, Alabama is taking 67 percent of all spread action on the tickets and 83 percent of money wagered. 

Saban is 62-7 at Alabama in non-conference games overall and only two of those losses came in the regular season, both in 2007 and by 21-14 scores: Against Florida State and UL-Monroe. That Bama team finished 7-6, but the dynasty began in 2008.

In season openers under Saban, the Tide are 14-0 straight up and 11-2 against the spread – one game was off the board – making him the most profitable coach in Game 1 since 2005. The Tide are 5-2 ATS in Week 1 games when favored by 14 or more points.

Alabama has averaged 40.6 points in those 14 season-opening games and allowed just 11.6 per. The Tide are 6-0 ATS against ranked opponents in openers. While Saturday's Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is technically a neutral site in Atlanta, the Tide are 15-1 SU in the city under Saban and have won their past 14.

The defense may have to carry Alabama early as just three starters return on offense. New starting QB Bryce Young is a +900 third-favorite to win the Heisman Trophy even though he has attempted just 22 career passes. No Tide quarterback has won the Heisman. Alabama carries a streak of 26 straight games (including postseason) of scoring at least 30 points. That's No. 2 in FBS history behind Central Florida's run of 31 in a row from 2017-19.

Via ESPN's returning production ratings, Miami ranks fourth nationally with 91 percent of its production back from last season compared to 55 percent for Alabama (110th in the country). The Hurricanes have their own Heisman Trophy QB candidate in D'Eriq King, who is one of just 11 quarterbacks in the FBS this year with more than 30 career starts under center. King was last seen tearing his ACL in the Dec. 29, 2020, Cheez-It Bowl loss to Oklahoma State but is good to go.

King will be protected by one of the country's most experienced offensive lines as Miami's 159 combined starts at the FBS level trails only Minnesota (180) in combined experience on the O-Line.

The last time the Hurricanes opened the season against the No. 1 team, they routed Florida State in 1988. Alabama is 14-3 all-time in this series, but the teams haven't met since the 1993 Sugar Bowl. This writer is taking the points. 

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