Last season, Alabama’s only blemish came in week three against Ole Miss. After that loss, they essentially knocked out every opponent the rest of the way resulting in another championship for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. This season, Alabama opens up against a rejuvenated USC squad who is ready to show the nation they are finally moving on from the turmoil that engulfed their campus for a three-year span.

USC has won their last eighteen openers in a row while Alabama has won their last fourteen openers. USC went 8-6 last season and made it all the way to the Pac-12 championship game against dreaded Stanford. Stanford took care of USC, and USC was relegated to the Holiday Bowl where they lost to Wisconsin from the Big Ten. These two losses put a damper on what was a successful restart for a program under constant pressure by media and fans to win and move on the ongoing saga of coaches’ merry-go-round. Alabama on the other hand has seen consistent performance and leadership from Nick Saban who once again led them to another National Championship. The Crimson Tide finished the season 14-1, and a dominant record of 7-1 in conference play. Lane Kiffin returns for his third as offensive coordinator for Alabama, and will be facing USC for the first time since his infamous and humiliating departure.

A key matchup to observe during this game is whether Alabama’s offensive line will dominate against USC’s defensive front. USC lost veterans and their depth is lacking severely on the defensive side of the ball, which could hinder them against teams with strong lines like Alabama. Alabama will look to do their typical game style of grinding out the ball and controlling the clock. However, Alabama was not very good at third down conversions last season, and if USC can keep Alabama in long third down plays, then there is a chance for the Trojans to remain close in the score. Offensively for the Trojans, majority of the starters have returned with the exception of quarterback. During the off season, there was rumors of a potential quarterback controversy between Matt Browne and Sam Darnold. Matt Browne won the battle over Darnold, but it has been hinted Darnold could be used in special situations if warranted. Wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster has garnered national recognition as a premier receiver and is considered one of the best in all of college football.

A key component of this game for the Trojans will whether their defensive unit can counter the Crimson Tide’s grinding style of play. If so, USC can take advantage with their terrific secondary and could spell trouble for Saban’s offense. Alabama also features one of the best defensive ends in college football in Jonathan Allen, who accumulated 12 sacks last season and 14.5 tackles that resulted in a loss.

Historically, these two teams have only met seven times in their illustrious program histories. Alabama holds the all-time record of 5-2, and each matchup throughout history has brought memories for both schools. USC faces a daunting schedule this season with no pushovers, and Alabama will be the perfect start. While I think there could be a potential for an upset by USC, I think Alabama’s veteran leadership and Saban’s ability to handle teams like USC should enable them to hang on and win another opener. Final score prediction: Alabama 30, USC 20.