Alabama vs The Citadel Game Preview: Everything You Need To Know Before Kickoff
The penultimate week of the college football season has arrived and The Citadel's got next.
It's the unofficial FCS week around the SEC and Tuscaloosa is taking part. Alabama will host the Bulldogs on Saturday morning in the final tune-up before next week's Iron bowl.
Here's everything you need to know about this weekend's game.
No. 1 Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC) vs The Citadel (4-5, 4-4 SoCon)
When: Saturday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL
Weather: It'll be a brisk morning with the temperatures starting around 40 degrees but it should be pleasant by the second half. After a week filled with rain, Saturday's game will be sunny with clear skies.
TV: SEC Network (Play-by-play: Dave Neal, analyst: D.J. Shockley, sideline reporter: Dawn Davenport)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-by-play: Eli Gold, color analyst: John Parker Wilson, sideline reporter: Rashad Johnson). Listen on 95.3 the Bear and Tide 102.9/100.9 in Tuscaloosa or download the station apps to stream the game for free.
Spread: You won't find a point spread for this FBS vs FCS matchup. Vegas won't try to handicap this David vs Goliath meeting nor will they try to predict who plays - and doesn't play - at quarterback.
Series History: Saturday's game will the be the historic first-ever matchup between the Tide and the Bulldogs. Alabama has yet to lose to a team in the SoCon (42-0-1 all-time) and the last meeting came a year ago when the Tide knocked off Mercer, 56-0, on November 18.
Last Meeting: These two teams have never met.
Last Week: Alabama played one of its tightest games of the year against 18th-ranked Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide jumped out to a fast start in the first quarter, scoring two touchdowns on long scoring drives to take a 14-0 lead. The Bulldogs would muff a second-quarter punt to set up a third Bama touchdown. Then a missed call cost State a late first-half touchdown and resulted in a missed field goal as time expired. The only scoring in the second half was a 49-yard field in the fourth quarter and Alabama finished out the 24-0 shutout despite season lows in points and yards on offense. It was the first time since 1980 Alabama held consecutive SEC opponents scoreless.
The Citadel celebrated homecoming last week by hosting the Samford Bulldogs. A sluggish star by the home team found Samford ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter. The Citadel used a 35-7 second half to pull out a huge comeback, 42-27, and claim the program's first home win since October 28, 2017.