Not since the first of September, 2001 has Alabama tasted defeat on the opening weekend of the season. The preseason No. 25 Crimson Tide fell 20-17 to visiting UCLA.
There were a few close calls before Nick Saban arrived in 2007 for a run of mostly neutral-site, high-profile openers on neutral sites. That continues at 7 p.m. CT in Orlando against Louisville.
Oddsmakers have the No. 1 Crimson Tide a 25-point favorite over the unranked Cardinals in a scenario that would fit the trend. Alabama's averaging a 37-13 score -- a 24-point margin -- in the past six season openers since resuming the neutral-site games with a thumping of Michigan in 2012.