Stallings: Alabama by 20 over Penn State

One. That’s the number of third downs San Jose State converted in 13 tries against Alabama’s defense in Saturday’s opener.

“If you just look at one statistic, your effectiveness on third down will pretty well dictate the outcome of the game,” said former Alabama coach Gene Stallings, one of the members of the Legends Poll who chimed in on Tuesday’s conference call. “Even a nobody team will pick up two or three third downs, but Alabama held them to 1 of 13.

“I think Alabama really has a good football team. I think they’re the best team in the country,” Stallings added.

Fellow Legends Poll voter and former San Jose State coach John Ralston also was in Tuscaloosa to witness the Crimson Tide’s 48-3 rout of the Spartans.

“Alabama could have done whatever they wanted,” said Ralston.

The Crimson Tide should get a sterner test from Penn State, who visits Saturday. Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions started a true freshman quarterback for the first time in the coach’s 49 seasons against Youngstown State. Robert Bolden completed 20 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns in his debut to lead Penn State to an easy win.

Stallings doesn’t expect a similar performance from Bolden on Saturday. “It’s not a good place for a true freshman to start,” Stallings said. “I don’t think Penn State has as good of team as they had in the past. I think Alabama beats them by 20 points.”

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