We’ve heard this one time and time again, and it’s gotten old: Could (all-time amazing college basketball or football team) beat (putrid, terrible NBA or NFL team) if they played each other?

Everyone argues about it and no one is right, because an exhibition like that would never happen. It’s an exercise in pointlessness.

But here’s a wrinkle in the concept that’s actually new and interesting to talk about: Could (good college squad) cover the spread against (bad professional team)? And it’s been presented by Westgate Sports Book in Las Vegas:

This would be interesting to see 🤔 The Buffalo Bills would be favored by 28.5 points on a neutral field against Alabama, per the SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/PSyRKYr1gt — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 9, 2018

That’s right, we have a line set for a hypothetical Buffalo Bills and Alabama Crimson Tide neutral field matchup. Bills (-28.5) is humongous … but could Nick Saban’s team cover?

It’s a great question, isn’t it? If I was writing it up in our weekly NFL picks against the spread, this is what I’d say:

Crimson Tide vs. Bills (-28.5)

Charles: Let’s all remember something about anytime this kind of thought experiment gets mentioned: The NFL takes the 250 best players in college each year, cuts down the ones who aren’t good enough, and pits them against other elite players. At the end of the day, Alabama is still a college team with some NFL prospects.

Their defense (11th in the nation in the toughest conference in the country) could have a shot at shutting down Nathan Peterman for a series, but let’s not forget that before he was slinging interceptions in Western New York, he threw 27 touchdowns as a senior for Pitt. He’s won’t be as bad as he’s looked against NFL competition.

How would Tua Tagovailoa fare against the Bills D? Considering that Buffalo has the third-best passing defense in the league and just held the Patriots to “only” 25 points two weeks ago, I don’t think Bama’s scoring more than seven.

That would mean the Bills would have to put up 36 points, nine more than their season-high in a win on the road against the Vikings (and that was Josh Allen under center). Even against an all-time great college squad, the Bills are covering, but let’s say that it would be interesting for, at most, a half.

What do you think?