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. 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.

A few patterns emerged in the three most recent Alabama openers against teams with much higher preseason rankings. They don't paint a pretty outlook for a Louisville team that's replacing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The last three Alabama wins on Labor Day saw the Tide gash big plays and feast off the kind of mistakes you'd expect to see in a first game. The wins over Wisconsin, USC and Florida State included 13 offensive touchdowns for Alabama. Those scoring plays covered an average of 29.9 yards with five covering more than 40 yards.

"I just think that's part of the culture that's preached here," tight end Hale Hentges said. "And (Saban) does a phenomenal job of trying to get us in that mindset from the very beginning. And I just think that's all about the culture around here."

Third quarters were especially ugly for Alabama's last three opening opponents. The Tide outscored the trio a combined 56-6 in the 15 minutes after halftime in games that were relatively close early.

In fact, both USC and Florida State held leads after the first quarter each of the past two seasons. Things unraveled fast for the 20th-ranked Trojans two years ago in Arlington. Alabama was up just 10-3 late in the second quarter before Marlon Humphrey returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown.

Then, just after halftime, the corner and safety both blitzed in a miscommunication that left ArDarius Stewart wide open for a walk-in 71-yard touchdown. A bobbled punt snap on the following USC drive put the Tide at the Trojan 10-yard line for another quick touchdown. Suddenly, it was 31-3 in what ended a 52-6 blowout of a USC team that went on to win the Rose Bowl over Penn State.

"I think the first game really comes down to how many mental errors do you make," Saban said, "how many mistakes do you make, how well do you tackle, how well do you take care of the ball, and how well do you execute."

Five of Alabama's seven offensive touchdown drives required four or fewer snaps and it scored on seven of the last nine possessions.

Florida State self-destructed after halftime last year as well. Four straight Seminole drives ended in the following: blocked punt, fumbled kickoff return, interception, interception.

Alabama led just 10-7 before Damien Harris smothered the Logan Tyler punt to give the Tide the ball at the FSU 6-yard line. Freshman Dylan Moses delivered his first Alabama highlight forcing a fumble following the field goal Alabama got from the blocked punt.

Harris' 11-yard touchdown one snap later practically iced the 24-7 win over the third-ranked Seminoles in the most hyped season opener Alabama had played in years. The Tide outgained FSU just 269-250 but the mistakes kept this game to living up to its billing.

Wisconsin put up a better, cleaner fight in 2015 but allowed rushing touchdowns of 37, 56 and 43 yards in an Alabama 35-17 win in Arlington.

Louisville, on the other hand, played neutral-site openers last year against Purdue and in 2015 against Auburn. Both were sloppy performances that ended in a 31-24 loss to Auburn and a 35-28 win over the Boilermakers.

The Cardinals lost three fumbles a year ago in Indianapolis. Two of the turnovers came at the shadow of the goal line and a clock management miscue cost another score just before halftime.

Against Auburn, coach Bobby Petrino called a trick play on the first snap. Putting the ball in the hands of its future Heisman winner, Jackson promptly threw an interception. The Tigers quickly scored on the short 26-yard field that resulted.

Misfires of that nature will spell disaster for a Louisville team picked to finish fifth in the seven-team Atlantic Division of the ACC. With Jackson at quarterback last season, the Cardinals ranked 86th nationally with 21 lost turnovers.

"We're going to prepare for them," said Alabama linebacker Christian Miller, "but we're going to focus on ourselves first and do whatever we need to do to make no mistakes and be our best when it comes game time."

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for Alabama Media Group. You can follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande.