College Football Betting Trends: Alabama vs Mississippi State

Saturday, November 7: 7:00 p.m.

BetUS.com Football Betting Odds: Alabama -12 ½

With the SEC’s Western Division wrapped up, the Alabama Crimson Tide are now trying to achieve their second straight undefeated regular season. To do so, they’ll have to beat an underrated Mississippi State team on the road Saturday.

Here are some College Football Betting Trends Which May Impact This Game:

• Alabama: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 games
• Alabama: 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games
• Alabama: 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
• Mississippi State: 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
• Mississippi State: 1-4 SU in their last 5 home games
• Mississippi State: 9-4 ATS in their last 13 home games

The Crimson Tide are undefeated thanks in large part to one of college football’s top defenses. Looking around the roster, it is full of future NFL talent. Even more impressive though, is how this group plays as a unit, as they are currently ranked in the top five in college football in scoring defense (11.2 ppg), total defense (242 yards per game) and rushing defense (64 yards per game). In their last four games they’ve given up just three touchdowns.

With Alabama’s defense playing well, it was finally their offense which stepped up last Saturday. Greg McElroy had his best game in over a month against LSU last weekend, when he threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns. And there is simply no running back in college football better than Mark Ingram, who has rushed for over 1000 yards this season.

Alabama’s opponent on Saturday will be a feisty Mississippi State team, playing under first year coach Dan Mullen. While their record may not reflect it, the Bulldogs have improved immensely under Mullen, as to their credit they got a tough win last Saturday at Kentucky.

Like any Mullen coached team, the Bulldogs run the spread option, which the coach made famous as the offensive coordinator at Florida. On the year, they are ranked 12th in college football in rushing yardage, averaging 219 yards per game on the ground. Much of that yardage has gone to Anthony Dixon, a senior bruiser, who also might double as the most underrated player in college football. On the season, Dixon has over 1000 yards, and has rushed for 100 or more yards in six of the Bulldogs last seven games.

In this one, things will be really simple: Who’s going to win, Mississippi State’s rushing offense, or Alabama’s rushing defense.

I’m going to take the Tide. It really doesn’t seem to matter who they’re playing, the Tide’s front seven (manned by tackle Terrence Cody and linebacker Rolando McClain) always come through. And offensively, Alabama had an extra pep in their step coming off a bye last weekend.

While Mississippi State may be able to keep this close for a half, I just can’t see them doing so for a full 60 minutes. Take the Tide, giving 12 ½ points, in this week’s college football betting odds.