No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs head into Alabama as historic underdogs

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mississippi State is in the midst of an historic season. As the Bulldogs head into Tuscaloosa for Saturday's battle with Alabama, they are apparently the least respected No. 1 team -- in the history of regular-season betting lines.

It doesn't matter that Mississippi State is 9-0 (5-0 in the SEC West) and is seeking the first 10-win season in school history.

The Bulldogs come into the game attempting to win at Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa first time in the same season since they did it in 1957 and ... as 10-point underdogs.

Repeat: The No. 1 team in the nation is a 10-point underdog.

"In every article you read, we are big underdogs heading into this game," head coach Dan Mullen said this week. "We know that role. We are going to be OK with that. Our guys are going to come in with a chip on their shoulder and play with great effort. No matter what everyone else is predicting, we want to play that way every week."

The underdog role is unfamilar for these Bulldogs; Mississippi State has been a double-digit favorite in its two games since becoming the top dog in the land. The Bulldogs were favored by 14.5 points on the road against Kentucky on Oct. 25 and 10.5 points the following week against Arkansas.

Mississippi State is only half the equation when the betting line is set. The other part is that the Crimson Tide is rolling. Alabama heads into this crucial clash as a favorite for the 64th consecutive game. The last time the Tide was an underdog? How about the 2009 SEC Championship game when Alabama engulfed Tim Tebow and Florida, 32-13.

Alabama also was a double-digit favorite over a No. 1 in the postseason when the Tide came in as the second-ranked team to face Notre Dame in 2013 for the national title. They also have been the favorite twice against No. 1-ranked LSU squads (Nov. 5, 2011 and Jan. 9, 2012).