Alabama Crimson Tide and Mississippi State Bulldogs are set for an SEC showdown on Saturday afternoon at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS.
Alabama is ranked No. 7 in the country and is 4-0 overall to go along with a 2-0 record in SEC play. On the other side, Mississippi State is also off to a 4-0 start and enters this contest ranked No. 16.
This is one of the most anticipated matchups of the Week 5 college football slate, and is sure to deliver plenty of fireworks and intriguing storylines.
With kick-off slated for noon ET on ABC, it’s time to break down the odds and go over the best bets to make.
Alabama vs. Mississippi State betting picks and predictions
Alabama -6.0 (-105)
Mississippi State has been the darling of the college football season so far. Jeff Lebby has the Bulldogs trending in the right direction, and has a high-flying offense that can put up points in a hurry.
MSU has picked up wins over ULM, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Missouri, but their toughest test awaits on Saturday.
Alabama has dominated this head-to-head series in recent memory. The Crimson Tide have won 16 consecutive matchups against the Bulldogs.
With Mississippi State coming off an emotional and dramatic win over Missouri last week, Alabama could be in a position to continue its dominance in this SEC series.
The Bulldogs’ 31-24 victory over Missouri last week gave them their first ranked win in their last 14 attempts. MSU trailed 24-17 entering the fourth quarter, and needed a magical final 15 minutes from Kamario Taylor to find the win column. After such an emotional win, the Bulldogs are in a classic letdown spot.
Alabama first-year starting QB Keelon Russell has already gone on the road and picked up a win at Kentucky in Week 2. That experience should serve him well, and this game kicking off at noon as opposed to under the lights could also benefit the Crimson Tide.
It’s also worth noting that these teams have a common opponent in South Carolina. Mississippi State won by seven against the Gamecocks, while Alabama won by 31. Back the Tide on the spread.
Over 60.5 (-110)
Both of these offenses know how to score in a hurry. Alabama is putting up 48 points per game so far this season, while Mississippi State isn’t far behind with 43 points per game of their own. Both quarterbacks have been fantastic, and both are capable of leading high-scoring efforts for their respective teams.
Russell is completing over 70% of his passes and has racked up 1,129 yards through the air. Most importantly, he seems extremely comfortable leading the Crimson Tide offense as a first-year starter. He’s also racked up 168 yards and three touchdowns as a rusher.
On the other side, Taylor is completing 69.2% of his passes for 1,192 yards and is tied for the national lead in touchdown passes with 14. He’s also been an effective runner, racking up 185 yards and a score with his legs.
It’s tough to see this game resulting in a defensive slugfest. With a total of 60.5, look to the over.
Kamario Taylor 250+ passing yards (-130)
Kamario Taylor has exceeded the 250-yard mark in three of four games this season, and he seems to be in a favorable spot to keep that trend alive in this one. The only game that Taylor didn’t go over this number was in Week 2 against Minnesota when MSU was in firm control and took its foot off the gas in the 2nd half.
The Alabama defense has sprung some leaks this season, and Taylor is more than capable of taking advantage. The Crimson Tide allowed Florida State QB Ashton Daniels to go wild for 377 yards through the air, which is worrisome.
It’s also worth noting that if MSU falls behind, they will be forced to throw even more, which gives more opportunities for Taylor to rack up the yards. With an electric group of playmakers at his disposal, look for Taylor to collect at least 250 yards through the air.
Read more college football picks and predictions on site.
Alabama vs. Mississippi State odds
Alabama | -220 |
Mississippi State | +180 |
Spread | Alabama -6 |
Total | O/U 60.5 |
Alabama vs. Mississippi State player props
Anytime Touchdown
Daniel Hill (Alabama) | -170 |
Fluff Bothwell (MSU) | -165 |
Keelon Russell (Alabama) | -125 |
Kamario Taylor (MSU) | -115 |
Anthony Evans III | -110 |
EJ Crowell (Alabama) | +110 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
