Upset chance for No. 18 Bulldogs

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Alabama just dispatched its strongest division challenger. Now it faces its closest rival.

Geographically, at least.

The Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 1 CFP) hosts No. 18 Mississippi State (6-3, 2-3) Saturday trying to extend a 10game winning streak over the West Division rival from about 90 minutes down the road.

Alabama is a 24½-point favorite after a 29-0 win over No. 9 LSU in what was presumed to be the biggest regular season test. That win secured a spot against No. 5 Georgia in the SEC championship game on Dec. 1.

Tide players are finding ways to motivate themselves even if team doubters aren’t exactly numerous.

“They said we haven’t played anybody and that our offense and defense were very suspect,” tight end Irv Smith Jr. said. “We wanted to go out there and show everybody what we were capable of doing.”

Smith’s conclusion after the Baton Rouge beatdown: “Offensively and defensively I feel like nobody can stop us in the country.”

But the Bulldogs, led by quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, are game. The SEC’S top-rated overall, scoring and pass defense gets a shot at what no team has been able to do: Contain Alabama’s Heisman Trophy candidate QB Tua Tagovailoa.

Mississippi State has allowed nine touchdowns, fewest in the nation, and ranks second in average poins allowed at 12.3 points.

The offense, though, has only topped 10 points twice in that decadelong losing streak to the Tide, including last year’s 31-24 loss.