Week 12 college football odds: Alabama a new team at Bryant-Denny

Alabama has been a much better team at home this season, but Mississippi State will be the Crimson Tide's toughest challenge yet. Here's how you should bet on this big SEC West showdown.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are just 2-10 SU in their last 12 games as a road underdog and 1-8 SU over their last nine. Mississippi State will try to buck the trend Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite holding the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings, Mississippi State is an 8.5-point underdog against Alabama, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

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The Bulldogs are 4-1 SU and ATS over their last four road games. They boast a 9-0 SU and 5-4 ATS record this season, including impressive wins over LSU and Auburn. Dak Prescott has enjoyed an excellent season so far with 2,231 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns to go along with 779 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. The Bulldogs are 3-1 ATS in their last four SEC road games and 3-1 ATS in their last four games as a road underdog.

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The Crimson Tide are just 2-6-1 ATS this season, but an 8-1 SU record has Alabama firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot. Sitting at No. 5 this week, the Crimson Tide would like enter the top four with a win Saturday. Alabama’s offense has been noticeably stronger at home this season than it has been on the road, as the Tide have averaged 48.5 points per game in their four home games. Each of Alabama's final three regular season games will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where the Crimson Tide are 13-0 SU in their last 13 games as favorites.

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Saturday's total is set at 51.5 points at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The UNDER is 11-2-1 in the last 14 games between Alabama and Mississippi State.

Saturday’s game is shaping up to be an instant classic with its impact on both the SEC West race and playoff picture. Alabama's 7-0 SU and ATS record in its last seven home games help make the Crimson Tide a big betting favorite, but Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs likely won't go down without a fight.