Alabama vs. Mississippi State: Spread Info, Line, BCS Impact and Predictions

No. 3 Alabama fell short against LSU, but to suggest that they're going to lose motivation is absurd. Even with a loss, their BCS title game hopes are still alive.

No. 2 Oklahoma State still has Oklahoma in front of them, and No. 4 Stanford takes on Oregon this week. There are a number of scenarios that will land 'Bama back in the championship picture, but they have to dominate from here on out.

That begins this week with Mississippi State, who has had an up and down season thus far, but proved with their narrow two-point loss against South Carolina that they are capable of competing against some of the best teams the SEC has to offer.

Alabama is a completely different animal. LSU awakened a beast last week, and the Crimson Tide are going to destroy anything and everything they come across for the rest of the regular season, including Mississippi State.

Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS

When: Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:45 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN/ESPN 3

Spread: Alabama -18 1/2 (via Bodog)

It's impossible to bet against Alabama. Aside from their loss against LSU, they have only failed to win by more than 18 once this season, which came on the road against Penn State.

Their defense allows a mind-blowing 7.1 PPG. Mississippi State only surrendered 19 points to LSU, but Trent Richardson and Alabama's run game will be able to dismantle Mississippi State, just as Auburn did when they dropped 41 on the Bulldogs.

Over/Under: 43

Go with the over. Alabama is going to rip Mississippi State apart, and while you can't count on the Bulldogs to contribute anything, Alabama has scored 37 points six or more times this season, and it's likely they'll do the same in this game.

Even six points from Mississippi State puts the over in the bag.

Injuries (via USA Today)

Alabama:

Marquiz Maze, WR, (Leg) Probable
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, (Neck) Probable
Barrett Jones, OL, (Ankle) Questionable
Brent Calloway, RB, (Possible Suspension) Questionable
Arie Kouandjio, OL, (Knee) Out for Season
Duron Carter, WR, (Eligibility) Out Indefinitely
Dee Hart, RB, (Knee) Out for Season

Mississippi State

Chris Hughes, LB, (Disciplinary) Out Indefinitely
Tobias Smith, OL, (Knee) Out for Season

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications:

Alabama is the best one-loss team in the nation. Winning this game won't improve their stock enough to bypass Oklahoma State, but they've got to destroy Mississippi to even give themselves a chance at remaining in the mix.

All Alabama can do at this point is take down the opponents in front of them. They have no control over how the BCS picture plays out, but a BCS game is definitely in their future.

Keys to Alabama Win:

Feed Trent Richardson.

Richardson is by far the best player on the field and is a threat every time he touches the ball. He's had a combined 100 rushing and receiving yards in eight games this season, and feeding him early and often is the surest way to build an early lead and put this game away in the first half.

Break their offense's will.

Nothing is more demoralizing than going three-and-out and watching the opposition take the ball down the field and punch in a score. Showing off their No. 1 defense and physically man handling Mississippi State will give them no chance.

Keys to Mississippi State Win:

Survive the initial onslaught.

Mississippi State isn't going to see offensive success, which makes it easy to get discouraged and let Alabama impose their will right out of the gate. As long as they can survive that initial blow, they have a chance to make a run late in the game and steal away a victory.

Get Vick Ballard going early. He's the guy on their offense who can move the chains and prevent Alabama from forcing the three-and-outs that make them so lethal. He's rushed for over 100 yards four times this season, but he doesn't need to do so against Alabama to be a huge asset.

Prediction

Alabama 42, Mississippi State 14