Here's what we know: The Alabama Crimson Tide, first in the BCS by a comfortable margin, received 59 of 60 first-place votes in the most recent Associated Press poll. The team has won seven games by an average score of 41-8. They are the defending national champions.
Here's what we don't (yet) know: just how good this team is. For all the Tide's statistical prowess, they remain veiled in a bit of mystery. We haven't seen a test on their schedule since the opener against Michigan. Four of their seven opponents so far have losing records, and their opponents' combined record is 24-25.
The veil will be lifted now, with three consecutive games against ranked divisional opponents. How might Mississippi State, LSU and Texas A&M -- with 22 combined wins -- attack the Tide? Do they have any shot at taking Bama down?
No. 11 Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 7-0, 3-0 SECWhen: Saturday
Location: Tuscaloosa
X factor: Secondary
However much of a mystery the Tide remain, the Bulldogs are even more of one. Vegas made it clear Sunday that it isn't sold on the SEC's third undefeated team, making Mississippi State a 24-point road underdog against Alabama.
The combined record of MSU's opponents is currently 19-32; the only two above-.500 teams have been 4-3 Troy and 4-3 Middle Tennessee State. Middling competition aside, a reason to believe in the huge underdog -- at least to keep it close -- is its veteran secondary. Bama QB AJ McCarron lit up Tennessee a week ago for a career high in passing yardage, but the Vols have struggled all season against teams that can throw the ball.
To read Travis Haney's full blog on Alabama, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Travis Haney
ESPN Insider• Joined ESPN as Insider's national college football writer in April 2012
• Previously wrote for The Oklahoman and The Post and Courier
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Travis HaneyTravis Haney joined ESPN in April 2012 as Insider's national college football writer. He previously covered the University of Oklahoma Sooners for The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman for one season, and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks for The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier for four. Additionally, Haney has contributed since 2003 to ESPN publications and projects, including ESPN The Magazine.
A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Haney's initial introduction to a college football cathedral was Neyland Stadium. He later graduated from the University of Tennessee, in 2003, and has spent time covering the Volunteers, the University of Georgia, Clemson University, and other schools. Safe to say, football, and football in the South, was injected into his bloodstream at a young age.
Haney is the author of three books -- Gamecock Glory and Gamecock Encore, which chronicled the South Carolina baseball team's run to the 2010 and 2011 national championships, and State of Disunion, a historical look at the Clemson-South Carolina football rivalry that he co-wrote with Larry Williams.
Haney resides in Charlotte, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter here.
