Alabama football schedule: The 1 potential trap game facing Crimson Tide

Alabama football head coach Nick Saban. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama football doesn’t lose to unranked teams often, but the Crimson Tide need to be on the lookout for underdogs and a big trap game.

Let’s face it, Alabama football doesn’t really have trap games. In the past decade, they’ve lost only to rival Auburn or ranked teams.

Seriously, it’s been a ridiculous run for Nick Saban.

That doesn’t mean Saban’s teams don’t occasionally face more trouble than they expect. In 2020, Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss gave the Crimson Tide all they could handle.

Who could do the same in 2021?

Watch out for Mississippi State as Alabama’s 2021 trap game

It might seem strange to worry about a team that was thoroughly beaten by Alabama in 2020. The Crimson Tide were the only team to blank Mike Leach’s offense in a 41-0 lead. That’s the kind of thinking that causes you to overlook an opponent.

Leach’s offense will be more well-established in 2021 and he’ll have plenty of reason to change his approach against Alabama. Quarterback Will Rogers will be an experienced sophomore as well.

The Mississippi State game is sandwiched between two bigger rivalry matchups. It comes after Texas A&M at Kyle Field and before Tennessee at Bryant-Denny. The letdown-lookahead potential is real.

Since it’s in Starkville, the road element will be there. It will be the biggest game of the season for Bulldog fans, aside from the Egg Bowl.

Mississippi State will be fresh coming off a bye week, which will give them a slight edge they can ride towards upset potential.

There are bigger challenges on the schedule for Alabama, but that’s why trap games exist. They’re the ones you don’t take as seriously. Teams pay for that dearly.

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