Will Anderson gets gold medal in mental gymnastics for believing Alabama is underdog

Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson made a dubious claim that Alabama football is an underdog in the College Football Playoff.

Athletes do whatever it takes to get their head right before a big game. Having the right mindset is half the battle.

Sometimes that involves some really, really impressive mental gymnastics.

And on that front, Will Anderson of Alabama just won a gold medal.

Will Anderson claims Alabama football is an underdog in the CFP semifinal

“To me, I still feel like we’re the underdog in this game. All year we’ve been disrespected. I’m pretty sure we’re probably getting disrespected out there,” Anderson said, per Mike Rodak of AI.com.

Alabama is such an underdog the oddsmakers have them favored over Cincinnati by almost two touchdowns.

They’re so disrespected that ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them a 71.2 percent chance of victory.

No one believes in them, which is probably why the AP, Coaches and CFP committee rankings have them at No. 1.

The oddsmakers, statisticians and media aren’t the only ones who doubt the Tide. The college football-loving public clearly don’t buy the Crimson Tide either. After all, 83 percent of participants in ESPN’s College Playoff pick’em sided with Alabama.

Was that enough sarcasm for you?

Alabama is an underdog against Cincinnati the way Goliath was an underdog to David. The idea is as absurd as Bryce Young’s claim that he was doubted on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.

The Crimson Tide are a lot of things: A juggernaut, a dynasty, a powerhouse. An underdog is not one of them.

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