Alabama embraces rare underdog opportunity at Rose Bowl
LOS ANGELES — If Nick Saban cared about such things, the Alabama coach could count on one hand all the times since 2009 his team has been a betting underdog.
He would have to use two of those fingers for the Crimson Tide's most recent game and their next one, however.
Fourth-seeded Alabama (12-1) is not the betting favorite against Michigan (13-0) in its College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Monday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook and the other big oddsmakers. It's only the fifth time over the past 14 seasons that the most decorated college football program of the 21st century is an actual underdog — even if the Wolverines are only favored by 1 1/2 points.
It's also the Tide's second straight game as an underdog.
