STARKVILLE, Miss. — Breaking No. 4 Alabama's 31-6 win Saturday at No. 20 Mississippi State:
THE BIG PICTURE: Alabama’s first game after LSU is always a potential hangover spot, and the Crimson Tide was slow to get cranked up Saturday as its first five drives ended with four punts and an interception. But after Alabama got on the board with a punt return touchdown early in the second quarter, it never seemed like Mississippi State was in good position to pull the upset. And with this tricky road test out of the way, it seems almost inevitable that Alabama will be in the College Football Playoff.