No. 1 Alabama is coming into the College Football Playoff as a big favorite in the semifinal matchup in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl versus No. 4 Cincinnati. According to FanDuel, Alabama is currently a 13.5-point favorite over Cincinnati.

Despite being big favorites, Alabama star outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. believes his team is coming into the game as underdogs. Anderson believes the Crimson Tide have been disrespected, but he claimed it “fuels” Alabama.

Alabama has had big odds to get into its seventh playoff in eight years, but after the 41-38 road loss to an unranked Texas A&M team early in the season, there were serious doubts. Those doubts led up to the 2021 SEC Championship Game where the Crimson Tide were underdogs to No. 1 Georgia. Alabama shocked the college football world by dominating Georgia 41-24.

Anderson likely believes Alabama is still an underdog as they would be a one-point underdog to Georgia in a head-to-head rematch, according to FanDuel. Not many people are thinking about Alabama being an underdog to anyone, especially Cincinnati, but it must inspire them to create that identity for themselves.