Bettors interested in laying money on this week’s Citadel-Alabama game will need to consider a mammoth spread.

The Crimson Tide opened as a 51.5 favorite over the Bulldogs, an FCS opponent, with an over-under of 60.5, according to VegasInsider.com.

The Bulldogs are 3-5, but beat Samford last week on the strength of 289 rushing yards, including five touchdowns in the final 30 minutes. Their five losses are against Wofford, Chattanooga, Towson, East Tennessee State and Furman. Wofford, Chattanooga and Towson were all ranked in the FCS at the time of their matchups.

The Samford win, which was 42-27, came after The Citadel trailed by 21 points in the first half. It was The Citadel’s first win at home since Oct. 28, 2017. The Citadel the last two weeks has outscored Samford and Western Carolina by 63-3 in the second half of come-from-behind victories.

Alabama, meanwhile, has not allowed a point in the last 140:17 dating back to the game against Tennessee on Oct. 20. The Alabama defense hasn’t surrendered a point in the last 152:18 of game action.

This is the first meeting between the schools, and The Citadel’s first against an SEC opponent since its 23-22 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Nov. 21, 2015.