TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama started the season as an underdog in the Georgia Dome. Twelve wins and no losses later, the Crimson Tide return to the Dome, and again the oddsmakers are expecting them to lose.

But Alabama’s players didn’t express much surprise at Vegas listing them as 10-point underdogs to Florida, believed to be the most points ever given to a No. 1 team. Alabama was also an underdog to Clemson in the season opener.

“Florida has been putting up 50 points, beating people by four touchdowns. Anybody that gets in their way, they’re just mowing over,” Alabama linebacker Cory Reamer said. “That’s part of it. People have written us off as underdogs before and we’ve proven them wrong. It’s nothing different. We’re going to do what we do and go prepare like we’ve always prepared.”

The Gators, fourth in the BCS ratings, have outscored opponents 414-97 since losing to Ole Miss on Sept. 27. They’ve scored 42 or more points in their last seven games.

And that’s the reason, several Alabama players said, why the Gators are such heavy favorites. Their flashy style, compared to Alabama’s methodical, power-run attack, makes them more compelling.

“We’re underdogs just because they focus on the great athleticism that those guys consist of,” Alabama defensive back Javier Arenas said. “And they do have great athleticism. Whoever is marking us as a 10-point underdog, I think that’s what they’re focusing on. That’s what they do. It’s their opinion. We’re going to just play our best game and let it all unravel from there.”

The Tide aren’t using the point spread for any motivation. It’s just the same story, different day.

“It doesn’t effect me. We haven’t really been favored that much all year,” Alabama defensive end Bobby Greenwood said. “This doesn’t really change anything. We’ll see who’s on top at the end. That’s what really matters.”

Harvin still a question

Florida coach Urban Meyer still called receiver/running back Percy Harvin questionable to play Saturday but sounded a little more optimistic than he did Sunday.

“It’s very positive, very positive, a lot of thumbs up — including from the player, a big thumbs up, a smile on his face,” Meyer said. “He’s as competitive a human being as I’ve ever been around. He’s doing everything he can possibly do, and our training staff’s the best in college football. That’s all positive.

“The negative is it’s a sprained ankle, and we know what sprained ankles mean. We’re going to boot him and he will not do anything until later in the week.”

Alabama players didn’t seem too concerned about the news, with Arenas even saying he hoped Harvin was all right. Reamer noted that the Gators still moved the ball without Harvin against Florida State, and Jeff Demps had 89 yards rushing.

“The backup, Demps, made a bunch of big plays just as well as Percy Harvin would,” Reamer said. “Whether Harvin plays or not, they’re going to have somebody that’s going to be able to be as explosive as Percy Harvin.”

Honor for McClain

Alabama sophomore linebacker and leading tackler Rolando McClain was selected as one of 12 finalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker. McClain leads the team with 82 tackles and 11 tackles for loss.

“Dick Butkus was one of the greatest linebackers ever to play the game, and to have my name mentioned along with his is an honor,” McClain said. “But our season hasn’t been about individual awards, and I wouldn’t be on this list without my teammates.”