How Much Is Alabama Paying Major Underdog Western Kentucky For Week 1 Meeting?

Cupcake games are a staple of college football, and especially the SEC.

Programs around the country are notorious for scheduling a weaker opponent to kick off the year to shake off the rust, and build some confidence. However, these smaller programs don't want to fly across the country and get embarrassed on national television for free. It comes at a price, a hefty one at that.

To kick off their season, No. 5 Alabama will be welcoming Western Kentucky to town. The Hilltoppers are over 30 points underdogs, but even if they leave Tuscaloosa with a big loss, they'll also be leaving with a hefty fee.

As revealed by FOX College Football, Alabama will pay Western Kentucky a whopping $1.9 million for playing that game. A mark that is tied for the highest in college football, with Auburn and Georgia bothing paying their Week 1 opponents the same.

All eight of these games feature a team from the Big Ten or the SEC, which just so happen to be the highest revenue-generating conferences.

For all these schools, it is a no-brainer as both sides win. The favorite gets a chance to build confidence among its players before harder competition comes in while the lower-school gets to show what they got against the big dogs and walk away with an overly large consolation prize.

The Crimson Tide kickoff Kalen DeBoer's first season in Tuscaloosa Saturday night at 6 p.m. Central Time on ESPN, with Alabama entering the game as a 31.5-point favorite.

Related: College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 1