No. 2 Alabama (2-0, 2-0 SEC) at Mississippi (1-1, 1-1), Saturday at 6 p.m. ET ESPN).
Line: Alabama by 24.
Series Record: Alabama leads 55-10-2 (52-11-2 after NCAA sanctions).
WHAT’S AT STAKE
For the Rebels and first-year coach Lane Kiffin, a win over Alabama would go a long way toward establishing credibility and momentum. Alabama wants to keep things rolling and perhaps get the running game going ahead of a home game against No. 3 Georgia.
KEY MATCHUP
The Rebels defense against a big-play Alabama offense led by quarterback Mac Jones and several dangerous receivers. The Ole Miss offense has been hard to stop, but the defense ranks last in the league in rushing and total yards allowed and points allowed. It has all the makings of a potential shootout, but the loaded Tide attack faces a defense giving up 46 points and 600.5 yards a game. It could also represent a chance for Alabama tailback Najee Harris to rack up some yards, though he has run for five touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alabama: CB Patrick Surtain Jr. is one of the nation’s top cover men in a secondary otherwise comprised of new starters. That means teams can often throw away from him. But the Tide hasn’t faced a team yet that throws the ball as much as the Rebels, so chances are he’ll get tested more.
Mississippi: QB Matt Corral is off to a blazing start as a passer but has also been a productive runner. He will likely need to have success both ways for the Rebels to have a chance at keeping up with the Tide. Corral has the nation’s leading receiver Elijah Moore, playmaking tight end Kenny Yeboah and receiver Jonathan Mingo.
FACTS & FIGURES
Alabama coach Nick Saban is 20-0 against former assistants and 1-0 against the Rebels’ Lane Kiffin, then at Tennessee in 2009. … The Tide has won 92 straight against unranked teams dating to the 2008 Independence Bowl, the longest streak in FBS history. … The Rebels’ Corral is third in the nation with a passer rating of 211.9. Moore has 20 catches for 319 yards already. … Alabama’s Harris has run for at least one touchdown in nine straight games dating to the Oct. 19 matchup with Tennessee last season.
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