GAME NOTES: With the SEC West already won and a date with the defending national champion Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game already set, the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide invade Starkville this week for a conference showdown with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Nick Saban's Crimson Tide are a flawless 9-0 on the season and kept their perfect season intact with last weekend's 24-15 win over then ninth-ranked LSU. The victory moved the team to 6-0 in SEC play, earning the West Division crown and a shot at the defending champs.
Dan Mullen's Bulldogs have played to mixed reviews this season, sitting one game under .500 both overall (4-5) and in league play (2-3). MSU has won two of its last three games however, including a 31-24 decision at Kentucky on Halloween, the last time Mississippi State was on the field.
Alabama holds a decisive advantage in the all-time series with Mississippi State (72-18-3). The Crimson Tide have played more games (93) and have more victories (72) against the Bulldogs than any other opponent.
Alabama's balanced offensive attack has caused problems for most opponents this season. The team is netting over 200 yards both on the ground and through the air, resulting in a healthy 414.7 total yards per game.
The rush attack is highlighted by Heisman hopeful Mark Ingram, who has burst on the scene as a sophomore, rumbling for 1,148 yards and eight TDs thus far. Ingram is averaging 6.6 yards per carry this year and has added another three scores on 24 receptions coming out of the backfield.
Ingram's success has opened up the passing game for QB Greg McElroy, who has completed almost 60 percent of his throws, for 1,721 yards and 11 TDs. Talented WR Julio Jones got off to a terrible start to the season, but has rebounded of late and now leads the team with 24 receptions, for 331 yards and three TDs. Marquis Maze (21 receptions, for 368 yards, two TDs) is another option in the vertical game.
While the offense for Alabama has been efficient, the defense has been downright scary. One of the best stop units in the nation, the Crimson Tide are allowing a meager 11.8 ppg (sixth in the nation), while showing equal disdain for the run (68.0 ypg) and the pass (174.0 ypg). The result is the nation's fourth ranked unit in terms of total defense (242.2 ypg).
Junior LB Rolando McClain is the leader on defense, as the All-American candidate has recorded a team-high 66 tackles, with 7.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Saban knows what he has in McClain.
"Ro has a high expectation for what he wants to accomplish and what he wants to do and we have a tremendous respect for him as a competitor and a leader of our team. I know it means as much to him for us do the right things and play well as it does to anyone else around here. We have a tremendous respect for him. He doesn't really surprise me in anyway. He does a great job. I guess when you do that, that kind of becomes the expectation and he has played well for us all year long. We're pleased with him and proud of him and hope a lot of people recognize that."
Senior LB Eryk Anders is another playmaker in the middle, with 44 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks and one INT. Up front, the team looks to sophomore rush end Marcell Dareus (team-high 6.5 sacks) to get after the passer, while mammoth tackle Terrence Cody (6-5, 354) stuffs the middle. The secondary is as good as it gets, highlighted by gifted DBs like Mark Barron (55 tackles, four INTs) and Javier Arenas (52 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, one INT).
The Bulldogs have had success moving the football this year, but it all revolves around a terrific ground game that is averaging 219.2 yards per game. Senior tailback Anthony Dixon has been the driving force in that regard, averaging 125.1 yards per game on 5.5 yards per carry. Dixon has amassed 1,001 yards thus far and is responsible for nine of the team's 16 rushing scores to date.
Mullen knows what his team does best and has no problem sticking with the run.
"We are a running football team this season. It should be a good battle against Alabama, because they are a good running football team as well. It should be a battle of two good run offenses."
What Mullen is aware of is Alabama's stout defense.
"They're able to play man-to-man coverage with their corners which gives them the ability to load up the box, and they have tremendous size at both the d- line and the linebacker position."
Quarterback Tyson Lee has completed a respectable 59.3 percent of his passes, but the senior has hurt his team more often than not, throwing just four TDs passes against a whopping 11 interceptions. Chad Bumpus (26 catches, for 290 yards, three TDs) and Marcus Green (22 receptions, for 264 yards and two TDs) are the top pass catchers on the roster.
The Mississippi State defense has been plagued by inconsistency this year and the result is a scoring average of 24.6 ppg for the opposition. MSU is allowing nearly four yards per carry and the rush defense will certainly be put to the test against Ingram.
Senior middle linebacker Jamar Chaney tops the team in tackles with 73 stops and has two INTs, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to his credit. Freshman free safety Johnthan Banks (21 tackles, team-high four INTs) has made an immediate impact in the secondary for MSU. Junior end Pernell McPhee (9.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks) has made the most plays up front.
Playing in Starkville is never an easy task, but the Crimson Tide are simply better on both sides of the football and should have little trouble continuing the course that leads to a huge showdown with Florida in a few weeks.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Alabama 31, Mississippi State 14
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