Alabama @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2015 ) Mississippi 43, Alabama 37

Ole Miss sets its sights on knocking off top-ranked Alabama for the third consecutive season when the No. 17 Rebels host the defending national champions in the SEC opener for both teams on Saturday. Ole Miss recorded a shocking 23-17 home victory over the Crimson Tide in 2014 and followed it up with last season's memorable 43-37 victory at Alabama.

Rebels coach Hugh Freeze doesn't want to reveal the secret of defeating the Crimson Tide in back-to-back seasons but says the growth of his program is the biggest factor. "We believe that we can play with anyone in the country," Freeze said at a press conference. "That doesn't mean we can beat them on any given day, but we do believe we have gotten to a point where we can step on a field and compete with them. You know, you get a few breaks that go your way and find a way to win one and we have done that a couple of times." Alabama coach Nick Saban hasn't lost to the same team in three consecutive seasons during his 10 seasons at the school and he knows Ole Miss represents a stern road test. "It's a great challenge for us early in the season against a very, very good team," Saban said at a press conference. "Playing on the road early on has its own challenges, but this is a team that has been a really prolific offensive football team."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -10.5

ABOUT ALABAMA (2-0, 0-0 SEC): Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts still hasn't been declared the starting quarterback over redshirt freshman Blake Barnett but it is heading in that direction after Hurts passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday's victory over Western Kentucky. "I know you all are going to ask me about the quarterbacks, but we are going to continue to work with both of the quarterbacks," Saban said. "We have to try to get them better. Jalen, obviously, played the most in the game and there are things he could do better and there are things he did very well." Senior defensive end Jonathan Allen (three sacks) has been superb while senior safety Eddie Jackson (one interception) and sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey (one interception, one forced fumble) will be key figures against the Rebels' passing attack.

ABOUT OLE MISS (1-1, 0-0): Senior quarterback Chad Kelly passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns while fueling last season's win at Alabama and he has thrown for 532 yards and seven touchdowns in this season's first two games. Senior tight end Evan Engram, who has caught 11 passes for 164 yards, claimed he isn't the least bit concerned about playing the Crimson Tide, saying "we love opportunities and we know what's at stake with this game. I just have a confidence about it." Senior standout safety Tony Conner is shaking off the rust -- the NFL prospect suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama last season and is still rounding into top form.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama owns a 47-11-2 series edge despite the consecutive defeats.

2. Ole Miss forced five turnovers in last year's win over the Crimson Tide and didn't commit a single one.

3. Crimson Tide junior WR ArDarius Stewart (nine receptions, 203 yards, three touchdowns) has outproduced star sophomore WR Calvin Ridley (11-138-1) over the first two games.

PREDICTION: Alabama 34, Ole Miss 29