Alabama Crimson Tide at Mississippi State Bulldogs

Top-25 SEC matchup features Alabama visiting Mississippi State

No. 7 Alabama (4-0) at No. 16 Mississippi State (4-0), Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. EDT.

Opening Line: Alabama by 5.5. Against the spread: Alabama 3-1, Mississippi State 4-0.

How to watch: ABC

Key stats

Alabama Offense

Overall: 471.5 yards per game (24th in FBS)

Passing: 283.3 yards per game (27th)

Rushing: 188.3 yards per game (41st)

Scoring: 48 points per game (4th)

Alabama Defense

Overall: 315.3 yards per game (47th in FBS)

Passing: 221.5 yards per game (88th)

Rushing: 93.8 yards per game (24th)

Scoring: 20.3 points per game (47th)

Mississippi State Offense

Overall: 533.3 yards per game (4th in FBS)

Passing: 315.5 yards per game (13th)

Rushing: 217.8 yards per game (26th)

Scoring: 43 points per game (15th)

Mississippi State Defense

Overall: 353.8 yards per game (74th in FBS)

Passing: 249 yards per game (114th)

Rushing: 104.8 yards per game (36th)

Scoring: 21 points per game (53rd)

Alabama ranks 4th in FBS in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert on 23.1% of third downs.

Mississippi State is 80th in the FBS with a -1 turnover margin, compared to Alabama's 11th-ranked +5 margin.

Mississippi State ranks 128th in the FBS averaging 80 penalty yards per game, compared to Alabama's 19th-ranked 41.3 per-game average.

Alabama leads the FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 100% of trips.

Mississippi State ranks 111th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 28:09, compared to Alabama's 15th-ranked average of 33:24.

Team leaders

Alabama

Passing: Keelon Russell, 1,129 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 70.9 completion percentage

Rushing: Daniel Hill, 225 yards on 46 carries, 4 TDs

Receiving: Ryan Williams, 333 yards on 17 catches, 3 TDs

Mississippi State

Passing: Kamario Taylor, 1,192 yards, 14 TDs, 2 INTs, 69.2 completion percentage

Rushing: Da'Marion Bothwell, 402 yards on 73 carries, 3 TDs

Receiving: Anthony Evans III, 408 yards on 28 catches, 3 TDs

Last game

Alabama won 49-18 over South Carolina on Sept. 26. Russell led Alabama with 365 yards on 21-of-27 passing (77.8%) for four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball eight times for 35 yards and one rushing touchdown. E.J. Crowell carried the ball six times for 50 yards. Williams recorded 98 yards on five catches with two touchdowns.

Mississippi State won 31-24 over Missouri on Sept. 26. Taylor led Mississippi State with 360 yards on 27-of-38 passing (71.1%) for three touchdowns and one interception. Bothwell had 122 rushing yards on 25 carries and one touchdown, adding six receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown. Evans recorded 114 yards on eight catches.

Next game

Alabama hosts No. 2 Georgia on Oct. 10. Mississippi State plays at No. 11 LSU on Oct. 17.

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