College football Week 3: 5 teams on upset alert

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Rank: 1 | Opponent: Ole Miss Rebels | Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

It happens every year when we’re talking about the SEC and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Early in the season — about this time — we see a conference foe go on to face Nick Saban and Co. and they start to get a little bit of buzz about them. This is a chance for them to make a statement and, hey, maybe Bama won’t be on their A-game this week. Then 60 minutes of football is played and the Tide roll as they do almost always and the narrative of a brewing upset looks silly.

Again, this is not a new story that we’re seeing play out heading into a matchup between Alabama and the Ole Miss Rebels, even if the Crimson Tide have to go on the road to Oxford in Week 3. However, what does make it different is the particulars of this situation. Part of that is the fact that the Rebels have a dynamic and explosive offense with the likes of A.J. Brown, Jordan Ta’amu and Scottie Phillips. But the other part of it is actually where Alabama currently is with their team.

There’s no question that the Tide have been dominant in their first two games with sophomore Tua Tagovailoa looking like an offensive juggernaut. However, with this, the defense has yet to be tested and, for all the good he does, Tagovailoa is a bit of a loose cannon at times. When you combine that with playing a team with the firepower of Ole Miss, you risk playing your way into a shootout. And when you get into that situation with a team that can score like the Rebels, all bets are off.