Southern Miss @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2014 ) Southern Mississippi 12, Alabama 52

Junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa attempts to follow up the best passing yardage outing of his career when second-ranked Alabama hosts Southern Mississippi on Saturday. Tagovailoa passed for 444 yards -- third most in Crimson Tide history -- and five touchdown passes in a 47-23 victory over South Carolina.

Tagovailoa has thrown four or more scoring passes on eight occasions during his career, matching AJ McCarron (2010-13) for most in program history. The Hawaiian has been superb through three games by completing 76.9 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Southern Miss needed a late touchdown to post a 47-42 win over Troy last Saturday and coach Jay Hopson understands his club's level of performance needs to be much higher against the Crimson Tide. "It's no secret we're playing an outstanding football team, a great football team," Hopson said during a press conference. "We're going to have to certainly be on our A-plus game this week, and that starts (Monday). We'll make sure we're preparing, practicing, and paying attention to details. There's no team that is going to have our respect more than Alabama."

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2. LINE: Alabama -39.

ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (2-1): Junior quarterback Jack Abraham passed for 463 yards against Troy - second-most in school history - and has thrown for 990 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions. Junior receiver Quez Watkins made seven catches for a career-high 209 yards - the yardage is fifth-most in program history - against Troy while sophomore wideout Jaylond Adams had career bests of 11 catches and 180 yards as the Golden Eagles racked up 626 offensive yards. Senior cornerback D.Q. Thomas leads the defense in both tackles (24) and stops for loss (four).

ABOUT ALABAMA (3-0): Three receivers are over 200 yards with Jerry Jeudy leading the way with 24 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns, while fellow juniors DeVonta Smith (18 for 237, three scores) and Henry Ruggs III (12 for 202, two TDs) also are performing well. "If there's a defender around, he'll throw it low so we'll have to go down and get it," Ruggs told reporters of Tagovailoa's ability to adjust. "But we trust him, so the momentum of the ball carries us one way, and we just follow it. And sometimes it's just fortunate enough to not have anybody in that lane to be running." Junior safety Xavier McKinney has a team-high 23 tackles and also has one of the unit's four interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama has won the past six meetings and holds a 21-1-1 edge.

2. Jeudy ranks second in Crimson Tide history with 20 touchdown catches, and Ruggs is third with 19.

3. Adams had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Troy and has three return scores this season (two kickoffs, one punt).

PREDICTION: Alabama 58, Southern Miss 16