Georgia Southern @ Alabama preview

THE STORY: Alabama, ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings, hosts Georgia Southern on Saturday in an obvious mismatch. The Crimson Tide owns the top rushing defense in the country, allowing 52 yards per game. Alabama should be able to ground the Eagles' triple option attack. Georgia Southern averages 320 rushing yards per contest, which ranks second in the FCS, but the Eagles haven't faced any team nearly as talented as Alabama.
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TV: ESPN3.COM LINE: None

ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9-1, 7-1 Southern Conference): The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in the FCS Coaches Poll, clinched their first Southern Conference title since 2004 with last week’s 24-7 win over Wofford. Quarterback Jaybo Shaw accounted for four touchdowns -- three rushing and one on a 21-yard pass to Zach Walker as the first half expired. Georgia Southern was rewarded by receiving a vote in the Associated Press poll, just the eighth FCS team to achieve the feat since the AP allowed votes to be cast on FCS teams in 2007.

ABOUT ALABAMA (9-1, 6-1 SEC): Running back Trent Richardson keeps moving up the school’s all-time rushing lists. After running for 127 yards and a TD in last week’s 24-7 win over Mississippi State, Richardson, the seventh-leading rusher in the nation (1,205 yards in 10 games), has 18 TDs, one behind Shaun Alexander’s school record set in 1999. With two regular-season games plus a bowl game left, the junior has a chance to break Mark Ingram’s school record for yards in a season (1,658 in 2009).

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Crimson Tide have had their way the last three times against Southern Conference opponents, outscoring Chattanooga (2009) and Western Carolina (2007 and 2004) by a combined score of 149-6.

2. The last time the Eagles faced an SEC team, they lost 45-21 at Georgia in the 2008 season opener.

3. Since a shockin, 21-14 loss to Louisana-Monroe at Bryant-Denny Stadium in mid-November, 2007, Alabama has won 11 consecutive non-conference games at home.

PREDICTION: Alabama 45, Georgia Southern 7 -- Southern is a national title contender in the FCS, but they're not likely to be competitive against Nick Saban's powerhouse.