Nutt aims for another Top 5 upset with 'Bama next

Oct 9, 2009 - 10:10 PM By CHRIS TALBOTT Associated Press Writer

JACKSON, Miss.(AP) -- These are the kind of games that Houston Nutt has built his reputation on.

And No. 20 Mississippi could use all of Nutt's mojo this week with No. 3 Alabama coming to town. This is the first time since 1970 the teams are meeting while both are ranked in the top 20, and all the goals the Rebels set before the season are at stake.

A loss likely knocks them out of the SEC West race, the Top 25 and contention for a BCS bowl.

Nutt explained this week there's no magic in his long history of success against top-five teams. These are simply the kind of games you live for.

"This game seems like it should always bring out the best - whether it is your managers, fans, trainers, players or coaches," Nutt said. "If you have that competing spirit there is nothing like getting ready for a ballgame like this. You try to approach each one like this, but we all know Alabama is a great football team."

It's the biggest game in Oxford since a Manning was at quarterback. Tickets have been sold out for months and scalpers are commanding the kind of prices not usually seen around here.

The anticipation built around Ole Miss' early hype and a potential matchup of top-five teams. The Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) remains unbeaten and on track. The Rebels (3-1, 1-1 SEC) rose as high as No. 4 before losing to South Carolina. If they're going to get back in it, they've got to continue Nutt's tradition of challenging highly ranked teams.

Nutt is 5-8 overall against top-five teams with wins in two of the last three games and three of the last five. Three of the losses have come by four points or less, including last year's 24-20 defeat to then-No. 2 Alabama.

The Rebels seemed to pick up on the vibe right away after Nutt's hiring last year with a 31-30 upset at then-No. 4 Florida, the first top-five win for Ole Miss since 1977. And after falling behind 24-0 at the Crimson Tide, the Rebels rallied and threatening in Alabama territory until the final minute.

The difference under Nutt was striking: Ole Miss had lost 15 straight games to ranked foes before Nutt took the team to Gainesville.

Alabama has won five straight in the series since Eli Manning led Ole Miss to a win in 2003. Still the games have been close recently and it seems everyone in Tuscaloosa is well aware of Nutt's reputation.

"What I've learned about Ole Miss over the years is you've got to come with your weapons when you play against these guys," Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas said. "First of all, they're a great football team and they know what it takes to win, especially with the coaches that they have. (Nutt is) a great coach. Great coaches, great athletes: Any time you have that combination of things can be destructive."

Nick Saban calls Ole Miss the best team the Crimson Tide has played so far, and that includes No. 5 Virginia Tech. But the Rebels really haven't been at their best this season.

Sure the defense is strong, rivaling Alabama's in every league defensive category. But the offense has been up and down and turnover prone at times, something the Rebels know they need to fix.

"We started a little slow," offensive utility player Dexter McCluster said. "The offense really hasn't been able to get in its rhythm."

And rhythm is definitely something you need against Alabama.

The Crimson Tide ranks second nationally in total and rushing defense, 13th in scoring defense and 15th in pass defense. Alabama forced four turnovers last week against Kentucky and has averaged 1.78 per game under Saban.

This is no time to be seeking equilibrium. Yet Saban expects the Rebels to be firing on all cylinders Saturday.

"I'm not used to playing Houston Nutt teams that don't play close to their full potential all the time," Saban said. "They always do a good job of running the ball and they have a lot of things that they do that make it difficult to prepare for them.

"That's part of good coaching. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Houston Nutt has done anyplace he's coached. I've always felt like he's one of the best coaches in our league and probably in the country."

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AP sports writer John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Ala., contributed to this report.