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Alabama looks to regroup at Mississippi St

Nov 10, 2007 - 11:33 AM No. 21 Alabama (6-3) at Mississippi St (5-4) 12:30 pm EST

STARKVILLE, Mississippi (Ticker) -- Alabama coach Nick Saban may have a tough time motivating his team for this week's Southeastern Conference game.

After a difficult defeat all but ended Alabama's SEC West Division hopes, Saban's 21st-ranked Crimson Tide visit Mississippi State on Saturday.

Last weekend, the Crimson Tide (6-3, 4-2 SEC West) held a 34-27 lead midway through the fourth quarter over then-No. 3 Louisiana State following Javier Arenas' 61-yard punt-return TD.

But the Tigers stormed back, tying the game with 2:49 remaining, then took the lead on Jacob Hester's one-yard dive with 1:26 to go after Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson lost a fumble on a sack deep in Crimson Tide territory.

The only way for Alabama to win the West in its first season under former LSU coach Saban is to win their final two SEC games and have the Tigers lost theirs, an unlikely scenario.

Mississippi State (5-4, 2-3 West) has not played since a 31-14 victory at then-No. 14 Kentucky on October 27, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Freshman Wesley Carroll tossed two touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who forced six second-half turnovers as they moved within one victory of bowl eligibility.

Last year, Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom beat his alma mater for the first time with a 24-16 triumph in Tuscaloosa.