Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.

When: Saturday, 5 p.m. CST

Television: ESPN2.

Records: Alabama 6-0 (3-0 SEC), Ole Miss 2-3 (0-2 SEC).

Rankings: UA is ranked No.2 in the AP poll, while Ole Miss is unranked.

OK, so maybe this matchup won't be critical to the outcome of the game. But if you're looking for someone in the Rebels lineup who will provide a good measuring stick for an Alabama player, look no further than Massie. The former Hargrave Military Academy standout, who was a target of the Alabama staff for the 2009 signing class, has been a stalwart on the Ole Miss line with 22 consecutive starts. A preseason All-SEC pick, Massie is the best player at his position that Williams has faced so far this season. And at 320 pounds, Massie certainly has the size to go toe-to-toe with the big Australian.

Williams, for his part, has been steadily improving throughout the season. He's made 2.5 tackles for loss among his 11 stops on the season, including two TFLs in Alabama's conference opener against Arkansas. More importantly, he's been a disruptive figure on the line of scrimmage with his ability to push blockers into the offensive backfield. His physical strength appears overwhelming at times, even if his instincts for the game and technique are still somewhat a work in progress. The Massie-Williams matchup will combine for about 650 pounds and should be a strong indicator of where Williams is in his development.

One reason Ole Miss inserted Randall Mackey into its lineup at quarterback was for his mobility, and he's got plenty of it. The former East Mississippi Community College standout led the Rebels to a win over Fresno State two weeks ago. So far this season, the Crimson Tide defense has faced, for the most part, pocket quarterbacks. Vanderbilt's Larry Smith would have provided a decent test for Alabama's ability to handle a scrambler, but he was injured early last week and did not return. It will be interesting to see how well Alabama defenders react when Mackey gets outside the pocket. No doubt, he'll pick up a first down or two with his feet. The question is, will be wise enough to slide to avoid contact? The list of opposing quarterbacks who haven't lasted a game against the Crimson Tide defense is growing quickly.

In case you missed it, four Ole Miss players were suspended late in the week for team rules violations, and two of them were expected to start against the Crimson Tide. Just what Ole Miss needed - its starting center and left guard wiped out for disciplinary reasons against a run defense that allows fewer feet rushing than many schools allow in yards. Filling in for A.J. Hawkins and Alex Washington will be an Alabama native, Patrick Junen of Huntsville High, and Evan Swindall. Junen is expected to be the only UA player in the Ole Miss starting lineup. Running back Brandon Bolden was also suspended and normally, that would be the biggest blow of the four for the Rebels. But an injury has limited Bolden all season and Jeff Scott has been its top rusher.

The 1989 Alabama-Ole Miss game represented one of the great comebacks in UA history as the Crimson Tide stormed back from a 21-0 first-quarter deficit to a 62-27 win over the Rebels. The game, played in Jackson, Miss., rather than Oxford, was a memorable one for fullback Kevin Turner, who caught 10 passes for 126 yards. Click here for video highlights of this UA classic. And be sure to check the 3:50 mark for an incredibly tough catch by former UA receiver Marco Battle.

Alabama pass offense vs. Ole Miss pass defense: Alabama's passing attack looked as good as it's looked all season in a 34-0 win over Vanderbilt last week. What sort of follow-up to his two-touchdown performance is in store for WR DeAndrew White? The Rebels are allowing 215 passing yards per game. Edge Alabama.

Alabama rush offense vs. Ole Miss rush defense: The Crimson Tide gets running back Eddie Lacy back today in support of Trent Richardson, who is going for his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Ole Miss is allowing 194 yards per game on the ground, not exactly a recipe for stopping a Heisman Trophy candidate. Edge Alabama.

Ole Miss pass offense vs. Alabama pass defense: Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey makes his second career start after getting an extra week to prepare for the nation's top defense. Alabama's secondary is playing at a high level right now, particularly at the cornerback positions. Edge Alabama.

Ole Miss rush offense vs. Alabama rush defense: Ole Miss goes with Jeff Scott, who is a smaller back who can be dangerous around the edges of a defense. Trouble is, the edges may be where Alabama's run defense is most formidable. Just ask the Gators' smallish backs. Edge Alabama.

Each week on Inside The Tunnel, we'll pick one or more SEC games that have some spread appeal (for entertainment purposes only, of course).

The Alabama line: Alabama by 28.

The play: For the last two weeks, we've successfully picked the Crimson Tide to beat the spread. And while picking four-touchdown road favorites in the Southeastern Conference can be awfully dicey business, we'll take the Crimson Tide once again. The forward momentum Alabama carries into this game on both sides of the ball demands that Ole Miss play over its head to keep this one close. But the Rebels are in a state of disarray and appear to be in no shape to do so, least of all with four game-week suspensions taking their starting center out of the game, among others. The play here is to lay the points.

This week's picks: South Carolina/Mississippi State under 47; Florida -2 at Auburn; Alabama -28 at Ole Miss; Vanderbilt +11 vs. Georgia.

Last week: 2-1 (Alabama -29 vs. Vandy; Mississippi State/UAB under 53; Kentucky +21 at South Carolina).

Season record: 10-5.

A good friend of Inside the Tunnel's insists that tickets for this game will be a tough buy around the stadium. He cites the perfect weather expected for this game, the smallish stadium, and the fact that Alabama fans, with such a short drive to Oxford, have been gobbling up tickets all week. All fair points. But Ole Miss fans also know what is likely coming on the scoreboard. And $100 for a pair might be awfully tempting if you think your circuit from The Grove to Vaught-Hemingway and back to The Grove might be complete by halftime. As such, we think two fingers in the air around 4 p.m. will cost you less than buying a pair online early. Check out the online market for Alabama-Ole Miss tickets here.

Trivia question: Which Alabama quarterback set the school record for touchdown passes in a single game with five against Ole Miss? Answer at the end of Hashmarks. ... Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley is expected to make his return to the lineup against the Rebels after missing two games with an elbow injury. And just when it seemed that fellow linebacker Chris Jordan's entire senior season was falling into jeopardy due to back trouble, he practiced this week and may make his season debut. ... With 100 rushing yards Saturday, Alabama RB Trent Richardson would tie the school record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games with six. The mark is held by former UA great Shaun Alexander, who turned the trick in UA's SEC Championship season of 1999. ... Alabama leads the all-time series with Ole Miss 47-9-2. ... Ole Miss' Jeff Scott is averaging 23 yards per punt return on six returns this season. ... The Rebels' Mike Marry leads the SEC West in tackles with 51. That's an average of 10.2 per game: A heck of a season for Marry, but also indicative of how much time the Rebels defense has spent on the field. ... Trivia answer: Gary Hollingsworth, 1989.

We're giving out free subscriptions to the winners of our weekly picks contest in which subscribers compete head to head with each other, and also with Tidesports.com staffers Chase Goodbread and John Copeland, the former UA All-American. Click here for contest details and how you can participate next week. Click below to see this week's video drawing, with all picks for the weekend charted below the video player:

Crimson team so far: Pokey, jh57tide, 13thTitle, Alan Minor, ddub1427, Trock7733, thecrisp.

White team so far: Makers Mike, crimson53, RollTideInGa, TideFever, sabanstiders, rccubsfan22, McDonnielld.

Qualifiers for "5-0" drawing: 13thTitle, rccubsfan22.

Qualifiers for "Beat the staff" drawing: 13th Title, rccubsfan22.