GAME NOTES: Taking over the top spot in the national polls this week, the Alabama Crimson Tide will put their lofty standing in harm's way, as they welcome the Tennessee Volunteers to Tuscaloosa for an SEC showdown at Bryant- Denny Stadium.

Nick Saban's Crimson Tide leap-frogged defending national champion Florida to sit atop the top-25 poll this week, following a 20-6 victory over South Carolina. The win was the seventh straight to start the 2009 season for Alabama, which sits in second place in the initial BCS rankings, trailing Florida.

The Volunteers would like nothing more than to make things even more confusing in terms of the BCS, but will need to play lights out in Tuscaloosa to make that happen. Lane Kiffin's squad is an even 3-3 on the year. After opening SEC play with narrow setbacks to both Florida (23-13) and Auburn (26-22), the Vols got into the conference win column with a resounding 45-19 rout of Georgia on October 10th. UT was idle last weekend and has had an extra week to prepare for the Tide.

In a series that dates back to 1901, Alabama holds a 48-36-7 all-time advantage. The Crimson Tide posted a 29-9 victory in Knoxville last season.

Senior QB Jonathan Crompton has started to settle in under center for the Volunteers and his improvement over the last two outings has certainly not gone unnoticed. Against the Bulldogs last time out, Crompton was an efficient 20-of-27, for 310 yards, with four TDs and one interception. The numbers on the season still reflect a slow start (1,210 yards passing, 13 TDs, nine INTs), but Crompton is starting to be more consistent.

It helps to have a ground attack that generates 183.7 yards per game. Veteran tailback Montario Hardesty ranks third in the conference in rushing at 112.0 ypg and is netting 5.4 yards per carry with six TDs. When Crompton looks downfield, he has reliable targets in the form of Quintin Hancock (17 catches, 194 yards, one TD), Gerald Jones (15 catches, 209 yards, two TDs) and Denarius Moore (12 catches, 168 yards, two TDs). Jones comes in off a huge game against Georgia, hauling in five balls, for 105 yards and two scores.

The Tennessee defense as a whole has done a nice job both against the run (110.2 ypg) and the pass (161.8 ypg), resulting in the 13th-ranked team in the nation in total defense (272.0 ypg). This is a squad that likes to get upfield and disrupt things, as evidenced by the 40 TFLs thus far (second in the SEC).

The top playmakers on this side of the football is All-American safety Eric Berry. The 5-11 junior is among the country's best DBs and ranks second on the team in tackles (50), with one INT and one fumble recovery. Senior linebacker Rico McCoy paces the team in tackles (53). Junior defensive end Chris Walker (5.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks) has done a nice job getting after the quarterback.

The Tennessee defense has been stifling at times this year, including denying Georgia any red zone opportunities, while allowing just 85 yards in the second half to the Bulldogs.

The Alabama offense has gotten it done this season with great balance, but it is a devastating ground attack (229.3 ypg) that sets up the pass (202.7 ypg).

Sophomore Mark Ingram has been stellar in the backfield for the Tide, and leads the SEC in rushing at 129.3 yards per game (fourth nationally). Ingram, who is netting a hefty 6.7 yards per carry this year, is responsible for seven of the team's 17 rushing TDs to date. He is also a threat out of the backfield and has 19 receptions, for 186 yards and three more scores. Ingram was recently honored as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, for his career-high 246 yards and one TD against South Carolina. It marked the third highest rushing total in Alabama history.

Ingram's biggest fan might very well be Saban.

"Mark Ingram was fantastic, 246 rushing yards with over 10 yards a carry, best performance ever in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The offensive line must've been doing a pretty good job too against a pretty good defense but the guy ran with tremendous passion and heart and did a wonderful job out there, scored a touchdown. I can't tell you, if we had guys that could play like that, the sky would be the limit in terms of heart and character that he plays with."

Ingram's presence has helped quarterback Greg McElroy manage the offense. McElroy has completed 59.5 percent of his throws, for 1,325 yards, with nine TDs, but has struggled a bit of late. Tight end Colin Peek (19 catches, for 213 yards, one TD) and wideout Marquis Maze (14 receptions, for 261 yards, two TDs) have picked up the slack with standout WR Julio Jones' slow start (13 catches, 175 yards, one TD).

Still, Saban recognizes the need for things to improve in the vertical game.

"The absence of explosive plays in the passing game, the inability for us to throw the ball effectively in the last two games is something that we definitely need to get corrected. We've got to get back and get our confidence in what we're doing and where we're going with the ball and get comfortable in the pocket and get the timing back in terms of what has been very successful for us in the past and its something that we're going to need in the future."

The Alabama defense is as good as it gets. The unit ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense (11.6 ppg) and leads the country in total defense (226.6 ypg), with equal disdain for the run (63.3 ypg) and the pass (163.3 ypg).

Rolando McClain is an unrivaled playmaker on this defense and leads the team with 49 tackles. McClain, who was recently named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, also has 6.5 TFLs, two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble to his credit. Mark Barron is second in terms of tackles (40), while leading the way with three INTs. With 21 sacks already, this is a squad that likes to get after the passer. It has been a group effort in that regard, highlighted by LB Eryk Anders (seven TFLs, four sacks), CB Javier Arenas (three sacks), and DE Marcell Dareus (3.5 sacks).

The Volunteers are playing well under Kiffin, but aren't quite ready to ascend to the top of the SEC mountain. Much like the spirited loss to Florida, Tennessee will come up a little short in Tuscaloosa.