Crimson Red Sports

In fact, of all the outstanding teams UT has run across since its program went south in 2008, this Alabama team could be better than any of them. The Tide can't prove that Saturday against UT. That's a topic for debate Nov. 5 after the Tide takes on LSU.

"This is (Nick Saban's) best team," UT coach Derek Dooley said of a coach who already has two national championships on his resume. "It's probably as physically dominating of a defense as I've seen in the modern era of football.

"The kick coverage was not good," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "That's something we need to get better at right away."

The 2009 Alabama team was motivated by a last-minute loss to Florida in the 2008 SEC championship game. This team derives incentive from the 24-0 lead it blew in a 28-27 loss to arch-rival Auburn, which proceeded to win a national title of its own.

Maybe that helps account for Alabama's thoroughness. It has left little to chance in averaging 39.7 points per game and giving up 7 per game.

Alabama has outscored four SEC opponents, including two who were nationally ranked, by an average of 37 points. Its 2009 team didn't beat an SEC team by more than 28 points.

Other statistics reflect the Tide's balance. Marquis Maze ranks third in the SEC in punt returns, pass receptions per game and all-purpose yardage. First-year starting quarterback A.J. McCarron is fourth in passing yardage per game. As a team, Alabama leads the conference in 12 statistical categories.

But its kick-coverage unit needs a lot of work.