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No. 9 Tennessee tries to snap SEC West skid vs. No. 1 'Bama

Here are some things to watch in Week 7 of the Southeastern Conference football season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee: The Volunteers have lost the last nine games in this series, but they've come closer lately. Tennessee led in the fourth quarter at Alabama last year before falling 19-14 to the eventual national champions. Tennessee also is seeking to end a 12-game losing streak against SEC West foes, a skid that continued last week with a 45-38 double-overtime loss to No. 6 Texas A&M. Tennessee hasn't beaten a West team since defeating Mississippi 52-14 in 2010.

MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: BYU RB Jamaal Williams vs. Mississippi State's run defense: Williams ranks second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 866 yards rushing this season. He's run for 10 touchdowns and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Mississippi State's run defense is giving up 134.2 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the SEC.

NUMBERS GAME: Tennessee already has fumbled 21 times - the most of any FBS team - and has lost eight of those fumbles through the first six games of the season. The Vols had 20 fumbles and lost seven of them in 13 games last season. ... Missouri already has passed for 1,753 yards, just 233 shy of the Tigers' 2015 season total. ... No. 12 Mississippi has allowed only two touchdown passes all season, the lowest total of any FBS program. ... LSU has won 46 straight nonconference home games heading into Saturday's meeting with Southern Mississippi. LSU's last nonconference home loss was a 13-10 decision against UAB in 2000.

UPSET WATCH: It's not often that two nationally-ranked teams are more than a touchdown underdog at home, but that's the case this week. Arkansas is an eight-point underdog at home against Ole Miss, even though the Razorbacks have won the past two games in the series. Tennessee, which lost at Alabama by only five points last year after leading in the fourth quarter, is a 13-point underdog at Neyland Stadium.

IMPACT PERFORMER: Florida QB Luke Del Rio: After missing two games with an injured left knee, Del Rio returns to action Saturday against Missouri and tries to help the Gators remain in Eastern Division contention. Del Rio had thrown for 762 yards with six touchdown passes and two interceptions in three starts before getting hurt. Florida lost 38-28 at Tennessee and won 13-6 at Vanderbilt in two games without Del Rio.

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AP Sports Writers Steve Megargee in Knoxville, Tennessee, and David Brandt in Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this story. AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org .

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