SEC West heats up with 2 top early matchups

The Southeastern Conference’s West Division commands the spotlight Saturday, with top-ranked Alabama opening league play at Mississippi, and No. 7 Auburn hosting No. 12 LSU.

The Crimson Tide rolled Ole Miss 66-3 last year and head to Oxford as three-touchdown favorites. Don’t write off the Rebels, not with Jordan Ta’amu throwing to the best receiving corps in the nation.

There are two nonconference games involving Top 25 teams. No. 4 Ohio State plays No. 15 TCU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and No. 17 Boise State travels to No. 24 Oklahoma State.

Five things to know about college football’s Week 3:

BEST GAME

LSU AT AUBURN » The stage is set for another thriller. Two years ago, Auburn hung on to win 18-13 when video review showed LSU didn’t get off the play resulting in what would have been the winning touchdown before the clock expired. Last year, LSU erased a 20-0 deficit to win 27-23.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, good but not great so far, will have to contend with a raucous crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium and an inspired Auburn defense. Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham will be challenged by a sack-happy LSU defense that features one of the nation’s top cornerbacks in Greedy Williams. Whichever running back has the better game — LSU’s Nick Brossette or Auburn’s JaTarvious Whitlow — could decide this one.