KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee believes it has regained its status as one of the Southeastern Conferences top programs.An opportunity for the Volunteers to prove that comes Saturday.No. 1 Alabama (6-0, 3-0) puts an 18-game winning streak on the line when it heads to Neyland Stadium to face the ninth-ranked Vols (5-1, 2-1). Tennessee is seeking to end a nine-game losing streak in this annual series and a 12-game skid against all SEC Western Division programs.In the previous years, we didnt really know how wed do against the premier SEC teams, but now we see ourselves as one of the premier SEC teams, Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr. said. With that being said, we know we can play with anybody.Tennessees most recent meeting with Alabama gives the Vols cause for confidence.The Vols led in the fourth quarter at Tuscaloosa last season before falling 19-14 to the eventual national champions. Only one of Alabamas previous eight victories over Tennessee in this nine-game streak had been decided by fewer than 14 points.The skill players that they have make them very difficult to defend, and I think they have gotten better each year on defense, Alabama coach Nick Saban said. Certainly their defense has played a lot better this year and has been very, very difficult to defend. This is a very, very good team, for sure a top-10 team in the country, and its going to be a very challenging game for us.This marks Tennessees fourth straight game against a ranked foe. Tennessee also is dealing with multiple injuries, including the losses of defensive captains Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Cam Sutton.That helps explain why Alabama enters this game as a 13-point favorite.Vols coach Butch Jones calls this the best Alabama squad he has faced in his four-year tenure, but he also says this is his most confident Tennessee team.They dont care who the opponent is, Jones said. They feel like were the University of Tennessee. Do we have great respect for our opponents? Absolutely. Do our players understand whats at store on Saturday? Absolutely.This is a monumental challenge, again, with the No. 1 team in the country. All you have to do is watch (Alabamas) video... and they get instant respect, which they deserve. But its something that weve talked about in our program since weve come here. Why not Tennessee?---Here are some things to watch Saturday when Tennessee hosts Alabama.BAMA ON THE ROAD: Alabamas first two SEC road games had the common denominator of inconsistency. The Tide fell way behind in a 48-43 victory at Mississippi and jumped out far ahead of Arkansas before letting off the gas some in the second half of a 49-30 triumph . Weve played very well at times both the road games that weve had in the SEC, Saban said. And then weve had some not so good times in those same games. I think the big thing is you cant relax when youre on the road.TENNESSEES TURNOVER TROUBLE: Tennessee has fumbled 21 times this season, the most of any Football Bowl Subdivision program. The Vols have lost eight of those fumbles and have a total of 16 turnovers. Kansas, Duke and Bowling Green are the only FBS teams that have committed more turnovers. Tennessee must protect the football against Alabama, which has scored an FBS-leading seven defensive touchdowns .VOLS BACKFIELD: Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd is expected to play Saturday after missing a double-overtime 45-38 loss at Texas A&M last week due to an unspecified injury. The Vols must figure out how to divide carries between Hurd and Alvin Kamara, who had a school-record 312 all-purpose yards last week.INTRIGUING MATCHUP: Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson is expected to spend much of the day blocking Tennessees Derek Barnett, who has five sacks over his last three games. Both players are considered potential first-round draft picks.ANOTHER SLOW START? Tennessee has been outscored 62-17 in the first quarter and has trailed by double digits in five of its first six games. The Vols came all the way back in each of those games -- they lost to Texas A&M in overtime after erasing a 28-7 deficit -- but they likely cant afford to fall too far behind against a team as strong as Alabama.---AP Sports Writer John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, contributed to this report.---Online:The APs college football page: http://collegfootball.ap.org Cheap Duane Brown Jersey . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Xavier Sua-Filo Jersey . 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"Were a very different team than we were, so we were really anxious to get on the field and just see who we are, because we really dont know in a lot of ways," coach John Harbaugh said after Thursday nights 44-16 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "We suspect we have a chance to be a good team, but weve got a long way to go as far as being on the same page in a lot of ways, so its a good thing weve got preseason, obviously." Joe Flacco was sharp in his preseason debut, second-year pro Bernard Pierce scored on a 20-yard run, and a revamped defence forced four turnovers before an announced crowd of 47,599 at Raymond James Stadium. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw a pair of TD passes, including a 21-yarder to third-stringer LaQuan Williams, who also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. "Its good to see him step up and make plays," Harbaugh said of Williams. "Heres a guy that just brings his lunch pail every single week, puts on his blue collar work shirt and goes to work. To see him make those plays, hes got tremendous talent." Josh Freeman and the rest of Tampa Bays starters played sparingly, so most of Baltimores scoring came against backups and newcomers to a defence that ranked last in the NFL against the pass last season. Flacco signed a $120.1 million contract after leading the Ravens to their second Super Bowl title. He worked two series, completing seven of nine passes for 57 yards and one interception. Second-year Bucs coach Greg Schiano liked what he saw from his overhauled secondary early in the game. "I thought we played competitively on defence ... ones against ones," Schiano said. Lavonte David sacked Flacco for a 10-yard loss and Danny Gorrer picked off a sideline throw intended for Jacoby Jones two plays later to stop Baltimores first possession. "It felt pretty good, and not just in terms of finally being back out here," Flacco said. "I felt like we operated OK for being this early and that the offensive line played pretty well. There are a couple of things we need to clean up -- like on the interception -- because those are little things that we need to ... get better at, so we can stay on the field and score points." Freemans first seriees ended with the fifth-year pro, whos entering the final year of his contract as the third quarterback drafted in 2009, being sacked by Chris Canty.dddddddddddd. He left the game on a better note, directing an 11-play, 56-yard drive that produced Derek Dimkes 29-yard field goal. "It felt good to get back out there. Playing a team like the Ravens, theyre going to blitz, theyre going to play man, theyre going to mix it up," Freeman said. "We saw quite a bit during the short time (Baltimores starters) were in." Freeman completed four of seven passes for 34 yards in just under a quarter. Rookie Mike Glennon took over on Tampa Bays third possession, teamed with tight end Tom Crabtree on a 61-yard catch-and-run on his first play, and led two first-half scoring drives. The third-round draft pick threw a third-quarter interception, but his mistake was hardly the only costly blunder for the Bucs. Chris Oswusu muffed a punt return to set up Pierces touchdown, and Baltimore added a TD just before the half when Brynden Trawick blocked Chas Henrys punt in the end zone and Williams recovered. Despite only playing 13 snaps, Freeman felt he accomplished what he set out to in a preseason opener -- mainly working off the rust of a long off-season. "The reason for the preseason is tuning up," the Tampa Bay quarterback said. "We talked about coming out and playing physical and not turning the ball over as an offence. ... I thought it was an effective day to get out and play against somebody, since the last 2 1-2 weeks weve been playing against each other." The Bucs played without cornerback Darrelle Revis, the biggest of several key off-season acquisitions since going 7-9 and missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. The three-time All-Pro is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him most of last season with the New York Jets; theres a chance he may not play in the preseason. NOTES: Six other projected starters also did not play for Tampa Bay: guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph; defensive end Adrian Clayborn; fullback Erik Lorig; tight end Luke Stocker; and kicker Lawrence Tynes, whos been slowed in camp by a toe injury. ... The Ravens played without linebacker Jameel McClain, one of several possibilities to replace Ray Lewis in the middle of a defence that lost Ed Reed, Paul Kruger, Cary Williams and Bernard Pollard to free agency. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys China Jerseys From China Wholesale Authentic Jerseys ' ' '