QUARTERBACKS

Greg McElroy has exceeded expectations in his first year as a starter even though Julio Jones has been ineffective. Mike Hartline has disappointed in his second year despite what was supposed to be an improved receiving corps.

Advantage: Alabama

RUNNING BACKS

Glenn Coffee, who killed UK last year, is gone. But Mark Ingram returns and is one of the top young backs in the SEC. UK’s running attack took a step back in the Florida game, so Alabama easily gets the nod here.

Adv: Alabama

RECEIVERS

Believe it or not, Jones only has seven catches in four games for the Tide. But Marquis Maze has developed into a playmaker as well, and Alabama likes to spread the ball around. UK doesn’t even seem to trust its receivers to throw deep.

Adv: Alabama

OFFENSIVE LINE

There might be no team in the SEC that lost as much as Alabama on the line after last season. But Alabama is still extraordinarily deep on the line, and UK’s line was mistake-prone in the blowout loss to Florida.

Adv: Alabama

DEFENSIVE LINE

Alabama might have the best nose tackle in the country in Terrence Cody, and there’s plenty of depth behind him. There’s a reason why the Tide is so stingy against the run. UK’s pass rush has looked better, but there’s still a long way to go.

Adv: Alabama

LINEBACKERS

UK’s Micah Johnson is still one of the top players in the conference, but Alabama’s Rolando McClain is one of the elite playmaking linebackers in the country. Alabama also trots out Dont’a Hightower, a terror on the pass rush. For UK, Sam Maxwell is still battling turf toe.

Adv: Alabama

DEFENSIVE BACKS

If Paul Warford can bounce back and help UK out, the secondary will be fine. Otherwise, there will be holes in nickel and dime packages. Alabama’s secondary is solid, but UK has a little more starting experience to rely on.

Adv: UK

SPECIAL TEAMS

Javier Arenas will give UK’s coverage team fits, especially with the way the kicking game has worked so far this year. Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin is hardly automatic, but he’s at least as good as Lones Seiber, who should become UK’s all-time leading scorer on Saturday.

Adv: Alabama

OVERALL

Things shouldn’t be as ugly as they were in the Florida game. UK should be ready to play and earn some respect after last week’s debacle, but it might be too much to expect the Cats to knock off the No. 3 team in the land.

Adv: Alabama