No. 2 Bama avoids upset

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Turns out No. 2 Alabama plays pretty well from behind. It's playing from ahead that gave the Crimson Tide fits Saturday.

'Bama surged to a big halftime lead after trailing for the first time all season, then let most of it slip away before coming up with a late defensive stand to hold off Mississippi for a 24-20 victory.

"That hadn't happened to us yet this year," said quarterback John Parker Wilson, who threw for 219 yards and 2 TDs. "It was good to see us respond."

In the end, it was another down-to-the-wire win for the Tide (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) over the Rebels, who dominated the second half and still had a shot at the upset approaching the final minute.

This one wasn't decided until Jevan Snead's fourth-and-5 pass to Dexter McCluster, who was well covered by Javier Arenas, fell incomplete with 61 seconds to play.

The Tide has won its past two games by a total of 7 points since rising to No. 2 with a series of easy victories. It was also another in a series of close calls with Ole Miss (3-4, 1-3). Alabama had won each of the past three meetings by a field goal, but holds a commanding 23-1 advantage in Tuscaloosa.

"I said it all week long: Ole Miss is really a good football team," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I believed it. I don't know if our players believed it, but I think they do a fantastic job and they've got good players."