re: Colorado State is a solid football team. This week will be a nice step up.

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The details:

What: No. 1 Alabama vs. Colorado State

When: Saturday, 6 p.m. CT

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium

Line: Alabama is a 28 1/2-point favorite, according to Danny Sheridan

This game will determine...

This is the final tune-up game before Alabama opens SEC play. The Crimson Tide will be facing a Colorado State team that's continued to rebuild after posting just one winning season between 2004 and 2012. The Rams have won seven games each of the last two years and enter Saturday 2-1.

Three things to look for:

1. Jalen Hurts: People outside the program continue to question Hurts as a passer. This, though, could be an opportunity for Hurts to post some decent passing numbers. Colorado State gave up an average of 30 points per game last year and is yielding an average of 259 passing yards per game so far this season.

2. Tua Tagovailoa: Alabama got the freshman quarterback a good amount of playing time last week and will probably look to do so again this week. Coach Nick Saban said earlier this month that he views it as important to get Tagovailoa game experience during this stretch in case anything happens to Hurts and Tagovailoa needs to step in.

3. Right tackle: Matt Womack was better against Fresno State and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, so it will be interesting to see how the redshirt sophomore builds on that, especially considering that it seems like freshman Jedrick Wills is still pushing for that right tackle job. Wills played a lot last week and received good feedback from Saban.

Key matchup:

Colorado State passing game vs. Alabama secondary. Led by quarterback Nick Stevens, Colorado State has scored 38 points or more in two of its first three games. Stevens is throwing for an average of 327 yards per game with six passing touchdowns and has three wide receivers each averaging at least four catches and at least 56 yards per game.

By the numbers: 28

Colorado State ranked 28th nationally last year with an average of 35.3 points per game.

Colorado State player to watch: Quarterback Nick Stevens

A three-year starter, Stevens has thrown for 309 yards or more in each of the Rams' first three games, including 334 yards and three touchdowns during a 58-27 season-opening win over Oregon State. Stevens threw for 445 yards and five touchdowns in last year's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

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