The rankings say Mississippi No. 12 and Memphis No. 22. But make no mistake there remains a huge class difference between these two teams.

Mississippi far outclasses Memphis.

The Rebels are road tested having faced Alabama and Florida, while this is a step up for Memphis. The Rebels beat the Tigers by 21 points last season, gaining 323 more yards.

Yes, Memphis is improved but its up-tempo style is going to encounter problems going against a very strong SEC foe compared to its usual AAC defenses that tire easier. There also is zero chance the Rebels overlook the Tigers, who carry a 12-game unbeaten streak.

Memphis' home field advantage isn't that big either because the Mississippi campus is less than 75 miles and the Rebels will carry strong support.