TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - One of the bodyguards assigned to protect Arkansas VIP Tyler Wilson's blindside Saturday is a true freshman.

One of the Alabama hit men assigned to assault Wilson is a ferocious, veteran pass rusher.

There you have the key matchup for the Southeastern Conference showdown that pits the third-ranked Crimson Tide (3-0) against the No. 14 Razorbacks (3-0).

Or is this a potential mismatch?

Alabama senior outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw will test young Arkansas tackle Mitch Smothers. Experience will try to expose and exploit youth. A rookie will try to prove himself worthy against an all-star.

The winner of this game within a game could expedite a victory for his team.

Should paramedics be on alert Saturday?

"I'm sure if he's starting, he's a good player," Upshaw said of Smothers. "I don't underestimate anybody. North Texas had a freshman in the game. ... I just go out and say, 'He's going to have a good game,' and I try to have a good game myself."

The 6-foot-4, 296-pound Smothers has started all three games to date, but he has shared time with 6-4, 334-pound junior Jason Peacock. What Smothers lacks in knowledge of schemes, he compensates with athleticism.

Smothers isn't always the left tackle. Called the "quick tackle," he lines up on the weakside. Grant Freeman, a 6-7, 305-pound senior, is the other tackle.

So Smothers also will get acquainted with Alabama's Dont'a Hightower, a veteran inside linebacker who is unleashed as a pass rusher from the edge in long-yardage situations.

Hightower doesn't size up the matchup as diplomatically as Upshaw.

"That's something that me and Courtney's probably going to thrive on, try to get a beat on him, try to get in his head," Hightower said of facing a freshman. "Yeah, we're going to try to take advantage of that."

How does Hightower plan his mind game?

"Not necessarily talking trash," he said. "That's what you're thinking. Just being more physical with him than any other pass rusher. Not being more finesse. More speed to power. Try to put him on his heels and throw him a couple different looks early into the game."

Smothers was told after Tuesday's practice that he might be a marked man for the Tide's defense.

"It's a team effort," he said. "There's 10 other guys out on the field, it's not just me. So if they come after me, there's 10 other guys out there."

Alabama coach Nick Saban pointed out that Smothers is only one of three new starting offensive linemen at Arkansas.

"They are all capable guys," he said. "They have new starters at both tackles. ... I don't know how many yards they have thrown for, but both of those guys have been playing tackle, so they must be doing something right."

The Razorbacks have thrown for 1,040 yards in three games. Their average of 346.7 yards passing per game ranks No. 8 in the nation.

"We have to do a better job of rushing and challenging their front people so we can affect the passing game - not just with how we cover, but how we disguise, how we pressure, how we can rush with four guys," Saban said.

Upshaw was slowed by a strained oblique muscle two weeks ago at Penn State, but he says that is no issue now.

He was slowed in 2010 by a high ankle sprain, but he had four tackles for a loss against Florida and ended the season with three sacks against Auburn and two against Michigan State. He also forced a fumble and was named the MVP of the Capital One Bowl.

Alabama only has four sacks this season, none of which came in the past two games.

"I kind of take that personal, myself, because I have a goal to get as many sacks (as possible)," Upshaw said. "But like I said, this team coming in is an opportunity for everybody, not only myself, Dont'a and other guys to try to apply pressure and get to him."

The consequences could be negative if Upshaw, Hightower and others don't harass Wilson in the pocket.

"They're real big on the passing game, so our pass rush is going to have to be pinpoint this week," Hightower said.

Sacks or no sacks, significant pressure will help Alabama's secondary defend against an elite corps of Arkansas receivers. Effective pass coverage also will help the pass rush.

"Those guys in the deep end, they're going to handle their job," Upshaw said of the Tide's defensive backs, who have blossomed since last season. "It will help more if we can apply pressure. It's on the rest of us. They're going to do a good job. They know what they do back there. We just want to help them out."

Arkansas has allowed seven sacks in three games. Wilson sat out the second half of the Razorbacks' second game - a rout of New Mexico - with concussion-like symptoms after he was sacked shortly before halftime.

The hits Wilson has been taking concern Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

"When your quarterback is getting hit, there is always a concern with it," Petrino said. "We need to do a better job of protecting at times. He's got to get rid of the ball quicker at times."

If not, this could be a feeding frenzy for Upshaw and his teammates.

"We're real hungry," Upshaw said. "The three and outs are good, but the sacks are in everybody's mind."