It’s a tall order for a January junior college quarterback transfer to roll into Alabama and leave with a win after the Crimson Tide have allowed fewer than 11 points in every game but Ole Miss.

But that’s Stephen Johnson’s task this week in a game that Vegas set at a 35-point spread. It could become a shootout early as Kentucky’s allowed at least 42 points in three games this season.

Kentucky has never matched up well against Alabama — the Tide lead the series 36-2-1.

Is there any hope Saturday in Tuscaloosa?

Here’s how they match up:

When Kentucky has the ball

Stephen Johnson vs. Alabama pass defense: On the surface, this appears to be an obvious mismatch. And given Johnson’s performance last week against South Carolina when he had 181 offensive yards, and went 11-of-19 passing, there’s little reason for optimism.

Throw in four sacks and an interception and this has the feel of a cupcake non-conference matchup.

Then there was the play when he scrambled for 9 yards to convert a 3rd-and-8, and Kentucky scored one play later. Not to mention South Carolina is ranked second in the league in pass defense, and Alabama is fifth. But nearly half of the yards Alabama’s given up came against Chad Kelly and Ole Miss. Mobile quarterbacks have had relative success against Alabama — and Johnson certainly is mobile — but it’s difficult to see a junior college transfer doing something similar in Tuscaloosa.

Edge: Alabama

RBs Stanley “Boom” Williams/Benjamin Snell Jr. vs. run defense: The Wildcats hit 216 rushing yards against the Gamecocks, and 381 yards against New Mexico State, yet Florida held them to 94.

Snell has been a pleasant surprise as he tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns earlier this season. The trouble is they face the league’s top rushing defense that has allowed just one touchdown this season and 67.5 yards per game.

Ole Miss is the only team to rush for 100 yards against the Tide in 2016 — and the Rebels finished with just 101.

Edge: Alabama

Jeff Badet/Garrett Johnson/C.J. Conrad vs. pass defense: The trio has combined for six TD catches, and 28 catches overall. Conrad was expected to get a higher profile role in the offense since the summer, but he has just two catches outside the New Mexico State game. Similarly, Johnson has mustered seven catches for 69 yards outside the Southern Miss game. Alabama’s secondary has exceeded expectations and gets the return of Tony Brown off of suspension.

Edge: Alabama

When Alabama has the ball

Jalen Hurts vs. Kentucky pass defense: Hurts, a true freshman, is the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the SEC. He threw for 287 yards in his first career start and ran for 146 at Ole Miss — becoming the first Alabama quarterback to rush for 100 yards since 2001.

Kentucky’s secondary was expected to be a strength entering the season with Chris Westry, who along with Derek Baity, is well-regarded around the league. But the unit is near the bottom of the league, and has given up nine touchdowns overall, and at least 258 passing yards in three games.

Edge: Alabama

Damien Harris/Bo Scarborough vs. run defense: Harris’ status is up in the air with an ankle injury, but that shouldn’t slow down the Crimson Tide attack against a UK defense that has yielded nine rushing touchdowns, 205 yards per game and is second to last in the league.

Last week against overmatched Kent State, the Tide turned to freshman Joshua Jacobs, who ran 11 times for 97 yards and two scores.

Edge: Alabama

Calvin Ridley/ArDarius Stewart/O.J. Howard vs. pass defense: No shortage of weapons here, and Kentucky might limit some of them, but depth becomes a deciding factor in this matchup. Ridley and Stewart are each in the top 15 to 20 in several receiving categories in the league. And Howard himself averages 15 yards a catch. Kentucky is one of three SEC teams to have already yielded more than 1,000 passing yards.

Edge: Alabama

Special teams

With two touchdowns already on punt returns and nearly twice the yardage of any other SEC team, special teams have been a highlight showcase for Alabama. It’s averaging 20 yards per return. Kentucky though, also has a touchdown and averages 18 yards per return. Austin MacGinnis is kicking for a third year, while the punter, Grant McKinniss, averages 40.8 yards per boot. Charles Walker leads the SEC in punt return yardage at 18 yards per. Alabama, meanwhile, has two players, Eddie Jackson and Xavian Marks, who’ve already scored a TD this season on a punt return.

Edge: Alabama