No. 9 Clemson has designs on winning college football’s national championship in 2008 and No. 24 Alabama is looking for vast improvement in its second season under coach Nick Saban.

The Tigers and Tide will meet in a season-opener on a neutral field Saturday night — the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in a game that will be televised nationally by ABC.

Almost 33 years have elapsed since Alabama and Clemson last met, with the Tide rolling to a 56-0 victory in 1975. That was Bama’s 11th victory in a row in a series Clemson started with three victories in a row — all shutouts between 1900 and 1905.

Clemson, featuring a dynamic running back tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller, is a 4 1/2-point favorite in a game in which the Tigers hope to establish themselves as national contenders. The duo has combined for 3,957 yards, 46 touchdowns and a 5.7-yard average per carry in the last two seasons.

“I think everybody’s saying, ’Oh, they don’t deserve to be in the top 10. They always find a way to lose a game,”’ Spiller said. “We’ve just got to go out there and prove them wrong.”

“We don’t want any cupcake team to open up,” defensive back Chris Chancellor said. “We need to know where we stand right now. Our goal is to win the national championship.”

Saban has high praise for the Tigers, especially the running backs.

“Their offensive team has tremendous skill players,” Saban said. “Spiller and Davis are as fine a running back combination ... as anyone in the country.”

Alabama’s offense will test the Clemson defense, with nine starters returning, including quarterback John Parker Wilson.

Both teams will field strong defensive units and the game will depend on which has the most success stopping the other’s attack. Who wins? You have to go with Davis and Spiller. Clemson 24-17.

Elsewhere around the SEC on opening week:

Vanderbilt (plus 3 1/2) at Miami, Ohio on Thursday: RedHawks will be ready for an SEC team’s visit to their home grounds. Clayton Mullins, Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic will make it difficult for Vandy’s offense. Miami 17-14.

North Carolina State (plus 14) at South Carolina on Thursday: All-SEC receiver Kenny McKinley is set to erase school marks for receptions and yards receiving as he enters his senior season, which he’ll get off to a great start against the Wolfpack. South Carolina 28-10.

Western Illinois (no line) at Arkansas: The Bobby Petrino era begins in Fayetteville where Hog fans hope it will resemble his previous stop at Louisville, not in Atlanta where he quit before his first season ended with the Falcons. No problem with the opener, with Casey Dick engineering an easy victory. Arkansas 31-7.

Louisiana-Monroe (plus 26) at No. 10 Auburn: Junior college transfer Chris Todd and sophomore Kodi Burns each expect playing time at quarterback for the Tigers, but neither knows which will take the first snap in the game. Coach Tommy Tuberville believes the competition is good. It won’t matter who starts. The Tigers are too strong for the visitors from Monroe. Auburn 42-10.