Mel & Todd: What are the top three offenses and defenses in the country?

Throughout the college football season, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay kick off each week by settling a debate, looking at emerging NFL prospects and peeking ahead to next week. Among this week's topics: What are the top three offenses and defenses in the country right now? Kiper takes the offense, McShay takes the defense.

What are the top three offenses and defenses?

Mel Kiper's top three offenses

1. Alabama

Surprised? Well look at these numbers. It's piling up. The Crimson Tide put up 52 points on USC in Week 1 and have scored 48, 49 and 49 points in three road SEC games. Their run game is crushing opponents -- they rank No. 10 in FBS with 265.7 rushing yards per game, and their top three running backs are averaging 8.3, 8.0 and 6.3 yards per carry. Then there's multithreat quarterback Jalen Hurts, a true freshman, who is a little inconsistent throwing the ball -- though he only has three interceptions -- but is a great runner. He actually leads the team in carries with 74. Sophomore stud receiver Calvin Ridley, who has 39 catches and four touchdowns, can do it all. And Alabama's offensive line is among the most talented in the country.

2. Louisville

The Cardinals are putting up 52.3 points and 628 yards per game, which both lead the FBS. And the offense starts -- but doesn't end -- with dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is the Heisman front-runner. He already has 15 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns. Louisville is averaging 7.2 yards per carry this season; senior running back Brandon Radcliff is averaging 8.1 yards per carry. Veteran receivers James Quick and Jamari Staples are consistent targets, while the offensive line is steady and experienced. The Cardinals just keep putting up points and yards.

3. Washington

The Huskies are one of the biggest surprises in college football, and their efficient offense is a big reason why. They're averaging 49.5 points per game, which ranks third in FBS. Quarterback Jake Browning has 23 touchdown passes and just two interceptions while completing 72.2 percent of his passes. Sophomore running back Myles Gaskin has rushed for almost 600 yards, and junior RB Lavon Coleman is averaging 9 yards after contact on 44 carries. Speedy receiver John Ross, who has had two major knee injuries, is back and has nine touchdowns. Keep an eye on 6-foot-8 left tackle Trey Adams, who's only a sophomore but is a star in the making.

Todd McShay's top three defenses

1. Michigan

The Wolverines have allowed 17 points total in their last three games (Penn State, Wisconsin, Rutgers). The addition of defensive coordinator Don Brown has taken this unit to a different level. Up front, Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley are tough to move off the ball (9.5 tackles for loss combined). Jabrill Peppers, who's playing a hybrid LB/DB role, is one of the best all-around prospects in the country. And Jourdan Lewis is the top man-to-man cover corner in the country. Put it all together, and this unit overwhelms opponents on a weekly basis.

2. Florida

The Gators stifle opponents, particularly through the air. They've intercepted 7.1 percent of passes, the best mark in the country. LB Jarrad Davis swarms to the ball -- and when he gets there, he shows explosive tackling ability. Safety Marcus Maye can do it all. And the scouts I'm talking to are debating which cornerback is better -- Teez Tabor has four INTs and Quincy Wilson has three ... and three more pass breakups.

3. Wisconsin

The Badgers' defense has kept them in every game this season, an impressive feat considering their schedule. The D-line plays with great discipline, and the linebackers are nasty. And I love the way this unit has responded to adversity: Vince Biegel goes down with a foot injury and Garret Dooley steps up. And T.J. Watt is an emerging star with 5.5 sacks and five QB hurries in six games. A few other notes: NC State would probably be the next-best unit on my list. They're easily the most underrated group in the country. They stunned Clemson with their physicality -- at Death Valley. Other defenses I've really been impressed with (in alphabetical order): Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Washington.

Prospect on the rise

Kiper: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple

Dawkins, a four-year starter for the Owls apart from a broken foot that prematurely ended his freshman season, is going to be my new No. 1 senior offensive tackle, and he could make my new Big Board in a couple weeks. He's a dominant run blocker from his left tackle spot, which is a rare sight these days. You don't see many throwback run blockers who can explode at the snap and lock onto defenders in the current NFL. In Temple's win at UCF on Saturday, Dawkins (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) showed good leg drive and footwork and the ability to get to the second level with ease. He uses his hands well to engage defenders and drive them off the ball. I don't see an issue with him sticking at left tackle in the NFL, and I think he has a chance to be a first-round pick depending on how he works out at the combine.

McShay: Alabama's offensive line

Yes, the entire unit. They completely dominated a talented Tennessee defensive line, as the Crimson Tide rushed for 443 yards on 49 carries (9.0 YPC). (It should be noted that Tennessee's LB corps was ravaged by injuries, but still, 443 rushing yards!) OT Cam Robinson is the top prospect -- No. 19 overall and No. 1 OT -- but this group has a ton of talent. Junior center Bradley Bozeman has held up well as a first-year starter, while sophomore right guard Lester Cotton, sophomore left guard Ross Pierschbacher and true freshman RT Jonah Williams are growing into their roles. Because of the big boys up front, Alabama's running game figures to be a handful down the stretch.

Almost famous

Kiper: Obi Melifonwu, S, UConn

Melifonwu is a durable, experienced defender for the Huskies who is leading the team in tackles. At 6-2, 215 pounds he has a good size for his position, and his athleticism isn't a question, either; I've seen him come up in run support and make stops, and I've seen him play the deep middle of the field and cover a lot of ground. He had an interception in UConn's loss to South Florida on Saturday, and he could have had two -- he didn't highpoint the ball on one touchdown and was beaten in the end zone. I think the senior is a fourth-round pick at this point with the potential to rise after the all-star games are played.

McShay: Matt Dayes, RB, North Carolina State

The Wolfpack's hard-charging running back carried the load on Saturday (133 total yards and a TD), as NC State gave Clemson everything it could handle. A team captain, Dayes plays with great vision and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry for his career. His draft stock is on the rise after three consecutive 100-yards games, and Dayes could be a Day 3 steal if he lands in the right system.

The big question for next week

Kiper: Can the Aggies' pass rush cause trouble for the Crimson Tide?

Texas A&M's pass-rushers -- Myles Garrett, the No. 1 prospect on my Big Board, and Daeshon Hall, my No. 3 senior defensive end -- are tremendous, and they might be the best end tandem in the country. Alabama has Cam Robinson, my No. 1 offensive tackle prospect, on the left side and true freshman Jonah Williams on the right. Garrett and Hall have combined for 7.5 sacks this season, while Robinson has been good but inconsistent, and Williams has showed, at times, that he's green. The Aggies' best chance to pull off an upset in Tuscaloosa might be to pressure freshman quarterback Hurts, and that starts with Garrett and Hall.

McShay: Can Iowa QB C.J. Beathard turn it around vs. tough Wisconsin defense?

Mel hit all of the particulars in a great matchup between Alabama and Texas A&M, so I'll shift the focus to the game I'll be at on Saturday: Wisconsin-Iowa. Beathard entered the season as my No. 3 QB prospect, but he has regressed a bit in his senior season. His accuracy and footwork need to get more consistent. Beathard will face a Badgers' defense that ranks 10th in the FBS in Total QBR allowed to opposing passers.