WESTERN DIVISION
No. 13 Arkansas (6-1, 4-0)
This week: vs. UL-Monroe, 6 p.m.
The 1998 and the 2006 Arkansas football teams are drawing a few comparisons going into week nine of the SEC season.
In 1998, the Razorbacks were picked by multiple media outlets to finish last in the western division and finished the regular season with a 9-2 record and a 45-31 loss to the University of Michigan in the Florida Citrus Bowl.
This season, Arkansas has the best record in the Southeastern Conference but was picked to finish fourth in the division.
“This group of young men…haven’t been to a bowl game,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “There are some guys that haven’t experience success.”
No. 7 Auburn (7-1, 4-1)
This week: at Ole Miss, 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln Financial Sports
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said Saturday’s game against Ole Miss will be the first weekend his team is healthy since the LSU game Sept. 16.
“This is probably as healthy our football team has been since the first part of the season,” Tuberville said. “We’ve felt the feeling of that [LSU] game up to this point.”
Tuberville said the Tigers will welcome back running backs Kenny Irons, Carl Stewart and Brad Lester, offensive linemen Jason Bosley and Joe Cope and free safety Aairon Savage.
No. 14 LSU (6-2, 2-2)
This week: bye
LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers will use their bye week to heal a few injuries and do a little advanced game plan for the University of Alabama, Ole Miss and the University of Arkansas.
In addition to looking ahead, Miles said his staff will take a closer look at his own team.
“We’re doing a bunch of self-scouting, looking at what we’re doing by strategy,” Miles said.
LSU will resume play next week on the road against the University of Tennessee.
Alabama (5-3, 2-3)
This week: vs. Florida International, 2 p.m.
After the Crimson Tide’s heartbreaking 16-13 loss Saturday at Tennessee, Alabama coach Mike Shula has only one thing on his mind this weekend against Florida International.
“We’ve got to go win a football game,” Shula said. “When you lose a game like that, it’s about as bad as it gets. We’ve got to prove to ourselves that we can play better.”
The game against FIU is Alabama’s homecoming and will make the Crimson Tide bowl-eligible with a victory.
Ole Miss (2-6, 1-4)
This week: vs. Auburn
Ole Miss linebacker Garry Pack was dismissed from the team and defensive linemen LaMark Armour and Hayward Howard and linebackers LeRon King and Robert Russell were suspended indefinitely, Rebels coach Ed Orgeron said Monday night in a news release.
Reasons for the punishments were not disclosed.
Orgeron said he still expects his team to play well on defense despite the circumstances.
“I think we’re going to be fine,” Orgeron said.
Mississippi State (2-6, 0-4)
This week: vs. Kentucky, 1:30 p.m.
Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom praised his offensive line Wednesday following the Bulldogs’ 27-24 loss at Georgia.
“Right now, [the offensive line] is probably one of our strong points of our football team,” Croom said. “It really bodes well for the future.”
The Bulldogs’ offensive line allowed three sacks against Georgia, but Croom said the unit played the best it had all season in the game.
EASTERN DIVISION
No. 9 Florida (6-1, 4-1)
This week: vs. Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla., 2:30 p.m., on CBS
Florida coach Urban Meyer said his most effective runner at this point in the season is not listed as a running back on the depth chart.
Meyer said true freshman quarterback Tim Tebow gives his team the best chance to run the football. Tebow has 246 yards on 44 rushes and four touchdowns.
“He is one of the toughest human beings I’ve ever been around,” Meyer said. “He’s probably our best runner at this time.”
No. 8 Tennessee (6-1, 2-1)
This week: at South Carolina, 6:45 p.m. on ESPN
Tennessee’s second-half comeback Saturday against Alabama was an encouraging sign for the team’s offense, coach Phillip Fulmer said.
The Vols trailed Alabama 6-3 at halftime in part because of quarterback Erik Ainge’s three interceptions in the half.
Tennessee prevailed with a 16-13 win and eventually gained 359 yards of total offense.
“It’s good to see our offense bounce back in the second half against Alabama,” Fulmer said. “It’s good to see our defense playing better.”
Georgia (6-2, 3-2)
This week: at Florida
Georgia coach Mark Richt said he has caught onto Florida quarterback Chris Leak’s success against the Bulldogs.
In three games against Georgia, Leak has completed 52 percent of his passes and thrown for 590 yards, four touchdowns and, above all, no interceptions.
“Law of averages says he’s due to throw a pick,” Richt said.
South Carolina (5-2, 3-2)
This week: vs. Tennessee
The Gamecocks got their first-ever win in Knoxville, Tenn., in the 2005 season, but South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said he expects a different kind of game against the Vols this time around.
“I don’t think they’re going to beat themselves this year,” Spurrier said. “They didn’t play very well last year.”
The Gamecocks forced two turnovers in 2005 against Tennessee and threw for 242 yards compared to Tennessee’s 99 yards passing.
Ainge and former Tennessee quarterback Rick Clausen both played in the previous game against the Gamecocks and combined for just 14 completed passes.
Kentucky (3-4, 1-3)
This week: at Mississippi State
Saturday’s game against Mississippi State is important to the Wildcats’ post-season aspirations, Wildcats coach Rich Brooks said.
After this weekend’s road game, Kentucky returns to Lexington, Ky., for three straight home games, which could setup an opportunity to earn six wins and qualify for a bowl game.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s a pivotal game,” Brooks said. “Kentucky is not rich with post-season play.”
The Wildcats have been to just 10 bowl games since 1881.
Vanderbilt (3-5, 1-4)
This week: at Duke, 12 p.m.
This weekend’s Vanderbilt-Duke game features two programs who are mirror images – two schools trying to build successful football programs at a academically-renowned university.
Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said it’s difficult to find a happy medium – a player who wants to learn and play football.
“It’s a special young man you’ve got to recruit,” Johnson said.
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]