Western Division
No. 2 Auburn Tigers (4-0, 2-0 SEC)Kick off: at South Carolina, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
The Tigers and Gamecocks face-off in this week’s Thursday night ESPN game slot. Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said he does not mind playing a game on Thursday instead of Saturday.
“We’ve played several Thursday night games over the years,” Tuberville said in his Monday press conference. “I think it’s good for your school and good for your team. It breaks the daily routine of what you do and how you do it.”
Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1, 2-0 SEC)Kick off: bye week
The Razorbacks enter a bye week coming off a 24-23 double-overtime victory at home against Alabama.
“It’s always good to win – that’s the bottom line,” said Arkansas coach Houston Nutt. “I just look forward to celebrate in the locker room with our players, coaches and staff. Whether it be overtime or a last-second play, it just makes things that much sweeter.”
Alabama Crimson Tide(3-1, 1-1 SEC)Kick off: at Florida, 2:30 p.m. on CBS
The Crimson Tide could have their hands full Saturday against Florida. The Gators’ offense averages 465 yards per game and is No. 9 in the country.
“This is one of the hottest offenses in the country right now,” Alabama defensive coordinator Joe Kines said in a news release. “If there is a better system out there, I would be hard-pressed to find it.
No. 9 LSU Tigers (3-1, 0-1 SEC)Kick off: versus Mississippi State, 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln Financial Sports
The Tigers’ defense owns a No. 1 ranking in scoring and pass efficiency defense and a No. 2 ranking in total and pass defense. The early kick off is LSU’s first morning kick off since Sept. 25, 2004 against Mississippi State. The Tigers won the game 51-0.
“This will be the first early start for me,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “I don’t know the difference from the earliest start to a night game. It’ll be loud and aggressive earlier in the day.”
Ole Miss Rebels (1-3, 0-1 SEC)Kick off: versus Georgia, 8 p.m. on ESPN
The Rebels’ 1-3 start has prompted speculation among fans and the media about the direction of the Ole Miss program.
“We don’t read the newspapers,” said Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron. “What other people say really don’t bother us.”
Sophomore nose tackle Peria Jerry will not play this weekend. Jerry has reportedly been battling foot and hand injuries since preseason.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-3, 0-2 SEC)Kick off: at LSU
The Bulldogs earned their first win of the season this past Saturday, 16-10, in overtime at Alabama-Birmingham. The win ended a 15-game on-the-road losing streak.
Mississippi State will start Omar Conner at quarterback versus the Tigers’ No. 1 ranked scoring defense.
“There’s no question Omar is playing better than he’s ever played at quarterback,” said Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom.
Eastern Division
No. 5 Florida Gators (4-0, 2-0 SEC)Kick off: versus Alabama, 2:30 p.m. on CBS
The Florida Gators have won 11 straight home games. In the 2005 season, the Crimson Tide hammered the Gators, 31-3 in Tuscaloosa.
“This definitely gives you some motivation after losing to a team,” Florida wide receiver Jemalle Cornelius said Monday. “And we only put up three points.”
Alabama has not visited Florida since 1999. The Tide won 40-39.
No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs (4-0, 1-0 SEC)Kick off: at Ole Miss, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
The Bulldogs have won six straight games against Ole Miss. The Rebels’ last win came in 1996 in Athens, 31-27.
“You can count [on Matthew Stafford and Joe Cox] playing this weekend,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said in a news release. “Both will get equal time with the No. 1 offense this week in practice, and we’ll choose our starter at the end of the week.”
Cox led the Bulldogs to their come-from-behind victory against winless Colorado this past Saturday.
Kentucky Wildcats (2-2, 1-1 SEC)Kick off: versus Central Michigan, 5 p.m.
The Wildcats will welcome back the services of running back Rafael Little, who missed the Florida game because of a knee and toe injury.
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said he feels his team matches up well against Central Michigan.
“We’re 2-0 at home, and we need to get to 3-0 at home,” Brooks said. “This is one of those games for a program like us that we need to win. There isn’t any way around it.”
South Carolina Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 SEC)Kick off: versus Auburn
South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell is still listed at No. 2 on the depth chart after being arrested on simple assault charges in mid-September.
Senior Syvelle Newton started the game this past Saturday against Florida Atlantic. He went 13-for-20, passing for 216 yards and five touchdowns.
Mitchell did play, completing 5-of-11 pass attempts for 75 yards.
“You got to keep playing them until one steps forward and proves that he is the best,” said coach Steve Spurrier.
No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (3-1, 0-1 SEC)Kick off: versus Memphis, 11 a.m. on ESPN
The Vols lead the Memphis series 19-1. Tennessee escaped a near-upset in 2005 by defeating the Tigers 20-16 in Neyland Stadium.
Memphis coach Tommy West said he has been impressed with the improvement of Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge.
“[Ainge] is obviously playing a lot better than a year ago,” Memphis coach Tommy West said at a Monday press conference. “He was terrible against us a year ago.”
Vanderbilt Commodores (1-3, 0-2 SEC)Kick off: versus Temple, 6 p.m.
The Commodores find themselves in a rare position going into Saturday’s game. Vanderbilt is a 34-point favorite in the game, but Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said he does not buy into point spreads.
“I have never looked at [point spreads],” Johnson said. “I don’t agree with them, and don’t care about them. But I hope they’re right.”
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]