Alabama at Ole Miss (-3.5) 11:30 a.m., JP Sports, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.
Eli Manning and the Rebels (4-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) will attempt to achieve their first 3-0 SEC start since 1970 when Eli’s dad, Archie had the reigns. Eli and the SEC’s leading passing, scoring and total-yard offense scored a 55-0 win over Arkansas State last weekend.
Alabama (3-4, 1-2 SEC) survived its game with Southern Miss 17-3, but the Crimson Tide will certainly need better point production to defeat the Rebels. The Tide’s offense and defensive performance places them in the latter part of the SEC pack. They rank eighth in points scored and seventh in the conference in points allowed.
The Rebels’ offense should be able to pile up yards and points against the hardly mediocre Alabama defense. The Tide offense has proved incapable of responding, so expect the Grove to be rocking on Saturday afternoon.
Ole Miss 35, Alabama 10
No. 5 Georgia (-25) at Vanderbilt 1 p.m., Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
Since losing to LSU nearly three weeks ago, Georgia (5-1, 3-1) has been on a roll and is in the driver’s seat for the SEC East title. But the Commodores (1-6, 0-3) have continued to show their impotence against SEC opponents despite a victory to open the season.
Georgia has held its opponents to an average of 255.2 yards a game, the best in the nation. Vandy’s offense has managed to put up an average of 22.6 points a game, second to last in the SEC.
Georgia 42, Vanderbilt 14
Mississippi State at No. 25 Auburn
(-21) 1:30 p.m., Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
The previously-deflated Auburn Tigers (4-2, 3-0) somehow find themselves in the SEC West driver’s seat after dropping Arkansas last week 10-3. The Bulldogs (2-4, 1-1) are on a bit of a high also as they have won two straight, but the victories did come against Memphis and Vanderbilt.
Auburn needed a 47-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to win last time the Bulldogs traveled to the Plains, but State only has a chance if the Tigers look ahead to next week’s matchup with LSU. Auburn should be focused for the game.
Auburn 28, Mississippi State 7
Florida at No. 11 Arkansas (-5) 2:30 p.m., CBS, Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.
Ron Zook was able to get the Gators (4-3, 2-2) focused enough to top the Tigers in Baton Rouge, but LSU was more responsible for its loss than the Gators were. Arkansas (4-1, 1-1) fell prey to the upset bug last week against Auburn and are looking to get back in the top 10.
The Razorbacks lead the SEC in rushing yards, and until last week’s game the Gators proved incapable of stopping the run with consistency. For the Gators to win, they will have to find a way to stop the Gator rushing attack led by Matt Jones and Cedric Hobbs.
Arkansas is hungry for a win and surely will be more focused than LSU was last week. Look for the calls to fire Ron Zook to resurface.
Arkansas 35, Florida 13
Ohio at Kentucky (15.5) 6 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Ky.
The Wildcats (2-4, 0-3) are bringing in Mid-Atlantic Conference opponent Ohio (2-4, 1-2 MAC) in hopes of actually winning a game for homecoming.
Expect Jared Lorenzen to light up the Bobcats’ 71st-ranked passing defense and lead Kentucky to victory.
Kentucky 35, Ohio 21
No. 10 LSU (-4) at South Carolina 6:45 p.m., ESPN 2, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
The Tigers (5-1, 2-1) travel to South Carolina looking to prove to the rest of the country that they belong among the elite. The Gamecocks (4-2, 1-2) narrowly escaped an upset last week against Kentucky and USC coach Lou Holtz should have his team ready to play on Saturday.
USC will be depending upon the performance of freshman running back Demetris Summers.
Expect Justin Vincent to live up to all his recruiting hype and have a big day against the Gamecocks’ defense. Matt Mauck and the rest of the offense have the most to prove Saturday. LSU’s defense will maintain their dominant play and the offense will get back on track.
LSU 35, South Carolina 10