Week six in the Southeastern Conference belonged to the underdog.
 
LSU traveled to Gainesville, Fla., and upset the Florida Gators, and No. 19 South Carolina shocked No. 1 Alabama to grab the SEC East lead. Kentucky attempted to get in on the act, but a last-second field goal by Auburn thwarted the Wildcats’ upset bid.
 
All eyes will be on Auburn, Ala., this weekend for a showdown between two SEC West rivals.
 
QB DUEL ON THE PLAINS
 
The conference leaders in total offense are set to go at it Saturday on the plains of Auburn.
 
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the league in total offense at 344.8 and 301.7 yards per game, respectively. Mallett has thrown for 1,748 yards, 306 more than anyone in the league.
 
Newton ranks fifth in the league in passing at 189.7 yards per game but leads the conference in rushing, averaging 112 yards per contest.
 
“I don’t think there’s any question that he’s one of the top players in the conference,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said of Newton. “The way they utilize him, it’s very difficult to defend.”
 
 
MULLEN RETURNS TO FLA.
 
Saturday marks the return of Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen to Gainesville. Mullen spent four years as Florida’s offensive coordinator under Meyer.
 
“When the scouting report comes on and the Gator head is on it, it all kind of hits you because it used to be on everything I did for four years of my life,” Mullen said.
 
The two teams met in Starkville, Miss., last season. Top-ranked Florida knocked off the outmanned Bulldogs, 29-19. Meyer acknowledged that playing Mullen presents some problems for his team.
 
“He’s got a good handle of what we try to do,” Meyer said. “A lot of our signals we’ve changed. We’ve addressed that more than last year.”
 
 
BUMPS AND BRUISES
 
Several key players around the SEC continue to battle injuries at the halfway point of the season.
 
Alabama junior receiver Julio Jones practiced Tuesday but did not catch any footballs. The SEC’s No. 3 pass catcher has a broken hand.
 
Saban said Wednesday the swelling is gone, and Jones now has the use of his hand.
 
Meyer said Florida’s Jeffrey Demps would practice Wednesday and Thursday and is “probable” for Saturday’s game. The junior running back did not play against LSU on Saturday because of an ailing foot.
 
Suspended Gator running back Chris Rainey returned to the team Monday, but Meyer did not comment on the  junior’s status for Saturday’s game.
 
Kentucky senior running back Derrick Locke is doubtful for Saturday’s game against South Carolina, according to Kentucky coach Joker Phillips. Locke does not have full motion or feeling in his right arm because of nerve problems.
 
LSU sophomore wide receiver Rueben Randle will play Saturday after breaking a finger in practice the Monday after the Tigers’ win against Tennessee.
 
 
 
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Contact Hunt Palmer at [email protected]