By Christian Goeckel
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Smith gets you ready for a huge week in the SEC.

As we reach the middle Saturday of the college football season, lets assess what weve learned through six weeks. Alabama and Georgia are more fallible than they appeared in September, and it still seems more likely than not that well avoid a 12-0 vs. 12-0 SEC Championship Game with minimal stakes.

Tennessee and Ole Miss have had some scares, but both possess a dominant element to their teams that has kept them unbeaten. Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas A&M have disappointed, but key injuries have hit them hard. Florida and LSU are expectedly still in transition mode. The two biggest surprises might be 5-1 Mississippi State and 4-2 South Carolina. Auburn, Missouri and Vanderbilt will need miracles to get to six wins.

What will the second half of the SEC season bring? Of the four unbeatens, there are still three head-to-head matchups remaining, with the first coming on this third Saturday of October in Knoxville. Mississippi State, the leagues only one-loss team, plays three of the four undefeated teams.

It should be a fun close to the season, starting with a six-pack of games this weekend, five of which have a ton of intrigue. Missouri, South Carolina and Texas A&M all take a mid-season break this weekend, but 11 teams are in action. Lets preview Week 7 in the SEC.

This is a Big Week for:

Coach: Mike Leach, Mississippi State

There was a definite path to 5-1 for Mississippi State leading into the season, and the Bulldogs have gotten there. The problem with the Bullies schedule was that there was also a path from 5-1 to 6-6. With Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss ahead, avoiding a late-season swoon may require a win at Kentucky on Saturday.

Player: Gerald Mincey, OT, Tennessee

Mincey, who was unable to play in Tennessees win at LSU last Saturday, has been cleared to play this week against Alabama. Hell see plenty of Crimson Tide star edge rusher Will Anderson. If Mincey and his linemates can keep quarterback Hendon Hooker clean, the Vols offense should pose a big problem for Alabamas secondary.

Unit: LSU Defensive Line

Florida managed just 66 passing yards against Missouri last week, but the ground game carved up the Tigers for 231 yards. Another group of Tigers comes to The Swamp this week, with LSU coming off of allowing 263 rushing yards to Tennessee. Theres an obvious path to victory for Florida if LSUs defensive front doesnt play better.

Trivia Time

1. Who replaced Tommy Tuberville as Ole Miss head coach when he left for Auburn after the 1998 season?

2. Prior to Josh Heupel taking over in 2021, for how many consecutive seasons was Tennessee coached by a former or future Nick Saban assistant?

3. In the past six LSU-Florida games, how many times has the underdog won the game?

Game Predictions

Auburn (3-3, 1-2) at (9) Ole Miss (6-0, 2-0), Noon ET (ESPN)

Announcers: Bob Wischusen and Dan Orlovsky

Last Meeting: 2021 3 Auburn 31, Ole Miss 20

Current Streak: Auburn 3 6

Current Streak in Oxford: Auburn 3 4

Line: Ole Miss -14.5

Over/Under: 55.5

The only thing preventing Ole Miss fans from checking this game off as a win is all of the scar tissue from dropping seven of the last eight meetings with Auburn. The Tigers anemic offense has produced just 56 points in four games against Power Five opponents, although the Rebels did allow 28 points to Vanderbilt last week. Auburn should be able to counter the Ole Miss rushing attack, likely putting the game in the hands of quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was productive last week but also turned the ball over twice. If the Tigers can force long drives, this could get interesting late, but I dont trust Auburn to not turn the ball over and give the Rebels offense a short field or two. It wont be pretty, but Ole Miss will get to 7-0 without extreme peril.

Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Auburn 10

Arkansas (3-3, 1-3) at BYU (4-2), 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Announcers: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Tom Luginbill

Series History: First Meeting

Line: Arkansas -1.5

Over/Under: 66

K.J. Jefferson appears on track to return after missing last weeks loss at Mississippi State. The Razorbacks performance in Starkville proved, if further proof was even required, that their offense doesnt function without a healthy Jefferson. Arkansas also hasnt been able to rely on its defense, as injuries have gutted their secondary. For BYU, the Cougars have been susceptible at the line of scrimmage. Explosive plays kept them alive in last weeks loss to Notre Dame, else that game would have gotten out of hand. The Hogs, with Jefferson, will be able to run the football. On the other side, Cougars quarterback Jaren Hall will have success through the air. Which offense finds the most balance will determine the winner. With Jefferson fresh after missing last week, I think the Razorbacks have just enough to get the SEC a rare win out west.

Prediction: Arkansas 34, BYU 31

(3) Alabama (6-0, 3-0) at (6) Tennessee (5-0, 2-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

Announcers: Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson

Last Meeting: 2021 3 Alabama 52, Tennessee 24

Current Streak: Alabama 3 15

Current Streak in Knoxville: Alabama 3 7

Line: Alabama -7

Over/Under: 65.5

Its the biggest game in this series since the SEC expanded, not to 14 teams in 2012, but to 12 teams in 1992. Tennessee doesnt truly need this game if the goal is to get to the SEC Championship Game, but after 15 straight losses, a win Saturday would probably be more celebrated than even a division win over Georgia. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young seems likely to return after a one-game absence, but its not even a certainty if hell be the best quarterback on the field going against Tennessees Hendon Hooker. The Crimson Tide are beatable, more so than it seemed five weeks ago. Tennessees defense is a concern, but if the Vols jump to an early lead like last week against LSU, theyre a hard team to make up ground against. Hooker is having a special season, but Alabama counters with two special players in Young and edge rusher Will Anderson. This game will be high-scoring and highly-entertaining, but Anderson and the Crimson Tide defense will make just enough drive-wrecking plays to extend the series winning streak to a sweet 16.

Prediction: Alabama 41, Tennessee 31

Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2) at (1) Georgia (6-0, 3-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)

Announcers: Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb

Last Meeting: 2021 3 Georgia 62, Vanderbilt 0

Current Streak: Georgia 3 4

Current Streak in Athens: Georgia 3 1

Line: Georgia -38

Over/Under: 58.5

Six years to the day from Saturday, Vanderbilt shocked the Bulldogs in Athens with a 17-16 upset win. History wont repeat itself on Saturday, but the Commodores have made strides in 2022 that dont require a magnifying glass to see. Georgia has played three consecutive poor first halves, so Kirby Smarts team is overdue for a fast start. The running game returned to dominance last week against Auburn, but this is a game in which Dawgs fans would like to see the passing game have its way with a poor Vanderbilt secondary. Last season, Georgia didnt open up its offense until it had to. It wont have to this week, so I expect the Bulldogs to again lean on the ground game. At this number and with Smarts history as more than a five-touchdown favorite, Ill take the points.

Prediction: Georgia 49, Vanderbilt 13

LSU (4-2, 2-1) at Florida (4-2, 1-2), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Announcers: Joe Tessitore and Greg McElroy

Last Meeting: 2021 3 LSU 49, Florida 42

Current Streak: LSU 3 3

Current Streak in Gainesville: LSU 3 1

Line: Florida -2.5

Over/Under: 52

What do you do with this game? LSU was hideous in all three phases and on the sidelines last week against Tennessee, while Floridas offense largely sputtered in a narrow win over Missouri. Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson has had his issues with decent defenses, and we saw in the Tigers win over Mississippi State that there is still a pretty high level of athleticism on the LSU defense. In the summer, I thought this game would be a jumpstart for a strong close to the season for LSU. Im not sure the offense is good enough to make that happen against Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas A&M, but I like the Tigers to bounce back in Gainesville and set up a huge game next week in Tiger Stadium against undefeated Ole Miss.

Prediction: LSU 23, Florida 20

(16) Mississippi State (5-1, 2-1) at (22) Kentucky (4-2, 1-2), 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)

Announcers: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic

Last Meeting: 2021 3 Mississippi State 31, Kentucky 17

Current Streak: Mississippi State 3 1

Current Streak in Lexington: Kentucky 3 3

Line: Mississippi State -4

Over/Under: 49

This spread has narrowed as the week has gone along, perhaps opening the door for Will Levis to be available after a foot injury forced him to miss last weeks Wildcats loss to South Carolina. Home teams have dominated this series, with the last road win coming when the Bulldogs were No. 1 in 2014 and held off Kentucky in Lexington. Im not surprised by Mississippi States 5-1 start, as Will Rogers has been as prolific as any Mike Leach triggerman, but I do think the Bullies have caught some good fortune with opponent injuries in the past couple weeks. I cant see how this line is where it is if Levis wasnt going to be available. Ill say he gives it a go, and Kentucky continues the trend of home teams winning in this annual cross-division series.

Prediction: Kentucky 24, Mississippi State 20

Best Bets

Last Week: 3-2

Season: 20-10

Oklahoma State +4 at TCU

Washington -14 vs. Arizona

Georgia Southern +11.5 vs. James Madison

Nebraska +14 at Purdue

North Carolina -7 at Duke

The Best Game Ive Ever Watched On October 15:

Oct. 15, 2005: (1) USC 34, (9) Notre Dame 31

If theres one single date that college football fans remember more than any other, its Oct. 15, 2005. A barrage of quality matchups nearly all delivered. Wisconsin stunned Minnesota on a late blocked punt to crush the Gophers Big Ten title hopes. Louisville collapsed late in a triple overtime loss at West Virginia with first place in the Big East on the line. Michigan walked off No. 3 Penn State in Ann Arbor with a game-winning touchdown pass.

Even with all of those fantastic finishes, the game of the day was the showdown between No. 1 USC, which hadnt lost in more than two years, and No. 9 Notre Dame, resurgent in Charlie Weis first season with a 4-1 record. ESPNs College GameDay was in South Bend, and the parallels between this game and the 1988 Catholics vs. Convicts Game between the Irish and No. 1 Miami (FL) played 17 years to the day earlier were uncanny. Notre Dame was out-talented, but it was a confident team that believed it could win.

After warming up in navy, Notre Dame entered the field green jerseys, as it wore 28 years earlier in a blowout upset win of the Trojans. USC struck first to take an early 7-0 lead, but 21 of the next 28 points went to the Irish, capped by a 59-yard punt return touchdown by Tom Zbikowski.

In pursuit of a Heisman Trophy that would later be vacated, USC tailback Reggie Bush made his mark on the game, tying the game with a 45-yard touchdown in the third quarter after earlier scoring from 34 yards out. Notre Dame answered with a field goal to start the fourth quarter, giving the Irish a 24-21 lead and setting the stage for one of the most memorable finishes in college football history.

Under the steady hand of Matt Leinart, USC marched 80 yards in 10 plays to storm in front, 28-24, with five minutes remaining on a third touchdown of the day by Bush. Brady Quinn would prove to be Leinarts equal, starting at his own 13-yard line and guiding Notre Dame 87 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on a five-yard run of his own with two minutes to play. Notre Dame Stadium could sense a repeat of 1988.

After a sack, Notre Dame stood one play away from victory, with USC facing a 4th and 9. USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett got behind cornerback Ambrose Wooden, and Leinart delivered a perfect ball that turned into a 61-yard gain. USC needed just a field goal to tie, but wanted the touchdown for the win. After a first down to move the ball just two yards from the end zone, Leinart tried to keep it himself, but lost the ball near the pylon. Chaos ensued, as the clock kept running, but it was unclear whether the ball went out of bounds in the end zone or at the one-yard line.

There was no instant replay for the game, a decision made by USC, and it may have saved the Trojans. Ultimately, the ball was awarded to USC at the one-yard line with seven seconds left. The Trojans went for the win, and Leinart kept it on a quarterback sneak. He was met with a strong push from the Notre Dame defensive line, but that wasnt the push for which this game is remembered. Bush saw that his teammate needed some help and pushed Leinart into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown with three seconds. USC was victorious, 34-31. The play would of course go down in history as cThe Bush Pushd. The push, a legal play now, was technically illegal at the time.

Neither team would lose again in the regular season. USC earned a showdown with No. 2 Texas in the Rose Bowl for a third straight national title, but Vince Youngs heroics denied the Trojans the title. At 9-2, Notre Dame went to the Fiesta Bowl, falling to Ohio State.

Trivia Answers

1. David Cutcliffe

2. 12 (Lane Kiffin 2009, Derek Dooley 2010-2012, Butch Jones 2013-2017, Jeremy Pruitt 2018-2020)

3. Five (Florida 3 2016, 2018; LSU 3 2017, 2020, 2021)