By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

There are four conference games on the schedule this weekend, making it the most important week to date.

The Vitals

Saturday

(8) LSU at Syracuse, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN); Bob Wischusen and Brock Huard
UCF at South Carolina, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU); Clay Matvick and John Congemi
Southern at (7) Georgia, 12 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Tom Hart and Andre Ware
Tennessee at Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson
Louisiana-Monroe at (11) Alabama, 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
Vanderbilt at (3) Ole Miss, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU) Allen Bestwick and Dan Hawkins
(14) Texas A&M vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN); Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge
Mississippi State at Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2); Mark Jones and Rod Gilmore
(25) Missouri at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer

Players in the Spotlight

1. Tennessee RB Jalen Hurd

The Vols offense was lifeless in the second half of their loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago. For Tennessee to finally get the Smoky Mountain-size monkey off its back against Florida, Hurd has to be the best offensive player on the field Saturday afternoon in The Swamp. He has the tools to be on par with Nick Chubb, Leonard Fournette and Derrick Henry, but the production has been a notch or two below that of his SEC counterparts. Throwing against this Gators secondary, even without suspended cornerback Jalen Tabor, will be a struggle, so the Volunteers need Hurd to carry the load in the running game.

2. Missouri QB Maty Mauk

Far be it from Missouri to look underwhelming in September, but these Tigers seem different than the 2014 version that lost at home to Indiana but still went on to win the SEC East. Mauk will look to improve to 7-0 as a starter in road games against Kentucky, whose defense pitched a second-half shutout in a 14-9 loss to Florida last week. Mauk has connected on just 42 of 80 pass attempts this season, with four of those 38 incompletions being interceptions. The junior doesnt appear to have overcome his inconsistencies of a year ago and now lacks the veteran receiving corps to bail him out. Hes a winner who plays his best in the clutch, but he will need to be better from the outset with conference play commencing.

3. Arkansas OT Denver Kirkland

Kirkland will be tasked with the unenviable assignment of blocking star Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett on Saturday night. Garrett has 5.5 sacks in his first three games to lead the nation. With Arkansas surprisingly becoming more of a passing team (I dont get it either) this season, there should be ample opportunity for Garrett to add to that total against the Razorbacks. But Kirkland is a difficult opponent for Garrett as well. Only five FBS teams have yet to allow a sack this season. Arkansas is one.

Quotable

cAgain, I said this after the game and I say it again: The thing that makes him special is he’s a very humble man. He is a great teammate, leader. He wants to achieve as a group and as a team. His teammates enjoy him and root for him to have the kind of days that he’s had.d 3 LSU head coach Les Miles on star running back and Walter Camp National Player of the Week Leonard Fournette

cWe’re not going to panic here, we will never panic. We won’t do that. But I think there’s a huge difference between defensive football and offensive football, and I think you all understand. Defensive football, one guy can miss a tackle and three guys can be there, it’s a one-yard gain. You can block everything, you can do everything right, and one player misses a block and it’s a two-yard loss. Offensive execution is just more difficult to do, and that’s football 101 so I know that we all know that.d 3 Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel on the Tigers offensive struggles

cWas I shocked? Yeah. Just because, in this profession, you handle certain things a certain way. Ive never really had that before. d 3 Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema on his reaction to Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury criticism of him following last Saturdays game

This Week in SEC History

5 Years Ago

The stage was set for Arkansas to have a big year in 2010, with both Alabama and LSU having to come to Fayetteville. The top-ranked Crimson Tides 17-game winning streak appeared in serious jeopardy, as the No. 10 Razorbacks held a 20-7 second-half lead behind a passing and rushing touchdown from Ryan Mallett. But Mallett couldnt handle the big stage in the fourth quarter, tossing two interceptions late in the game. Mark Ingrams touchdown run with three minutes remaining was sandwiched by Malletts two gaffes, sparking the Tides 24-20 comeback victory.

10 Years Ago

In a game moved from Saturday to Monday due to Hurricane Rita, No. 4 LSU appeared as if it would dominate No. 10 Tennessee, fresh off of a disappointing loss at Florida nine days earlier. The Tigers raced to a 21-0 lead behind touchdown runs from Joseph Addai and JaMarcus Russell, followed by an interception return for a score. Trailing 24-7 with 10 minutes to play, the Volunteers stormed back with 17 points in the next eight minutes to tie the game at 24-24. LSU regained the lead in overtime with a field goal, but Gerald Riggs one-yard touchdown run, his second of the night, completed the comeback in the first game at Tiger Stadium for head coach Les Miles. LSU would not lose again until the SEC Championship Game, while Tennessee would sputter to its first losing season since 1988.

20 Years Ago

Two decades ago, South Carolinas run defense was about as bad as it is right now. Hosting Kentucky, the Gamecocks were gashed by Wildcats running back Moe Williams, who carried the ball 40 times (imagine that today) for 299 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-30 road victory in Columba. South Carolina had plenty of offensive success of its own, but four turnovers were too much to overcome.

Trivia Time (answers below)

1. What two SEC teams have defeated Syracuse in the Carrier Dome?

2. How many of the past seven meetings between Vanderbilt and Ole Miss have the home team won?

3. Who is the last SEC quarterback to win a home game against Missouri?

Quick Picks:In order of watchability (1 to 5)

Southern at Georgia (Watchability: 1.5)

The Bulldogs couldnt ask for a better opponent with which to tune up for Alabama. Southern has yet to play an SEC team in its history and lost 62-15 three weeks ago to Louisiana Tech. Expect a light, 15-carry day for Nick Chubb with the Crimson Tide coming to town next Saturday. This game also presents a good opportunity for backup quarterback Brice Ramsey to see some extended action.

Pick: Georgia 52, Southern 6

Louisiana-Monroe at Alabama (-38) (Watchability: 2)

The Warhawks will be looking to extend their winning streak against Alabama to two when they visit Tuscaloosa Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide havent lost a regular-season non-conference game since that day in 2007 when Louisiana-Monroe shocked them, 21-14. Prior to last weeks bye, the Warhawks split their first two games, losing 51-14 to Georgia before shutting out Nicholls State. ULM enters the game with just one turnover this season, but expect that number to grow against an angry Alabama defense.

Pick: Alabama 44, Louisiana-Monroe 7

UCF at South Carolina (-15) (Watchability: 2)

These two teams combined to go 23-3 in 2013, with one of the losses being the Gamecocks 28-25 win over the Knights in Orlando. Two years later, these teams are already a combined 1-5 and in desperate need of a win to keep any semblance of bowl hopes alive. South Carolina turns to Lorenzo Nunez under center 3 its fourth different starting quarterback in its last five games. Things are actually worse for winless UCF, which had to dismiss all-conference tailback William Stanback this week for team rules violations.

Pick: South Carolina 23, UCF 10

LSU (-24.5) at Syracuse (Watchability: 2.5)

LSU makes the long journey to upstate New York for a battle of 3-0 teams that are similar in no other ways besides their record. The Orange are down to their third quarterback of the season in Zack Mahoney, with starter Terrel Hunt lost for the season and backup Eric Dungey out with a head injury suffered last week on a targeting penalty. The Tigers last loss in a non-conference regular-season game came at the hands of a current ACC team 3 at Virginia Tech in 2002. Dont expect a repeat of that afternoon in Blacksburg 13 years ago, as LSU rolls into October undefeated for the first time since 2012.

Pick: LSU 38, Syracuse 10

Vanderbilt at Ole Miss (-24.5) (Watchability: 2.5)

After two classics in 2012 and 2013, this series has tilted heavily in favor of the Rebels since last years 41-3 rout. The Commodores have won the last three meetings in Oxford, but history is about the only thing working in their favor against No. 3 Ole Miss. A letdown is natural after last weeks win at Alabama, but the Rebels played perhaps their best game of the 2014 season the week following their win over the Crimson Tide. Vanderbilts defense will keep the game interesting for a short time while the crowd migrates from The Grove to the stadium, but Ole Miss has little to worry about.

Pick: Ole Miss 41, Vanderbilt 13

Missouri at Kentucky (-3) (Watchability: 3)

Both teams scored just nine points last week, so dont expect a ton of offense on Saturday night in Lexington. The good news for the Tigers is that they should have starting running back Russell Hansbrough back from an ankle injury, while the Wildcats will be happy not to see the Florida defensive front on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Neither defense has really been tested, making this game the hardest of any in the SEC this weekend to predict. One thing we do know: both teams wont score nine points again this weekend.

Pick: Kentucky 15, Missouri 14

Texas A&M (-7) vs. Arkansas (Watchability: 3.5)

The Aggies have won all three meetings with the Razorbacks as SEC foes, evening the series at 3-3 since the resumption of the old Southwest Conference rivalry in 2009. At 1-2, Arkansas comes in battered both physically and mentally, having lost its starting running back and three key receivers already this season. Texas A&M has won as much with defense as it has with offense so far, holding opponents to just 304 yards per game. The Razorbacks didnt quit last year after it looked like they were destined for another winless SEC season, so dont expect them to roll over. Wins will come, but theyre at least one more week away.

Pick: Texas A&M 34, Arkansas 31

Mississippi State at Auburn (-1.5) (Watchability: 3.5)

Like UCF and South Carolina, these teams are in much different situations than in their past meetings, when No. 3 Mississippi State cupsetd the second-ranked Tigers last October in Starkville. Gus Malzahn pulled the plug on Jeremy Johnson earlier this week, with Sean White set to make his first career start for Auburn Saturday night. The Bulldogs have no such issues under center, as Dak Prescott makes his 24th start. Despite being on the road, the massive disparity at quarterback will be enough for Mississippi State to get its first SEC win.

Pick: Mississippi State 30, Auburn 24

Tennessee (-1) at Florida (Watchability: 4)

Is it finally Tennessees time? While the Oklahoma loss was a colossal collapse for the Volunteers, their biggest game of the seasons first month is and always has been the trip to Gainesville. 10 years of pain, frustration and heartbreak for Tennessee in this series add to the urgency, but its a must-win for Tennessee because they have the better roster for the first time since the losing streak to the Gators began. Floridas defense is for real, but the offense is still searching for an identity. Until they actually do it, theres little reason to think the Volunteers can actually beat the Gators. Ah, screw it.

Pick: Tennessee 23, Florida 13

Three Non-SEC Predictions:

Is the BYU magic officially over after the Cougars one-point loss at UCLA? Well find out early Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, where Michigan welcomes Bronco Mendenhalls team to the Big House. The teams have not met since BYU defeated the Wolverines to win the 1984 national title in the Holiday Bowl. It may have taken nearly 31 years, but Michigan will get revenge on BYU, grinding out a 23-20 victory, as the Cougars continue their trend of nail-biting games.

Conference play cranks up in the Big12 this weekend, highlighted by No. 3 TCU making a dangerous trip to Lubbock to face resurgent Texas Tech. The line has dropped to about a touchdown, a far cry from where it was in the preseason after the Horned Frogs put up 82 points on the Red Raiders a year ago. TCU head coach Gary Patterson is dealing with numerous injuries on defense, but hell prove why hes one of the best defensive minds in the game in a two-touchdown victory.

UPSET SPECIAL: Utah committed one of the most inexplicable gaffes last year against Oregon, as Kaelin Clay dropped the football on an apparent receiving touchdown at the one-yard line and began to celebrate with his teammates. Oregon returned the fumble for a touchdown, turning a 14-0 deficit into a 7-7 tie. The Ducks rolled from there, and Saturday night theyll welcome the Utes to Eugene. With Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams nursing a broken thumb, Utah will go into Autzen Stadium and hand the Ducks their second loss, moving to 4-0 and becoming a legitimate Pac-12 title candidate.

Trivia Answers:

1. Mississippi State (1985) and Tennessee (1998)

2. One (Vanderbilt def. Ole Miss in Nashville in 2011)

3. Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) 3 Nov. 24, 2012