By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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After a couple of close contests to open up the regular season, the SEC has a full slate of games coming up this weekend.

Thursday

(9) Tennessee 20, Appalachian State 13 (OT)
South Carolina 13, Vanderbilt 10

Saturday

Missouri at West Virginia (-10); 12 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1); Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman
South Alabama at Mississippi State (-28.5); 12 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
(5) LSU (-10) vs. Wisconsin (at Green Bay); 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC); Steve Levy and Brian Griese
(16) UCLA at Texas A&M (-3); 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson
Louisiana Tech at Arkansas (-26); 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Beth Mowins and Anthony Becht
(22) North Carolina vs. (18) Georgia (-2.5); 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN); Bob Wischusen and Brock Huard
Massachusetts at (25) Florida (-36.5); 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Tom Hart and Andre Ware
Southern Miss at Kentucky (-6.5); 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU); Anish Shroff and Ahmad Brooks
(20) USC vs. (1) Alabama (-11.5) (at Arlington); 8 p.m. ET (ABC); Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit
(2) Clemson (-7.5) at Auburn; 9 p.m. ET (ESPN); Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer

Monday

(11) Ole Miss vs. (4) Florida State (-4.5); 8 p.m. ET (ESPN); Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit

Players in the Spotlight

1. Texas A&M QB Trevor Knight

The Aggies finally have a steady presence under center, but it remains to be seen whether or not Knight can be a consistent performer after being benched at Oklahoma during the 2014 season. We know his counterpart on Saturday, UCLAs Josh Rosen, is capable of picking apart any defense. Its on Knight to be Rosens equal and ensure Texas A&M once again starts the season strong.

2. Auburn DE Carl Lawson

Lawson has had an injury-riddled career, but is fully healthy heading into the opener against the best quarterback in college football 3 Clemsons Deshaun Watson. It will take a near-flawless game for the home Tigers to upset the visiting Tigers. Lawson is the most capable Auburn player of producing a jaw-dropping performance.

3. Georgia QB Jacob Eason

No, Eason wont take the first snap for the Bulldogs. That belongs to fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert. Eason will almost certainly see meaningful action against North Carolina, however, and hell be expected to play like a veteran. He has one of the best running backs in the country in Nick Chubb going against a defense that allowed more than 600 yards on the ground in its bowl game, so simply feeding Chubb and avoiding turnovers would constitute a successful debut for Eason.

4. Ole Miss DL Breeland Speaks

Speaks could play both tackle and end in the showdown against Florida State on Monday night, with starting end Fadol Browns status questionable with a foot injury. Hes the successor to first-round NFL Draft pick Robert Nkemdiche who, when at his best, was close to unstoppable. The Seminoles offensive line returns all five starters, making Speaks task even much more challenging.

5. Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough

For the first time in the Nick Saban era, Alabama doesnt have a returning running back with proven production. Scarbrough is a unique athlete (even by Alabama standards), but has a had slow start to career after some academic hurdles and the obvious talent ahead of him at the position. USCs defensive line has been gutted by injuries, so the opportunity for a big night in his first game as a key contributor exists for Scarbrough.

Trivia Time (answers below):

1. Who are the only four active head coaches who have won neutral-site games against Nick Saban-coached teams?

2. Who is the last team to lose in the national championship game and also lose its opening game in the following season?

3. Who is the last SEC team to defeat UCLA?

Predictions

Massachusetts at Florida (1 star): The Minutemen are replacing their two standouts in quarterback Blake Frohnapfel and wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (a likely opening day starter for the Tennessee Titans), and appear destined for a major rebuilding year in their first season as an independent. Florida is without a number of suspended players, but it wont matter against arguably the worst team in the FBS. Florida 41, Massachusetts 3.

South Alabama at Mississippi State (1 star): With having to replace the most decorated player in program history in Dak Prescott, the Bulldogs need an easy start to the season before opening SEC play against South Carolina next week. The Jaguars return just 10 starters from last years 5-7 team, and have never beaten a Power Five opponent. Mississippi State 38, South Alabama 13.

Southern Miss at Kentucky (2 stars): Watch out, Wildcats. Southern Miss has a new coach in former Alcorn State boss Jay Hopson, but returns quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for almost 4,500 yards last season en route to a division title. Expect a long game with a lot of points, but Kentucky will survive before heading to Florida for its latest attempt to end a three-decade losing streak to Florida next week. Kentucky 38, Southern Miss 31.

Louisiana Tech at Arkansas (2 stars): September has been a huge bugaboo for the Razorbacks under Bielema, and the visiting Bulldogs are no pushover after back-to-back nine-win seasons under Skip Holtz. Fortunately for Arkansas and new quarterback Austin Allen, theres not a lot of experience at Louisiana Tech. Despite their relative proximity, these teams havent met since 1997. Arkansas 34, Louisiana Tech 13.

Missouri at West Virginia (3 stars): Barry Odoms debut as Missouri head coach comes in Morgantown, where the Mountaineers have had a bit of a rough preseason on the injury front. The Tigers can relate, as theyre without two projected starting defensive linemen due to academics and a dismissal. This is a difficult game to read, so Ill lean with the home team. Missouris offense just cant be trusted yet, but take the points. West Virginia 24, Missouri 17.

LSU vs. Wisconsin (3 stars): These two fanbases are mirror images of one another and will be sure to keep the Lambeau Field beer vendors busy. The game itself probably wont be a thing of beauty, but turn-back-the-clock games with two strong running games can still be enjoyable. LSU hasnt lost a non-conference regular-season game under Les Miles, and that streak will survive the Tigers long trip to Green Bay. LSU 31, Wisconsin 10.

Clemson at Auburn (4 stars): Clemson may have the best offense in college football, but this is still a road night game against a talented defense in a hostile atmosphere. Dont expect the visitors to march up and down the field, but its hard to paint a scenario where Sean White and the Auburn offense score enough to pull off the upset. There will be some moments of peril, but the mismatch under center will ultimately tip the scales in favor of Clemson. Clemson 34, Auburn 20.

North Carolina vs. Georgia (4 stars): Its hard to find much separation between these two programs, who havent met in 35 years. Bowl game results rarely carry over, but the Tar Heels allowing 645 rushing yards to Baylor doesnt bode well against Nick Chubb and the Bulldogs. This game is a coin flip, so Ill lean to the team with the better talent. Also, both teams will wear their home uniforms, making this the most aesthetically pleasing matchup of the weekend. Georgia 27, North Carolina 24.

USC vs. Alabama (4 stars): Alabama has become the master of season-opening neutral-site games, winning all six under Nick Saban. USC can move the ball with two great running backs in Ronald Jones and Justin Davis and maybe the best wideout in the country in JuJu Smith-Schuster, but stopping Alabamas running game is going to be a problem. This game will be competitive into the second half, but the defending national champions will control the clock for more than 35 minutes and pull away late. Alabama 31, USC 14.

UCLA at. Texas A&M (4 stars): This might be the most fun game of the weekend, as UCLA brings a four-game winning streak over SEC opponents to sweltering College Station for a mid-afternoon kickoff. The Bruins have the advantage under center, but does Josh Rosen have enough weapons to match that of Trevor Knight, who gets to work with the best and most diverse wide receiving corps in college football? Its UCLA in a big game, and recent history makes me wary of the Bruins. Texas A&M 34, UCLA 27.

Ole Miss vs. Florida State (5 stars): This is the best game of the week. USC-Alabama and Notre Dame-Texas might be sexier helmet matchups, but the Rebels-Seminoles clash provides the most on-field storylines. The Seminoles are as talented as any team in the country, but the quarterback edge is squarely with Ole Miss and Chad Kelly. Can the Rebels corral Florida State running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Dalvin Cook? Not for 60 minutes. Expect a classic in Orlando. Florida State 28, Ole Miss 26.

Trivia Answers

1. Kirk Ferentz (Iowa def. LSU in 2005 Capital One Bowl); Urban Meyer (Florida def. Alabama in 2008 SEC Championship Game, Ohio State def. Alabama in 2015 Sugar Bowl); Kyle Whittingham (Utah def. Alabama in 2009 Sugar Bowl); Bob Stoops (Oklahoma def. Alabama in 2014 Sugar Bowl)

2. Oregon (2011) 3 lost to LSU

3. Tennessee (1997)