South Carolina at Missouri tops weak week

Arkansas will be enjoying its first open weekend of the season while Florida and Georgia get their second off day.

LSU practically has an open date playing Furman, but it doesn’t get its first real break until next week.

Kentucky and Mississippi State get a Saturday off for the third time, but only after Mississippi State beat the Wildcats 28-22 on Thursday night, a game the good folks from Starkville saw as a must win for their Bulldogs (4-3) to maintain any realistic hope of getting bowl eligible.

There is one really big game on the schedule and that’s South Carolina traveling to Columbia, Mo.

Last week was not a great week, going 2-4, to bring the season’s totals to 55-16.

TENNESSEE AT ALABAMA

The Vols are coming off a huge victory over South Carolina and should have some confidence as they try to resume their position as a contender in this old rivalry. You have to wear orange and have had Rocky Top playedat your wedding to believe they can win. The Crimson Tide aren’t quite as good as they were a year ago, but that manhandling of the Hogs was not an accident. Nick Saban’s biggest challenge might be to keep his team from looking ahead to the open date, which comes right before hosting LSU. Alabama 35-21. SOUTH CAROLINA AT MISSOURI

This is a showdown between backup quarterbacks, but don’t expect to see Steve Spurrier stick with Dylan Thompson if Missouri comes out and gets a lead. Connor Shaw could play, he’s just banged up. The Tigers, the surprise team of the country,could go undefeated in the regular season with this victory. Missouri 31-28.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT AUBURN

Three of the Owls losses were by a touchdown or less, but in the history of the world has an Owl ever beaten a Tiger, and this one is on the Tigers’ playing field. The Gus Bus barely slowed as it rambled through College Station last week and shocked most of the football world by beating Texas A&M. Gus Malzahn and Missouri’s Gary Pinkel, who was on the hot seat to begin the season, are the leading candidates to be SEC Coach of the Year. No getting sidetracked here. Auburn 31-17.

VANDERBILT AT TEXAS A&M

Going to be interesting to see if Johnny Manziel now starts playing for Heisman Trophy points instead of team victories after the loss to Auburn. Aggies would be undefeated if not for the state of Alabama, their losses coming at the pads of Alabama and Auburn. The Commodores are coming off a huge victory over Georgia, but that won’t be enough to win in College Station. Texas A&M 31-21.

FURMAN AT LSU

The main story on the Paladins - yes, Paladins as in trusted military leader - is they are ranked No. 10 in Division I football. Upon closer investigation, they are No. 10 in graduation rates. Furman is known for many great things, football just isn’t one of them. LSU will blow off some steam after losing to Ole Miss. LSU 55-6.

IDAHO AT OLE MISS

Idaho Coach Paul Petrino returns to the SEC and will probably have about as much success in Oxford, Miss., as he did in Fayetteville. The Vandals are 1-6; the Rebels (4-3) seem to be improving. Ole Miss 49-10.