SEC Preview, Week 7: Hogs, Tigers look for big win

story by Chris Rushing, College Sports Matchups (CSM is a content partner with The City Wire)
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After six weeks of action, just two Southeastern Conference teams remain undefeated —and neither of those are Florida or Alabama.

Welcome to the new SEC and an alternate universe where No. 9 LSU and No. 7 Auburn, behind Les Miles and Gene Chizik respectively, are asking Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino how it feels to be second-best (for now).

Of course, that perch isn’t going to remain for one of these two teams as they face off next weekend in Jordan-Hare Stadium. But first, there’s that little showdown between Petrino’s No. 12-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks and the orange and blue-clad undefeated Tigers.

Auburn has used narrow margins to dispose of three of its first six opponents, escaping games with Mississippi State, Clemson and Kentucky with three-point victories. However, when the much-maligned AU defense has needed to make plays in the fourth quarters, the Tigers have come through – limiting all six foes to a combined 13 points in the final periods and overtime.

Arkansas, meanwhile, will search for a more successful running game against one of the league’s best at stopping ground attacks to help alleviate pressure the Tigers hope to impose on Ryan Mallett. I’m sure Mallett is licking his chops thinking about facing one of the SEC’s weakest secondary units – especially considering Greg Childs offers a huge target similar to South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffrey (who had 192 yards and three touchdown grabs against AU on Sept. 25).

Heading into this four-game stretch that included the Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU and Ole Miss matchups, most experts felt as though Auburn would be doing a great job with a 3-1 showing in those four contests. There’s a lot of truth in that, but with every win that AU captures, the hopes and expectations raise around the program that is surviving thanks mostly to a school-record 26 seniors.

Chizik said the difference between Arkansas’ defense is “night and day” compared to the 2009 version. Chizik has perhaps the SEC’s best weapon at his disposal in Cam Newton, but Newton will have to show more poise in the pocket to avoid throwing interceptions against a secondary that is led by safety Tramain Thomas, last week’s Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week.

Auburn’s best hopes of ending a two-game losing streak to Arkansas reside in its ability to avoid turning the ball over and shortening the field for Mallett and his bevy of big-play receivers. In a chess match of two former colleagues, I’ll be hard-pressed to ever pick against Petrino when going up against Chizik.

CBS will make its first broadcast from Auburn, Ala., in 2010. Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson will call the action beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT. My call? Arkansas wins a track meet.

Call it now: Arkansas 41, Auburn 34

• Vanderbilt at Georgia (Athens, Ga., 12:21 p.m. EST, SEC-Network)
Both teams in this contest are coming off their best outings of the season last weekend.

Georgia appears to be coming into its own (finally), and Vanderbilt earned its second win of the season with a dominating performance against lowly Eastern Michigan. Then again, could the Eagles beat UGA’s Week 6 victim Tennessee?

Aaron Murray and AJ Green appear to gain more trust in each other with every toss. There’s no doubt that Caleb King’s absence will be felt by Georgia the next two weeks since Washaun Ealey has been anything but dependable as the team’s top running back.

Robbie Caldwell has already overachieved in his first (and perhaps only) try as a head coach, but there is no doubt that the Commodores will not be an easy out for anyone left on their schedule. That includes the suddenly-rejuvenated Georgia Bulldogs.

Call it now: Georgia 27, Vanderbilt 17

• No. 10 South Carolina at Kentucky (Lexington, Ky., 6 p.m. EST, ESPN2)
Kentucky is much better than an 0-3 SEC record shows. South Carolina is coming off the biggest win in school history. I know folks will point to Steve Spurrier’s undefeated mark against Kentucky as a head coach at Florida and USC, but he also was undefeated against Vandy at one time.

Then the ‘Dores earned back-to-back wins over the Ol’ Ball Coach in 2007-08. This Gamecocks squad is much better than either of those versions, but Joker Phillips’ first Kentucky team is feisty enough to put enough points on the scoreboard – even without star tailback Derrick Locke.

UK will have to perform up to the standard it set last weekend against Auburn to have a chance. It cannot get frustrated by an early South Carolina lead, and if Stephen Garcia, Marcus Lattimore or any of the other USC offensive players put the ball on the ground, the Wildcats must pounce on the loose ball before it rolls out of bounds.

I’m going with the upset in this one, mainly because I’ve been playing it safe most of the season.

Call it now: Kentucky 35, South Carolina 31

• McNeese State at No. 9 LSU (Baton Rouge, La., 6 p.m. CT, FoxSportsNet South)
LSU has had some close calls over the past two weeks. Well, I guess you could argue the fact that LSU hasn’t had a comfortable win yet in 2010.

However, the Tigers showed an offensive identity for the first time all year last weekend in Gainesville, and the final score and late game heroics do not tell the story of just how dominant LSU was in the Swamp. McNeese State can’t keep up in this one, and plenty of little-used depth will perform in front of the home crowd Saturday night.

Call it now: LSU 31, McNeese State 0

• Mississippi State at No. 22 Florida (Gainesville, Fla., 7 p.m. EST, ESPNU)
You can bet Dan Mullen smells blood in the water after his old employer has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since Ron Zook roamed the UF sidelines.

The Bulldogs don’t have the horses to run all night with the Gators, but Florida hasn’t exactly shown itself to be a world-beater on offense. If Chris Relf and Tyler Russell can find any sort of rhythm in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, this one could be a whole lot more interesting than a disgruntled Gator Nation wants it to be.

It’s going to be interesting to see how some soul-searching that Urban Meyer and staff have gone through this week will affect the product that performs on the field. Meyer is already playing behind the 8-ball a little by allowing Chris Rainey back on the team this week following a three-week suspension resulting from stalking charges.

MSU’s secondary has been incredibly optimistic and features the country’s top pick-six artist in Corey Broomfield. John Brantley cannot allow Broomfield to add to his NCAA-best three picks returned for scores. That’s just the kind of back-breaking play that would allow the visitors to leave with a better record than the home squad.

Call it now: Florida 21, Mississippi State 14

• Ole Miss at No. 8 Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala., 8 p.m. CT, ESPN2)
Ah, yes: the wonderful second game of the ESPN2 doubleheader. The Tide and Rebels will kick off at 8 p.m. in the homecoming contest at the Capstone.

Ole Miss may have had a good shot at possibly sneaking up on the Tide had UA limped out of the brutal Arkansas-Florida-South Carolina stretch unscathed. USC showed just how valuable the bye week could be for a squad heading into its meeting with the defending national champions, but UM has the precarious task of taking on a very angry pack of pachyderms.

I’m going to say this right now: Houston Nutt and Co. will beat someone of substance before it’s all said and done this year. And, that team will have the tagline of being the one that lost to the team that lost to Jacksonville State. If Greg McElroy’s speech made a lasting effect, that tag won’t be placed on Alabama.

Something tells me that every time Jerrell Powe is pancaked Saturday night, the ‘Bama offensive linemen will define the term “one-dimensional” to him.

Call it now: Alabama 38, Ole Miss 21

• Rushing’s predictions
Last week: 5-2
Season: 43-7