Once again this week, the teams of the SEC get to beat up on each other as we continue our way through the month of October.  There are several intriging matchups this week so lets get right to them.

ARKANSAS @ KENTUCKY  7:00

The Cats see the return of an old foe this week in Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino.  Petrino is once again bringing a red-clad team into Commonwealth Stadium this weekend but this team is not nearly as good as the ones that preceded.  Petrino is 4-0 against the Cats but that was while he was at Louisville and all they focused on every season was beating Kentucky.  I’m anxious to see what type of involvement Randall Cobb has in the game as well as who will step up in the absence of WR Dicky Lyons Jr. who’s career ended last week with a knee injury.  This one should be interesting to say the least.  If I’m a betting man I bet the Hogs +8 even though the Cats will win the game.  PREDICTION: UK 17, ARKANSAS 14.

VANDERBILT @ GEORGIA  12:30

Vandy tries to bounce back after suffering their first defeat last week in Starkville at the hands of the Bulldogs.  It will be another tough task against another set of Bulldogs when they go to Athens to battle with Georgia.  I see it as a make or break game for Vanderbilt.  If they can keep it close and perhaps win, the college football world will take note of the Dores as real contenders for the SEC East and give them a good shot at a real good record.  If they lose, I see them folding and probably suffering a few more losses before the end of the year.  Georgia bounced back from their Alabama debacle nicely last week with a 26-14 win over Tennessee.  PREDICTION: GEORGIA 24, VANDERBILT 17

MISSISSIPPI @ ALABAMA  3:30

After getting jumped by Texas in the polls during their open date last week, Alabama gets back into action as it hosts Ole Miss in a battle of SEC West rivals.  Ole Miss was also off last week and comes in off of a loss to South Carolina the week before.  Bama comes in with a perfect 6-0 record, the only undefeated team left in the SEC.  I look for Bama to come out strong and dominate the game.  After all, they have a little something to prove to pollsters after getting passed over.  PREDICTION: ALABAMA 38, OLE MISS 17

LSU @ SOUTH CAROLINA  8:00

The TIgers suffered their first loss last week in Gainesville while USC came to Lexington and left with another win against the Cats.  I look for the Tigers to go into Columbia and leave with a rather easy win.  USC still doesn’t have a solid starting quarterback and will probably switch several times during the game Saturday night.  That will not matter because both will struggle against the LSU defense because I expect them to come in focused after allowing Florida to score 51 points last week.  PREDICTION: LSU 28, USC 10

MISSISSIPPI STATE @ TENNESSEE  7:00

Tennessee hosts Mississippi St. and hopes to get their first conference win of the season.  They have opened up the season 0-3 in conference and 2-4 overall.  Miss St isn’t doing much better but does have a conference win after handing Vandy their first loss of the season last week.  I’m not sure what to expect in this one.  I know their will not be many points scored but I think the Vols will pull it out.  PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 13, MISSISSIPPI STATE 6

AUBURN and FLORIDA have open dates this week.  Florida beat LSU last week while Auburn lost to Arkansas.