By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Since 2001, the road team in the Alabama-LSU rivalry has posted an 8-5 record.

The Vitals

(17) Georgia (-10) at Kentucky, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN); Dave Pasch and Brian Griese

Presbyterian at (12) Ole Miss (NL), 12 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Tom Hart and Matt Stinchcomb

Texas A&M at (3) Auburn (-23), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Carter Blackburn and Aaron Taylor

Tennessee-Martin at (1) Mississippi State (NL), 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer

Florida (-14.5) at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Dave Neal and Andre Ware

(4) Alabama (-6.5) at (14) LSU, 8 p.m. ET (CBS); Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson

Bye: Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee

Matchups to Watch

1. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett vs. Auburn OT Shon Coleman

Garrett has lived up to his billing as the best defensive recruit in the country last season, already surpassing Jadeveon Clowneys SEC record for sacks by a freshman. Coleman, on the other hand, will turn 23 later this month. The sophomore missed two seasons while battling leukemia, but is now manning the starting left tackle position for the Tigers. Auburn has been more willing to throw downfield this year, so the Aggies will need to find a pass rush to be able to hang with the No. 3 team in the country. That starts (and in reality, probably ends) with Garrett.

2. Georgia RB Nick Chubb vs. Kentucky LB Josh Forrest

The Bulldogs are still a week away from getting Todd Gurley back from suspension, so the true freshman Chubb will against be asked to carry the load in the running game. Forrest, whose 75 tackles are 25 more than any other Wildcat defender, will have the unenviable task of preventing Chubb from creating explosive plays and forcing struggling quarterback Hutson Mason to produce through the air.

3. Arkansas OT Austin Shepherd vs. LSU DE Danielle Hunter

Were not sure which side of the field Shepherd will be on, as regular left tackle Cam Robinson is questionable with an ankle injury, but the senior will undoubtedly be seeing plenty of Hunter. The junior defensive end leads the Tigers with 10 tackles for loss, and only three SEC players have more. LSU will need its defensive front to replicate its dominant performance against Ole Miss in order to pull off a second straight upset.

Quotable

cI think some of the guys began trying to make a play instead of doing their job. I will say this, we saw nothing that came close to anybody moping or giving out or giving up. There was none of that at all, so that was very encouraging. We looked at the film and it was more of an execution issue than anything else.d 3 Georgia head coach Mark Richt on his teams poor performance last week vs. Florida

cI tell my three children all the time that life’s not fair. I got a letter from former Chancellor (Robert) Khayat about some of these things. Sometimes it’s unjust. What I mean by that is the reward you get is really not equal to the effort you put in or to what you think you might have deserved out of a situation.d 3 Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze on the Rebels consecutive last-minute losses to LSU and Auburn

cWe go back and look at the turnovers, and I thought both interceptions were really bad interceptions Saturday. Some of the interceptions he has thrown were just him trying to give guys the opportunity to make plays. Those were not that way. His interceptions Saturday were poor readsd 3 Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen on quarterback Dak Prescotts recent turnover struggles

History Lesson

It was difficult for anyone that watched the ending of last weeks Auburn-Ole Miss game to see a star player suffer such an obvious serious injury. The impact of the play notwithstanding, our thoughts and prayers are with Laquon Treadwell and we hope to see him back at 100 percent for the start of the 2015 season.

Most SEC fans tuned into last Saturdays game were reminded of the cruel twist of fate handed to Alabamas Tyrone Prothro nine years ago. Like Treadwell, Prothro was blossoming into one of the SECs finest wideouts early in the 2005 season. His acrobatic touchdown catch against Southern Miss has its rightful place in Crimson Tide lore.

But in a similarly big game to last weeks game in Oxford, Prothros football career ended when he broke both his tibia and fibula in a blowout win over No. 3 Florida. Former head coach Mike Shula is still criticized for having Prothro in the game with the Tide leading 31-3 in the fourth quarter.

Prothro didnt give up without a fight, but 22 months after the injury, in August 2007, he was placed on a medical hardship scholarship. For his efforts, Prothro did win an ESPY award for his catch against Southern Miss. He graduated from Alabama in 2008 and still lives in Tuscaloosa today, occasionally performing speaking engagements throughout the state.

By all accounts, Treadwell shouldnt suffer a similar fate as Prothro, as hes expected to be back to full strength by the summer. But given the big stage and quality of player, last Saturday night couldnt help but invoke memories of that infamous afternoon in Tuscaloosa nine years ago.

Trivia Time (answers below)

1. What is the visiting teams record in Alabama-LSU games since 2001?

2. In what year did Vanderbilt own a multi-game winning streak against Florida?

3. What is Auburns record in one-score games since 2010?

Predictions:

Georgia 27, Kentucky 24

I have no idea what to think about this game, so Ill turn to history. Georgia has struggled in Lexington, including barely escaping against one of the worst SEC teams in recent history two years ago. The Wildcats have been a different team at home this season than they are on the road, so expect a four-quarter fight.

Ole Miss 48, Presbyterian 7

The Rebels saw their playoff hopes dashed in the worst possible last way last Saturday night against Auburn, so a less-than-their-best effort against the overmatched Blue Hose would be understandable. It wont matter, of course, as Bo Wallace and most of the key starters will be out of the game by halftime.

Auburn 44, Texas A&M 27

Expect a much better effort from the Aggies in their first SEC game since a 59-0 drubbing by Alabama on Oct. 18. It wont be enough to contain the potent Tigers offense in their home stadium, however, as the nations No. 9 rushing attack goes for 350 yards on the ground to help pull away from a pesky and game Texas A&M team.

Mississippi State 45, Tennessee-Martin 3

Dak Prescott is unlikely to play much, if at all, against the Skyhawks, who were shut out, 49-0, by Kentucky in August. A trip to Tuscaloosa awaits next week, and the Bulldogs need their Heisman Trophy contender in good health after hes dealt with a minor foot injury the past few weeks. It will at least provide a good opportunity for backup Damian Williams to see some action.

Florida 26, Vanderbilt 14

The Gators will have to avoid a letdown in sleepy Vanderbilt Stadium against a Commodores team searching for its first SEC win. A 25-year Florida winning streak in the series ended in blowout fashion last year in Gainesville, but the Gators will survive an ugly performance to start a brand new streak Saturday night in Nashville.

LSU 23, Alabama 17

Other than the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, these two teams rarely disappoint when they collide. It will be more of the same Saturday night in Baton Rouge, as the Tigers continue their strong play against an Alabama team that has struggled away from Tuscaloosa this season. Dont expect a ton of points, but LSU will do just enough to throw another wrench into the playoff race.

Three Non-SEC Predictions:

1. It had seemed like Boston Colleges best days were behind it, but Steve Addazio has guided the Eagles to a 13-9 record in his two seasons in Chestnut Hill. Boston College is headed for another bowl game, but first theyll take down favored Louisville on Saturday night, as the Cardinals struggle to regroup after the near-miss against Florida State.

2. Ill believe Oregon can survive November unscathed when I see it. Yes, Marcus Mariota is a totally different player than he was a year ago at this time when a knee injury limited him, but even a healthy Mariota wont be enough for the Ducks to escape a night game in Salt Lake City, as Utah plants a stake into the Pac-12s playoff hopes.

3. Kansas State at TCU should probably be a battle of unbeatens, but they let games get away against Auburn and Baylor respectively. The Horned Frogs put up 80 points in their last home game. Theyll only get half that Saturday, but it will be enough to take control of the Big 12 race.

Trivia Answers:

1. 8-5

2. 1956

3. 20-4