By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Previewing all of the weekend action in the SEC.

The SEC regular season reaches its midway point this week with a quartet of SEC games and a pair of semi-interesting non-conference games. The Third Saturday in October rivalry will actually be played on the third Saturday in October for just second time in the past nine years, while an SEC West contender hopes to exact revenge on a division rival after suffering the most painful loss in all of college football during the 2015 season.

Lets get into all that Week 7 has to offer.

The Vitals

Friday

Mississippi State at BYU, 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN2); Tom Hart and Andre Ware

Saturday

Vanderbilt at Georgia, Noon ET (SEC Network); Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
(1) Alabama at (9) Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson
Missouri at (18) Florida, 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
(12) Ole Miss at (22) Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN); Joe Tessitore and Todd Blackledge
Southern Miss at LSU, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Clay Matvick and Dusty Dvoracek

Players in the Spotlight

1. Tennessee RB Alvin Kamara

Even with Jalen Hurd expected to return to the lineup after a one-game absence, the Volunteers rushing attack against Alabama should focus on Kamara, who had more than 100 rushing yards and receiving yards in last weeks memorable defeat to the Aggies. Great running backs have often met their match against the Alabama defensive front, but this is different for Kamara, who was on the Crimson Tide roster in 2013 before transferring to their rival. Alabama is allowing an FBS-low 69 yards per game on the ground.

2. Arkansas FS Josh Lidell

After being torched by Alabama, the Arkansas defense now must face the best passing attack in college football as Ole Miss comes to Fayetteville. As a free safety, Lidell wont find himself in much one-on-one coverage, but hell have to read and react to an offense that made a very good Georgia secondary look lost a few weeks ago in a blowout victory.

3. Vanderbilt LB Zach Cunningham

The SECs leading tackler will face arguably the conferences top running back this week when the Commodores visit Nick Chubb and Georgia. After a rough September, Chubb looked like his pre-knee injury self last week against South Carolina, going for 121 yards on 16 carries to carry the load for an offense that was getting nowhere in the passing game. If Cunningham and the Vanderbilt linebacking corps can force Georgia to throw, the 8Dores could make things interesting in Athens.

4. Mississippi State WR Fred Ross

BYU ranks in the top 30 nationally against the run, but the Cougars have been lit up in the passing game this season, currently sitting at No. 111 in the nation in pass defense efficiency. Ross has flown under the radar due to Mississippi States offensive struggles, but his five touchdown receptions are tied for second in the SEC. The Bulldogs cant afford a loss in Provo if they hope to reach a seventh straight bowl game. Ross and the passing attack may be the ticket that gets Mississippi State out of the mountains with a victory.

5. Missouri QB Drew Lock

Lock has shown some signs of being a top-tier SEC quarterback later in his career, but has yet to put together a strong performance against a competent opponent. Hell get another chance this weekend at Florida, where the Gators are well-rested after last weeks unplanned bye week. Lock has 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in non-conference games, but is just 40-of-75 with three touchdowns and four interceptions in two SEC games.

Trivia Time (answers below):

1. Who had the higher winning percentage in Alabama-Tennessee games: Bear Bryant or Gen. Robert Neyland?

2. Arkansas and Ole Miss played the first seven-overtime game in 2001. Who were the starting quarterbacks?

3. Vanderbilt has lost nine consecutive SEC road games. Who is the last SEC team that the Commodores defeated away from home?

Predictions

Last Week: 4-1 (2-2-1 ATS)
Season To Date: 45-14 (25-28-2 ATS)

Vanderbilt at Georgia (-14) (2 stars): Will this finally be the game in which Derek Mason gets a statement win? The Commodores defense has actually fared much better against SEC foes than non-conference opponents (15.3 PPG allowed vs. 30.7), but the offense has just 29 total points in three league games. Expect that trend to continue, where the Commodores are in the game in the fourth quarter thanks to their defense, but the offense cant produce a scoring drive when it has to. Georgia 26, Vanderbilt 14.

Southern Miss at LSU (-25.5) (2 stars): The Golden Eagles were caught looking ahead to the trip to Baton Rouge last week, as they were routed by UTSA as 16-point favorites. Despite the loss, Southern Miss is a dangerous team at 4-2 with senior quarterback Nick Mullens and shifty tailback Ito Smith. LSU should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage, but this game will be competitive into the second half. The Tigers will survive and extend their 16-year winning streak in home non-conference games. LSU 34, Southern Miss 20.

Mississippi State at BYU (-7) (3 stars): Its do or die for Mississippi State in beautiful Provo. With a November slate of Texas A&M, Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss, the 2-3 Bulldogs have to get to 5-3 by Halloween to have any realistic bowl hopes. The Cougars are fresh off of a big road win at Michigan State, and are accustomed to playing on short weeks with so many Thursday and Friday night games on their schedule. Not so much the Bulldogs, whose offense never got going against a stubborn Auburn defense last week. A tight game in a fantastic environment goes the way of the home team. BYU 27, Mississippi State 24.

Missouri at Florida (-13.5) (3 stars): A quirky SEC series to date has seen a 5-7 Tigers team nearly stun an 11-2 Gators bunch in 2012, and then two years later produced a 42-13 Missouri win in which four of the Tigers six touchdowns came on defense or special teams. Both teams are off of a bye week, and further complicating projections, Florida will have quarterback Luke Del Rio returning after a two-game absence. The Tigers are more balanced than a year ago, making for a more entertaining product, but not necessarily more victories. Florida will head into another idle week with a strong performance. Florida 28, Missouri 13.

Ole Miss (-7.5) at Arkansas (4 stars): Dont expect a repeat of the Rebels last trip to Fayetteville, when Ole Miss was held without a point in a 30-0 loss. Ole Miss hasnt played a true road game yet this season (West Virginia is the only other FBS team not to do so), but theres little reason to think this offense will struggle even in hostile environments. Arkansas will play well after a humbling defeat to Alabama, but the Rebels will get revenge for last years defeat in a fun, high-scoring affair. Ole Miss 48, Arkansas 31.

Alabama (-12) at Tennessee (5 stars): The grinding gauntlet for Tennessee comes to a close with its toughest test yet against an Alabama team that hasnt lost to the Volunteers in 10 years. Alabama appears to be hitting its stride at the perfect time (doesnt it always?), with Texas A&M on deck after the trip to Knoxville. Tennessee should be able to hold up physically despite some defensive injuries, but the mental toll the past three weeks have taken on the Vols may be what ultimately breaks them. A low-scoring rivalry of late will produce a rare shootout. Alabama 38, Tennessee 24.

Trivia Answers

1. Neyland (.684 to .680)

2. Matt Jones (Arkansas) and Eli Manning (Ole Miss)

3. Tennessee (2013)