By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Smith previews week six in the SEC.

SEC Week 6 Primer
A six-pack of games is on the SEC docket this weekend, with only South Carolina and Tennessee staying at home to hand out candy to sugar-crazed trick-or-treaters.

The weekend before the Florida-Georgia game is generally an idle week for both teams, but due to COVID issues at Florida, both teams had their Oct. 24 games shifted back a week. There isnt one game that stands out as the biggest of the weekend. A pair of SEC West games featuring teams .500 or better have plenty of intrigue, while the Gators and Bulldogs are both two-touchdown favorites in games that could get tricky.

You may be scared to read on after how my predictions went a week ago, but I promise to provide only treats this Saturday. Without further ado, on to Week 6 in the SEC.

Southern Storylines
Welcome Back
We havent seen Florida nor Vanderbilt since Oct. 10, but both teams appear to be on the downswing from COVID concerns that have sidelined them for 21 days. Neither will have to travel, which works out well. Florida welcomes surging Missouri to Gainesville for an interesting SEC East battle, while the Commodores entertain Ole Miss to Nashville for their annual cross-division game. For the Gators, the questions are about the state of their defense, the health of star tight end Kyle Pitts, and what players may be unavailable. For Vanderbilt, the concern is about whether or not they have enough available players to make the game feel like an SEC game and not a non-conference bludgeoning on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

One Myles Backup
Could Myles Brennan be Wally Pipped by T.J. Finley after the LSU quarterback missed last Saturdays 52-24 win over South Carolina with a shoulder injury? Given how well he played against Missouri before getting hurt, Brennan deserves to get his job back when healthy, but it doesnt appear that that will be for Saturdays game at Auburn. The excellent play of Finley against the Gamecocks brings up two things going forward for LSU. First, the bar for Brennans return to the starting lineup may have increased. Perhaps hell need to be at 90 percent (whatever that means) instead of 80 percent. Second, Brennan now knows there is confidence and proof of concept in the guy behind him. That should motivate Brennan be even more dialed in when he returns, knowing hes no longer the only quarterback on the roster to take a snap.

Campus Life
For the first time since 2013, and only time until at least 2025, Arkansas and Texas A&M will play their annual on campus. With this years game technically being an Aggies home game, Kyle Field will host the matchup between the 2-2 Razorbacks and 3-1 Aggies. Arkansas has lost all six meetings at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, so even playing a road game is likely more appealing to the Hogs than another trip to the Metroplex. Texas A&Ms small crowd still played a role in the Aggies narrow upset of Florida three weeks ago, and this series has a recent history of tight games.

Macs Attack
Alabamas offense received a major blow last weekend when star wideout and return ace Jaylen Waddles season came to an end with a broken ankle against Tennessee. Thats one fewer weapon for quarterback Mac Jones, but he certainly didnt miss Waddle against the Vols. Sophomore John Metchie stepped up as a full-time player, and classmate Slade Bolden saw his first real action of the season and caught six passes. Mississippi States defense will provide a decent challenge, but theres no reason to think Jones wont keep this Alabama attack, which is averaging more than 45 points per game, rolling at the highest level in the country.

Red vs. Blue
No politics here. Were talking about the big red machine of Georgia heading north to tackle Kentuckys big blue rollercoaster ride. The Bulldogs have had little trouble in recent years with the Wildcats, including a shutout win in the rain last year in Athens. Kentucky was flying high after its 34-7 rout of Tennessee two weeks ago, but was humiliated offensively last Saturday at Missouri, running just 36 plays. Which Kentucky team will show up this week? If its last weeks Wildcats, they may not score for a second straight meeting with the 8Dawgs.

Trivia Time (answers below):
1. Who was the last Arkansas head coach to defeat Texas A&M?
2. In what season did LSU last lose three games prior to Nov. 1?
3. Who is the only other SEC team besides Missouri with multiple road wins at Florida since the 2012 expansion?

Previews and Predictions
(5) Georgia (-13) at Kentucky, Noon ET (SEC Network)
Announcers: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic
The Bulldogs continue their stretch of six weeks between home games with a trip to Lexington to face confusing Kentucky. Wildcats quarterback Terry Wilson is dealing with a hand injury that could cause him to miss this game. Sophomore and Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood would be the starter if Wilson cannot go, and if theres a team and position that Kirby Smart feasts on, its Auburn quarterbacks. Kentucky possesses a capable running game, but quality defenses have exposed its lack of balance. Georgias defense is more than just quality. The Wildcats will struggle to reach double-digits on Saturday night. Prediction: Georgia 31, Kentucky 7

LSU (-3) at Auburn, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Announcers: Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson
LSU-Auburn games rarely go as expected. LSU pulled off come-from-behind upsets in 2017 and 2018, while Auburn held Joe Burrow and LSUs historic offense to just 23 points in a narrow loss last year in Baton Rouge. Its hard to fail to meet expectations when there arent expectations, however, and thats the sense I get between this years collision of SEC West Tigers. It looks like Myles Brennan will be unable to play, forcing T.J. Finley to make his first road start. LSU feels like a team who can get a head of steam and make a run up the SEC West standings as their young talent comes together, while Auburn feels more like just an average team who will alternates wins and losses for most of the season. Coming in at 3-2, itll be back to .500 for Auburn after the purple thorn in its side delivers another stab. Prediction: LSU 35, Auburn 28

Ole Miss (-17) at Vanderbilt, 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Announcers: Dave Neal and D.J. Shockley
A meeting between a 1-4 team and an 0-3 team would seem to be relatively competitive, but the Commodores are in such bad shape that the Rebels are more than a two-touchdown road favorite. I think even 17 points is much too low. Ole Miss has shown it can score at will, and Matt Corral settled down nicely last week in a loss to Auburn after his disastrous performance at Arkansas a week earlier. Ole Miss defense still stinks, but I dont think Vanderbilt has the personnel to take advantage of it. It will be yet another long day for the Commodores after consecutive 41-7 home losses in their past two outings. Prediction: Ole Miss 45, Vanderbilt 13

Mississippi State at (2) Alabama (-31), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Announcers: Sean McDonough and Todd Blackledge
Nick Saban vs. Mike Leach is a matchup weve yet to see despite their combined 42 seasons as FBS head coaches, but after Mississippi States struggles the past three weeks, theres little excitement around this battle. With this Alabama offense, I basically start with them scoring 40 points, and then adjust from there based on the quality of the opposing defense and the need for the Crimson Tide to be dialed in for four quarters. This game feels like a Najee Harris special. The senior will shred a decent Bulldogs defense for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mississippi States offense will land a couple punches after three miserable performances in a row, but it wont be enough to make Alabama sweat for more than a minute. Prediction: Alabama 52, Mississippi State 22

Arkansas at (8) Texas A&M (-12), 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Announcers; Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb
I love the coaching matchup here between Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&Ms offense against Barry Odom and Arkansas defense. The Aggies have been excellent up front through four games, while the Razorbacks defense continues to force mistakes and allow their whole to be far greater than the sum of their parts. Arkansas offense has been inconsistent, but thats a far cry from their consistent ineffectiveness over the past two years. Texas A&Ms defense has played well over its past six quarters in wins against Florida and Mississippi State, and I think that unit will propel the Aggies to their seventh straight win over the Hogs on Saturday night. Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 17

Missouri at (10) Florida (-15), 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network Alternate)
Announcers: Mike Morgan and Hutson Mason
This game feels high-scoring. Missouris defense got most of the love last week after the Tigers win over against Kentucky, but the offense put together a second straight impressive game to help Missouri pull away. Between the long layoff and what we saw in the first three weeks, I remain untrustworthy of this Florida defense. I dont expect Missouri to pick apart the Gators quite as easily as it did LSU, but the Tigers are capable of getting into the 30s on Saturday night and put a significant burden on Kyle Trask and perhaps a rusty Gators offense. Florida will survive, but there will be some real game pressure on the Gators in the late stages. Prediction: Florida 40, Missouri 28

Best Bets
Last Week: 0-5, -15 Musburgers
Season: 10-12-1, -4 Musburgers
Ole Miss -17 at Vanderbilt 3 5 Musburgers
Kansas State +3.5 at West Virginia 3 4 Musburgers
Cincinnati -6.5 vs. Memphis 3 3 Musburgers
TCU -2.5 at Baylor 3 2 Musburgers
North Carolina -6.5 at Virginia 3 1 Musburger

Trivia Answers
1. Bobby Petrino (2011)
2. 2001 (3-3)
3. LSU (2014 and 2017)