By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Previewing all of the weekend action in the Southeastern Conference.

Welcome to Cupcake Saturday in the SEC, where six of the leagues 14 teams step out of conference play to take on Group of Five or FCS opponents. That number could have been eight, but two of those matchups went by the wayside when the postponed Florida-LSU game was rescheduled for this Saturday.

Fortunately, that gives us one seemingly competitive game with significance, as the Gators can wrap up the SEC East with a win, while LSU can inch closer to a Sugar Bowl berth with its fifth win in six games under Ed Orgeron.

Tennessee needs a win over Missouri and a Florida loss to put its SEC East title fate back in its hands next week at Vanderbilt, while the other two league games could help shape the lower part of the SEC bowl picture.

Its the week every season that we look forward to the least, but its here, and well enjoy it still. Let preview Week 12.

The Vitals

Louisiana-Lafayette at Georgia, Noon ET (SEC Network Alt.); Mark Neely and Dustin Fox
UTSA at (25) Texas A&M, Noon ET (ESPNU); Eamon McAnaney and John Congemi
(23) Florida at (16) LSU, 1 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer
Missouri at (19) Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson
Western Carolina at South Carolina, 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network Alt.); Anish Shroff and Ahmad Brooks
Austin Peay at Kentucky, 4:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Mike Morgan and Kevin Weidl
Chattanooga at (1) Alabama, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2); Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
Arkansas at Mississippi State, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU); Clay Matvick and Dusty Dvoracek
Alabama A&M at (15) Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network Alt.); Taylor Zarzour and Clint Stoerner
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, 8 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Tom Hart and Andre Ware

Players in the Spotlight

1. The Purdue Transfers

We thought the Austin Appleby-Danny Etling battle was off the table after the postponement of the LSU-Florida game, but with Gators starter Luke Del Rio suffering another injury two weeks ago at Arkansas, Appleby is back in the drivers seat for Florida as he gets set to face his former Boilermakers teammate in Baton Rouge. Etling left West Lafayette for LSU after the 2014 season, sitting out 2015. Appleby was a graduate transfer following last season. While this game is taking place, 3-7 Purdue, with interim head coach Gerad Parker, will likely be getting pummeled by No. 7 Wisconsin.

2. Mississippi State RB Aeris Williams

Somewhat quietly, Arkansas rush defense has morphed into the worst unit in the FBS, statistically speaking. The Razorbacks are allowing a hideous 6.34 yards per carry, and now face an improving Mississippi State offense. Williams wasnt expected to be a major contributor this season, but has come on of late with 35 carries for 196 yards over the past two weeks. The Bulldogs need a win to keep bowl hopes alive, and their best road to doing so will be on the ground.

3. Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson

What will the freshman phenom do for an encore after last weeks 23-point fourth quarter comeback to defeat Texas A&M? Patterson will face a salty Vanderbilt defense that played one of its worst games of the season last week in a 26-17 loss to Missouri. The Commodores have had success against the Rebels over the last decade and held one of the best offenses in the country last year to just 24 points. Patterson is going to be great, but a stumble in his second career start wouldnt be a big surprise.

4. Tennessee S Stephen Griffin

A defense decimated by injuries suffered yet another one last week against Kentucky, as starting strong safety Todd Kelly Jr. sprained an ankle and is expected to miss Saturdays home finale against Missouri. Griffin filled in for Kelly last week after the injury, but the sophomore has played only sparingly this season. Hell face a Tigers offense that plays as fast as any in the SEC, making the task even tougher for the inexperienced Griffin.

5. Florida WR Antonio Callaway

Callaway was brilliant in last years surprisingly high-scoring 35-28 Florida loss to LSU in Baton Rouge, finishing with 100 yards receiving and returning a punt for a touchdown. Hell be back in Tiger Stadium Saturday afternoon along with the offensively-challenged Gators. LSUs defense isnt going to allow long scoring drives, so Floridas best chance to score will come via explosive plays. Callaway is always a home-run threat, even going against arguably the best secondary in college football.

Trivia Time (answers below):

1. Who was Floridas head coach the last time it won as an underdog in Baton Rouge?

2. What interim head coach-led team defeated Kentucky in the Wildcats last bowl appearance?

3. What team does Alabama A&M face annually in the cMagic City Classicd in Birmingham?

Predictions

Last Week: 3-4 (1-6 ATS)
Season To Date: 63-24 (37-43-3 ATS)

UTSA at Texas A&M (-27.5) (1 star): The surprising Roadrunners make the short trip to College Station with a 5-5 record. Theyll have to wait another week for possible bowl eligibility, however, as the Aggies will snap their two-game losing streak. Christian Kirk will return a punt for a touchdown to spark what could be a sleepy crowd for an 11 a.m. kickoff at Kyle Field. Texas A&M 45, UTSA 14

Western Carolina at South Carolina (NL) (1 star): A win gets the Gamecocks to six wins 3 a target I never thought possible when the season began. The Catamounts are generally an FCS playoff contender, but are in the midst of a disastrous 2-8 season that includes a 52-7 loss at East Carolina. It wont be any less ugly in Columbia. South Carolina 42, Western Carolina 10.

Austin Peay at Kentucky (NL) (1 star): The Governors might be the worst team in all of Division I, as they head up the road to Lexington without a win this season. Kentucky has dropped nine straight games under Mark Stoops when trying to lock up bowl eligibility, but that streak will end on Saturday afternoon. Kentucky 56, Austin Peay 7.

Chattanooga at Alabama (NL) (1 star): Chattanooga is a very nice town. Its clean. Its safe. It has enough to do without the hubbub of a big city. The mountains are beautiful, especially in the fall, and theres plenty of outdoor activities nearby. It also makes for a nice pit stop on the drive from Nashville to Atlanta or vice versa. Alabama 49, Chattanooga 9.

Alabama A&M at Auburn (NL) (1 star): These two in-state foes had never met until the Tigers 51-7 rout in 2012. Auburn will double its all-time win total against the Bulldogs, who come into the game with a 4-6 record, but having won three out of four. With so many injuries, the score wont look all that pretty for Auburn, but this week is simply a matter of avoiding further carnage before next weeks Iron Bowl. Auburn 38, Alabama A&M 3.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Georgia (-23) (2 stars): The Bulldogs nearly lost to Nicholls in a similar spot ten weeks ago, so completely writing off the Ragin Cajuns might be a mistake. ULL has had nine days to prepare after a big road win last Thursday night at Georgia Southern to move to 4-5. The lessons learned from the near-disaster against Nicholls should be enough for the 8Dawgs to get through this one without too much trouble. Georgia 38, Louisiana-Lafayette 17.

Missouri at Tennessee (-16) (3 stars): Tennessee will know at halftime whether or not its still in the SEC East race, depending on the outcome of the Florida-LSU game that kicks off two-and-a-half hours before the Vols and Tigers. Missouris offense has played better in recent weeks, while the Tennessee defense is in decline. The Vols should be able to dominate when they have the ball, doing just enough to outscore a pesky Missouri team. Tennessee 42, Missouri 31.

Arkansas at Mississippi State (-2) (3 stars): Two teams who are impossible to figure out meet in Starkville, as the Razorbacks hope to defeat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2011. Arkansas has alternated good and bad performances in recent weeks, with this game lining up as a positive result after being blasted last week at home by LSU. The team with the nations worst rushing defense will get its own ground game going and pull out win No. 7. Arkansas 28, Mississippi State 26.

Ole Miss (-10) at Vanderbilt (3 stars): The Commodores momentum that had been building since the upset of Georgia evaporated in last weeks loss at Missouri. Star tailback Ralph Webb is still not 100 percent, and the Ole Miss defensive front is going to make it difficult for Vanderbilt to run. Shea Patterson will struggle on a cold night in Nashville, but the defense will play well for a second straight week to get the Rebels to bowl eligibility. Ole Miss 27, Vanderbilt 13.

Florida at LSU (-14.5) (4 stars): Two great defenses collide in Baton Rouge, where Florida hopes to wrap up its second straight SEC East title. LSUs offense broke out last week at Arkansas, but this will be a much sterner test for Leonard Fournette and company. LSU wont score much, but Florida will score less in an ugly game that moves the Tigers closer to the Sugar Bowl and Tennessee closer to the SEC Championship Game. LSU 19, Florida 6.

Trivia Answers

1. Ron Zook (2003)

2. Pittsburgh (2011 Birmingham Bowl)

3. Alabama State