By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Lets dive into a reduced slate for Week 6 in the SEC.

Weather has wreaked havoc on the weekend of SEC football, as Hurricane Matthew has forced the indefinite postponement of LSU-Florida, while also delaying Georgia-South Carolina from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon.

The SEC office now faces a conundrum, as the potential exists for Florida (or LSU, but most likely Florida), if the game isnt made up, to finish 6-1 in league play and win a division title over a team that finished 6-2 but would own a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Gators or Tigers. Its uncertain whether or not the game will be able to be played later in the season.

Despite the real life concerns that make a simple game seem irrelevant, there will be football played this weekend in the Southeast. Well get two top-20 showdowns and two games featuring coaches in desperate need of a win.

Lets dive into a reduced slate for Week 6 (how is it already Week 6?) in the SEC.

The Vitals

Saturday

Auburn at Mississippi State, Noon ET (ESPN); Tom Hart and Andre Ware
(9) Tennessee at (8) Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS); Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson
Vanderbilt at Kentucky, 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Dave Neal and Matt Stinchcomb
(1) Alabama at (16) Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN); Joe Tessitore and Todd Blackledge

Sunday

Georgia at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network); Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer

Postponed indefinitely

LSU at (18) Florida

Players in the Spotlight

1. Arkansas QB Austin Allen

Can Allen do what his older brother Brandon couldnt do and knock off the mighty Crimson Tide? The junior leads the SEC in passing efficiency with a 12-to-2 TD-INT ratio through five games. It takes a fearless quarterback to threaten this Crimson Tide defense, and Allen has shown he wont back down in that situation.

2. Tennessee CB Malik Foreman

Foreman was nearly the goat in last weeks win over Georgia, having let Riley Ridley sneak behind him for what appeared to be a game-winning 47-yard touchdown pass for Georgia. With star cornerback Cam Sutton still out, Foreman will continue to play a big role in the Vols secondary. Foreman needs to display a short memory after last weeks near-disaster, as hell

3. Vanderbilt WR Kalija Lipscomb

Despite having a last name that is the name of another university in Nashville, the true freshman has surprisingly emerged as Vanderbilts leading receiver in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Hell face the worst pass defense in the SEC against Kentucky, giving hope for the Commodores to improve a passing attack that has connected on just 51 percent of attempts this season.

4. Alabama WR ArDarius Stewart

It appears as if Stewart will return to the Crimson Tide lineup for the first time since the win over Ole Miss on Sept. 17 this week at Arkansas. Nick Saban said earlier this week he hasnt been happy with the development of the passing game, but much of the teams struggles can be attributed to the absence of Stewart, who had 203 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games before going out early against the Rebels.

5. Mississippi State K Weston Graves

Kickers are people too. In a game where points could be at a premium, field-goal kicking could decide whether or not Mississippi State pulls of a mild upset of Auburn. The Tigers have arguably the best kicker in college football in junior Daniel Carlson, so Graves will have to be on point to match his Tigers counterpart. Graves has made six straight attempts since missing a short, potential game-winning kick in the season-opening loss to South Alabama.

Trivia Time (answers below):

1. In what two bowls did the only two prior meetings between Tennessee and Texas A&M take place?

2. Who was Georgias starting quarterback the last time it defeated South Carolina in Columbia?

3. What is Bret Bielemas record against teams ranked No. 1?

Predictions

Last Week: 8-0 (4-4 ATS)
Season To Date: 41-13 (24-27-1 ATS)

Vanderbilt at Kentucky (-3) (2 stars): This isnt quite a loser leaves town game for head coaches Derek Mason and Mark Stoops, but both will see the heat turned up significantly in a game that could decide who finishes last in the SEC East. Neither team has displayed much firepower offensively the past two weeks, but the Commodores defensive front has shown some spark of late, most notably senior Adam Butler. Facing an offense that has allowed the most sacks in the SEC, Vanderbilts defense will do just enough to earn the first SEC road win of the Mason era. Vanderbilt 20, Kentucky 14.

Auburn (-2.5) at Mississippi State (3 stars): The trajectory of each of these teams seasons will change early Saturday afternoon in Starkville. Can the Bulldogs generate offense against nasty Auburn defense? Will the Tigers finally finish drives against a competent opponent? This games kicks off a critical seven-day stretch for Mississippi State, that also takes them to BYU next Friday night. Drop both, and a bowl game becomes all but impossible with a November gauntlet of Texas A&M, at Alabama, Arkansas and at Ole Miss. This feels like a game in which the Bulldogs start fast, but the offense bogs down after halftime as Auburns defense steps up to help register an important road win. Auburn 20, Mississippi State 17.

Georgia (-7) at South Carolina (3 stars): Hurricane Matthew has forced this game to Sunday afternoon, but 18 extra hours wont be enough to fix the Gamecocks offense. Expect both Brandon McIlwain and Perry Orth to see time under center for South Carolina, but the Bulldogs defense gained some confidence last week with a satisfactory performance against Tennessee, at least when not defending a Hail Mary. It wont be pretty on a sloppy track, but Georgias running game, which also looked much better against the Vols, will grind the ‘Dawgs first victory in Columbia since 2008. Georgia 23, South Carolina 13.

Alabama (-14) at Arkansas (4 stars): After a heartbreaking 14-13 defeat two years ago in Fayetteville against Alabama, will Arkansas finally rise up and snap a decade-long losing streak to Alabama? I love the moxie of Austin Allen and the balance of the offense, but is the talent gap on defense too significant for the Razorbacks to overcome? Having led a 21-point comeback at Ole Miss (albeit with plenty of help from his defense), Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts wont be bothered by the hostile atmosphere in Razorback Stadium. Alabama survives, but once again, by the slimmest of margins. Alabama 24, Arkansas 23.

Tennessee at Texas A&M (-7) (5 stars): Will the big orange magic continue for another week? The Vols face their toughest test to date against the fellow unbeaten Aggies, who are just 6-9 in SEC home games. Tennessee will again be without linebackers Darren Kirkland Jr. and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, stressing a secondary that must deal with the SECs best wide receiving corps. Tennessee will either win again in dramatic fashion, or see its good fortune go up Lone Star State smoke, in potentially ugly fashion. Ill call for the latter. Texas A&M 38, Tennessee 20.

Trivia Answers

1. Gator Bowl (1957) and Cotton Bowl (2005)

2. Matthew Stafford

3. 1-2 (Wisconsin def. Ohio State in 2010, Arkansas lost to Alabama in 2013 and Mississippi State in 2014)