MARK EDWARDS

AU, UA get break Saturday

Alabama and Auburn get a break this weekend, and both can use it.

Alabama has lost two straight, but the schedule serves up a good homecoming opponent in Houston of Conference USA.

Auburn will face Vanderbilt, which is better than the typical Commodores team. Even so, Auburn is at home, and it's hard to imagine Vanderbilt going into Jordan-Hare Stadium and winning.

Vanderbilt (3-1) at Auburn (3-2): The Commodores haven't beaten the Tigers since 1955. Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville is 8-0 against Vandy, including his time at Ole Miss. ... Auburn 35, Vanderbilt 17.

Houston (2-2) at Alabama (3-2): Houston's two wins came over Tulane 34-10 and Colorado State 38-27. Alabama hasn't lost to Houston in nine meetings, with the first coming in 1959 and the most recent coming in 1999. ... Alabama 27, Houston 10.

UAB (1-3) at Mississippi State (3-2): MSU won this game last year 16-10 in overtime, and that Bulldogs team wasn't as good as this one. UAB head coach Neil Callaway was offensive coordinator at Alabama during 1998-2000 when Mississippi State defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson held the same position with the Tide. ... Mississippi State 28, UAB 10.

No. 12 Georgia (4-1) at Tennessee (2-2): The Vols are a slight favorite, but it's hard to pick a team that ranks last in the Southeastern Conference by allowing 37.5 points a game. Since Mark Richt took over at Georgia, he is 23-3 on the road, including 9-2 against ranked teams. ... Georgia 27, Tennessee 25.

No. 9 Florida (4-1) at No. 1 LSU (5-0): Florida coach Urban Meyer hasn't lost two straight since 2002 when he was at Bowling Green. This is a different case, however. ... LSU 28, Florida 20.

Louisiana Tech (1-3) at Ole Miss (1-4): Louisiana Tech's only win in eight games against Ole Miss came in 1946. Tech's coach is Derek Dooley, son of the former Georgia coach, Vince Dooley. ... Ole Miss 24, Louisiana Tech 14.

Chattanooga (1-3) vs. Arkansas (2-2) at Little Rock, Ark.: Arkansas' Darren McFadden ranks second in the country with 164.3 rushing yards a game. He's the best player in the country, but he won't win the Heisman Trophy unless his team can win some more games. ... Arkansas 35, Chattanooga 10.

No. 10 Oklahoma (4-1) vs. No. 19 Texas (4-1) at Dallas: Texas has won the last two in this series after Oklahoma had won five straight. The game moved to Dallas permanently in 1929. ... Oklahoma 30, Texas 20.

No. 25 Nebraska (4-1) at No. 17 Missouri (4-0): Missouri is fifth in the nation in total offense, while Nebraska is 18 th. Both teams have been mediocre on defense this year, so expect plenty of points. ... Missouri 40, Nebraska 34.

North Carolina State (1-4) at Florida State (3-1): N.C. State's former head coach, Chuck Amato, is now "executive head coach" at Florida State, which has rebounded nicely from an early loss to Clemson. ... Florida State 28, North Carolina State 14.

Last week: 6-4.

Overall: 40-10.