MARK EDWARDS

Let’s give Auburn the nod

Georgia has high stakes when it hosts Auburn on Saturday, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a big game for the Tigers, too.

The Bulldogs have an excellent shot at making the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, but the Tigers need a lot of help to make it.

Even so, Auburn recalls the 37-15 thumping last year from the Bulldogs.

For good teams, a loss provides plenty of motivation.

No. 10 Georgia is a slight favorite, but No. 18 Auburn (6-3) always has done well in Athens, Ga., under Tommy Tuberville, who is 3-1 with the Tigers on the Bulldogs’ home field.

All three wins came against teams that won at least eight games.

Also, Auburn has won six of its last seven with the only loss coming at LSU on the last play. ... Auburn 27, Georgia 21.

No. 21 Alabama (6-3) at Mississippi State (5-4): A friend offered this analysis from the Tide’s 41-34 loss last week to LSU — if Les Miles had coached Alabama, and Nick Saban had coached LSU, the Bengal Tigers would’ve won by 40. That’s probably not far from the truth.

As we have said often this year, the Tide isn’t the same team this year under Saban as it was under Mike Shula last year.

For that reason, we’re not picking MSU to pull off its second straight upset of Alabama. ...
Alabama 24, Mississippi State 14.

Arkansas (6-3) at No. 22 Tennessee (6-3): Can you believe Arkansas has won five of six after that horrid start when the Razorbacks lost their first three SEC games?

Tennessee has won five of its last six, too, but we’re going to guess that the Vols won’t be up to stopping Arkansas’ running game. ... Arkansas 25, Tennessee 22.

No. 24 Kentucky (6-3) at Vanderbilt (5-4): After beating then-No. 1 LSU, the Wildcats have lost two straight. The Commodores don’t have a bad team, but their five wins haven’t exactly come against murderers’ row: Richmond, Ole Miss, Eastern Michigan, South Carolina and Miami of Ohio. ... Kentucky 28, Vanderbilt 21.

No. 17 Florida (6-3) at South Carolina (6-4): The Gamecocks have lost three straight, and what was a pretty good defense is showing some leaks.

Since South Carolina began playing an SEC schedule in 1992, it has beaten Florida only once — 2005. ... Florida 38, South Carolina 30.

Louisiana Tech (4-5) at No. 2 LSU (8-1): Tech lost to Ole Miss 24-0 earlier this year.

That’s all you need to know about how close this one will be. ... LSU 42, Louisiana Tech 7.

No. 24 California (6-3) at No. 12 Southern California (7-2): Cal has flattened out since impressive early wins over Tennessee and Oregon.

The Bears have lost three of their last four, with the lone win coming over Washington State 20-17.

Meanwhile, USC is starting to look a little more like USC. ... Southern California 28, California 21.

Illinois (7-3) at No. 1 Ohio State (10-0): Former Florida coach Ron Zook has done a terrific job of rebuilding the Illini, but this team still isn’t good enough to pull off a win over a good Ohio State team on the road. ... Ohio State 24, Illinois 13.

No. 13 Michigan (8-2) at Wisconsin (7-3): The Wolverines have won eight straight.

They’ll beat Wisconsin on Saturday and then knock Ohio State out of the national title race Nov.
17.

But they’ll still be the team that lost to Appalachian State. ... Michigan 21, Wisconsin 14.

Kansas State (5-4) at Nebraska (4-6): The Cornhuskers have lost their last five, allowing an average of 45.2 points a game. ... Kansas State 38, Nebraska 31.

Last week: 8-2.

Overall: 78-22.