Chris Yow's SEC Report: Week Three

As if you need to be reminded, this week is Tennessee-Florida week.

That used to mean something. In the last four years, it's meant the Gators were getting a win, and normally it was easy.

Tennessee has been on the defensive since new head coach Lane Kiffin has walked on campus. Kiffin's colorful comments about Florida coach Urban Meyer made this game sort of interesting again.

Not because Kiffin and Co. can upend the Gators—nobody thinks they can—but because people want to know how many points Florida can score.

The only problem with running up the score on Tennessee is that their defense is pretty solid. But most likely, the Gators will not have really far to go for touchdowns due to the offense being pretty sloppy.

Florida had the comments made by Kiffin taken down the week before the season, as to not overlook the patsies in the way, but I would be certain they are hanging up again.

Will Lane Kiffin make good on his promise of, "Singing 'Rocky Top' all night long after we beat Florida..."?

Doubtful.

Vanderbilt will now have to face its SEC schedule without a key component of its defensive backfield.

Ryan Hamilton has a chest injury that will keep him on the sidelined for the season along with offensive tackle James Williams.

Williams dislocated his ankle—ouch.

A big game for both Mississippi State and Vanderbilt this weekend. If either team plans to make a bowl game this season, this game is a must-win.

Mississippi State had a great performance by RB Anthony Dixon. The Bulldogs were expecting as much. The rest of the offense will have to come around soon, and the defense will have to step up to be able to upend the 'Dores.

Kentucky will be in an unfamiliar position this weekend as the Wildcats take on the Louisville Cardinals.

For only the second time since the rivalry renewed in 1994, the 'Cats are the favorites.

The reason is mostly Kentucky QB Mike Hartline. The 'Cats have been producing great college quarterbacks for most of the last decade and a half. Hartline is just continuing the success.

Kentucky will need to win all of their non-conference games to potentially reach a bowl. The win over Miami (OH) 42-0 was a good start, but Kentucky cannot expect the Cardinals to be the RedHawks—despite the similarity in color and species.

South Carolina had victory ripped from the arms of Stephen Garcia last week at Georgia. Garcia had his man open in the end zone before the ball was batted out of the air.

The Gamecocks will take their frustrations out on the Owls from Florida Atlantic.

Garcia should have a spectacular game, as he has shown he can be a Steve Spurrier QB.

Now to the West, minus Mississippi State.

Alabama would probably be worried about this game five years ago, but North Texas is a far cry from the former Sun Belt champion teams they used to put on the field.

In an interesting story line, however, Greg McElroy will be playing against his former high school coach Todd Dodge, who is now on the staff of the North Texas Mean Green.

Expect to see more Mike McCoy and Terry Grant again this week, Bama fans.

A lot of people think the SEC game to watch this week is on the plains.

West Virginia brings its Big East talent to Auburn and will try to match last season's success against the Tigers.

Auburn has now become the second best rushing team in the country, and Chris Todd is not making mistakes. Oh, that Kodi Burns kid? Yeah, he's pretty good too.

With one of the best running backs in the country, West Virginia can put up a fight, but the Auburn offense will be the difference. With both leading rushers getting 6.9 yards a carry, the Tigers can beat anyone.

Ole Miss had a tough first week on Sunday against Memphis, but that's usually a game the Rebs struggle in. Memphis always plays with nothing to lose.

Expect that Colonel Reb will take care of the blind sisters of the poor, a.k.a. Southeastern Louisiana.

Nothing really going on in the Rebels' camp just yet, but expect that to change when the Rebs travel to Vandy next week.

LSU should have even less trouble with Louisiana-Lafayette. Terrance Tolliver and Jordan Jefferson should make quick work of the Ragin' Cajuns.

Jefferson did not find the end zone last week against Vandy, but he did find himself on the turf three times.

LSU will need to correct the line issues before SEC play.

And finally, the game to watch this weekend.

Georgia and Arkansas face off in the SEC's biggest conference tilt.

Mark Richt and the Dawgs escaped South Carolina last week with a goal line stand to end the game.

This week, the quarterback could be even tougher.

Ryan Mallett has the Hogs up in arms about their team again. Mallett fits Bobby Petrino's offense very well, much better than Rich Rodriguez's offense.

The Michigan transfer has thrown for over 300 yards already. Granted, the opponent was not the best defense. In the win over Missouri State, the Hogs showed very little in preparation of seeing the Bulldogs.

Mallett better be ready, because five of the next six games are against very good football teams, and Texas A&M could be much improved.

Mallett is who all eyes are on in Fayetteville. Can Petrino turn the Hogs back into a winner? This week will tell everyone a lot about the Hogs.

Georgia was embarrassed at Oklahoma State to open the season, and even more so since the Pokes fell to Houston this week.

Joe Cox does not have the flu anymore, and that will be helpful this time around.

The biggest game of the week, by far, is Georgia at Arkansas.

The SEC has had trouble in the first few weeks. But when the chips fall, the SEC will still be one of the top conferences in the nation, no doubt about it.