SOUTHERN MISS AT ALABAMA: Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower is 93-62-1 in 14 seasons (seventh longest among active Division I-A coaches). The teams have met every year since 1992. Alabama has won 11 of the last 12 meetings. Bower is 1-12 against Alabama. Quarterback Damion Carter replaces Dustin Almond, who is recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in the win over Houston. USM is 4-0 for the first time since 1981. Tailback Kenneth Darby is starting this week. He replaces Ray Hudson who had successful knee surgery this week. The Tide defense allows only 118 yards per game. Alabama has 17 takeaways in six games. (BOL.com and SECSports.com)

ARKANSAS: Hog coach Houston Nutt is 4-2 against Auburn, while Tiger coach Tommy Tuberville is 3-6 against Arkansas. The Hogs are trying to overcome a rash of injuries to right tackle Zac Tubbs and defensive end Derek Moore (broken fibulas). Redshirt freshman Matt Gilbow replaces Tubbs. Fullback Peyton Hillis is out with a back injury. Receiver Carlos Ousley quit the team. Arkansas leads the SEC in total offense (459 ypg) and scoring (37 ppg). (Hawgsports.com)

AUBURN: The Tigers have not allowed any rushing touchdowns this season and the Tigers have allowed a touchdown or less in five of its six games. Auburn has intercepted seven passes in the last two games and picked off a pass in nine straight games. Arkansas has won four of the last six meetings, while the last four meetings have been spit 2-2. Seven of the 13 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. Tiger tailback Ronnie Brown averages 8.06 yards per carry, best in the nation. Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell has the highest rating for a SEC quarterback. He is completing 64% of his passes. Auburn averages 198 yards rushing and 237 yards passing. The Tigers have had few injuries, which is a key part of their 6-0 start. Auburn’s eight game winning streak is the longest since they won 20 straight in 1993-94. (Auburnsports.com)

SOUTH CAROLINA: This is a crucial time for USC. For the third year in a row, they are 4-2 at this point in the season. USC quarterback Syvelle Newton is second in the SEC in pass efficiency (39-of-71 for 743 yards with four scores and two picks. Receiver Troy Williamson is averaging 26 yards per catch. USC leads the SEC in least amount of passing touchdowns given up (three). School officials from USC and Clemson are talking about the possibility of playing the game on Thanksgiving weekend as they have in the past. (The State and SECSports.com)

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats have gained only seven turnovers; lowest in the SEC. USC has won the last four meetings. (SECsports.com)

TENNESSEE: Vol quarterback Erik Ainge is No. 19 in the nation in pass efficiency. He has 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Ainge spread the ball around to the several different receivers. For example, no receiver caught more than two passes against Georgia. The Vols have great balance on offense with 1024 yards rushing and 1057 yards passing. The SEC named defensive end Jason Hall the defensive lineman of the week by the SEC. Tennessee allows just 113 yard per game rushing. However, they allow 237 ypg passing, among the worst in the SEC. (Volquest.com)

OLE MISS: Rebel tailback Vashon Pearson is third in the SEC with 577 yard rushing on 109 carries and three scores. These teams have not met since 1997. Tennessee has won the past 10 meetings. Tailback Jamal Pittman has been reinstated for the Tennessee game. He is still struggling with a hamstring injury. (RebelGrove.com)

MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT FLORIDA: The Blue Raiders are 2-3 with wins over Akron and Arkansas State. Middle Tennessee averages 327 yards per game passing and 94 yards rushing. Receiver Chad Jackson has replaced Vernell Brown as the Gator punt returner. (GatorBait.net and Gainesville Sun)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Quarterback Omarr Conner is expected to return against Florida. Bulldog running back Jason Jude has left the team. He had 97 yards on 29 carries. (BulldogBlitz.com and Clarion Ledger)

VIRGINIA: The Cavs are ranked No. 6, their highest ranking since 1990. Virginia has never won in Tallahassee. They are only one of three teams (Cal and Louisville) that are ranked in the top ten in total offense (493 ypg) and total defense (248 ypg). UVA leads the ACC in scoring, rushing (275 ypg), passing, and total offense. The Cavs average 7.0 yards per play, third best in the nation. They are sixth in the nation in total defense (248 ypg). FSU has won the last eight games in the series. Virginia has committed only two turnovers this season, which ties them for second fewest in the nation. (Warchant.com)

FLORIDA STATE: FSU converted one third down against Syracuse. The Noles are looking for more production on punt returns. Willie Reid leads the team with an 11- yard average. He missed two games with an injury and the Noles averaged two yards per return. Tailback Leon Washington averages 7.84 yards per carry, second best in the nation behind Auburn’s Brown. If he can rush for 150 yards or more against Virginia, then he will become the first Nole to reach that mark in three straight games. FSU is averaging 200 yards per game rushing and 178 passing. The last time FSU averaged more than 200 yards per game was in 1995. Virginia might have the linebackers to control the FSU tailbacks. Defensive tackle Travis Johnson, who had 3.5 tackles-for-loss against Syracuse, has 9.5 on the season. He is seventh nationally in that category. This is only the sixth time in ACC history that two top ACC teams will play each other. Tight end Matt Henshaw should be back at full strength after suffering a foot injury against Syracuse. A key matchup in the game is linebacker Ernie Sims against tight end Heath Miller. (Warchant.com)

DUKE AT GEORGIA TECH: Last year, Tech lost to Duke 41-17. Tech allowed Maryland only 81 total yards of offense last week, the fewest since allowing Florida 32 in 1963.

N C STATE AT MARYLAND: The Terps have a four game winning streak over the Wolfpack. Last week, Wolfpack quarterback Jay Davis was 22-of-28 for 273 yards. Maryland’s Steve Suter had 137 all-purpose yards last weekend against Georgia Tech. The Terps had a player’s only meeting Monday. N. C. State tailback T. A. McClendon leads the ACC with slightly over 110 yards per game rushing. (TerrapinTimes.com)

UTAH STATE AT CLEMSON: The Tigers needs a breather after taking all five games to the fourth quarter this season. Clemson ran only 49 plays in their loss against Virginia. Senior linebacker LeRoy Hill leads the ACC with 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, while ranking third in tackles with 50.

NORTH CAROLINA AT UTAH: Utah quarterback Alex Smith leads the Utah offense averaging 37 ppg and 464 yards of offense. The Utes have won their five games by a score of 189-75.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FL.
HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM AND SAMSPORTSLINE.COM.