1. Stephen Garcia, c'mon down

Alabama and Georgia are on intriguing polar paths defensively against opposing quarterbacks. Alabama has tormented opposing passers such as Ryan Mallett and Jevan Snead; Georgia has allowed three SEC signal callers to post career days. Garcia, the South Carolina quarterback who passed for a personal-best 313 yards and ran for 42 against Georgia last month, is next up for a Crimson Tide defense that has made life rough on quarterbacks. Last week, Alabama held Snead without a touchdown pass for the first time in 13 games. It has limited opposing quarterbacks to a passer efficiency rating of 85.2 and has recorded a league-best 15 sacks through six games.

2. Can Auburn become bowl-eligible?

The Tigers could take a giant step toward erasing last year's debacle on the Plains with a win over Kentucky in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. A win over the Wildcats, who will be without starting quarterback Mike Hartline and All-SEC cornerback Trevard Lindley, would be No. 6 for the Tigers and surpass last year's total. Plus, that sixth win would qualify Auburn for a bowl game and guarantee it the accompanying extra practice time that would be very beneficial for a young team such as the Tigers.

3. The resistible force against the movable objects

Is anyone happier with the schedule than Vandy quarterback Larry Smith. In the last two weeks, Smith has completed 21 of 51 throws for 213 yards with three interceptions and a touchdown. Read those numbers again, and know that one of those games was against Army. Now enter the Georgia pass defense, which collectively turned much-maligned UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton into a Knoxville fan favorite at least for a few days. Somewhere in the midstate, Smith is smiling.

4. Will Mississippi State continue to crush the SEC's mark against nonconference foes?

The SEC is 26-5 in nonconference games. Mississippi State is 1-2. Sure the rebuilding Bulldogs' losses to Houston and Georgia Tech can somewhat be explained: Houston was ranked in the Top 25 before losing to UTEP, and Georgia Tech is ranked and was in the top 15 before falling at Miami. Saturday, though, Mississippi State travels to Murfreesboro to face an Middle Tennessee State team that knocked off Maryland.

5. Ole Miss needs this one

The Rebels are reeling. Jevan Snead's struggles are well-documented. Turnovers and frustration are mounting. The offense aches for a consistent playmaker. The defense has been strong, especially on third down, but the schedule has been less than daunting. Ole Miss, which has beaten Memphis, Southeastern Louisiana and Vanderbilt, gets the chance to get well against UAB (2-3) on Saturday. The Blazers, who rank 119th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in pass defense, should be the perfect tonic for Snead and Co., which face Arkansas and Auburn in crucial SEC games in the next two weeks.

Spotlight game

Arkansas at Florida

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Gators by 25

* The Razorbacks win if ...: Ryan Mallett delivers a performance that sends him rocketing up Mel Kiper Jr.'s draft board. This game is better than any scouting combine for Mallett, who averages an SEC-best 284.4 passing yards per game. The Gators are littered with future NFL defensive players, and a big game in the Swamp could catapult the 6-foot-7 Mallett into first-round discussions. Mallett has all of those NFL-desired tangibles -- he's tall with a very strong and accurate arm. The Gators' second-to-none secondary will force him to read and react almost on an NFL level.

* The Gators win if ...: They come prepared and focused. Florida likely will remember last year's sandwich loss to Ole Miss that sparked the famous Tim Tebow speech that led to the Gators rolling through the rest of their schedule that led to their second national title in three years. Highlighted by an incredibly deep and incredibly talented secondary, the Gators have allowed opponents a measly 115.2 passing yards per game. Sure, they have not seen a passer as good as Mallett, but still this Florida pass defense is a fast and nasty group that has grabbed seven interceptions and allowed all of one touchdown pass through five games.

X-factors: Yes, the point spread is big, and, yes, everything -- home-field advantage, series history, talent levels, etc. -- points to this being another relatively easy Florida win. Two things to consider before you consider this game another Gators landslide: Arkansas has been the SEC's best team inside the 20 on each side of the ball, and these teams are comparable when in forcing turnovers. If Arkansas can limit Florida's big plays and force field goals instead of touchdowns -- the Hogs have allowed just six touchdowns in their opponents' 15 trips inside the 20 -- Mallett and Co. may have a chance to do something special late.

* Prediction: Florida 33, Arkansas 30

mailbag

Watching UT-Georgia was difficult. No running game, no defense, not much of anything except A.J. (Green) and the kick return. The Vols fans were definitely excited and (Jonathan) Crompton played the game of his life.

My question, I guess, is was the result from this game because UT is better than we thought or is Georgia that much worse?

James

Ringgold, Ga.

James,

My answer to your question is "Yes." On both counts. I don't think the Vols are as bad as they played in home losses to UCLA and Auburn, but I don't think they are as good as they appeared against Georgia, either.

I was shocked by the happenings in Neyland Stadium. Not that the Vols won, per se, but that they dominated the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball. That said, I think the momentum and the pent-up frustration of the Big Orange that was unleashed kind of turned into a landslide on the Bulldogs. From coach Mark Richt on down, they all had that deer-in-the-headlights look.

I certainly think Georgia is struggling defensively, but even if the bottom falls completely out, I can't fathom a good reason for this to swell into something that may cost Richt his job this year. He's done too much for too long for a rebuilding year -- and this was always going to be a rebuilding year -- to end his run.

Thanks for the question and for reading the TFP.