Every team in the East has a huge match-up this week. Every one of them is fighting for their SECE lives right now. Kentucky(@USC) - Can Rich Brooks really make his Wildcats 6-0?? The Cats have what can easily be argued as their first real test as Arkansas and Louisville both have two losses early in the season. Kentucky absolutely needs to win this game to keep themselves alive in the hunt for a SEC championship. A brutal stretch starts this week going to USC, hosting LSU, then Florida. South Carolina(Kentucky) - Mississippi State gave this Gamecock squad most of the game, even leading late in the 3rd quarter. A blocked punt for USC changed the momentum and brought the crowd back into the game. Smelley seems to be the answer for this team having a decent game against a stout MSU defense, going an impressive 9-18 on third down. Georgia(@Tennessee) - The nation seems to have forgotten about the Bulldogs after a loss in week two. Just outside of the top 10, Georgia is a great pick for a dark horse SEC East champ. They have the best SEC schedule up ahead, with a bye week before the Cocktail Party, then three home games in a row. Though UGA looked great in their win over Ole Miss, their defense took a step backwards against a poor offensive team. The Rebels totaled nearly 400 yards of offense. Going to Knoxville will make or break the season for the Bulldogs. Everyone will be sure not to forget about Mark Richt's 23-3 road SEC record. Tennessee(Georgia) - Are the Vols really that bad? Another perennial SEC team that the nation forgot about after starting 2-2. Phil Fulmer had a bye week to help his team forget about what happened in the Swamp a few weeks ago. This is a team that, in the first 3 weeks, had to play two top ten teams... ON THE ROAD. Talk about brutal. The next four weeks don't look much easier for the Vols either. Georgia, @MSU, @Bama, South Carolina. MSU has given every team it has faced fits, and Bama knows how to create exciting games. Should we expect another disappointment like 2005: A decent team not being able to pull off a win? Vanderbilt(@Auburn) - If Vandy could pull off an upset, this would be the week. Auburn shocked most of the world (outside of the SEC) last week in an emotional, physical beating. The Commodores have a chance to take advantage of Auburn's exhaustion. An easy trap game for Auburn, as the Tigers travel to Arkansas next week to try and avenge themselves. If Vandy can score early and get the crowd out of the game in the morning, college football could get even crazier. Florida(@LSU) - What more can be said about this team? A young team that got exposed by the first good/great defense it faced is about to visit one of the nation's toughest defenses in one of the loudest stadiums. There is little doubt the Tigers circled Oct. 6 long before the season started. Can the inexperienced Gators shrug off the stadium noise and rebound, or will the Gators lose two in a row for the first time since Ron Zook got "Croomed"? The SEC East is easily the most exciting race in the nation right now. I have Kentucky, LSU, Auburn, and Georgia winning this week.
