SEC Week 7: Viewer's guide, picks
The SEC season reaches the midpoint this week as we hit Week 7 of the 13-week season.
There are several terrific conference matchups and an interesting non-conference battle, too.
Much attention will be on Baton Rouge, La., for the unbeaten battle of Florida and LSU, as well as on College Station, Texas, for the Alabama-Texas A&M contest.
There will also be an interesting game in Columbia, S.C., where Vanderbilt has a chance to stop its 10-game conference losing streak. And the best game of the weekend just might be in Memphis, where Ole Miss visits in a non-conference game.
Columnist Dave Ammenheuser was 5-1 in picking the Week 6 games. He's 45-13 this season.
AUBURN TIGERS (3-2) vs. KENTUCKY WILDCATS (4-1)
Oct. 15, 6 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.
TV: ESPN
The series: Auburn leads 25-6-1
Opening line: Auburn -1.5
Last week: Both teams were idle
Ammenheuser says: These two SEC teams haven't played in 12 days as they both had an open week. With Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama still on the schedule, Auburn needs a win here to keep its hopes of a bowl game alive. And despite their 4-1 start, so do the Wildcats. Everyone still remembers last season's 5-1 start and 0-6 finish. AUBURN 36, KENTUCKY 27
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OLE MISS REBELS (4-1) vs. MEMPHIS TIGERS (5-0)
Oct. 17, 11 a.m. in Memphis
TV: ESPN2
Series: Old Miss leads 48-10-2
Opening line: Ole Miss -10.5
Last week: Ole Miss beat New Mexico 52-3; Memphis was idle
Ammenheuser says: This may be the best non-conference game in the country this weekend. Memphis has a lot to prove in this regional rivalry game. Memphis coach Justin Fuente has done a remarkable job with the Tigers. A win over the Rebels will only increase his national standing and put him in line for a Power 5 job next season. Upset? MEMPHIS 37, OLE MISS 28
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LA. TECH BULLDOGS (4-2) vs. MISS. STATE BULLDOGS (4-2)
Oct. 17, 11 a.m., in Starkville, Miss.
TV: SEC Network
Series: Mississippi State leads 8-3
Opening line: Miss. State -13.5
Last week: La. Tech beat Texas-San Antonio 34-31; Miss. State beat Troy 45-17
Ammenheuser says: The Bulldogs will definitely win this one. OK, that’s a juvenile joke. Mississippi State finds a way to win, but it’s a bit tougher and closer than their fans want it to be. MISS. STATE 37, LA. TECH 28
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ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (5-1) vs. TEXAS A&M AGGIES (5-0)
Oct. 17, 2:30 p.m. in College Station, Texas
TV: WKRN-2
The series: Alabama leads 5-2
Opening line: Alabama -4.5
Last week: Alabama beat Arkansas 27-14
Ammenheuser says: The winner of this game still has a good shot at playing in the SEC title game and advancing to the BCS championship. Fans of the losing team can begin thinking about making hotel reservations at one the second-tier bowl games. ALABAMA 38, TEXAS A&M 35
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VANDERBILT COMMODORES (2-3) vs. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS (2-4)
Oct. 17, 3 p.m., in Columbia, S.C.
TV: SEC Network
Series: South Carolina leads 20-4
Opening line: South Carolina -4
Last week: Vanderbilt was idle; South Carolina lost to LSU 45-24
Ammenheuser says: Does Vanderbilt stop its 10-game SEC losing streak? Can South Carolina put an end to its tailspin? If the Commodores' offense can play mistake-free football, Derek Mason's team has a chance to pull the upset at South Carolina. I'm thinking it's more likely Coach Steve Spurrier's resignation provides a tad of a spark for the underachieving Gamecocks. SOUTH CAROLINA 24, VANDERBILT 23
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FLORIDA GATORS (6-0) vs. LSU TIGERS (5-0)
Oct. 17, 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge, La.
TV: ESPN
The series: Florida leads 31-27-3
Opening line: Florida -6.5
Last week: Florida beat Missouri 21-3; LSU beat South Carolina 45-24
Ammenheuser says: Turn back the clock seven weeks and tell me that you knew this would be the biggest game on the SEC schedule on Oct. 17. Granted, LSU’s success hasn’t been nearly as surprising as Florida’s. Yet, if the Gators can find a way to beat LSU, they have a shot at running the table (with a Nick Chubb-less Georgia and a home date against Florida State among their remaining games). Upset. FLORIDA 34, LSU 31
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MISSOURI TIGERS (4-2) vs. GEORGIA BULLDOGS (4-2)
Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m. in Athens, Ga.
TV: SEC Network
The series: Georgia leads 3-1
Opening line: Missouri -16
Last week: Missouri lost to Florida 21-3; Georgia lost to Tennessee 38-31
Ammenheuser says: Both teams are coming off disappointing losses. Without star running back Nick Chubb, the Bulldogs are no longer the runaway threat to win the SEC East. Missouri got a big dose of reality in Gainesville, Fla., last week. Look for the Bulldogs to snap their two-game losing streak with this important home win. GEORGIA 31, MISSOURI 17
Reach Dave Ammenheusr at 615-259-8352 and on Twitter @NashSportsEd.