SEC matchups: Nov. 21

Published Friday, November 20, 2009

Chattanooga at Alabama

Time: 12:21 p.m. TV: WVLT.

Skinny: Chattanooga is getting $400,000 and some nice TV exposure to get beat up by the Crimson Tide. The Mocs (6-4) are having a decent season under first-year coach Russ Huesman, so three hours of pain can be endured. BCS-wise, No. 3 Texas plays Kansas and could close the gap on No. 2 Alabama, but the Tide's finish against Auburn and Florida should make up any damage.

Key Players: B.J. Coleman originally wanted to take a shot against Alabama in a Tennessee uniform but he's happy to be leading the Mocs into Bryant-Denny Stadium. Coleman is averaging 231 passing yards a game with 17 TDs and seven interceptions. Speaking of interceptions, Alabama safety Mark Barron leads the SEC with six and ranks third nationally.

Line: None.

Mississippi State at Arkansas

Time: 12:21 p.m. TV: SEC Network (not shown in Knoxville).

Skinny: Arkansas leads the SEC in scoring (37.6 points), total offense (450 yards) and passing (310 yards, 25 touchdowns). But the biggest statistical disparity in this showdown is one which coaches value above almost all others. Arkansas leads the SEC in turnover margin at plus-12, while Mississippi State sits at minus-7.

Key Players: State hopes tailback Anthony Dixon can find running room to manufacture time-consuming drives and keep Ryan Mallett and the Razorback offense on the sideline. At 4-6, it's the Bulldogs' only prayer to keep their bowl dreams alive.

Line: Arkansas by 10 1/2.

Florida international at Florida

Time: 12:30 p.m. TV: PPV.

Skinny: Florida International is 3-7 and one of the losses was 40-14 to Alabama. So the Gators have a number to shoot for in their run up to the SEC Championship Game against the Crimson Tide. Florida has scored 30 or more points only once in its past six games. That's another number to shoot for today - by halftime.

Key Players: Tim Tebow has manufactured 22 touchdowns this year, 10 rushing and 12 passing. He'll pad that total today in his next-to-last appearance at Florida Field.

Line: Florida by 45.

LSU at Ole Miss

Time: 3:30 p.m. TV: WVLT.

Skinny: The winner likely gets the Capital One Bowl bid in Orlando, Fla., the SEC's top non-BCS slot. The way Dexter McCluster ran around and through Tennessee last week has to pucker up the LSU defensive staff. The Rebels seem to be finally looking like the powerhouse team that was anticipated in preseason. Better late than never.

Key Players: LSU safeties Chad Jones and Brandon Taylor need to have better success stalking McCluster than Tennessee did.

Line: Ole Miss by 4.

Kentucky at Georgia

Time: 7:45 p.m. TV: ESPN2.

Skinny: Kentucky has won four of its past five games. Inferior competition is a factor in that streak but so is defense. The Wildcats have allowed an average of 13 points a game in the four wins. Georgia has won three of four. The common ground is both teams have beaten Auburn and Vanderbilt.

Key Players: All-around offensive threat Randall Cobb (shoulder) is questionable and without him, Kentucky has virtually no chance of winning. SEC freshman of the week Washaun Ealey has given Georgia's lethargic ground game a boost.

Line: Georgia by 9.

- Mike Strange