Philleo: VU likely to beat Auburn in Nashville

How 'bout them Rebels? I've got to hand it to Houston Nutt and his Ole Miss squad for beating Florida Saturday. The blocked extra point was a textbook block, and couldn't have come at a better time or in a better game.

I'm just glad somebody beat Florida. My two favorite teams are the Vols and whoever's playing Florida. Houston Nutt is a great coach and I think he makes a great fit in Oxford.

Well, I didn't pick that upset, but I did pick Alabama's upset over Georgia. If you recall, I said they would win by one after blocking an extra point. Apparently, my extrasensory perception got this game confused with the Ole Miss-Florida game.

Alabama looked great, especially in the first half, and deserve the No. 2 ranking. I predict them to win the SEC and the national championship. Nick Saban has done an incredible job there already, and with a young team.

So much for the Georgia blackout -- they dressed for their own funeral. Not so with MTSU, who won on a Hail Mary pass as time expired on their Tuesday night blackout ESPN2 event. That was great exposure for Middle, which is looking good in a competitive Sun Belt Conference.

Tennessee almost pulled the upset over an offensively weak Auburn Saturday, but again shot themselves in the foot. After further review, maybe it's not all Phillip Fulmer's fault (although I think he needs to improve the program's recruiting and discipline, at least). Tennessee needs a quarterback.

Vanderbilt gets Auburn at home this weekend, and looks to improve its record to 5-0 (3-0 SEC). I don't think this is going to be any problem. Auburn struggled with Ole Miss and Tennessee, and lost to LSU in a close game. The War Eagle just doesn't have much offense. In that regard, Auburn looks a lot like Tennessee.

Sports editor Danny Parker claimed a game back from me this week, going 7-3 to my 6-4 record. Overall, Parker is 31-9 (.775), and I am 33-7 (.825).

PHILLEO'S PICKS

(Home team in bold)

No. 12 Florida 31, Arkansas 14

No. 2 Alabama 35, Kentucky 17

Ole Miss 27, South Carolina 10

No. 19 Vanderbilt 24, No. 13 Auburn 13

Tennessee 37, Northern Illinois 10

Memphis 27, UAB 24

No. 6 Penn State 38, Purdue 17

Miami (Fla.) 30, Florida State 27

No. 9 USC 24, No. 23 Oregon 17

No. 18 Wisconsin 28, No. 14 Ohio State 24

PARKER'S PICKS

Florida 49, Arkansas 9

Alabama 27, Kentucky 24

Ole Miss 20, S. Carolina 19

Auburn 14, Vanderbilt 9

Tennessee 31, N. Illinois 6

UAB 20, Memphis 10

Penn State 37, Purdue 20

Florida State 14, Miami (Fla.) 10

USC 35, Oregon 24

Ohio State 17, Wisconsin 14