Like It Is

It's Alabama, Georgia and nobody else

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, left, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban arrive for a press conference ahead of the NCAA college football national championship in Atlanta, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

There are several good SEC games tomorrow, and Arkansas State opens its Sun Belt campaign on the road.

The SEC is not looking as good from top to bottom as previous years, but the best of the West, Alabama, and the beast of the East, Georgia, are on a collision course for the SEC championship.

Last week's upset blew up because Vanderbilt wasn't as good as thought, so there was another two-loss day, going 7-2 to make the record 39-8. Here's this week's picks:

Arkansas at Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas)

The Aggies are favored by 21 and should be. While they were losing 28-26 to No. 2 Clemson the Razorbacks were losing to Colorado State, which is 1-4 on the season. Arkansas' lone win was against winless Eastern Illinois*. Plus, the Hogs' special teams play cost them a shot at an upset against Auburn. New Aggie head coach Jimbo Fisher has the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, just behind Georgia and ahead of Alabama, so if the Razorbacks are going to get a win anytime soon it has to be this year. It is time for Chad Morris to pull some rabbits out of his hat and get the Hogs a win. The Aggies secondary can be suspect. The O-line has given up nine sacks. My gut says go with the upset. Arkansas 28-24

Arkansas State at Georgia Southern

The Eagles had an extra week to fine-tune their triple-option offense after a 38-7 loss to Clemson. The Red Wolves survived UNLV's ground attack, which should help prepare them for another pound-the-ground attack. ASU has a good running attack to go with Justice Hansen's passing. He's completed 60 percent of his passes, has thrown 10 touchdown passes and rushed for another. Arkansas State 31-24

La. Lafayette at Alabama

Since opening with a win over Grambling State the Ragin' Cajuns have lost to Mississippi State 56-10 and Coastal Carolina 30-28. If the Crimson Tide bus got lost and couldn't find the stadium Alabama would still find a way to win. This is one of those games where Nick Saban gets to name his score. Alabama 63-7

Florida at Mississippi State

This is truly a homecoming game and not just for former Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen who jumped ship for the Gators after leading the Bulldogs to a 69-46 record and seven bowl appearances. Florida Athletic Director Scott Strickland was the AD at MSU. An alum of Mississippi State, he was much beloved when he left, but coming back with Mullen might be a bitter pill for the Dawg Pound. Mississippi State 31-28

Tennessee at Georgia

The Vols are pretenders not contenders in the SEC East. They will only wish they were playing the Gators, who thumped them 47-21 last week, again. The Bulldogs are still marching to Atlanta and most likely undefeated. Georgia 56-17

South Carolina at Kentucky

The Gamecocks are pretty good, but the Wildcats have already won at Florida, 27-16, and Mississippi State, 28-7. The Wildcats rely on a powerful running game and just enough passing to keep defenses honest. Kentucky 28-17

Ole Miss at LSU

Ole Miss has been able to outscore its defense in three wins, but the Tigers defense has allowed only eight touchdowns in its first four games, five through the air. The problem is their offense has been only average, but it is a night game in Death Valley. LSU 28-21

Tennessee State at Vanderbilt

The Tigers have won two and had two cancelled. Vandy is tough on nonconference opponents and wants to stake itself to a lead for the Tennessee state championship. Vanderbilt 35-14

Southern Mississippi at Auburn

A homecoming game blowout for the Tigers. Auburn 63-0

Sports on 09/28/2018

*CORRECTION: The Arkansas Razorbacks’ only victory in football this season was against Eastern Illinois. A previous version of this column identified the wrong team.