Vols should handle QB-troubled Tide

But give me credit for trying. I checked out the statistics. I even watched the replay of the Alabama-Southern Mississippi game.

Conclusion: Yawn.

I realize Alabama leads the SEC in defense. But look whom it has defensed.

Aside from Division I-AA Western Carolina, here's how Alabama's other six opponents rank nationally in total offense: Utah State (113), Kentucky (110), Southern Mississippi (102), Ole Miss (79) South Carolina (51) and Arkansas (18).

I also realize Alabama leads the SEC in rushing. But again, consider the competition.

Alabama's six Division I-A opponents and their national ranking in rushing defense: Utah State (109), Kentucky (106), Southern Mississippi (91), Arkansas (77), Ole Miss (70) and South Carolina (27).

Alabama has a decent running game, but it's not exactly Nebraska of old. It also has a solid defense, but it's not as good as Georgia's, Auburn's or LSU's.

The schedule should bear that out. So should this afternoon's game.

UT 27, Alabama 10: If you want excitement, heal the injured knee of Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle, who almost beat the Vols last year. With him at quarterback, this game is a tossup.

Without him, it shouldn't be close.

Georgia 27, Arkansas 10: Arkansas couldn't wait until Halloween to play a sick joke. It made Georgia its homecoming opponent.

The Bulldogs have won the last three games against Arkansas by an average of 23 points.

Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones is listed as "questionable" because of a pulled groin. Arkansas' offense is listed as "doubtful" because of Georgia's defense.

Florida 41, Mississippi State 10: The Bulldogs have gone from gloom and doom to gloom and Croom. Other than that, this season has been only slightly different from the last two at Mississippi State.

In fact, it has been slightly worse.

The Bulldogs were 1-15 in SEC play the last two years under coach Jackie Sherrill. In those two seasons, they were outscored by an average of 37.2 to 13.5 points per game in conference play.

They're 0-3 under first-year coach Sylvester Croom and have been outscored by an average of 41.7 points to 9.

Auburn 30, Kentucky 7: Kentucky's 51-point game against Indiana qualifies for Ripley's Believe it or Not. In its other five games, Kentucky has totaled 43 points.

Also worthy of Ripley's: the videotape of Kentucky's 23-play, 94-yard, 11-minute drive against South Carolina. It's as unbelievable as the woman eating razorblades (check it out on Ripley's web site).

LSU 30, Troy 10: If you don't think the SEC needs to work on its scheduling, look at the Tigers - if you can find them.

LSU is two weeks into the dark-hole section of its schedule. The Tigers had an open date last week, followed by a non-conference game against Troy. On deck is Vanderbilt, followed by another open date.

Vanderbilt 27, Eastern Kentucky 20: When Vanderbilt starts shopping for a replacement for head coach Bobby Johnson, it should strongly consider Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope. Then, no one could say Vanderbilt's football program is hopeless.

Top 25: USC 49, Washington 14; Oklahoma 35, Kansas 10; Miami 27, N.C. State 12; Florida State 27, Wake Forest 20; Utah 30, UNLV 13; Wisconsin 26, Northwestern 13; California 38, Arizona 16; Michigan 27, Purdue 24; Boise State 38, Fresno State 30; Virginia 41, Duke 13; Texas A&M 34, Colorado 23; Oklahoma State 31, Missouri 27; Texas 34, Texas Tech 27; Iowa 27, Penn State 16; Arizona State 30, UCLA 27; Notre Dame 24, Boston College 20.

Record: 119-21 (.850) overall, 78-62 (.557) against the spread.

John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.