Homecoming or staying home? You make the call.

You can go to Neyland Stadium, take part in the homecoming festivities and watch the Vols take their first step toward a possible state championship. Or you can stay home and enjoy the best Saturday of the SEC football season.

The SEC weekend kicks off with Florida at South Carolina, which offers you the rare opportunity to pull for Steve Spurrier and against Florida in the same game. Next you have Alabama and LSU playing for first place in the SEC West. Then comes Auburn vs. Georgia, with both teams still in the running for division championships.

UT also will be playing for high stakes. By beating Memphis, the Vols can keep their state championship and Music City Bowl hopes alive.

But don’t let that confuse you. UT’s quest for a Division 1-A state championship, the high school state championship games, and the Music City Bowl aren’t related.

If UT beats Memphis, it can win the Division I-A state championship by beating Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium next Saturday. The high school state championship games are scheduled for Dec. 2-3 in Murfreesboro. The Music City Bowl is played Dec. 30 in Nashville.

Tennessee 27, Memphis 10: You think UT has had problems at quarterback? How about Memphis, which lost its No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks to broken legs?

Give the Tigers a passing attack to complement star running back DeAngelo Williams, and this game might be a tossup. Instead, you might get UT’s easiest victory of the season.

By the fourth quarter, UT fans will be chanting: "We want Vanderbilt!"

Ex-Gator 23, Gators 20: If the Gamecocks can play Georgia a two-point game in Athens and beat UT in Knoxville, why can’t they upset the Gators in Columbia?

Florida’s secondary was already shaky, and now it’s without injured cornerback Vernell Brown. Spurrier second-greatest strength is exploiting weaknesses in a secondary.

His greatest strength: Paying back schools that slighted him.

Auburn 24, Georgia 23: Quarterback D.J. Shockley’s return is a big plus for Georgia, but you have to wonder how a knee brace will affect his running. The Tigers are regaining their health at wide receiver, running back and in the offensive line.

Playing between the hedges shouldn’t faze them. They have won nine of the last 11 games at Sanford Stadium.

LSU 20, Alabama 17: You can keep going with one broken leg, not two.

Alabama’s offense hasn’t been the same since wide receiver/punt returner Tyrone Prothro suffered a broken leg. It took another hit last week when center J.B. Closner broke his leg against Mississippi State.

Arkansas 17, Ole Miss 13: This matchup pits two of the SEC’s worst teams, but two of its best players.

Arkansas freshman tailback Darren McFadden leads the SEC in rushing yards per game (108.6) and is also averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis leads the SEC with 12.9 tackles per game.

Vanderbilt 31, Kentucky 24: The Wildcats no longer have to worry about coach Rich Brooks being fired. That’s a concern for next year’s team.

A more immediate concern: stopping the SEC’s most prolific passing attack with the SEC’s worst pass defense.

Top 25: Southern Cal 45, Cal 24; Texas 41, Kansas 10; Miami 30, Wake Forest 14; Notre Dame 40, Navy 20; Oregon 37, Washington State 34; Texas Tech 48, Oklahoma State 23; Arizona State 38, UCLA 37; Florida State 27, Clemson 23; TCU 38, UNLV 7; Iowa 31, Wisconsin 30; Michigan 38, Indiana 17; Iowa State 30, Colorado 27; Georgia Tech 23, Virginia 20.

Record: 153-46 overall (.768), 101-95 (.516) against the spread.

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