Kentucky will have a huge home-field advantage this afternoon against Tennessee. And I'm not talking about Commonwealth Stadium.

Other than Vanderbilt, no other team in the SEC is more at home playing for last place in the division. The Wildcats do it on a regular basis. In fact, it happens so often, no one reminds them: "You could finish last in the East if you lose today?"

Duh?

But this is foreign ground for the Vols, who haven't finished last in the division or conference since 1954. What does coach Phillip Fulmer tell them for inspiration: "We can still finish fifth in the East"?

I can understand why the Vols might not get excited about a "drive for five." Their preseason goals probably included winning the SEC East, the SEC and the national championship. I don't think anyone wrote on their goal sheet: "Win at least five games."

Tennessee 23, Kentucky 13: The Wildcats already have over-achieved. They have won two SEC games, which is one more than they won in each of the two previous years -- and two more than I thought they would win this season.

But their defense is worse than Vanderbilt's, and they don't have Jay Cutler at quarterback. You get my drift?

That's right. Even UT can beat this team.

Georgia 23, Georgia Tech 17: The Yellow Jackets began their season by upsetting Auburn, now the SEC's second-highest-ranked team. They could end it by knocking off SEC East champion Georgia.

That's a scary thought for the SEC, which likes to bill itself as the toughest conference in America.

It's embarrassing enough for the league to have only six bowl-eligible teams, two teams short of its bowl affiliations. It doesn't need to lose any non-conference rivalry games.

Florida 23, Florida State 20: First-year Florida coach Urban Meyer already has lost to ex-Gator Steve Spurrier. And if he can't beat injury-riddled in-state rival Florida State, Florida fans will compare him to another ex-Gator, Ron Zook.

A Florida loss would make it 7-4 with a bowl game remaining -- and another chance for a five-loss season.

Zook lost five games in each of his three seasons as Florida's head coach. He ended that streak by losing nine games this season at Illinois.

He has a couple of new streaks going: nine consecutive losses overall, and eight consecutive losses in the Big Ten (by an average of 33 points).

Ole Miss 8 (four safeties), Mississippi State 2 (one safety): Too bad Tennessee fans won't have a chance to see it. Who else could better appreciate the offensive ineptitude?

Mississippi State ranks 115th out of 117 teams in points per game. Ole Miss ranks 113th.

Mississippi State fans will ring cowbells on 3-yard gains. Ole Miss fans will wave Rebel flags on 4-yard pass completions. First downs will provoke standing ovations.

And touchdowns? Forget about them.

Top 25: Virginia Tech 31, North Carolina 13; Notre Dame 41, Stanford 20; Miami 30, Virginia 10; Fresno State 45, Nevada 20; Louisville 48, Syracuse 17.

Record: 180-54 (.769) overall, 122-109 (.528) against the spread.