VANDERBILT AT MICHIGAN

Time: Noon. Television: ESPN.

Skinny: Vanderbilt heads to the "Big House" without its big man on campus, graduated QB Jay Cutler. The Commodores are 0-9-1 against Michigan, the last meeting a 42-14 loss in 1969.

Key Players: QB Chad Henne returns for the Wolverines after passing for 2,526 yards and 23 TDs as a sophomore last season. Former Central High School running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison returns from an appendectomy and is expected to play for Vanderbilt.

Line: Michigan by 25½.

WESTERN KENTUCKY AT GEORGIA

Time: 12:30 p.m. Television: WVLT2 UPN Channel 30.

Skinny: This is the first meeting between the two schools. The last time Georgia opened against a Division I-AA school, the Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern 48-28 in 2004. Georgia hasn’t lost a home non-conference game since 2000 (Georgia Tech).

Key Players: All eyes will be on Bulldogs’ QB Joe Tereshinski as he attempts to replace D.J. Shockley. DE Quentin Moses leads the Georgia defensive line. The Hilltoppers will count on senior QB Justin Haddix and RB Lerron Moore.

Line: None.

SOUTHERN MISS AT FLORIDA

Time: 6 p.m. Television: Pay-per-view.

Skinny: Southern Miss has that giant-killer reputation, but it’s 0-4 against the Gators, including a 21-6 loss in the last meeting in 1997. Florida coach Urban Meyer tries to go to 2-0 in season openers after beating Wyoming 32-14 a year ago.

Key Players: QB Chris Leak tries to kickoff his final season in style. He passed for 2,639 yards and 20 TDs with only six interceptions a season ago. Southern Miss counters with RB Cody Hull (130 carries, 542 yards) and TE Shawn Nelson (35 catches, 540 yards).

Line: Florida by 20.

HAWAII AT ALABAMA

Time: 7 p.m. Television: None.

Skinny: In Mike Shula’s first season as Alabama’s head coach, he watched his Tide fold in the fourth quarter en route to a 37-29 loss at Hawaii in 2003. Alabama beat Hawaii 21-16 in 2002. Former Atlanta Falcons coach June Jones is in his eighth season at Hawaii.

Key Players: John Parker Wilson takes over at QB for the Crimson Tide. He’ll likely be handing off a lot to senior RB Kenneth Darby (1,242 yards in 2005). WR Ross Dickerson and RB Nate Ilaoa are the Rainbows' primary weapons.

Line: Alabama by 16.

WASHINGTON STATE AT AUBURN

Time: 7:45 p.m. Television: ESPN2.

Skinny: This is the first meeting between the two schools. No. 4-ranked Auburn is coming off a 9-3 season in 2005. Washington State finished 4-7, 1-7 in the Pac-10 a year ago.

Key Players: Auburn RB Kenny Irons led the SEC with 1,293 yards and 13 TDs as a junior last season. Washington State has an experienced QB in Alex Brink (2,890 yards, 24 TDs) to go with two quality WRs in Jason Hill (62 catches, 1,097 yards, 13 TDs) and Michael Bumpus.

Line: Auburn by 14½.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE AT LSU

Time: 8 p.m. Television: None.

Skinny: No. 8-ranked LSU leads the all-time series 20-0 and defeated ULL 48-0 in the last meeting back in 2002. Going way back to when ULL was known as Southwestern Louisiana, LSU ran up a 93-0 victory in 1936.

Key Players: Junior JaMarcus Russell won the preseason QB battle and earns the starting nod after passing for 2,443 yards and 14 TDs as a sophomore. ULL relies on senior QB Jerry Babb, a versatile running-throwing threat who has 21 career passing TDs and 13 career rushing TDs.

Line: LSU by 30½.

SOUTHERN CAL AT ARKANSAS

Time: 8:45 p.m. Television: ESPN.

Skinny: No. 6-ranked USC tries to get over the disappointment of last season’s national championship loss to Texas with a visit to Fayetteville. USC has a 3-1 series advantage, including last year’s 70-17 romp.

Key Players: John David Booty has the tough chore of replacing Matt Leinart at QB for the Trojans. WRs Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith and Patrick Turner give him plenty of targets. Razorbacks’ TB Darren McFadden has returned to practice from an injury, but is still doubtful against USC.

Line: Southern Cal by 8.

— MARK BURGESS