To all the Tennessee seniors playing their last game at Neyland Stadium: Good riddance.

One more thing: 59-20.

I just couldn't resist providing a final emotional lift to a team that so often credits media criticism for inspiring it to victory.

But don't come to this corner of the sports section or web asking for any more favors. That's all I have. You're on your own the rest of the way.

I don't even have a derogatory word for the defense, which just held Arkansas to 13 points and has forced nine turnovers in the last three games.

This team has done more than improve its defense. It has reclaimed its home-field advantage.

UT is 6-0 at Neyland Stadium this season, and its average margin of victory is 23 points.

After losing three home games in 2005, the Vols' only home losses the last two years have been by one point to Florida's 2006 national championship team and by three points to LSU, which finished third nationally in 2006.

Tennessee 34, Vanderbilt 17: Eleven games into the season, UT's track record is clear enough for even a sportswriter to figure out. Team Extreme is either way up or way down.

The South Carolina game was the only one decided by a single-digit score. The average margin of victory in UT games has been 22.7 points.

If a team isn't good enough to beat the Vols decisively, it isn't good enough to beat them at all. And you should pick accordingly.

Vanderbilt hasn't beaten an SEC opponent by more than 14 points since 2004. That tells you all you need to know.

Arkansas 20, Mississippi State 17: The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back victories over nationally ranked teams. The Razorbacks are coming off their worst performance of the season.

So, in the context of a bewildering SEC season, the Hogs are an obvious pick.

Georgia 37, Kentucky 31: The Wildcats upset the Bulldogs last season, which virtually assures Georgia of a victory today.

The Wildcats and Bulldogs have played 60 times. And Kentucky has never beaten Georgia in back-to-back seasons.

LSU 41, Ole Miss 23: The Rebels should benefit from last week's open date. But that won't make up for the difference in talent.

The Rebels need more than two weeks to beat LSU. They need time to recruit a new defense.

Sabama 34, Louisiana-Monroe 10: As beneficial as open dates have been to SEC teams this season, Sun Belt Conference opponents have been just as much of a plus.

SEC teams are 4-1 the week after playing a Sun Belt opponent. Those four victories were all significant: Florida over UT by 39 points, Georgia over Auburn by 25, LSU over South Carolina by 12, and South Carolina over Georgia by four.

Florida 52, Florida Atlantic 17: No one is capitalizing on the SEC-Sun Belt rivalry more than the Gators.

They played Troy the week before hammering UT. Now, they're taking on Florida Atlantic the week before renewing their in-state rivalry with Florida State.

Top 25: Kansas 45, Iowa State 30; Oklahoma 41, Texas Tech 27; West Virginia 34, Cincinnati 23; Missouri 45, Kansas State 27; Ohio State 34, Michigan 27; Virginia Tech 27, Miami 10; Clemson 31, Boston College 20; Boise State 52, Idaho 14; Illinois 34, Northwestern 23; Wisconsin 41, Minnesota 14; Connecticut 30, Syracuse 13.

Record: 173-56 (.755) overall, 103-98 (.512) against the spread.

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

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.