Adams: Hit me with your best (flu) shot

As Tennessee prepares to play 21-point underdog Ohio University on Saturday night, fans can't help but look ahead.

It's only 51 more weeks until the UT-Florida rematch, unless the powers that be pick up on UT coach Lane Kiffin's wish to play teams twice in the same year. I can't wait.

In the meantime, I suggest Kiffin find someone other than Florida coach Urban Meyer to pick on. I recommend New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

Why?

First answer: Because Belichick is a friend of both Meyer and Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Second answer: Because Belichick's team just lost to the New York Jets.

Wonder if the Patriots had the flu?

Just kidding. But since Kiffin has made flu humor all the rage, I couldn't resist.

And neither can Kiffin. In fact, if the Vols aren't at the top of their game tonight, you can expect him to say something like: "We would have done better if a couple of our players hadn't sneezed during the game."

Flu humor has been flying since Meyer said how many of his players were ill during last week's 23-13 victory over the Vols. He followed that up by questioning UT's offensive strategy.

Kiffin's response: "After we're not excited about our performance, we'll tell you that everybody was sick."

Out of respect to sick humor, I feel compelled to single out other possible flu sufferers from last Saturday's SEC games:

--Georgia's defensive coordinator.

--Arkansas' secondary.

--LSU's offensive line.

--West Virginia's quarterback.

--Vanderbilt's quarterback.

--The North Texas State cornerback who shoved Alabama's Terrence Cody in the back after being blocked. He must have been crazy with fever.

While wishing everyone a speedy recovery, I give you this week's hot picks.

Tennessee 37, Ohio 10: The Bobcats aren't to be confused with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. But they're the next best thing.

They're also the last sure thing UT will face this season.

Alabama 41, Arkansas 20: If coach Bobby Petrino could assemble a big-time defense as readily as he does an offense, the Razorbacks would be contending for an SEC championship in his second season. And they might have a chance against a team as balanced as Alabama.

That balance is embodied - and it's a huge body - by Cody, the mammoth nose tackle, who usually takes up two blockers at the line of scrimmage. Then, he moves to offense in goal-line situations and takes at least one defender out of the play.

Florida 38, Kentucky 10: Has any No. 1-ranked defending national champion been criticized as much as the Gators following their meager 10-point victory over UT?

Their passing game remains a work in progress. They missed too many tackles. They had to rely too much on quarterback Tim Tebow, who carried the ball 24 times.

Shortcomings aside, if the Gators get past Kentucky, they will have two weeks to prepare for their toughest road game of the season (at LSU). They should be flu-free by then.

LSU 30, Mississippi St. 13: The Tigers' close victory over Washington looks better following the Huskies' upset of Southern California. You still have to wonder what's going on with what was supposed to be a high-powered running game.

The Tigers rank 10th in the SEC in rushing and last in total offense. And they're running out of time to find a solution.

Their next three games are against Georgia, Florida and Auburn, who have a combined record of 8-1.

Georgia 34, Arizona State 23: The man on the hot seat in Athens is defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, whose defense has given up 104 points in three games this season, and 149 in its last four regular-season games.

It doesn't get any better if you go back further. In six of its last eight regular-season games, Georgia has given up at least 37 points.

Good thing the Sun Devils are better on defense than offense.

Auburn 37, Ball State 10: The Tigers picked the right year to schedule the Cardinals, who began last season 12-0. One year and one coach later, they're 0-3, including losses to FCS team New Hampshire and BCS punching bag North Texas State.

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn gets another chance to tune up his offense before next Saturday's game against Tennessee.

Vanderbilt 27, Rice 17: If you want to schedule a victory against a non-conference team from Texas, why fool around with Rice when you have surer things available (like North Texas State, for example)?

Answer: Academic snobbery.

Maybe the Commodores need an athletic director after all.

Top 25: Texas 41, UTEP 7; Penn State 27, Iowa 14; California 34, Oregon 30; Boise State 42, Bowling Green 20; Miami 27, Virginia Tech 20; Southern California 48, Washington State 10; Ohio State 31, Illinois 17; Cincinnati 41, Fresno State 20; Clemson 24, TCU 20; Oklahoma State 52, Grambling 10; Houston 37, Texas Tech 34; Florida State 34, South Florida 17; BYU 27, Colorado State 24; Kansas 45, Southern Mississippi 31; North Carolina 23, Georgia Tech 20; Michigan 41, Indiana 20; Washington 37, Stanford 34; Nebraska 31, Louisiana-Lafayette 7.

Record: 59-11 (.843) overall, 34-22 (.607) against the spread.

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