--Sportsbook.com has made Auburn the 5/2 'chalk' to win the SEC Championship Game. In addition, the Tigers have a season win total of 10 'under' (minus 120). The 30-cent line provides 'over' backers with minus 110 odds. The offshore website has given RB Kenny Irons 35/1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Irons had a breakout season in 2005, rushing for 1,293 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

LSU junior RB Alley Broussard is looking to return from a torn ACL. (Getty)

**Louisiana State Tigers**

--Sportsbook.com has LSU with a win total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 150). Also, the Bayou Bengals are 5 1/2-point underdogs for their Week 3 game at Auburn, according to the offshore website's "Games of the Year" section.

--The home team has won six in a row in the Auburn-LSU series.

--Some coaches -- Mark Richt and Bob Stoops come to mind -- are searching for one quarterback to steer their respective teams. That's not a problem in Baton Rouge because Les Miles has three outstanding quarterbacks. Junior JaMarcus Russell is the seasoned veteran who completed 60.5 percent of his throws last year. Junior Matt Flynn had a touchdown-interception ratio of 7/1 last year and when Russell went down with a shoulder injury, Flynn led LSU to a dominating 40-3 win over Miami in the Peach Bowl. The third-stringer? That's redshirt freshman Ryan Perrilloux, who was rated the nation's top dual-threat QB coming out of high school in 2004.

--When Justin Vincent was a freshman, he posted 100-yard efforts in each of LSU's last four games, finishing the year with 1,001 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He was considered a candidate for the Heisman going into his sophomore campaign, but things haven't worked out so well since then. In fact, Vincent has run for just 810 combined yards the last two seasons because of injuries, fumbling issues and a lack of playing time.

--According to TigerBait.com, Vincent and Alley Broussard, both of whom are coming off knee injuries, have been dividing time as the No. 1 tailback at recent practices. Broussard tore his ACL last August.

**Arkansas Razorbacks**

--Most spots have tagged Arkansas as an 8 1/2-point home underdog for its opener against USC. Sportsbook.com has the Hogs listed as 4 1/2-point favorites for their Week 4 game vs. Alabama.

--The Razorbacks are 9-4 ATS as home underdogs during Houston Nutt's eight-year tenure.

--Arkansas RB Darren McFadden is "doubtful" for the USC game due to a broken toe suffered in a recent fight at a Little Rock nightclub. McFadden is a pre-season first-team All SEC player following a freshman year when he ran for 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns.

--Three players are vying for the starting quarterback job: Robert Johnson, Casey Dick and freshman Mitch Mustain. Dick and Johnson shared time as the starter last year. Dick hasn't practiced since injuring his back Tuesday, but an MRI was negative and he's expected to return to practice Monday. According to HawgSports.com, Mustain had his best practice Thursday and is beginning to look more comfortable. One adjustment for the premier recruit in school history is taking the snap under center after mostly playing out of the shotgun in high school.

Advertisement

**Alabama Crimson Tide**

--Sportsbook.com has Alabama listed with 9/1 odds to win the SEC. The Crimson Tide have a win total of eight 'over' (minus 140). The offshore website has given RB Kenneth Darby 60/1 odds to win the Heisman.
 
--Alabama's prize freshman recruit is OT Andre Smith and the word out of Tuscaloosa is that he's making a strong push for early playing time. Don't be surprised if he's a starter for the opener vs. Hawaii.

--Most spots have installed the Crimson Tide as 17-point favorites vs. the Warriors, who beat Alabama 37-29 in the 2003 regular-season finale.

--Alabama lost seven starters from its defense that was one of the nation's best in '05. The Crimson Tide return nine starters on offense, but they will sorely miss QB Brodie Croyle. Sophomore John Parker Wilson is the incumbent. As a freshman, he completed 7-of-11 passes for two touchdowns and zero interceptions, albeit in mop-up duty.

--Wilson will be under a lot of pressure to perform, but he'll benefit from one of the country's best running backs in Darby, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and was a first-team All-SEC pick last year.

--'Bama has won 12 of its last 14 season openers, but it has struggled for our purposes with a 4-9 spread record.

**Ole Miss Rebels**

--Ole Miss has 20/1 odds to win the SEC at Sportsbook.com.

--The Rebels are three-point home favorites for their season opener Sept. 3 vs. Memphis. ESPN will televise this Sunday game at 4:30 p.m. EST.

--Ed Orgeron's squad went 0-3 ATS as a home 'chalk' last year.

--Ole Miss returns five starters on each side of the ball. Senior MLB Patrick Willis is among those, bypassing the NFL Draft after garnering second-team All-American honors in '05.

**Mississippi State Bulldogs**

--What do we know about Sylvester Croom after two seasons in Starkville? Not much. Croom inherited a shoulder-deep mess after the Bulldogs went into the tank during the last three years of Jackie Sherrill's tenure. Is Croom the man to turn things around at Mississippi State? My answer is...who knows? I do know this: Croom can't be indicted as a poor coach because of a 6-16 record in his first two seasons. This year and next will tell us more.

--The Bulldogs return eight starters on each side of the ball.

--They are 5-8 ATS as a double-digit 'dog during Croom's tenure.

--Sportsbook.com has given MSU the third-longest odds (75/1) to win the conference.

**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**

--Auburn is my pick to win the SEC West. In fact, I think the Tigers have an excellent shot at going unbeaten and playing in the Fiesta Bowl. My reasoning? The schedule -- albeit tough -- sets up nicely with Auburn's four toughest foes (LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Georgia) coming to the Plains. The danger game is a Thursday night tilt at South Carolina. And, lest we forget, the Tigers go to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl to conclude the regular season.

--I think the Tigers will stay in the national title hunt for most of the year, so if Irons stays healthy, there's no reason to think he won't be a Heisman contender. With that in mind, it says here that the 35/1 odds are worthy of a small wager.

Brian Edwards can be reached via email at briane@vegasinsider.com.