We start this week’s stroll around the SEC with Tennessee’s trip to The Swamp as a monster underdog. As of early Friday afternoon, most betting shops had the Gators installed as 30-point favorites with a total of 53.

When was the last time UT has been this rich of an underdog? Well, never. Ever. In fact, the biggest previous situation as underdogs for the Volunteers was their trip to USC as 18 ½-point puppies in 1981. The Trojans, who were led by Heisman winner Marcus Allen, rolled to an easy 43-7 win in that spot.

Since 1999, Tennessee has only been a double-digit underdog five times. The Vols have thrived in those instances, posting a 5-0 against-the-spread record. They have won three of those games outright, including a 34-32 win at Florida as 18-point underdogs in 2001. UT also beat Miami in ’03 and Georgia in ’04 as a double-digit ‘dog.

Urban Meyer’s team has cruised to easy wins over Charleston Southern (62-3) and Troy (56-6). UF hooked up its backers last week as a 36-point home favorite. Tim Tebow threw four touchdown passes and ran for another.

When these teams met at Neyland Stadium last season, Florida dominated in a 30-6 win as a 7 ½-point road favorite. The Gators have won all four head-to-head meetings against the Vols on Meyer’s watch, including a 59-20 home win in 2007.

Advertisement

Lane Kiffin’s team stroked Western Ky. 63-7 to easily cash tickets as a 31-point favorite in Week 1. But in Week 2, the Vols came crashing back to earth. Jonathan Crompton threw three interceptions and UCLA came into Knoxville and emerged victorious with a 19-15 triumph. Las Vegas Sports Consultants had opened UT at 6 ½, but the number moved all the way up to 11 by Saturday morning.

UT’s power running game was stuffed by the Bruins on a goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter. The Vols can’t blame their defense and new coordinator Monte Kiffin. The elder Kiffin’s defensive unit limited UCLA to just 186 total yards of offense.

Auburn has looked outstanding in its first two games, trouncing La. Tech (37-13) and Mississippi St. (49-24) to easily cash tickets as a double-digit favorite in both spots. Instead of the pedestrian offense that led to Tommy Tuberville’s dismissal in 2008, the Tigers are producing 43 points and 572.5 yards of offense per game.

New offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has done a remarkable job in his second tour of duty in the SEC. Chris Todd has yet to throw an interception and most importantly, the running back combination of Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb has been racking up yards galore.

Tate is the SEC’s leading rusher to date with 274 yards and one touchdown on 40 carries. McCalebb is second in the SEC in rushing with 262 yards and two touchdowns on 38 totes.

Gene Chizik’s team will be looking to avenge a 34-17 loss in Morgantown last year when it hosts West Virginia at 7:45 p.m. Eastern in ESPN2’s prime-time game Saturday night. LVSC opened Auburn as a 4 ½-point favorite with a total of 51. As of Friday afternoon, most spots had the Tigers at seven with the total adjusted to 53 1/2. Bill Stewart’s team is plus-220 on the money line (risk $100 to win $220).

WVU opened the season with a lethargic effort, beating Liberty 33-20 in a non-lined encounter. The Mountaineers exacted revenge on East Carolina from a 2008 defeat by knocking off the Pirates last week, 35-20. They shook off an early 10-0 deficit and scored a pair of TDs for the only points of the second half.

Jarrett Brown enjoyed a career night, rushing for 73 yards and passing for 334. He connected on 24-of-31 throws and tossed four touchdown passes. Noel Devine rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown.

Now let’s discuss Georgia at Arkansas in what is a crucial game for both teams. Most books have the Razorbacks as short favorites ranging from 1 ½ to 2 ½. The total is 54.

The Dawgs are coming off a thrilling 41-37 win over South Carolina, although the Gamecocks took the cash as seven-point underdogs. With USC facing a fourth-and-goal situation at UGA’s seven with 22 ticks left, Rennie Curran batted down a Stephen Garcia pass to preserve the Dawgs’ first win of the year.

Advertisement

Mark Richt’s team survived even though it was out-yarded 427-308 and had 10 less first downs (26-16) than the Gamecocks. UGA got a 100-yard kick return from Brandon Boykin in the first quarter and special teams came up big again with a blocked extra point that could’ve tied the game early in the final stanza.

While Georgia has been slugging it out with Oklahoma State – in a 24-10 season-opening defeat – and South Carolina, Arkansas beat up on Missouri St. by a 48-10 count and then enjoyed an open date.

In his debut for Arkansas after sitting out the 2008 campaign, Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett looked sharp, hitting on 17-of-22 passes for 309 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions.

The Hogs will be without a pair of their top WRs, London Crawford and Lucas Miller. Both recently suffered broken collarbones, although Bobby Petrino and his staff are hoping to get Miller back for next week’s game at Alabama.

Arkansas failed to cover the number in both home ‘chalk’ spots in Petrino’s first season. UGA is 30-5 SU in 35 true road games during Richt’s tenure.

Vanderbilt gave LSU a fight last week before dropping a 23-9 decision as a 14-point underdog. The Commodores will look to bounce back when they welcome Mississippi St. into Music City at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Most books are listing Vandy as a nine-point favorite with a total of 45. The Bulldogs are a healthy plus-300 on the money line (risk $100 to win $300).

The ‘Dores haven’t been this heavily favored against an SEC foe since Jay Cutler’s senior year in 2005. That’s when they lost to Kentucky 48-43 as 11-point home favorites.

Bobby Johnson’s team sustained two critical injuries last week. Senior safety Ryan Hamilton, who had 104 tackles and four interceptions in 2008, is now out for the season after tearing his pectoral muscle at LSU. Hamilton made several game-saving plays to preserve a win at Ole Miss last season. His streak of 34 consecutive starts will end Saturday. Also, sophomore offensive tackle James Williams is out for the season with a dislocated ankle.

We touched on South Carolina’s gut-wrenching loss between the hedges last week. The ‘Cocks will try to get back on track when they host Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Most spots have USC listed as a 21-point favorite.

If there’s a bright side coming off the UGA loss, it’s that we all finally saw what the hype over Stephen Garcia has been all about. Now he did throw a costly interception and didn’t lead USC into the end zone on its final drive. But more often than not, he was making dynamic plays against the Dawgs.

Garcia had career-highs in just about every statistical category. He completed 31-of-53 passes for 313 yards and a pair of TDs. The third-year sophomore also scrambled for 42 yards.

Kentucky had an off week after giving Miami (OH.) a bagel in its 42-0 season-opening victory. The Wildcats return to action for their home opener against arch-rival Louisville. Most spots have the ‘Cats listed as 13 ½-point favorites with a total of 47 ½.

ESPNU will have the telecast at noon Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--LSU will host UL-Lafayette at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU. The Bayou Bengals are favored by 27 at most books. The Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off a 17-15 upset win over Kansas St. as seven-point home underdogs.

--Tebow’s career touchdown-interception ratio: 72/11

--UGA senior quarterback Joe Cox completed 14-of-21 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s win over South Carolina. However, he did throw one interception that USC’s dynamic linebacker Eric Norwood returned 35 yards for a potential game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. However, as previously mentioned, the ensuing PAT was blocked by UGA, forcing Carolina to have to go for it at crunch time rather than kick a tying field goal.

--FAU’s premier wide receiver Cortez Gent has been suspended for the Owls’ trip to Columbia to face South Carolina. Gent was Rusty Smith’s favorite target in 2008, hauling in 60 receptions for 935 yards and nine touchdowns.

--The Gators have covered the spread in 13 of their last 14 lined games.

--Coaches on the Hot Seat:
1-Dan Hawkins (Colorado)
2-Al Groh (Virginia)
3-Charlie Weis (Notre Dame)
4-Steve Kragthorpe (Louisville)
5-Mark Snyder (Marshall)

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

If you wish you can follow Brian Edwards on twitter at Vegasbedwards.

Don't miss out on Saturday's pick pack from Brian Edwards.