In the SEC, South Carolina (3-1 straight up, 4-0 against the spread) stole the show in Week 4 by capturing a 16-10 win over Ole Miss as a 4 ½-point underdog. Bettors backing Steve Spurrier’s team on the money line collected a plus-170 payout (risk $100 to win $170).

Senior linebacker Eric Norwood and junior defensive end Cliff Matthews dominated the football game. Norwood, who looks like a lock to garner first-team All-American honors, had 10 tackles and a pair of sacks to become the school’s career leader in that category. Matthews also had two sacks, another tackle for a loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

The pass-rushing duo forced Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead into a nightmare performance – 7-of-21 for 107 yards passing – and all but ended his Heisman hopes in front of a national-television audience. The Rebels, who came to Williams-Brice Stadium as the No. 4 team in the nation, came crashing back to reality and saw their highest ranking in 45 years disappear.

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Houston Nutt’s team will look to bounce back when it visits Music City this weekend. Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Ole Miss (2-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) as a 10-point favorite with a total of 44 ½. As of Friday, most books had the Rebels favored by 10 (after the number was down to 8 ½ and/or nine for a good chunk of the week) with the total adjusted to 44. Vanderbilt (2-2 SU, 1-1-1 ATS) is plus-280 to win outright (risk $100 to win $280).

The Commodores will be without redshirt freshman WR John Cole, who suffered a broken hand in last week’s 36-17 victory at Rice. Before getting injured, Cole helped Vandy draw first blood against the Owls with a 31-yard touchdown run on a reverse early in the first quarter. Sophomore starting cornerback Jamie Graham is “questionable” after missing the win at Rice due to a concussion sustained in a 15-3 home loss to Mississippi St. in Week 3.

ESPNU will have the Ole Miss-Vandy telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

The 3:30 CBS game will pit LSU (4-0 SU, 1-2-1 ATS) against Georgia between the hedges. LVSC sent the game out as a pick ‘em with a 50-point tally. As of Friday, most spots had the Dawgs at 3 ½ with a total of 51 ½. The Tigers are plus-145 to win outright.

This is a huge revenge game for LSU, which gave up a 52-spot to UGA in a 52-38 loss at Tiger Stadium last season. The Tigers nearly got caught looking ahead last week when they won a 30-26 decision at Mississippi St.

Les Miles’ team needed a last-minute goal-line stand, a pick-six and a long punt return for a touchdown to escape Starkville unscathed. Chad Jones was the hero with a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown and a broken-up pass on third and goal in the final minute. MSU’s Tyson Lee had a wide-open receiver alone in the end zone when his throw was swatted away by Jones.

Despite remaining undefeated, Miles had to be concerned about the way his team was outplayed by the Bulldogs, who covered the number as double-digit puppies and out-yarded LSU 374-263.

Georgia (3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS) burned its backers and almost fell prey to an upset, too. Arizona St. came to Athens and rallied to tie the game at 17-17 in the final stanza. But Blair Walsh nailed a 37-yard field goal as time expired to lift Mark Richt’s team into the winner’s circle. The Sun Devils took the cash as double-digit ‘dogs.

Auburn (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS) continues to fly under the radar nationally, perhaps because it has yet to leave the Plains. That changes Saturday when the War Eagles go to Neyland Stadium to take on Lane Kiffin’s team.

LVSC opened Tennessee (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) as a three-point favorite with a total of 47 ½. As of Friday, the Vols were two-point ‘chalk’ with the total adjusted into the 51-52 range. Gene Chizik’s squad is plus-115 on the money line.

I had Auburn winning its first four games at home, but I had no idea it would go about its business in the impressive fashion it has done so. Seriously, who on earth saw Chris Todd producing an 11/1 touchdown-interception ratio before the end of September? How could anyone have expected the Tigers to produce more than 500 yards of total offense and average 45.2 points per game in their first four outings after sporting one of the nation’s most anemic offenses in 2008?

Let’s give credit to Chizik for hiring offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who is earning rave reviews in his second tour of duty in the SEC. (Remember, Malzahn was the o-coordinator at Arkansas who coached Mitch Mustain and Damian Williams in high school and delivered those blue-chippers to the Razorbacks before a much-publicized falling out with Houston Nutt.)

Auburn has demonstrated excellent balance with Todd’s passing and the ground-game combination of Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb, who are third and fourth in rushing in the SEC, respectively. Tate is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, while McCalebb has a 6.8 YPC average.

The most important matchup in this game will be between Malzahn and UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who is the nation’s premier defensive tactician. The elder Kiffin has the best defensive tool in the country to work with in junior safety Eric Berry, who looks like a given to be a top-five selection in next year’s NFL Draft.

The Vols have the SEC’s leading rusher in Montario Hardesty, who is averaging 121.2 yards per game and has scored four touchdowns. Hardesty had fluid drained from his knee earlier this week and was limited in practice. Nevertheless, he is “probable” and expected to start. UT has an outstanding second-string RB in freshman Bryce Brown, who is averaging 5.0 YPC.

But the UT offense is extremely one-dimensional. Senior QB Jonathan Crompton has a 2/6 TD-INT ratio since throwing five TD passes in the opener against Western Ky. Crompton threw for 222 yards in last week’s 34-23 non-covering victory against Ohio.

ESPN will have the UT-Auburn telecast at 7:45 p.m. Eastern.

Alabama (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS) will play its first true road game of the season Saturday at Kentucky. The Crimson Tide comes to Lexington as a 16-point favorite. The total is 47 and a few books have UK available for a plus-550 return on the money line (risk $100 to win $550).

Nick Saban’s team was dominant once again in last week’s 35-7 home triumph over Arkansas. The Tide easily covered the spread as a 17-point home ‘chalk.’ Junior QB Greg McElroy threw for 291 yards and three TDs without an interception, while ‘Bama’s defense completely shut down a Razorback offense that had previously been impressive with highly-regarded QB Ryan Mallett.

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Kentucky (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) fell behind to Florida 31-0 by the end of the first quarter last week. The Wildcats eventually lost by a 41-7 count as 20 ½-point home underdogs. They gave ‘Bama fits last year in a 17-14 loss as 16 ½-point underdogs.

Kick-off is slated for 12:20 p.m. Eastern on the SEC Network.

After last week’s gut-wrenching defeat to LSU, Mississippi St. (2-2 SU, 2-1 ATS) jumps back into the fire when it hosts Ga. Tech at Scott Field. The Bulldogs will be hoping to avenge at 38-7 loss on the Flats last season.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 24-7 home win over North Carolina as 2 ½-point favorites. They were sparked to victory by a big performance from Jonathan Dwyer, who ran for 158 yards on 19 carries. Ga. Tech had a 24-8 advantage in first downs and out-yarded UNC 406-154.

Ga. Tech could be without four starters on the defensive side of the ball. DE Robert Hall and LB Kyle Jackson are “out,” while both safeties could also be in street clothes. Cooper Taylor is “doubtful” and Dominique Reese is “questionable.”

LVSC had the Jackets at four on the send-out, but the number has been six for most of the week. The total is 47 and gamblers can back MSU to win outright for a plus-190 payout.

Arkansas (1-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) is hoping to bounce back from last week’s debacle in Tuscaloosa, as it renews an old-school Southwest Conference rivalry against Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium. Most books are listing the Hogs as 1 ½-point favorites with a total of 67.

South Carolina will host South Carolina St. in a non-lined matchup, while the Gators have an open date before next week's trip to Baton Rouge.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--How does LSU give workhorse running back Charles Scott only six carries in last week’s sketch win at Mississippi St.? Last time I checked, Scott ran for 1,174 yards and 18 TDs in 2008, averaging 5.4 YPC. Tighten it up, Mad Hatter.

--Next week’s Florida at LSU game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. Eastern kick-off. The Tigers have won 31 consecutive home games at night.

--Tennessee junior middle linebacker Nick Reveiz is out for the season with a torn ACL.

--The Vols haven’t beaten Auburn since 1999.

--Georgia LB Akeem Dent is “doubtful” vs. LSU.

--Former Alabama QB Tyler Watts recently spoke at a gathering for Alabama boosters in Orange Beach. He had some interesting comments about former ‘Bama coaches Dennis Franchione and Mike DuBose.

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

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