Let’s start this week’s stroll around the SEC by breaking down Florida’s trip to Starkville to face Mississippi State. The Gators haven’t won at Scott Field since 1985.

Now that stat is a tad misleading because UF has only played at Mississippi St. four times during that stretch. Nevertheless, it’s extremely relevant because the orange and blue faithful are well aware that this venue has been nothing but a House of Horrors over the last two decades and change.

In 1992 on a Thursday night, Shane Matthews’ Heisman hopes were obliterated in a 30-6 loss to the Bulldogs. The Gators haven’t played on a Thursday night since then.

In 2000, Dicenzo Miller and Dontae Walker bullied their way through Florida’s defense for more than 300 rushing yards in a 47-35 victory. Then in 2004, Jerious Norwood’s game-winning TD run in the final minute lifted Sylvester Croom’s squad to a 38-31 win as a 24 ½-point home underdog.

Ron Zook was fired less than 36 hours later. Five years later, The Zooker is working on another pink slip at Illinois.

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Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Gators as 24 ½-point road favorites with a total of 49. As of Friday afternoon, most books had UF favored by 23 with a total of 50. The Bulldogs are plus-1350 to win outright at the Vegas Hilton (risk $100 to win $13,500).

Mississippi St. snapped a three-game losing streak by capturing a 27-6 win last week at Middle Tennessee. Dan Mullen’s team easily covered the number as a five-point road ‘chalk.’

Senior running back Anthony Dixon ran for 135 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Blue Raiders, while senior quarterback Tyson Lee completed 14-of-20 passes for 155 yards without an interception. Lee also had 38 yards rushing and a one-yard TD plunge.

MSU comes into this game ranked 13th in the nation in rushing. Dixon, who was suspended for the opener, has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in each game since then except for a 94-yard effort in a loss at Auburn.

Dixon’s life will be a lot easier Saturday if Florida All-American LB Brandon Spikes does not play. Spikes left last week’s 23-20 win over Arkansas in the first half and did not return. He’s suffering from a groin injury that has his status at “50-50” according to Urban Meyer’s comments in Friday’s edition of the Gainesville Sun.

UF’s defensive line is also ailing. DT Justin Trattou is “out,” while DTs Lawrence Marsh and Jaye Howard are “doubtful.”

The Gators survived a scare last week in the aforementioned win over the Razorbacks, who won the turnover battle 4-0 but lost on Caleb Sturgis’ game-winning field goal in the final seconds. The Hogs easily took the cash as 24 ½-point underdogs.

UF failed to cover the number in its first eight games as a road favorite on Meyer’s watch. But since then, the Gators have taken the money in eight consecutive road ‘chalk’ spots.

ESPN will have the telecast at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

Alabama jumped Florida in the AP poll to become No. 1 after last week’s 20-6 win over South Carolina. The Gamecocks covered the spread as 18-point underdogs, improving to 11-4-1 ATS as road ‘dogs during Steve Spurrier’s tenure.

Mark Ingram probably became the Heisman favorite (for now, that is) with an incredible game, rushing 24 times for 246 yards and one touchdown. Mark Barron gave the Crimson Tide an early lead when he picked off Stephen Garcia and returned the interception 77 yards for a TD.

Ingram and Barron’s heroics allowed ‘Bama to overcome the shaky play of junior QB Greg McElroy, who threw for just 92 yards and was intercepted twice. McElroy’s struggles came from out of nowhere, as he was exceeding expectations until the ‘Cocks came to Tuscaloosa. He still maintains an excellent 9/3 touchdown-interception ratio.

Alabama starting CB and special-teams ace Javier Arenas (rib injury) did not play against South Carolina, but he is expected to be in the lineup Saturday vs. Tennessee.

LVSC opened the Tide as a 17-point favorite with a total of 44. As of late Friday afternoon, most spots had ‘Bama listed as a 15-point home ‘chalk’ with the total adjusted to 42. The Volunteers are plus-450 to win outright (risk $100 to win $450).

Lane Kiffin’s team comes to Bryant-Denny Stadium with two weeks of preparation. UT enjoyed its bye week after trashing Georgia 45-19 as a one-point home favorite. Jonathan Crompton enjoyed a career day against the Dawgs, throwing for 310 yards and four touchdowns.

CBS will have television coverage at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Houston Nutt’s Ole Miss squad won at Arkansas last season in his first game against his former school. The Rebels will host the Hogs in Saturday’s 12:20 Eastern kickoff on the SEC Network.

Most books have Ole Miss tabbed as a 6 ½-point favorite with a total of 53. Bettors can take Arkansas on the money line for a plus-220 return.

The Rebels are 5-2 ATS as home favorites under Nutt. Meanwhile, the Hogs are 3-3 ATS as road ‘dogs on Bobby Petrino’s watch.

Like UT, LSU was also off last weekend. The Tigers return to the field Saturday to face Auburn in Baton Rouge. Most spots have Les Miles’ team listed as a 7 ½-point favorite with the total in the 51-52 range. Gamblers can take Auburn to win outright for a plus-250 payout.

The honeymoon is over for Gene Chizik, who won his first five games as head coach at Auburn. However, the War Eagles have now gone down in back-to-back weeks. They took a shellacking two weeks ago at Arkansas by a 44-23 count. Kentucky then went on the road and collected a 21-14 win on the Plains.

The Wildcats picked up their first SEC win of the year and their first victory against Auburn since 1966. Randall Cobb scored on a four-yard TD run with 3:17 left that proved to be the difference. UK won outright as a 13 ½-point underdog even though it was without All-American CB Trevard Lindley, who has missed back-to-back games with an ankle injury.

Rich Brooks’ team is back in action Saturday vs. ULM. The ‘Cats are 14 ½-point favorites with the total listed at 47. The Warhawks, who have won three in a row both SU and ATS versus Sun Belt foes, will be without starting QB Trey Revell.

South Carolina will be trying to end a two-game losing streak against Vanderbilt, which went into Columbia and won a 17-6 decision as a 13 ½-point road underdog in 2007. In a Thursday game last year, the Commodores beat the Gameocks 24-17 as 9 ½-point home underdogs.

South Carolina senior WR Moe Brown is “out” after sustaining a concussion in last week’s loss at Alabama. TE Wesley Saunders is “questionable” after re-aggravating an ankle injury at practice Tuesday. The same injury kept Saunders out of a 28-26 win over Kentucky two weeks ago.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett completed 12-of-27 passes against the Gators for 227 yards with one TD and no interceptions. For the season, Mallett is sporting an impressive 14/3 TD-INT ratio.

--Robbie Andreu, the UF beat writer for the Gainesville Sun, predicted the Gators to win by a 27-17 count in Starkville.

--Vandy is an abysmal 1-4-1 ATS this season.

--Georgia has an open date this week to prep for next week’s showdown against Florida in Jacksonville. The Dawgs bounced back from their embarrassing loss at UT by spanking Vandy 34-10 last week as 8 ½-point road favorites.

--During Thursday's edition of the Power Hours on VI Radio, I chronicled Florida’s recent woes in Starkville. Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun describes the miserable 2004 game that changed the course of UF football history in this article.

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

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