1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

The scripted plays for Alabama’s opening drive are determined by which ones are most successful in practice. Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain gives quarterback John Parker Wilson the script on Thursdays. “(Coaches) see what we’re hitting good, because we’re not going to put something in the (script) that we haven’t really, really looked good on,” Wilson said. “It comes together on that first drive.”

* This week: Off

2. LSU TIGERS

Safety Chad Jones said the defensive plays are getting to the field late, and that’s one reason LSU is experiencing problems with its pass defense. “We don’t always get the play in on time, because we’ve got so many guys running on and off the field with different formations,” Jones said. “The majority of the time it’s just being misaligned or basically just taking your eye off of the receiver.”

* This week: at No. 11 Florida, 8 p.m. (CBS)

3. GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Redshirt freshman Zach Renner, a walk-on from Monroe, Conn., is one punt block shy of tying the school season record set by Kendrell Bell in 1999. Renner blocked punts against Arizona State and Alabama, becoming the first player in school history to accomplish the feat in consecutive games. The last Georgia player to block two punts in a season was another player who went on to the NFL, David Pollack, in 2004.

* This week: vs. Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

4. VANDERBILT COMMODORES

Coach Bobby Johnson said having two quarterbacks is a “luxury,” and Chris Nickson could play against Mississippi State despite a shoulder injury. “Chris wants to be able to play and sort of assumes he’ll be able to get back in there once everything calms down,” Johnson said. “We’ll just have to see how his throwing motion is affected by this injury and how tender it is.”

* This week: at Mississippi State, 2:30 p.m.

5. FLORIDA GATORS

Quarterback Tim Tebow threw his first interception of the season late in the third quarter last Saturday, ending one of the longest interception-less streaks in SEC history at 203. Middle linebacker Jerry Franklin, who dropped a potential interception earlier in the game, made the pick in the third quarter. Only Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson (325 passes) and Georgia’s David Greene (214) had longer streaks in conference history.

* This week: vs. No. 4 LSU, 8 p.m. (CBS)

6. KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Running back Derrick Locke vented on the lack of carries given to the backs this year. “Honestly, I feel like we’re relying too much on the passing game,” Locke said. “I don’t know if it’s Coach not trusting us with the run game. I really don’t know, but I feel like the running backs need some more touches. They keep saying we’ve got to establish the run game. Well, we’re really not running.”

* This week: vs. South Carolina, 12:30 p.m. (Raycom)

7. AUBURN TIGERS

Coach Tommy Tuberville isn’t going to discuss the failed 2003 coup involving Bobby Petrino, then the Louisville coach, and Auburn officials, offering a “don’t even try” to go there response to a Petrino question earlier this week. The two coaches meet this Saturday, and no one is expressing any animosity. “That’s such a long time ago and something we’ve all put behind us,” Petrino said.

* This week: vs. Arkansas, 5 p.m.

8. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

Steve Spurrier said he was happy with the play calling by his son, receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., last Saturday aside from Mike Davis’ run that went for no gain on fourth-and-1 late in the game. “Steve called about the whole game. I only called a few here and there,” the elder Spurrier said. “Next time I’m going to veto that goal-line formation, though.”

* This week: at Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. (Raycom)

9. OLE MISS REBELS

Houston Nutt said the Rebels, winless in the SEC last year, are still expecting the worst and struggle to maintain optimism when they fall behind. One example, according to Nutt, was after South Carolina scored a touchdown to take the lead following a Jevan Snead fumble. “I was the only cheerleader on the sideline,” Nutt said. “We’re still (in the game). But I look in our guys’ eyes and they don’t see it like that.”

* This week: Off

10. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

The Vols are ranked 61st nationally out of 119 FBS teams in rushing offense, and that’s their best ranking in any of the offensive categories. Tennessee ranks 98th in passing offense, 97th in total offense, 106th in scoring offense and 109th in passing efficiency. The defense has a right to feel angry — the Vols are fifth in the nation in total defense.

* This week: at No. 10 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

11. MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Tyson Lee, the Bulldogs’ new starting quarterback, won’t “have to look over his shoulder” during Saturday’s start against Vanderbilt, according to coach Sylvester Croom. Lee is a nice story. He had only three scholarship options out of high school, all of them to Mississippi junior colleges. He chose Itawamba and became an All-American, then walked on to Mississippi State.

* This week: vs. No. 13 Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m.

12. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Tailback Michael Smith took over the SEC lead in all-purpose yardage after torching Florida for 133 rushing yards and 182 all-purpose yards last Saturday. Smith has compiled exactly 600 yards in his four games. The junior’s average of 150 all-purpose yards per game ranks just ahead of LSU’s Charles Scott (143 yards per game), Florida’s Brandon James (135.6) and Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno (125.8).

* This week: at No. 20 Auburn, 5 p.m.

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