1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Nick Saban is already scouting Texas. But not on purpose. He was trying to watch the Texas-Oklahoma game as a fan during Alabama’s off week. “It’s really hard for me to enjoy watching a game,” he said. “You look at it too much like a coach. They get in a formation, you say, ‘How can we adjust to that? What would we do against that?’ Next thing you know, you might as well go in and turn your computer on.”

n This week: vs. Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

2. FLORIDA GATORS

Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen admitted that quarterback Tim Tebow has been pressing for most of the season after winning the Heisman Trophy last year. “We kind of told him, ‘Hey, I think you’re actually thinking too much on the field. Forget some of the stuff you learned and just go be Tim Tebow. Run around and play and play with some energy,’” Mullen said.

n This week: Off

3. GEORGIA BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs are playing well against the run — three opponents this season rushed for 18 yards or fewer — but Vanderbilt offers a different style. Four of their top five rushers aren’t running backs, and the Commodores prefer to spread teams out. “We love to hit as a defense, and we love teams that like to rush the ball,” linebacker Rennie Curran said. “I feel like we’re always hungry as linebackers.”

n This week: vs. No. 22 Vanderbilt, 12:30 p.m. (Raycom)

4. LSU TIGERS

Is LSU’s defense showing signs of cracking? Florida’s 475-yard total last Saturday marks the third time in the Tigers’ last five regular-season SEC games that an opponent eclipsed 400 yards. Ole Miss had 466 in a 41-24 loss and Arkansas was over 400 in regulation before finishing with 513 after three overtimes in a 50-48 win last season. Florida was LSU’s third SEC foe this season.

n This week: at South Carolina, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

5. VANDERBILT COMMODORES

Bobby Johnson, a Clemson alumnus and potential candidate for the open job, said he was strongly against any midseason coaching change and dodged questions about the position vacated by Tommy Bowden. “I am totally against them,” Johnson said. “I think it’s unfortunate when it happens, but we all know what the business is like. People scrutinize every little aspect of your program, and the fans expect a lot, which they should.”

n This week: at No. 10 Georgia, 12:30 p.m. (Raycom)

6. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

In somewhat of a surprise, Steve Spurrier didn’t offer much of a comment concerning the decision of his rival, Clemson, dismissing Tommy Bowden. “Just a little surprised a bit, but we have our own problems here. We don’t need to comment on other people’s issues,” he said. “We’re concerned about our problems here — trying to kick some field goals and complete some passes and all that kind of stuff.”

n This week: vs. No. 13 LSU, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

7. OLE MISS REBELS

Houston Nutt said the rumors last weekend about dismissing defensive end Greg Hardy were “absolutely untrue,” though the staff admits benching him for a lack of effort against South Carolina. “In this sport here, if you’re not excited about Saturday, something is wrong,” defensive line coach Tracy Rocker said. “I don’t know what was wrong (with Hardy), but I’ve got a lot of kids out here that want to play. Counseling time is over.”

n This week: at No. 2 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

8. KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Despite losing star receiver Dicky Lyons for the season with a knee injury, Rich Brooks said he’ll still consider using freshman Randall Cobb as a quarterback. He caught eight passes for 52 yards against South Carolina. “We’ll just have to judge that as we go forward,” Brooks said about the quarterback situation, noting that Cobb’s time behind center “could increase a little bit.”

n This week: vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

9. AUBURN TIGERS

Freshman quarterback Barrett Trotter and his family told Tommy Tuberville they are fine with Trotter losing his redshirt this year. Trotter will become the second-string quarterback. “To burn a redshirt this late, we wouldn’t play him four or five plays. We’d get him ready to go,” Tuberville said. “If we’re going to play him, we’re going to play him.”

10. MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Get ready, Tennessee: Sylvester Croom says the Bulldogs finally “got an identity back.” Mississippi State relied heavily on the run and Anthony Dixon gained 107 yards against Vanderbilt. “We felt like we had to get back to being a hit-’em-in-the-mouth kind of football team,” Croom said. “We’re going to run straight at people, and we’re going to hit them in the mouth.”

n This week: at Tennessee, 7 p.m.

11. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

How many running backs did Arkansas have last season? Michael Smith, a backup to Darren McFadden and Felix Jones last year, now leads the SEC in rushing with 119.8 yards per game, just ahead of Alabama’s Glen Coffee. Smith also leads in all-purpose yards with 166.4 per game after blistering Auburn for 176 yards rushing in that upset win.

n This week: at Kentucky, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

12. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

The Vols’ 45 points in their last four games is the fewest since a meager 28 during a four-game stretch in 1980. That stretch included a 27-0 loss to Alabama, a 30-6 setback to Pittsburgh, a 16-13 loss to Virginia and a 20-9 loss to Ole Miss. The Vols finished 5-6. In their last four games of this season, the Vols have scored 6, 12, 13 and 14.

n This week: vs. Mississippi State, 7 p.m.

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