The SEC had a pair of eight-win teams from a year ago poised to slide this season.

Mississippi State is doing its part after losing 22-14 to Louisiana Tech, but Kentucky doesn’t seem interested in a return to the league’s lower echelon. The Wildcats have won eight games each of the past two seasons and took a sizable step toward a third big year with Sunday’s 27-2 win at Louisville.

“That was critically important,” Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said Wednesday. “Everybody, even some of the skeptical fans but particularly all of the national media, thought we were a two-year wonder and that we were going to disappear because we graduated a lot of really good players.”

Mississippi State, meanwhile, swept Alabama and Auburn last season by watching the Tide and Tigers self-destruct. The Bulldogs turned it over five times Saturday night, a showing Sylvester Croom described as out of character — but one he saw coming.

“Our players and even our fans to some degree think we’re better and forgot how we won,” he said. “How we won was by not making mistakes and not beating ourselves and being sound fundamentally. I sensed some of this in the offseason, and it was a concern I had, being able to think we could just roll the ball out and go out and play football in any fashion and be able to win.”

The Bulldogs must move on without leading tackler Jamar Chaney, who broke his leg in the opener.

Pasquali’s Pix:

South Carolina at Vanderbilt: The Commodores are at home, hammered the Gamecocks last year and were the better team last week. ’Cocks 23, ’Dores 10.

Georgia Tech at Boston College: The intriguing Yellow Jackets may be the only ACC team that can prevent a league title matchup between Wake and Forest. Jackets 24, Eagles 19.

Southern Miss at Auburn: Auburn’s spread offense is rumored to include the forward pass this week. Tigers 24, Eagles 9.

Central Michigan at Georgia: Bulldogs coach Mark Richt is 1-0 since flooding our television sets with Carpets of Dalton commercials. Bulldogs 41, Chippewas 13.

Ole Miss at Wake Forest: The Rebels are preparing for potential rain from Tropical Storm Hanna by practicing in remnants of Hurricane Gustav. Deacons 20, Rebels 16.

Cumberland at UTC: After 12 years as media relations director of the Mocs, longtime buddy Jeff Romero is working his last game. Jeff has a remarkable knack of going out a winner. Mocs 19, Bulldogs 10.

Tulane at Alabama: Pasquali continues to marvel at Bama’s domination of Clemson, even though it’s a blatant violation of Nick Saban’s 24-hour rule. Tide 44, Wave 7.

Miami at Florida: These two finally meet when the Gators are decidedly better. Gators 36, Hurricanes 10.

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