Only three teams control their destiny in the SEC football race, and the first two are obvious.
LSU also controls its future, even after losing at home to Florida two weeks ago. The Tigers can win the West Division by winning their final four league games, which would include a Nov. 7 trip to Alabama, where they haven't lost this decade.
"Our want is to finish this season very strong and to have an opportunity to play a game of significance when we get to December," LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday.
The Tigers haven't resembled title material to this point. LSU's average of 23 points a game ranks ahead of only Vanderbilt in the league, and whatever became of "Chuck the Truck"?
Senior tailback Charles Scott finished fourth in the SEC last year with 1,174 yards, but he's 13th with 332 yards this season.
"We have speed at quarterback and a talented receiving corps," Miles said. "I think there is a want to spread the ball around more than there has been, but we'd like to get Charles Scott lathered up and let him have a game or two as we go forward."
Pasquali's Pix:
Florida State at North Carolina: Bobby Bowden wouldn't mind turning back the clock. Butch Davis wouldn't either. Seminoles 20, Tar Heels 17.
Georgia Tech at Virginia: The Cavaliers are the only ACC team undefeated in league play yet lost to William & Mary by double digits. Yellow Jackets 23, Cavaliers 22.
Arkansas at Ole Miss: Not a bad matchup for teams outscored 57-10 by Alabama. Rebels 34, Razorbacks 25.
UTC at Elon: The Phoenix are still furious about losing to the Mocs by a point in the SoCon basketball tournament quarterfinals. Phoenix 31, Mocs 19.
Tennessee at Alabama: This pairing has contained Thomas and Neyland, Bryant and Dickey, and Stallings and Fulmer through the years, but Saban and Kiffin have us as curious as ever. Tide 20, Vols 13.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina: Steve Spurrier said Wednesday that his Gamecocks were "looking forward to the Vanderbilt game Saturday night at 7 o'clock on one of the ESPN cables." Gamecocks 30, Commodores 10.
Florida at Mississippi State: If Tim Tebow can bounce back from a concussion at LSU, then he can put aside pleasant memories with Dan Mullen this week in Starkville. Gators 28, Bullies 9.
Auburn at LSU: This has been the best SEC rivalry this decade when you combine close calls with divisional significance. Bayou Bengals 27, Plainsmen 16.
Last week:
Winners................17
Tressels.................8
Pasquali is 131-44 overall (74.9 percent) this season.
OTHER PICKS
Kentucky 30, UL-Monroe 17
Notre Dame 21, Boston Coll. 14
Miami 24, Clemson 21
Duke 34, Maryland 30
Navy 19, Wake Forest 14
Texas 38, Missouri 29
Southern Cal 32, Oregon St. 13
Iowa 27, Michigan State 24
Cincinnati 38, Louisville 9
Michigan 17, Penn State 16
TCU 22, Brigham Young 21
W. Virginia 23, Connecticut 19
Oklahoma State 38, Baylor 24
Boise State 45, Hawaii 22
Ohio State 28, Minnesota 7
Texas Tech 31, Texas A&M 16
MTSU 33, Western Kentucky 7
David Paschall is a sports writer for the Times Free Press. He started at the Chattanooga Free Press in 1990 and was part of the Times Free Press when the paper started in 1999. David covers University of Georgia football, as well as SEC football recruiting, SEC basketball, Chattanooga Lookouts baseball and other sports stories. He is a Chattanooga native and graduate of the Baylor School and Auburn University. David has received numerous honors for ...
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