Take A Breath, SEC Fans -- But Not A Deep One

   It's SEC lite this weekend, with only four games, none of any magnitude. But the three conference matchups carry fetching subplots and all, if the betting public knows its stuff, are anticipated to be close.

   --Vanderbilt, which has beaten Tennessee once in the last quarter-century, ranks as a three-point favorite. In between game-planning, Phil Fulmer has placed calls to colleagues for advice on his next coaching move. Here's some advice: Beat the Commodores and salvage a speck of football dignity from the season.

   Is this Vandy's year to start balancing out this one-sided rivalry?

  --LSU, not long ago in the national title discussion, is a mere three-point fave at home against resurgent Ole Miss. The Tigers' resurrection from near-death against Troy was impressive but it verified that LSU, with spotty QB play and an inconsistent defense, is second tier this year.

   Inconceivable at the start of the season, can the Rebels give LSU a run for the money?

   --Arkansas picked itself up after a dreadful start and is somehow a road favorite in the SEC, if only against Mississippi State (and by one point). Bobby Petrino has steered this young team into position for to contend next year in the SEC West. Well, for third place, maybe.

   Who wins this one?

"I Wish They All Could Be Tennessee Vols"

   That's what West Coast football teams must be singing, to the tune of the Beach Boys' "California Girls," after another season-opening spankfest of Tennessee. One year after losing to Cal-Berkeley, the Vols got snuffed by another California school with inferior talent, UCLA. And don't blame the kicker. Had the offense not gone backwards on three possessions in regulation, he would not have had to prayer up a trio of 50-yard-plus field goals (one of them wiped out by penalty).   

    Give a game ball to the master, new/old UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Remember where he was last year? (Hint: Too close for comfort, Knoxvillians.)

   And did you get the impression Chow and resurrected boss Rick Neuheisel have a better handle on a game than Phil Fulmer and sidekicks?