Saturday musings

Without LSU playing this week, it's a chance to look at some SEC teams.

1) Ole Miss looks vastly improved with a real coach on the sidelines. Quarterback Jevan Snead looks better than anything the Rebels ran out there last year. They still haven't learned how to finish off a game, but this is a much more dangerous team than a year ago.

2) Alabama can hold off clearing out that space in the trophy case. As good as the Tide looked against Clemson, they didn't look good on Saturday against Tulane. This is a team that is still probably a year or two away.

3) Auburn's defense looks like the real deal -- nothing new there. But Auburn's quarterback play hasn't exactly set the world on fire.

4) Arkansas is terrible. The Razorbacks may be 2-0 but they have had to rally to defeat Western Illinois and ULM. And now they get Texas this week. This is a team destined for the cellar.

5) Mississippi State wasn't great going 8-4 last year. Apparently the Bulldogs aren't as good as this year. Games with Auburn this week and at Georgia Tech next week are critical if the Bulldogs are to turn their season around.