Eddie Timanus

USA TODAY Sports

The Front Seven salutes the blood moon.

1.New: No. 6 Mississippi State doesn't get long to enjoy yet another historic victory. The program so often overshadowed by its more accomplished SEC opponents has to prove itself yet again as No. 2 Auburn comes to Starkville (3:30 ET Saturday, CBS). The Tigers looked the part of a national championship contender while dismantling LSU last week, but the Bulldogs' more polished offense under the direction of QB Dak Prescott, a breakout Heisman candidate, should prove harder to shut down.

First and foremost Tigers LB Cassanova McKinzy and S Robenson Therezie must clog the running lanes for Prescott and RB Josh Robinson. Prescott might need to get WR De'Runnya Wilson more involved to keep the Auburn secondary at bay. But the Tigers are more than capable of putting up a big score themselves, with QB Nick Marshall and RB Cameron Artis-Payne providing their own one-two punch from the backfield. Bulldogs LB Richie Brown, coming off a career game with three picks in the win against Texas A&M, figures to be busy again.

2. Waxing: No. 12 TCU finds itself in a similar position to the Mississippi schools, hoping to follow up one huge win with another. The Horned Frogs were able to outlast Oklahoma at home but must now take to the road at No. 3 Baylor (3:30 ET ABC/ESPN2). The Bears have been untested to this point, and a triumph against surging TCU would lend credibility to their lofty ranking.

The development of QB Trevone Boykin has been a major reason for the Horned Frogs' success to this point. Baylor DE Shawn Oakman will try to keep Boykin from using his speed, but TCU RB B.J. Catalon could lend a hand. Bears QB Bryce Petty didn't have his best game last time out against Texas. He'll have to be sharper against the Horned Frogs' more accomplished defense featuring LB Paul Dawson and S Sam Carter. But Petty's receiving corps is nearly back at full strength with WR Antwan Goodley now healthy. Bears' TB Shock Linwood must also be accounted for.

3. First Quarter:No. 4 Mississippi hits the road after its takedown of Alabama for a prime-time clash at No. 14 Texas A&M (9 ET, ESPN). The Aggies, overwhelmed early in last week's setback at Miss State, need to make a statement early if they want to avoid falling two games behind in the hypercompetitive SEC West. That will mean QB Kenny Hill's pass catchers must help him out better than they did in Starkville, but Josh Reynolds and Speedy Noil figure to be more comfortable in friendly environs.

Still, Ole Miss DE Robert Nkemdiche and S Cody Prewitt might not make it easy to keep the sticks moving. Rebels QB Bo Wallace delivered when needed in the Alabama win, but ball security must remain a priority. Texas A&M will send DE Myles Garrett after him early and often, but Ole Miss TB Jaylen Walton could make more of an impression against the Aggies' ground defense.

4. Full:Though the SEC East has lagged behind the West in recent years, that all-important spot in the league title game for the division winner is very much worth pursuing. No. 24 Missouri, whose lone loss came outside the conference, finds itself on top once again as No. 10 Georgia pays a visit (noon ET, CBS). The Bulldogs, seeking the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Tigers, will be fully motivated for this road test. But they'll be without TB Todd Gurley as the school investigates a possible NCAA violation.That will mean a larger role for freshman TB Nick Chubb, who certainly has made the most of his opportunities thus far.

Tigers LB Michael Scherer will lead the effort to keep the Georgia ground attack in check. Bulldogs' QB Hutson Mason will have to help, but he'll have to avoid Mizzou DE Shane Ray. Tigers QB Maty Mauk and WR Bud Sasser should be able to connect against the suspect Bulldogs' secondary, while TB Russell Hansbrough does his best to occupy Georgia LB Ramik Wilson.

5. Eclipsed:No.11 Oregon at No.17 UCLA (3:30 ET, Fox) looked as though it would be among the marquee games on this weekend's slate a week ago. The cross-division Pac-12 rivals now find themselves battling for survival in what has become a crowded championship race North and South. Both teams can trace their recent troubles to protection issues. That isn't a huge surprise in UCLA's case, which struggled in that area a year ago.

Bruins QB Brent Hundley compounds the problem by holding the ball too long at times, but if he must also beware of Oregon CB Reggie Daniels when he pulls the trigger. The Ducks' line woes stem from injuries, especially at the tackle position, getting QB Marcus Mariota hit often despite his own ability to move. He'll try to get the ball in the air more quickly to prevent UCLA LB Eric Kendricks from becoming a factor near the line of scrimmage.

6. Waning: Its passionate fans don't like to hear it, but No. 7 Alabama's recent track record against top-level competition hasn't exactly been flawless. The Crimson Tide has at least kept rolling against unranked opposition, but it will face another road trip against a team in search of a statement win as they head to Arkansas (6 ET, ESPN).

The Razorbacks have shown signs of improvement but have yet to post a 'W' in league play thus far. They'll have to go right at the strength of the Alabama defense to establish TBs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Any aerial cover QB Brandon Allen can provide would help keep Tide SS Landon Collins and CB Cyrus Jones from supporting the ground stoppers. Alabama's tailback depth took a hit with the leg injury sustained by Kenyan Drake, so T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry will be needed to keep Arkansas LB Martrell Spaight busy. But all eyes will be on QB Blake Sims as he looks to atone for his late miscue at Ole Miss.

7. Last Quarter:Perhaps no team has shown more flair for the dramatic than No. 13 Arizona, finding new ways to win on a weekly basis. This week's visitor to Tucson is USC (10:30 ET, ESPN), which by contrast found itself on the wrong end of some last-minute heroics by Arizona State a week ago and is now in need of this road win just to stay in the Pac-12 South hunt.

The Wildcats have had a star emerge on both sides of the ball. QB Anu Solomon has been the offensive catalyst, though TB Nick Wilson has given him plenty of help. Trojans' LB Hayes Pullard will have his hands full keeping tabs on the Arizona backfield. The Wildcats' defensive standout has been LB Scooby Wright, who always seems to be in the right spot to make things like the clinching forced fumble at Oregon happen. He'll turn his attention to USC QB Cody Kessler and TB Javorius Allen.