AUBURN

Gene Chizik’s Tigers started off the season red hot, winning their first five games before losing the past three.

Auburn will now try to avoid the snowball effect with a solid performance against Ole Miss.

Chizik said a key to the game will be containing Rebels quarterback Jevan Snead and his talented group of receivers. The Tigers will try to get pressure on Snead to try to force him into making some mistakes.

“I don’t think you can stop any quarterbacks in this league without pressure,” Chizik said.

Last week: Lost to LSU 31-10
This week: vs. Ole Miss, 12:20 p.m.

LSU

Tigers coach Les Miles feels like his team is improving after a convincing 31-10 win over rival Auburn on Saturday.

Miles pointed out the stronger play of quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who completed 21 of 31 passes for a career-high 242 yards with two passing touchdowns and also added another score on the ground.

Miles also said the Tigers’ defense played strong in holding Auburn to 193 total yards, including just 81 passing yards.

The Tigers host in-state rival Tulane on Saturday night.

Last week: Beat Auburn 31-10
This week: vs. Tulane, 8 p.m.

ALABAMA

Tide coach Nick Saban is happy to finally have a week off after playing eight straight games.

That tough stretch of games appeared to catch up to Alabama, which needed a field goal block by Terrence Cody to hold off Tennessee 12-10 on Saturday and remain undefeated.

Despite the impressive play of tailback Mark Ingram who leads the SEC in rushing yards (1,004) and average rushing yards (125.5),Saban said there is no active Heisman campaign for the talented sophomore.

“Mark would be the first to tell you that his success depends on other offensive players,” Saban said, pointing out the offensive line has been a big part of his big season.

Last week: Beat Tennessee 12-10
This week: Bye

ARKANSAS

Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino said his team is excited about playing in Fayetteville after losing two tough games on the road at Florida and Ole Miss.

Arkansas has been winning the turnover battle, forcing seven without giving any away the past two weeks. But with no wins to show for it,Petrino is not satisfied.

As far as being reprimanded for some comments he made about SEC officials during the loss to Florida, Petrino said he made a mistake and he wasn’t proud of it.

“I will make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Petrino said.

Last week: Lost to Ole Miss 30-17
This week: vs. Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPNU

OLE MISS

Coach Houston Nutt will face Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn for the first time since the two worked together at Arkansas.

The 2006 Razorbacks team reached the SEC title game, but the situation did not end well between the coach and his offensive coordinator after losing in Atlanta and following that up with a loss to Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl.

Nutt insists Saturday’s game is not about Malzahn, but it is about “going against a good Auburn team.”

Last week: Beat Arkansas 30-17
This week: at Auburn, 12:20 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen found himself in hot water with the SEC after complaining that the officiating crew should have overturned Florida linebacker Dustin Doe’s touchdown on Saturday.

Mullen didn’t want to talk about it Wednesday, saying he hasn’t thought much about it.

“I’ve kind of moved on to beating Kentucky now,” Mullen said.

Mullen acknowledged that he is starting to see improvement on Mississippi State’s squad, but added that he is “not the most patient person in the world when it comes to that.”

Last week: Lost to Florida 29-19
This week: at Kentucky, 7 p.m.