The SEC has six intra-conference games this week with the marquee matchup being No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Texas A&M, although the LSU-Florida matchup is highly anticipated as well. Here are 10 burning questions for Week 6:

  1. How will LSU’s offense perform against one of the SEC’s best defenses, Florida? LSU looked much improved last week with Ed Orgeron filling in as interim coach, but Florida is the best team in the SEC at pressuring the quarterback with a conference-leading 19 sacks. Will Danny Etling be able to make the throws when needed?
  2. Will Luke Del Rio play against LSU? The Gators could definitely use Del Rio’s talent leading the offense. In the last six quarters with Austin Appleby at quarterback, the team has scored 20 points. The team scored 24 points in two quarters against Kentucky with Del Rio at quarterback. While Del Rio is expected to play and his presence will likely make for a more competitive game, Appleby squaring off against another former Purdue transfer in Etling is an intriguing storyline.
  3. Will a slow start by Texas A&M hurt or help the team against Tennessee? So far this season, Tennessee saves its best football for the fourth quarter. The Aggies have done well in every quarter except for the first quarter. Against UCLA, Auburn and Arkansas, the team combined to score just 3 points during the first quarter. However, in the same three games, A&M scored 40 points during the second quarter. Can A&M build a big enough lead or will Tennessee eke out another improbable win?
  4. Will the home field advantage be a factor in the Tennessee-Texas A&M game? The energy of the 12th Man should be intimidating as both teams are in the top 10 and enter the game undefeated, so the crowd could play a small role, especially a raucous crowd like the more than 100,000 at Kyle Field.
  5. Will the Arkansas defense give Jalen Hurts problems? The last time Alabama traveled to Fayetteville, Blake Sims and the Alabama offense struggled. Will Hurts suffer the same fate?
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

  1. Will the Arkansas running game have any success against the Alabama defense? Alabama held Stanley “Boom” Williams to just 22 yards rushing. Entering the game, Williams was the SEC’s second-leading rusher. Following the Alabama game, he had fallen to the fifth spot (the season is young, so stats are volatile at this point). The point being: Williams was probably the best running back Alabama had faced, but now the team faces Rawleigh Williams. Will this Williams have any success against Alabama?
  2. Where will the Georgia-South Carolina game be played? A week ago, South Carolina looked forward to back-to-back games at Williams-Brice Stadium. Fresh off a loss to Texas A&M, South Carolina now may have to play a “home” game at the Georgia Dome due to hurricane threats. A final decision is still forthcoming.
  3. Who starts at quarterback for South Carolina: senior Perry Orth or freshman Brandon McIlwain? McIlwain is the quarterback of the future who is going through some growing pains. He was replaced late in the game last weekend against Texas A&M, and South Carolina played OK with Orth at quarterback. Orth is a senior and possibly the better win-now option. Georgia faced a similar dilemma earlier this fall with senior Greyson Lambert and freshman Jacob Eason, but the pressure to start a five-star prospect in Eason was greater.
  4. Auburn managed to open the season with five straight home games. How will the team fare in its first road game of the season? Starkville can be deafening with the noise from the cowbells, and you can be sure Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn prepared his team for the noise this week at practice.
  5. Vanderbilt visits Lexington to face Kentucky. Which of the 2-3 teams will emerge with a win? Both teams mustered 6 points each against the SEC’s two best defenses, Alabama and Florida, last week. Vanderbilt is looking for its first conference win this season. Both teams desperately need a win to have any shot at qualifying for a bowl game.