It’s time to look at key questions across the SEC involving Saturday’s Week 9 slate of games:

Perception: LSU can go toe-to-toe with Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium

It’s true: LSU’s a much-improved football team since the last time we watched the Tigers play a marquee game in the SEC West on Oct. 4. LSU’s returned to a winning formula that’s helped this program win 10 or more games every season since 2010. Managing the game at the quarterback position and relying on a power running game and solid defense to prevail screams blue-collar. The intrigue of Death Valley’s been toned down a notch since Mississippi State’s win earlier this season, but it’s still one the nation’s most intimidating environments, especially for a visitor that’s coming in with a nationally-ranked bullseye on their backs.

Reality: Ole Miss defense is relentless, road game or not

Crowd noise affects offenses, but does it annoy Landsharks? The Rebels have already trampled one nationally-ranked West foe inside a hostile venue this season and their next hurdle isn’t as potent offensively. In what promises to be a traditional battle of wills in the trenches, LSU must control the line of scrimmage to win this football game. Anthony Jennings isn’t going to beat Ole Miss with his arm and in fact, could lose the game for the Tigers if he’s forced to make any drive-altering decisions. LSU’s defense needs its best outing of the season as well and could borrow Tennessee’s blueprint (at least for a half) for slowing down Bo Wallace and Co.

Perception: Treon Harris could save Will Muschamp

Will Muschamp’s decision to come out Wednesday and declare next weekend’s rivalry bout against Georgia as his backup quarterback’s ‘game’ is a last-ditch effort to stay employed in Gainesville. Harris gives the Florida offense a chance as a relatively unknown element for opposing defenses and most importantly, seems to have more confidence than Jeff Driskel, a player who appears to be broken. There still a small pocket of Florida fans who believe in the the fourth-year coach and former defensive coordinator and the same crowd thinks Harris could be the answer.

Reality: There’s no chance Florida wins out (necessary to save)

Florida’s open wounds on offense can’t be healed with a simple quarterback switch. There’s lingering issues up front and at the wide receiver position on a unit lacking playmakers. If Harris does lead the Gators past the Bulldogs in Jacksonville (prolonging Muschamp’s employment), there’s still roadblocks against South Carolina and Florida State remaining on the schedule. There’s little to no chance Florida wins two of those games, much less three. This is Muschamp’s final season and there’s not much a true freshman quarterback can do to convince Jeremy Foley and the rest of Gator Nation to keep him.

Perception: Auburn will cover, run away from South Carolina

Surprisingly, these two teams are headed down different paths this season, one ranked fifth in the polls with conference championship and Playoff aspirations within reach while the other tries to avoid rock bottom in the form of the first below .500 campaign in more than a decade. This was supposed to be the game that defined South Carolina’s season after three consecutive 11-2s, the showdown that finally resulted in a Gamecocks win over Auburn for the first time since the Depression. Instead, the Tigers could make this one unwatchable by halftime with a dominant run game.

Reality: Upsets happen when favorites overlook the underdog

Statistically speaking, it’s difficult to argue against Auburn not rushing for 300-plus against a horrific defense Saturday night inside Jordan-Hare. But what’s not built into the 17.5-point spread for the home team is the look-ahead factor. The Tigers travel to Ole Miss next week in one of the most important games, not just in the SEC, but nationally the rest of the way. Chalking this one up as an automatic win’s something Gus Malzahn has preached against this week, especially with the Head Ball Coach on the other sideline. South Carolina has rarely been a double-digit underdog during Steve Spurrier’s tenure and it’ll be interesting to see how the Gamecocks play with nothing to lose.