SEC: 5 burning questions for Week 12 answered

Vanderbilt had no problem ending Tennessee's six-game winning streak in the series. (US Presswire)

We had five burning questions we were looking for answers to in Week 12 of SEC action. Here's what we found out:

1. We asked ... Will there be any shocking upsets?

The SEC avoided the shocking upset. South Carolina got the biggest scare against Wofford, which had the game tied 7-7 heading into the fourth quarter. South Carolina CB Akeem Auguste recovered a fumble and returned it 31 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter to help avoid a disaster. While the Gamecocks struggled with the option attack, Georgia had no problem in a 45-14 win over Georgia Southern. Florida held off Jacksonville State 23-0, Texas A&M had an easy 47-21 win over Sam Houston State and even Kentucky got by Samford 34-3.

2. We asked ... Can Vanderbilt get a rare win against Tennessee?

Yes, and the Commodores did it with style. They broke a six-game losing streak to the Vols with an easy 41-18 win in Nashville. Tennessee had also won 28 of its last 29 against Vanderbilt. It was bad enough that the Vols fired coach Derek Dooley the next morning. Coach James Franklin and the Commodores outplayed and outcoached the Vols in every way imaginable. They looked like the more motivated and prepared team.

3. We asked ... Which teams on the bowl bubble can get a win?

Tennessee, Missouri, Ole Miss and Arkansas, all teams needing a win to help with bowl eligibility, went 0-4 this weekend. Tennessee and Arkansas are now out of bowl contention. Missouri needs to win at Texas A&M on Saturday to reach six wins and Ole Miss needs to knock off Mississippi State at home in the Egg Bowl this weekend to make it. The Rebels had the best showing of the group with a great effort in a 41-35 loss at LSU, but close losses don't count for bowl eligibility.

4. We asked ... Can Mississippi State get back on track this week?

It helped that the Bulldogs weren't facing Alabama, LSU or Texas A&M -- the three teams they lost to in the prior weeks -- but they still deserve credit for an impressive 45-14 win over Arkansas. The Razorbacks jumped out to a 14-7 lead, but the Bulldogs weren't rattled. They scored the next 35 points of the game to pull away in the second half. QB Tyler Russell played perhaps his best game of the year -- completing 19 of 32 attempts for 274 yards, four TDs and no INTs.

5. We asked ... How does QB Jacoby Brissett perform for Florida?

Brissett got the start against Jacksonville State with QB Jeff Driskel (ankle) out. The sophomore was efficient, completing 14 of 22 passes for 154 yards. He didn't throw any INTs, but he also had no TDs and had minus-2 yards on the ground. Driskel's status is still unknown for the Gators' game against Florida State this Saturday, but the Gators would like to have his experience and his rushing ability (42 yards per game average) back against the Seminoles.

For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.