Kentucky fined $50k for storming the field against Tennessee

The Southeastern Conference says it will fine Kentucky $50,000 after fans rushed the field following the Wildcats' 10-7 victory over Tennessee on Saturday.

The fine is part of the SEC's seven-year policy that limits access to "competition areas." The penalties include $5,000 to first offense and up to $50,000 for third and subsequent offenses.

The SEC says Kentucky has violated the policy four previous times after football games in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Kentucky beat Tennessee for the first time in 26 years to cap a 5-7 season. Fans rushed onto the field at Commonwealth Stadium and carried off Kentucky wide receiver Matt Roark, who filled in at quarterback and led the Wildcats on both scoring drives.

Jarrett Lee, others may be ineligible for LSU’s postseason

Speculation has surfaced that quarterback Jarrett Lee and unnamed other football players may be declared academically ineligible for the postseason. In his own unique way, Les Miles addressed the rumors without actually addressing them. QB Jarrett Lee and other players may be ruled academically ineligible for postseason. That is a yearly issue at all schools, Les Miles said Monday. "This time of year everybody responds and comes back," he said. "It's time to pick it up. There's no difference with our football team. Academic issues are private in my mind."
LSU athletic director Joe Alleva has issued a statement regarding the speculation that surfaced earlier today.

“Despite media and message board speculation, no LSU student-athletes have been declared ineligible for post-season competition. The current semester is not complete and finals are still ahead, so it is grossly unfair to our student-athletes and it is both premature and irresponsible to speculate on the final grades and postseason eligibility of our student-athletes.”

Dan Mullen tops wish list for Penn State

A Penn State trustee and the coach of the four-time defending national champion women's volleyball team will be part of a six-person university committee that will lead the search for fired football coach Joe Paterno's replacement. The school said in a statement Monday that the committee headed by acting athletic director Dave Joyner would meet this week. Paterno lost his job after 46 seasons in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Penn State has begun arranging meetings in the search, and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is at the forefront of the Nittany Lions' list of candidates, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad. The search committee includes trustee Ira Lubert, the head of private investment management firms; and longtime women's volleyball coach Russ Rose. Also on the committee are Linda Caldwell, the faculty athletics representative; emeritus communications professor John Nichols, chair of the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics; and associate athletic director Charmelle Green.

"The mix of search committee members is intentional," Joyner said Monday night in a separate statement. "We're looking for a broad perspective and representation of the entire university."

OSU announces Meyer hiring; Fickell to stay on staff

Ohio State issued a press release officially naming Urban Meyer as its next head coach. Meyer, whose first coaching job was as a grad assistant with the Buckeyes, becomes the 24th head coach in the history of Ohio State football.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to return to Ohio State,” said Meyer in a statement. “This University and the State of Ohio have enormous meaning to me. My duty is to ensure that Ohio State’s football program reflects and enhances the academic mission of the institution. I am part of it, I believe in it, and I will live it.”

Contrary to rumors of a seven-year, $35-$40 million contract, OSU released details of a six-year deal that will pay Meyer $4.4 million annually in guaranteed compensation. Additionally, Meyer will be eligible to receive annual supplemental bonuses based on the on-field and classroom performance of his team. The bonuses breakdown as follows, and are on a per-year basis:

• Academic Performance Rate (APR) of 990-999 — $100,000
• APR of 1000 or above — $150,000
• Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 70-79.99% — $100,000
• GSR of 80% or above — $150,000
• Big Ten Leaders Division champ — $50,000
• Winner of Big Ten title game — $100,000, plus one year added to his contract
• BcS bowl appearance — $150,000
• BcS title game appearance — $250,000

“In Urban Meyer we have found an exemplary person and remarkable coach to lead the University’s football program into the future,” said Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. “As an alumnus, he understands and believes in the core academic mission of the University. As an Ohioan, he shares our common values and sense of purpose.”

In addition to the contract details, OSU also announced that Luke Fickell will coach the Buckeyes in their bowl game and will remain on Meyer’s staff.

“I want to express my enormous gratitude to Luke Fickell,” said Gene Smith. “During the past several months, he has demonstrated true leadership and devotion to the University and his players. He will continue to be a great asset to our program.”

Two more Gator defenders transfer

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun confirmed today that defensive end Lynden Trail and safety Joshua Shaw are both transferring from the program.

“I have enjoyed my time at Florida but I feel like I need to be closer to my family right now,” Shaw said in a statement. “This is not a football decision, this is a family decision. I need to be with my family.”

“I have decided that I would like to pursue opportunities elsewhere,” Trail said. “I want to thank the fans and Gator Nation for their support. I’ll always be a Gator at heart.”

It’s not known yet to where each player is transferring. Trail did not play this season, but Shaw saw action in 10 games. Both are redshirt freshmen.

Gamecocks Alson Jeffery undergoes surgery on broken hand

USC announced Monday afternoon that the wide receiver underwent surgery today to repair a broken bone in his hand. Jeffery returned to the win over the Tigers after suffering the break and was on the receiving end of a post-injury touchdown pass. The school’s release states that Jeffery will begin rehab next week and will be re-evaluated in the next couple of weeks. The Gamecocks won’t know when and where they will be bowling until Dec. 4, but the game should be contested deep enough into bowl season to allow the junior to return, provided there are no setbacks of course. He’s officially listed by the school as “probable” for the bowl game. Jeffery, who will likely leave a year of eligibility on the table and make himself available for the April NFL draft, leads the Gamecocks in receptions (45) receiving yards (614) and receiving touchdowns (7).

Vandy's James Franklin in line for an extension, raise

Vandy Vice Chancellor of Athletics David Williams confirmed to the Nashville Tennessean Sunday that talks are already underway that would both extend Franklin’s current deal for an unnamed number of years as well as give the first-year coach an undetermined bump in pay. It’s also believed Franklin will be seeking improved football facilities as well as raises for his assistants in the revamped deal. “I think we both want to get this done,” Williams told the paper. “We’re working as hard as we can to get something done as a quick as we can to solidify what is an already great situation. “My message to the Vandy fans is we will do everything we can to keep our coach. My message to those who have to play against Vandy is beware, because we will do everything we can to keep our coach. And I would say to the Vandy fans, do everything you can to help us at all times.”

Florida LB released from hospital

Florida QB John Brantley suffered a concussion in Saturday night's game, according to his father, but is doing "fine" today. Florida LB Darrin Kitchens has been released from Shands Hospital in Gainesville after tests revealed he did not suffer a major injury to his neck. Kitchens was injured on the opening kickoff of the second half of Saturday night's 21=7 loss to Florida State after he collided in a helmet-to-helmet hit. He was taken off the field, immobilized on a motorized cart and taken to Shands for tests and observation. Florida athletic officials said tests on his neck were negative, but he was diagnosed with a concussion. Kitchens made his first start against Furman last week and had a team-high 12 tackles. Kitchens was motionless on the field for more than 10 minutes before he was taken away, giving the thumbs-up sign as he rode off. “It’s always scary when you deal with something like that,’’ Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “A good, clean hit on their part.” It’s unclear whether Kitchens will return for a bowl game, but that’s obviously not the most important thing right now. We’re just glad Kitchens is okay.

Help the Commodores by telling us which bowl game you would attend

Tell Us About Your Bowl Travel Plans

Let us know right now which bowl games you would consider attending should the Commodores be selected for them and how many will be in your travel party. We will use this rough count as we visit with bowl representatives during the next few days. Crowd size matters; pack your suitcases and join the Commodores for New Year's fun!

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Bowl Date Location Number Attending Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Dec. 30 Nashville Autozone Liberty Bowl Dec. 31 Memphis Chick-fil-a Bowl Dec. 31 Atlanta Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl Jan. 2 Jacksonville

Dawgs expect to have Crowell against LSU

Aaron Murray’s four touchdown passes were enough for Georgia to beat Georgia Tech last week without much of a running game.

The quarterback said Monday No. 12 Georgia will need more balance to have a chance against No. 1 LSU in Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game.

Georgia hopes to have freshman starting tailback Isaiah Crowell back this week. Crowell missed the 31-17 win over Georgia Tech with a left ankle injury. He was in uniform but appeared to be favoring the sore ankle in pregame drills.

Coach Mark Richt says he expects Crowell will play this week.

Murray said Monday that Crowell’s return is “huge” to Georgia’s chances of pulling off the upset.

Crowell leads Georgia (10-2) with 832 yards rushing and five touchdowns, including four 100-yard games.

Who should LSU play in title game?

Thanks to No. 1 LSU’s thumping of No. 3 Arkansas and No. 2 Alabama’s thrashing of Auburn in the Iron Bowl, the BCS title game, a rematch of the Tigers-Tide defensive is all but set regardless of what takes place next weekend.

While that rematch, which could pit a team that didn’t win its conference versus a team that didn’t win its conference or its division, in New Orleans Jan. 9 will likely happen, we’re going to ask if it should happen. If LSU drops Georgia in the SEC championship game to remain No. 1 in the BCS rankings, which team should it face in the title game? Should it be the Tide, which already got its shot at the Bayou Bengals, on its home turf no less, and came away with its only loss of the season?

What about other one-loss teams like No. 4 Stanford, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Virginia Tech and No. 7 Boise State? Do they deserve the opportunity to do something the Tide couldn’t? Then there’s No. 8 Houston, which along with LSU is the only 12-0 team in the country; if they can defeat Southern Miss in the Conference USA championship game next Saturday afternoon, should they get a crack at the Tigers?

Shaw throws 3 TDs against Clemson in No. 14 Gamecocks 34-13 win

South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw played like a beast against Clemson. And he’s got the T-shirt to prove it. The “Beast Mode” shirt Shaw wore after the game was a reward for leading the 14th-ranked Gamecocks to a 34-13 win against No. 18 Clemson on Saturday night. Strength coach Craig Fitzgerald gave Shaw the shirt off his back. “I loved this shirt and I came up to coach Fitz and said, `If we win this game, I’m getting that shirt,”’ Shaw said.

The sophomore who got the starting job in midseason passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in the landmark win. The Gamecocks (10-2) reached 10 victories for just the second time in 118 years of football. It was also their third straight win over the Tigers (9-3), something that last occurred from 1968-70. Shaw finished 14 of 20 passing for 210 yards, including the longest touchdown pass of his career, a 49-yard strike to Bruce Ellington. Shaw also led the Gamecocks with 107 yards rushing.

“I feel like my confidence is boosting game by game the more I play,” Shaw said. “I have a better feel for the game and am starting to see the bigger picture.”

That could be awful for Clemson, which figures to deal with Shaw for two more seasons in a rivalry that has slipped out of its hands the past few years. The Tigers came in with a 65-39-4 edge in the state’s most talked-about matchup.

“Historically, Clemson has owned this series,” Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said. “They don’t own us now.”

Shaw cemented his place in this landmark rivalry win with an 18-yard strike to star wideout Alshon Jeffery, which sent most of the 83,422 at Williams-Brice Stadium into hysterics.

“Ten, 20 years down the road, we’re still going to be talking about this,” said Gamecocks defensive end Melvin Ingram, who had two of his team’s five sacks.

FSU uses turnovers to beat Florida 21-7

Devonta Freeman had two short touchdown runs following turnovers, and Florida State beat rival Florida 21-7 on Saturday night despite only 95 yards of offense. The Seminoles (8-4) were inept most of the night, but they took advantage of John Brantley’s first-half mistakes and later knocked the senior quarterback out for good. Florida State sealed its second consecutive win in the once-revered series when Terrance Parks intercepted a pass by Jacoby Brissett in the fourth quarter and returned it 29 yards for a score, which sent many of the 90,798 on hand scrambling for the exits. The Gators (6-6) avoided their first shutout since 1988 when Brissett found Quinton Dunbar for a 6-yard score with 4:16 remaining. Brantley ended the worst game of his career in the locker room. He was sandwiched between two defenders as he released a pass late in the second quarter and sustained an apparent concussion.

He stayed on the ground, slipped off his helmet and eventually walked off the field with help from trainers. He was seemingly on the receiving end of helmet-to-helmet contact, which also caused bleeding to his left cheek. Brissett replaced Brantley and did little to rally the Gators (6-6) from a 14-point deficit. Brantley completed 9 of 15 passes for 104 yards, with three interceptions. Brissett was 4 of 13 for 27 yards.

EJ Manuel wasn’t much better for Florida State. He was 6 of 13 for 65 yards and was sacked four times on a mostly miserable night in which the Seminoles managed seven first downs.

Turnovers were the difference. Brantley was picked off on three of Florida’s first five possessions. All three were bad throws, prompting some boos and plenty of speculation that he might get benched in his home finale.

Mississippi St. crushes Ole Miss 31-3 in Egg Bowl

Vick Ballard rushed for 144 yards and scored two touchdowns, LaDarius Perkins added two more touchdowns and Mississippi State easily beat Mississippi 31-3 on Saturday night in the Egg Bowl.

Mississippi State (6-6, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) now has a three-game winning streak in the Egg Bowl for the first time since 1942 and also earned bowl eligibility for the second straight season.

Ole Miss (2-10, 0-8) finished a miserable season that included 10 losses for the first time in program history and ends coach Houston Nutt’s four-year tenure. Nutt’s resignation was announced on Nov. 7, but he remained to coach the last three games, which the Rebels lost by a combined score of 110-13.

Nutt ends with a 24-26 overall record at Ole Miss, including a 10-22 mark in conference games. The Rebels have lost 14 straight SEC games.

Third-year Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has injected new life into the rivalry since his arrival in Starkville, with a smack-talking persona that’s been backed up with dominant victories. The Bulldogs unveiled new uniforms for Saturday’s game, with gold numbers, gold shoes and the phrase `Hail State’ replacing each player’s last name on the back of the jersey.

From the very first snap, it was evident Mississippi State was the better and more motivated team.

Bowl-eligible Vanderbilt beats Wake Forest 41-7

Zac Stacy ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns and Vanderbilt became bowl-eligible by beating sluggish Wake Forest 41-7 on Saturday night.

Quarterback Jordan Rodgers had 229 total yards for the Commodores (6-6). Rodgers, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, threw for 139 yards and one touchdown and ran for 90 more.

Stacy scored on runs of 1 and 20 yards in the second quarter as Vanderbilt built a 20-point halftime lead, then iced the win for Vanderbilt with his 40-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter.

Larry Smith, the Commodores’ former starting QB, also hit a 45-yard flanker option pass for a score, and Ryan Fowler made field goals of 33 and 30 yards, as Vanderbilt became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008.

Tanner Price threw for 157 yards and one touchdown before coming out of the game late in the fourth quarter for the Demon Deacons (6-6), who had their lowest-scoring game of the season.

Richardson powers No. 2 Bama past Auburn, 42-14

Trent Richardson and No. 2 Alabama have convinced Nick Saban that they’re worthy of competing for college football’s top prize. Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards and AJ McCarron threw three first-half touchdown passes to lift Alabama to a 42-14 victory over rival Auburn on Saturday in what amounted to a statement game. Let the lobbying begin. Saban said he thinks the Tide is one of the nation’s best two teams, Richardson’s the top player and `Bama deserves a second shot at LSU.

“This team lost one game in overtime to a very, very good team who’s No. 1 right now,” the Tide coach said. “And we lost in overtime. Everybody’s got to make their choices and decisions about that.

“But I think we’ve got a great football team and a great bunch of young men who have done a wonderful job and played some really dominant football on both sides of the ball. I think they deserve an opportunity, the best opportunity that’s out there for them.”

The Tide (11-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) has a week before finding out if its resume is good enough to secure a shot at a second national title in three years. No. 5 Oklahoma State, fourth in the BCS standings, and No. 1 LSU have big games remaining against No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 13 Georgia, respectively.

“That’s out of our hands but I think we’ve proven we should be there without a doubt,” said Alabama tight end Brad Smelley, who had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Richardson ran 27 times and caught a 5-yard touchdown pass in his final chance to impress Heisman voters. He had runs of 35 and 57 yards to set up second-half scores.

Kentucky snaps 26-game losing streak to Tennessee

CoShik Williams ran for a touchdown and senior wide receiver Matt Roark filled in at quarterback with 124 yards on 24 carries as Kentucky snapped a 26-game losing streak to Tennessee with a 10-7 victory on Saturday. The win capped a disappointing season for the Wildcats (5-7, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) and kept Tennessee (5-7, 1-7) from reaching bowl eligibility with representatives from the Liberty Bowl on hand. Kentucky’s game plan was clear from the start to win for the first time in the series since 1984. Kentucky wore its black jerseys for the second time this season at the request of its 21 seniors and, on the first possession, Roark led Kentucky on a 15-play drive that lasted nearly eight minutes before it stalled at the Tennessee 7 and forced Craig McIntosh’s 24-yard field goal. That would stay the only score until the fourth quarter, when Williams scored from the 6 to give Kentucky a 10-0 lead. Tennessee had plenty of chances late, but committed three turnovers in the second half. Roark finished 4 of 6 for 15 yards passing.

Volunteers wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers caught two passes for 38 yards to boost his SEC-leading totals to 67 receptions for 1,040 yards, but Bray looked rusty in his second game back after missing five with a broken right thumb. He finished 15 of 38 for 215 yards.

The Vols last lost on the road to Kentucky in 1981 and, coupled with their 6-7 finish last year, have ended seasons with consecutive losing records for the first time since 1910-11.

Murray throws 4 TDs, leads Georgia past Tech 31-17

The celebration didn’t last long. Georgia had not even finished off another win over its state rival when the fans in red and black began to chant, “LSU! LSU! LSU!”

Time for an even bigger game.

Aaron Murray threw four touchdown passes and No. 13 Georgia extended its domination over No. 25 Georgia Tech, pulling away for a 31-17 victory Saturday that sent the Bulldogs into the Southeastern Conference championship game on quite a roll.

“This game is over with,” Georgia’s Branden Smith said. “I’m thinking about LSU right now. This is a good win, but we’ve got another mission.”

The Bulldogs (10-2) have bounced back from losing their first two games and will take plenty of confidence into the title game, even though they’ll be a heavy underdog against the unbeaten Tigers, who wrapped up the SEC West with a 41-17 rout of No. 3 Arkansas on Friday.

LSU will be trying to lock up a spot in the national championship game. But the Bulldogs might prove to be pesky, putting together their longest winning streak within a season since 1982.

“We just have to play the way we’ve been playing,” linebacker Jarvis Jones said. “If we don’t give away points, there’s no way they can beat us.”

Murray extended his school record for touchdown passes in a season to 32, hooking up with Michael Bennett and Chris Conley in the first half, and Tavarres King and Aron White in the third quarter as Georgia cruised to its 10th win over the Yellow Jackets in 11 years.

Georgia Tech (8-4) rushed for 243 yards out of the triple-option against the nation’s second-ranked run defense, but just 79 came after halftime. Tevin Washington threw a pair of interceptions. The result was all too familiar to the Yellow Jackets: another loss to the Bulldogs.

“I don’t like losing to nobody, but when it’s in-state, when it’s your rival,” linebacker Julian Burnett said, his voice trailing off. “We’re tired of being the little brothers in the state.”

South Carolina vs Clemson...SEC Football Online's Sportbook

The fans at Williams-Brice Stadium will be treated to a game between the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks when they take their seats on Saturday.Oddsmakers currently have the Gamecocks listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Tigers, while the game's total is sitting at 49½.Clemson was a 37-13 loser in their most recent outing on the road against North Carolina State. They failed to cover the 6.5–point spread as favorites, while the total score (50) made winners of UNDER bettors.South Carolina was a 41-20 winner in their most recent outing at home against The Citadel. They failed to cover the 39-point spread as favorites, while the total score (61) made winners of OVER bettors.Current streak:
South Carolina has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Clemson: 9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS
South Carolina: 9-2 SU, 5-6 ATS
Clemson most recently:
When playing in November are 6-4
When playing on grass are 8-2
After being outgained are 5-5
When playing outside the conference are 6-4

Georgia vs Georgia Tech SEC Football Online's Sportbook

The Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs listed as 6-point favorites versus the Yellow Jackets, while the game's total is sitting at 54½.Last time out for Georgia, they were a 19-10 winner as they battled Kentucky at home. Georgia failed to cover in the match as a 30.5-point favorite, while 29 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Last time out for Georgia Tech, they were a 38-31 winner as they battled Duke on the road. Georgia Tech failed to cover in the match as a 10-point favorite, while 69 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Current streak:
Georgia has won 9 straight games.
Team records:
Georgia: 9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS
Georgia Tech: 8-3 SU, 5-5-1 ATS
Georgia most recently:
When playing in November are 8-2
When playing on grass are 9-1
After outgaining opponent are 9-1
When playing outside the conference are 7-3

No. 1 LSU powers past No. 3 Arkansas, 41-17

Tyrann Mathieu answered the call for a game-turning play when LSU needed one most, and the top-ranked Tigers piled on from there. Mathieu returned a punt 92 yards for a game-tying score and the Tigers punished third-ranked Arkansas with 286 yards rushing, wiping out a 14-point deficit with a 41-17 win Friday that secured a spot in the SEC championship.

“I could hear my teammates in my ear saying, `Man, we need you to go make a play,”’ Mathieu said. “I was able to help the momentum really go in our favor.

“You have no idea how bad I just wanted to go out there and make a big play for our team. I was fortunate enough to be able to do that.” Kenny Hilliard, Spencer Ware and Jordan Jefferson all scored on the ground for LSU (12-0, 8-0 SEC), which is 12-0 for the first time and will play No. 13 Georgia next weekend in Atlanta.

A win over the Bulldogs would assure the Tigers their third trip to the BCS title game in nine seasons. Though at this point, LSU might be able to get there even if it loses. The rivalry game with Arkansas (10-2, 6-2) for the big Boot trophy was billed as the biggest in Tiger Stadium since 1959, the last time two teams ranked in the top three clashed in Death Valley. Billy Cannon lifted No. 1 LSU to a 7-3 win over No. 3 Mississippi in that game with an 89-yard punt return for a score, so it seemed fitting that the Tigers would get a similar score against the Razorbacks.

“That was a huge turning point in the game,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “We were trying to get the ball punted to the sideline, but he miss-hit it a bit and punted it to the middle. … (Mathieu) made a great cut and made us miss at the point of attack. He made a great play.”

Wilson completed 14 of 22 passes for 207 yards, with 60 yards on a short pass that Cobi Hamilton turned into a long gain. The play put Arkansas in position to tie the game at 21 in the third quarter, but LSU’s defense forced a field goal that made it 21-17, and the Razorbacks never got closer than that again.

“We played a great team and they came out on top,” said Wright, who came in leading the SEC with 100.2 yards receiving per game, but was held to only one catch by LSU. “They’re the No. 1 team in the nation. Of course, we’re upset about the loss because we definitely could have finished better.”

Jefferson was 18 of 29 for 208 yards and one touchdown, a 9-yard pass to Russell Shepard that gave LSU the lead for good at with 59 seconds left in the first half. His first interception of the season kept Arkansas in the game in the third quarter, but otherwise he was excellent.

Hilliard finished with a career-high 102 yards rushing on 19 carries, while Michael Ford rushed 11 times for 96 yards.

Pair of Kentucky defensive starters out again

Head coach Joker Phillips announced that junior defensive end/linebacker Ridge Wilson and junior defensive back Martavius Neloms will not play against Tennessee Saturday. Wilson injured his shoulder Nov. 5 against Ole Miss and will actually miss his third game in a row to close out the season, while Neloms injured his ankle in the Nov. 12 to Vanderbilt.

Wilson had started the first nine games of the season and, despite missing the last two games, is fifth on the team with 47 tackles and tied for second with two sacks. Neloms started the first 10 games and is still third in tackles with 71.

True freshman Alvin Dupree started the last two games in place of Wilson, and has responded with a sack in each contest. Fellow true freshman Ashely Lowery started for Neloms against Georgia last weekend. Both are expected to get the starting nod against the Vols.

Clowney’s availability for Gamecocks vs. Clemson uncertain

Kept off the field after being injured this past weekend, the availability of prized freshman Jadeveon Clowney for South Carolina’s game this weekend remains very much up in the air.

The defensive end suffered a concussion in the win over The Citadel Saturday, and did not practice either Tuesday or Wednesday. Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said Wednesday that he was unsure if Clowney would be available for the regular-season finale against Clemson, and that it will be up to the medical staff to determine whether he’s a go or not.

“He’s not been able to get a good practice week in,” Johnson said quotes distributed by the team. “With those concussions, it’s just whether he passes the tests if they release him. We don’t have the word yet.”

Clemson at South Carolina...SEC Football Online's pick

Clemson at South Carolina (11). When: Saturday, 7:45. Favorite: South Carolina by 4.

Both teams are 9-2, and that’s never happened before in the 115-year history of the rivalry. Both are ranked in the top 20. But the Tigers are coming off a humiliating blowout loss to North Carolina State, and a victory here would not put either in a BCS bowl. All opponents of South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier find him irritating, and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has given opposing fans some ammo with his occasional, brink-of-insanity outbursts.

History: The massive brawl that ended the 2004 game was a black mark for both schools, but is a memorable testament to the programs’ mutual dislike. Other than a 1-8-2 stretch from 1945-54, Clemson has pretty well dominated this rivalry over the course of its history. But the Gamecocks have won the last two meetings. After several squeakers, the last three meetings have not been close.

SEC Football Online pick: South Carolina 24, Clemson 20.

Warning of Iron Bowl counterfeit tickets

For the upcoming Iron Bowl game on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Auburn Athletic Ticket Office is reminding fans to use caution regarding the possibility of counterfeit tickets. The only authorized outlets for Iron Bowl tickets are the Auburn and Alabama Athletic Ticket offices. Purchasing tickets from other sources is done at the buyers' own risk. Fans can verify the authenticity of their tickets outside JHS at the Ticket Office at the Auburn Arena, Plainsman Park Ticket Booth, or any of the Guest Services booths outside of JHS. Officials from EOG, located at each gate, are instructed to not allow counterfeit tickets to enter the stadium. If a counterfeit ticket is discovered, the ticket holder will be escorted out of the stadium.

Listed are several educational points regarding counterfeit tickets as well as several security measures to ensure fans that they possess authentic tickets.

Use Caution: Fans should exercise caution when approached in outer parking lots. Counterfeit sellers have been known to travel by bicycle so they can move away quickly if approached by law enforcement.

Check the Section: If the ticket is for sections 17-27 or the upper part of section 28 (rows 28-48) it is counterfeit. This is the Auburn Student Section and no tickets are printed for these sections.

Crisp vs. Grainy: Counterfeit tickets are high quality color copies on similar paper stock to the originals. When inspected closer, counterfeit tickets will appear slightly darker in color. The photo on the ticket will appear grainier and of less quality than an original ticket. Sometimes the ticket can appear off-center as well.

Arkansas wide receivers vs. LSU secondary

Arkansas leads the SEC and is 10th nationally in pass offense. QB Tyler Wilson has a top-notch group of receivers headed by Jarius Wright. LSU also has to worry about Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton, TE Chris Gragg and TBs Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo, who are dangerous safety-valve receivers. LSU's cornerback duo of Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu is the nation's best, and the safety tandem of Eric Reid and Brandon Taylor is superb, as well. LSU gave up 463 passing yards to West Virginia on Sept. 24. But the Tigers also shut down WVU's running game and made the Mountaineers one-dimensional - and one-dimensional offenses aren't going to beat LSU. The Tigers by the way beat WVU by 26.

Arkansas vs LSU...Friday 2:30..Be There or be Square

Arkansas at LSU (3). When: Friday, 2:30. Favorite: LSU by 12 ½.

Impact: 5. They’re ranked No. 1 and No. 3, with national title hopes on both sides. It gets no bigger than that.

Heat: 4. Neither side likes the other, and perhaps less these days than ever. But this isn’t a hatefest along the lines of some old-school rivalries.

History: 3 1/2. They used to meet annually in Shreveport, La., but that was from 1913-36 – not a lot of people still breathing who are talking about those games. From 1937-91 they only met four times in the regular season. The rivalry rekindled in 1992 when Arkansas joined the SEC, and they do have an appropriately goofy trophy for the winner (the Golden Boot), and most of the recent meetings have been thrillers. But this isn’t one of the game’s classic rivalries. Yet.

Total: 12 ½. The biggest game of the weekend, even if it’s not the biggest rivalry game. If that makes sense.

SEC Football Online pick: LSU 24, Arkansas 17. Tigers haven’t given up more than 11 points in a game since September – but they haven’t faced an offense this potent since their opener against Oregon. This won't be a walk in the Park. The SEC Rocks!

Gator's Weis plans to keep coaching despite health issues

Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis plans to continue coaching despite hip pain that has him using a cane. Weis said Tuesday evening that he will “coach for a long time.”

“My wife says I can’t quit,” said Weis, who took the job in Gainesville partly because his wife loves horse country, partly because his daughter attends a special-needs school and partly because his son enrolled at Florida and got a job working for the football program.

“Remember, I have a kid who is a freshman in college here,” Weis said. “Remember the reasons why I came here. So I’ll be here for a while—unless you’re trying to get rid of me.”

There had been reports that Weis might call it quits after this season because of his health. He tore ligaments in his left knee and broke his right knee when he got wiped out on the sideline at Notre Dame in 2008. He hasn’t been the same since. He had his right knee replaced after the 2008 season. He said his knees feel fine now, but the injury led to problems with his left hip. He considered taking pain medication, but felt like that would cloud his mind and judgment. He intends to have his hip checked out thoroughly after the season. Weis walks with a limp and has used a cane at times this season His problems became apparent when he used the cane on the sideline the last two games. He also worked one game from the upstairs coaching box.

“Really, not to demean that or downplay it, but it’s really not that important how I feel,” Weis said. “We’re coaches. We’re not players. I can do my job fine. Really, I’ve got as much gas in the tank as I had at the start of the year. There’s no less gas. It’s still running on full.”

Weis said the pain hasn’t caused him to miss any practices.

“No, never,” he said. “Not even a thought. … Those pains are tolerable. Remember, I got wiped out really bad there a couple of years ago. It couldn’t have been hurt any worse than that. I didn’t miss any time then. Still on the sideline with no ligaments in my left knee and a broken right knee. Maybe I’m a masochist. It never entered my mind.”

Weis plans to stay on the sideline, too.

by M.Long

HC Shaw says BCS ‘flawed,’ makes case for Stanford

All season Stanford coach David Shaw has kept quiet about the Bowl Championship Series rankings and tried to keep the focus on his team’s upcoming opponent. Not anymore. Shaw came ready to rail at the BCS at his weekly news conference Tuesday. He opened his iPad on the table and began with a 2 1/2 -minute opening statement that discussed the system for the first time in his short coaching career.

“The bottom line is the BCS is flawed,” Shaw said. “They themselves know it, which is why they’ve proposed a lot of changes going forward. All I’ve heard all year is the computers don’t like Stanford. The computers haven’t programed themselves.”

Stanford, No. 4 in the AP poll, ranks sixth in the BCS and hosts No. 22 Notre Dame on Saturday night in the regular-season finale. Top-ranked LSU is undefeated and is followed by several one-loss teams, starting with Alabama and Arkansas.

Shaw said No. 5 Virginia Tech doesn’t belong ahead of the Cardinal (10-1, 8-1) because the Pac-12 is stronger than the Atlantic Coast Conference. He also contends No. 4 Oklahoma State doesn’t deserve a higher ranking because it lost 37-31 at unranked Iowa State—which he perceives as a worse defeat—in double overtime.

Stanford lost 53-30 at home to No. 10 Oregon.

“To have a one-loss Pac-12 team behind a one-loss ACC team means that the computer values the ACC more than it values the Pac-12, which I don’t believe is the case. I don’t believe that is accurate,” Shaw said. “You look at common opponents. Virginia Tech beat Duke by four. We beat them by 30. I keep hearing about quality wins, quality wins, quality wins. First off, who decides what the quality wins are? And secondly, how does a quality or non-quality loss effect people?”

“Oklahoma State is outstanding,” Shaw added. “They’re a very good football team. Once again, we lost to a team that’s in the top 10. They lost to a team that’s not ranked. I don’t get it. Not saying that where we should be as opposed to where other people are. I’m just saying the explanations that I get don’t make any sense.”

Join the club. The BCS has been one of the most debated topics in the nation since its inception.

by A.Gonzalez

Arkansas TE died of heart condition

(AP) — A heart condition that was likely undiagnosed killed the University of Arkansas football player who was found unconscious in his dorm room over the weekend, a coroner said Tuesday.

Washington County coroner Roger Morris said that to the best of his knowledge, Garrett Uekman's condition, called cardiomyopathy, was not previously detected. In the condition, the heart becomes enlarged. Uekman, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman tight end, was last seen by his roommate playing video games Sunday morning. He was found unresponsive in his dorm room an hour later and was in cardiac arrest by the time emergency services personnel arrived. He was pronounced dead shortly after noon. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long has said the university wasn't aware of any pre-existing medical condition for Uekman. Long didn't immediately respond to interview requests on Tuesday. Uekman's toxicology report came back with no indications of improper drug use, Morris said. He said the manner of death was natural. University police have said there were no suspicious circumstances about Uekman's death. There are several types of cardiomyopathy, though it wasn't clear which type Uekman suffered from, Morris said. One kind, called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, thickens the heart and makes it harder to pump blood, and is often the culprit when young athletes suddenly collapse and die. Symptoms can include an irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. In many cases, it goes undetected.

"This young man may have not shown any signs, being in that great of physical shape," Morris said.

Alabama Football Team to Receive Disney Spirit Award

The University of Alabama football team will receive the 2011 Disney Spirit Award, given annually by Disney Sports to college football’s most inspirational player or team. Long snapper Carson Tinker will accept the award on behalf of the Crimson Tide squad, which was chosen because of its extraordinary efforts last April to aid tornado victims and help rebuild the Tuscaloosa, Ala., community, ultimately bringing much needed hope to the area.

Gator's kicker Caleb Sturgis named finalist for 2011 Lou Groza Award

Redshirt junior Caleb Sturgis has been named one of three finalists for the 2011 Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation’s top placekicker, announced today by the Palm Beach Sports Commission. The last time that Florida had a kicker named a finalist for the award was in 1993, when Judd Davis became the only UF player to win the Lou Groza Award.

Sturgis, a native of St. Augustine, Fla., is tied for second in the nation with 21 field goals made on the season. He has converted 21 of 25 field goal attempts (84.0 percent) and has made all 27 extra point attempts. Sturgis is tied for 14th in the nation in kicking points (90) and has made at least one field goal in every game he has played this season, including multiple conversions in eight of 10 appearances.

Georgia Bulldogs grieve with the loss of a Legend

Larry Munson, the legendary voice of the Georgia Bulldogs, passed away Sunday night from complications with pneumonia, UGA officials have confirmed. He was 89. Funeral arrangements have not been determined.

Although he was hired fot the Atlanta Braves' initial broadcast team in 1966, the beloved Munson was of course known for being the "voice of the Georgia Bulldogs," which he did to the joy and admiration of generations of Georgia fans until he retired in 2008. A Bulldog to his final days, a Munson family friend revealed Sunday night that Michael Munson said his father was actually able to watch a portion of Saturday's 19-10 win over Kentucky.

"We are deeply indebted to Larry for his wonderful contributions to the University of Georgia. For over four decades, Larry poured his heart and soul into Georgia football. His passion, energy, and love for our Bulldogs were clearly evident at all times - especially on Saturdays during the Fall," Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said. "For those of us who were able to hear Larry paint the picture with his live play-by-play calls, we are very fortunate. For those who were able to know Larry, our lives were enriched by a once-in-a-lifetime treasure."

Munson wrapped up a lifetime of sports broadcasting in the fall of 2008, most of which was spent with the Georgia Bulldogs from 1966 to 2008, at which time he endeared himself to generations of UGA fans.

Born on Sept. 28, 1922 in Minneapolis, Minn., Munson served in World War II before entering broadcast school in Minneapolis, a decision that would shape his future forever.

SEC admits to official review error in Vandy-Tennessee game

Last night’s overtime game between Vanderbilt and Tennessee, which was ultimately won by the Vols 27-21, was not without an officiating controversy.

Dooley came out on the right side of the official review last night in overtime. The problem was it was never supposed to have happened. In the first overtime, Vandy quarterback Jordan Rodgers threw an interception to Vols DB Eric Gordon, who ran the ball 90 yards back for a touchdown.

Drowned out in the massive cheers of Neyland Stadium, though, were the whistles from officials ruling that Gordon’s knee was down just after making the interception. An official review showed that Gordon’s knee was never down and the play was reversed. Tennessee wins.

Here’s the issue: it was a dead ball because of the whistle. Those can’t be reviewed and the SEC admitted that after the game. Now, the interception was still good, and Tennessee would have had the ball on the 25-yard line per overtime rules anyway. But, you can’t just assume the Vols would have sealed the win on their first offensive possession.

Anyone watching the game saw how upset Vandy coach James Franklin was.

Arkansas confirms death of Garrett Uekman

Arkansas confirmed this evening that tight end Garrett Uekman was found dead his dorm room shortly after noon ET Sunday morning.

According to the school’s release, Uekman was last seen playing video games by a roommate at about 10:15 a.m. CT and appeared to be in good health. Approximately an hour later, the redshirt freshman was found unconscious and unresponsive in his room. After attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 12:10 local time.

He was just 19 years old.

“Our son was living his dream of going to the U of A and playing football for the Razorbacks,” Uekman’s parents said in a statement. “He loved his school, his coaches, and his teammates and classmates, and was an influence and inspiration to so many people. We ask for your love and prayers for Garrett, our family and his friends as we all cope with this heavy and painful loss. Meanwhile, we ask for respect and privacy during this time of grief.”

“Garrett Uekman was a special member of our family, and we are all saddened by his passing,” head coach Bobby Petrino said. “His loss is a terrible shock, and it makes you realize how precious life is. Garrett was a great teammate and loved being a Razorback. My sympathies are with his entire family during this incredibly trying time, and I share in their grief. Our team will honor and show our respect to Garrett.”

A University Police spokesperson said that the cause of Uekman’s death is not known at this time, but there are no suspicious circumstances. An autopsy will be performed by the State Medical Examiner, which the spokesperson said is standard procedure for any unattended death.

Again, our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to anyone affected by Uekman’s passing.

by J. Taylor

Gordon's pick seals the win... Tennessee over Vanderbilt 27-21 in OT

Eric Gordon intercepted a pass by Jordan Rodgers and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown in overtime as Tennessee escaped Vanderbilt with a 27-21 win on Saturday night. The officials ruled Gordon’s knee touched the ball at the Vols 10 but overturned it on review. A 20-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Chris Boyd gave Vanderbilt a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Vols attempted a field goal on fourth-and-goal at the 5 on the next drive, but Sean Richardson was penalized for running into kicker Michael Palardy. Tennessee went for it on its second chance, and Tyler Bray passed to Da’Rick Rogers to tie it at 21 with 6:27 to play.

Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) was favored by a point, but Tennessee (5-6, 1-6) has now won 28 of the last 29 in the series.

LSU cruises to 52-3 win over Ole Miss

Ron Brooks returned an interception for a touchdown 28 seconds into the game and top-ranked LSU never looked back, piling up 353 yards rushing on the way to a 52-3 rout of Mississippi on Saturday night. The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference), who matched their best start since 1958, built a 35-3 halftime lead.

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson started his second consecutive game, completing 7 of 7 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. Alfred Blue led the Tigers with 74 rushing yards while Spencer Ware added 70 yards and a touchdown.

Ole Miss (2-9, 0-7) has lost six straight games and a school-record 13 straight conference games. Barry Brunetti rushed for a team-high 74 yards as the Rebels managed just 195 total yards.

Auburn pulls away in 4th Qtr to beat Samford 35-16

Auburn survived a scare from Samford, but reeled off 14 straight points in the fourth quarter to close out a 35-16 win on Saturday. Clint Moseley, not usually known for his rushing capabilities, took a quarterback keeper 22 yards for the score with 11:28 remaining to give Auburn (7-4) the breathing room it would need in the win. The Tigers added a 10-yard touchdown run from Onterio McCalebb with 2:17 to go for the final margin. Moseley went 13-of-20 passing for 167 yards and a score, and Mike Dyer rushed 30 times for 157 yards and a score for the Tigers. Dustin Taliaferro went 17-of-32 for 161 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions for Samford (6-5). Kelsey Pope caught 13 passes for 90 yards and a score, while Jeremiaha Gates posted his first career 100-yard game, rushing 28 times for 119 yards. Samford coach Pat Sullivan was honored with a ceremony before kickoff to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1971 Heisman Trophy he won at Auburn, becoming the school’s first Heisman winner. Samford closed within 21-16 on a 37-yard field goal by Cameron Yaw with 13:22 left to play, set up by a reverse pass from Pope to Gates for 28 yards into Auburn territory. The Bulldogs had a fourth-and-2 from the Auburn 20-yard line, but opted to go for the Yaw field goal. The Tigers scored the eventual winning touchdown on a 5-yard Dyer run with 3:25 to go in the third, capping off a 14-play, 70-yard drive in which Auburn handed off to Dyer on the last seven plays and he ran for 51 yards to put the Tigers up 21-13.

Georgia Southern 21, Alabama 45

Nick Saban reminded Alabama’s players before the game what they had to lose, especially the seniors. They could leave as the program’s winningest class—or be remembered for falling to Georgia Southern in their home finale. And everybody knows what the third-ranked Crimson Tide are really chasing: A national title shot that became significantly more realistic with No. 2 Oklahoma State’s loss the night before. Trent Richardson rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns to power Alabama (10-1) to a 45-21 victory over the FCS Eagles on Saturday in a performance that didn’t win many style points. Saban’s pre-game message: “Nothing’s changed” after the Cowboys’ 37-31 defeat to Iowa State in two overtimes.

“I told our players before any of this ever happened that a legacy of the seniors that have won 45 games here and won a national championship would completely get defined if we didn’t get everybody’s best effort in this game,” Saban said. “What happened, happened. I told everybody this morning that hasn’t changed. Nothing has changed.

“We have two games to play. We’re asking everybody, `Do you know what your best is? We need your best for the rest of this season and then this game.”’

The Tide wasn’t at its dominating best against Georgia Southern (9-2) and its well-executed triple option attack that bears little similarity to what Alabama is accustomed to. Yet Richardson, a Heisman Trophy candidate, kept piling up the stats in a game that never offered him much of a breather. He ran 32 times, caught a 4-yard touchdown pass and broke Shaun Alexander’s school single-season mark of 19 rushing touchdowns.

“It means a lot,” Richardson said. “I didn’t even know I did, but they told me I did. I talk to Shaun all the time. He’s like a big brother to me.”

The Tide’s 2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram was on hand thanks to an open weekend with the New Orleans Saints. Richardson was still running well into the fourth quarter in a game that was expected to be a low-stress tuneup for the Iron Bowl at Auburn. That triple option of Georgia Southern, meanwhile, burned the nation’s top defense for 302 rushing yards.

“I’m disappointed that we lost the football game,” Eagles coach Jeff Monken said. “We’re never going to be happy to lose. They put forth a tremendous effort against maybe the best football team in America.

“Our kids fought them tooth and nail all the way through.”

The Tide seniors set a school four-year mark for wins with No. 46. They’re hoping to compete for a second national title, a bid that keeps gaining momentum with losses by previous unbeatens Oklahoma State, Stanford and Boise State.

“You’re excited to see things like that of course because at Alabama we play for championships, that’s what we do,” defensive end Damion Square said. “So you’re excited to see things like that, but right after that, you’ve got to realize we’ve got a game to play like today.”

AJ McCarron completed 14 of 19 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama. He threw his second touchdown to tight end Brad Smelley with 44 seconds left after Georgia Southern used up its final two timeouts. The Tide also scored when Dont’a Hightower blocked a field goal after Georgia Southern’s opening drive. Dre Kirkpatrick scooped up the ball and raced 55 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time Alabama had scored on a blocked field goal since 2003. Georgia Southern had plenty of highlights, too, especially for an FCS team facing one of major college football’s dominant programs. The previous scoring high against the Tide was 14 points by Arkansas, and Georgia Southern had that by halftime. Dominique Swope torched the Tide for an 82-yard touchdown and finished with 153 yards on 18 carries. Swope is only the 10th back to rush for 100 yards against Alabama since 2005 and first since Tennessee’s Tauren Poole last season. Laron Scott scored on a 95-yard kick return in the third quarter after Alabama appeared to take control with McCarron’s 34-yard, third-down touchdown pass to Smelley to make it 31-14.

“This is Alabama. Roll Tide, but we’re just out there slugging,” Scott said. “We’re going to keep on fighting.

by J. Zenor

Florida overcomes slow start, beats Furman 54-32

Florida allowed a season-high 22 points in the first quarter before storming back behind a career-best four touchdown passes from John Brantley to secure a 54-32 win over Furman on Saturday. The win by the Gators (6-5) made them bowl eligible to participate in their 21st consecutive post-season game. The win was tougher than expected over the Paladins, a Football Championship Subdivision team. Furman (6-5) stunned Florida on its first series, gaining at least 17 yards on three of its first four plays. That led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Jerodis Williams at the 8:31 mark. Furman added a safety on Florida’s next play when the center snap sailed over Brantley’s head into the end zone for a safety. The Paladins stayed on the attack by scoring touchdowns on its next two possessions as well to open up a 22-7 advantage after one quarter before Florida rallied to win. Florida answered with three second-quarter touchdown to take the lead for good. After fullback Hunter Joyner scored on a 1-yard dive, Brantley threw for two of his career-high four TD passes. He connected with Andre Debose on a fly pattern for 80 yards and later hit Quinton Dunbar in the back of the end zone from 29 yards out to give the Gators a 27-22 lead at intermission.

After trading field goals to open the second half, both teams scored on a long play. Debose beat Furman cornerback Derrick Murray on a 64-yard catch-and-run for his second long score of the game. On Furman’s first play following the kickoff, Williams broke free of two tacklers at the line of scrimmage and outraced the Florida secondary to the end zone to complete a 77-yard touchdown jaunt. That pulled the visitors to within five at 37-32 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. It was as close as the Paladins would come however. Florida scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win. Caleb Sturgis connected on a 55-yard field goal, a school-record fifth kick of at least 50 yards during his career. The Gators defense was responsible for the final two scores of the game when it came up with the only two turnovers in the game. De’Ante Saunders stepped in front of a Furman receiver and took an interception 25 yards to the end zone early in the fourth quarter and Jelani Jenkins closed out the scoring, grabbing an errant pass and racing 75 yards untouched to the end zone with four minutes left in the game.

Furman held a 196-72 advantage in total yards after one quarter, but Florida dominated the final three quarters and finished with 453 total yards to 446 for the Paladins. It was Florida’s seventh consecutive win in the series that now stands 7-2.

Florida closes its regular season next Saturday when it hosts state-rival Florida State.

The Citadel 20, South Carolina 41

South Carolina’s star receiver caught his first touchdown in a month, a one-armed grab over a Citadel defender in the 14th-ranked Gamecocks 41-20 victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday. The win earned the Gamecocks (9-2) back-to-back seasons with at least nine victories for the first time in 118 seasons of football. It also was the latest, and perhaps one of the last chances to watch the 6-foot-4 junior wideout do his stuff. Jeffery appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s college football preview issue this summer and figured to have his best season ever after last year’s remarkable 88 catches for 1,517 yards. Instead, Jeffery watched as South Carolina’s offense dealt with the dismissal of quarterback Stephen Garcia and season-ending injury to Marcus Lattimore and coach Steve Spurrier’s shift to the running game simply to move the ball because he had inexperienced skill players. Jeffery came into this game with a very ordinary output: 38 catches, 504 yards and five touchdowns. But he got a chance to shine against the FCS opponent when he reached out with his right arm to haul in the touchdown with safety Joseph Boateng right on him.

“You all may think I’m frustrated, but I’m not,” Jeffery said. “As long as we win, I’m cool with that.”

The Gamecocks reached nine wins for just the fourth time in their history. They get a crack at win No. 10 in the regular-season showdown with No. 7 Clemson at Williams-Brice Stadium next Saturday. Spurrier wasn’t focused on that one, yet. “We’re happy to have won it and we’ll enjoy having nine wins and regroup to see if we can give Clemson a game next week,” the coach said. Connor Shaw threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 90 yards rushing, including a 60-yard TD run. Tailback Brandon Wilds ran for two touchdowns and 109 yards, his third 100-yard game in four starts since replacing the injured Lattimore.

But it was Jeffery’s play that wowed the 76,000 or so at Williams-Brice.

“It was a great throw and I just made a great catch,” Jeffery said.

Wilson shines as Arkansas downs Miss. St. 44-17

The Razorbacks and their quarterback now have the chance to make their case in the national championship debate. Wilson had a school-record 32 completions and threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 6 Razorbacks made quick work of Mississippi State in a 44-17 win on Saturday. The win is the seventh straight for Arkansas (10-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference), which travels to No. 1 LSU next week for a game with conference and national implications. Before the Razorbacks could turn their collective attention to the Tigers, though, they first had to deal with the Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6).

The Razorbacks outgained Mississippi State 539-211 and scored 30 straight points after the Bulldogs closed within 14-10 in the second quarter. They’ve now outscored South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi State 137-52 over their last three games in an attempt to crash both the SEC and BCS national title game parties.

“I like the way we’re playing,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “I think we’re playing really good football.

“… I really like the way we’ve played the last three games.”

Arkansas completed its first undefeated season at home since 1999 with the win in its home away from home, Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. The win also clinched the school’s first back-to-back 10-win seasons since 1988-89 when it was in the Southwest Conference.

by K. Voight

Georgia beats Kentucky 19-10, wins SEC East

Georgia’s defense made up for a day of struggles on offense as the No. 13 Bulldogs beat Kentucky 19-10 on Saturday to win the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. Georgia will return to the SEC title game on Dec. 3 for the fourth time in Richt’s 11 years as coach—but the first time since 2005. The six-year absence left Richt a little rusty on his postgame celebration technique, as he found out when he tried to slide across the plastic which covered Georgia’s water-soaked locker room.

“I thought it would be great to run across and slide like back in the day,” Richt said. “What I didn’t realize was the other side of the plastic was dry, and I stuck.”

Richt said he couldn’t breathe and then players jumped on top of him.

“It was a bad idea,” he said with a painful smile. “It hurt.”

The Bulldogs (9-2 overall, 7-1 SEC) have won nine straight following an 0-2 start that included a home loss to South Carolina. Aaron Murray threw a touchdown pass to Marlon Brown on the first play of the fourth quarter and Blair Walsh kicked four field goals, including three from 39 yards. Kentucky was held to 23 yards rushing on 21 carries and 165 total yards. Punter Drew Butler said the postgame celebration “was a lot of fun, especially after the locker-room atmosphere of the first two games.” Georgia has its longest single-season winning streak since an 11-0 regular season in 1982 under Vince Dooley. The Bulldogs will close their regular season at Georgia Tech next week.

Arkansas's Bobby Petrino thinks WR Wade could be back against Miss. State

Arkansas receiver Marquel Wade might return this Saturday against Mississippi State. The freshman was originally suspended two weeks ago for the Hogs’ home game against South Carolina following an ejection on a special teams hit against Vanderbilt return man Jonathan Krause the week before. Then, Wade was suspended once again for Arkansas’ game against Tennessee for violation of team rules. As Arkansas gets ready for the Bulldogs, coach Bobby Petrino sounded optimistic that Wade would be back.

“He’s done everything so far this week that he’s supposed to,” Petrino said. “We’ll see what the next couple days bring, but hopefully he’ll be on the field Saturday.”

Wade’s value has mostly been on special teams this year. He has 472 all-purpose yards this season, including 296 kickoff return yards, one for a touchdown against New Mexico.

SEC Football Online free Sportbook Pick Vols vs Commodores

The Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Neyland Stadium.Oddsmakers currently have the Commodores listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Volunteers, while the game's total is sitting at 45.Last time out for Vanderbilt, they were a 38-8 winner as they battled Kentucky at home. Vanderbilt covered in the match as a 13-point favorite, while 46 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Tennessee was a 49-7 loser in its last match on the road against Arkansas. They failed to cover the 17–point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 56 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

SEC Football Online free Sportbook Pick Georgia vs Kentucky

The Kentucky Wildcats and the Georgia Bulldogs will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Sanford Stadium. Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs listed as 31-point favorites versus the Wildcats, while the game's total is sitting at 49½.Kentucky was a 38-8 loser in its last match on the road against Vanderbilt. They failed to cover the 13–point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 46 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.Georgia was a 45-7 winner in its last match at home against Auburn. They covered the 11.5–point spread as favorites, while the total score of 52 sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.Current streak:
Georgia has won 8 straight games.
Team records:
Kentucky: 4-6 SU, 4-6 ATS
Georgia: 8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS
Kentucky most recently:
When playing in November are 6-4
When playing on grass are 4-6
After being outgained are 4-6
When playing within the conference are 2-8

Georgia most recently:
When playing in November are 7-3
When playing on grass are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 9-1
When playing within the conference are 7-3

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kentucky's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kentucky's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Kentucky's last 7 games when playing Georgia
Kentucky is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Georgia
Georgia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Georgia is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Kentucky
Georgia is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing Kentucky
Georgia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Kentucky home to Tennessee, Saturday, November 26
Georgia at Georgia Tech, Saturday, November 26

Gator O-line to be down one against Furman

Notre Dame transfer Dan Wenger had an injury-filled career with the Irish before being granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA to play at Florida. Unfortunately for Wenger, his injury woes continue this week as Florida prepares to play Furman for bowl eligibility.

Wenger, who has started nine games this season at left guard before being moved to center against South Carolina, has been dealing with a foot injury since the Gators’ loss to Auburn — later identified as a nagging ankle sprain. That sprain will force Wenger to miss the Furman game, coach Will Muschamp confirmed today.

Jonotthan Harrison, who was replaced by Wenger after inconsistent play this year and moved to guard, will take snaps at center along with Sam Robey.

There’s no word yet if Wenger will be ready for Florida’s final game against Florida State.

Vols still taking Bray’s status ‘day-to-day’

The quarterback said Wednesday that he’s “always going to want to play” if the decision is left up to him, but acknowledged “it’s up to coaches” to pull the trigger on his availability. On that front, the head coach gave no indication which direction he may or may not be leaning when it comes to Bray and Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt.

“We limited his reps a little bit, especially early in practice so he could kind of manage it through the rest of the deal,” Derek Dooley said. “We’ll see. We just have to take it day-to-day, no real difference from yesterday.”

Bray has missed the past five games — the Vols are 1-4 during that span — since suffering the injury in an Oct. 8 loss to Georgia. Matt Simms started the first two games after Bray was sidelined, but was subsequently replaced by true freshman Justin Worley.

Worley would again get the start if Bray is unable to go against the Commodores.

Richard Samuel could be back when Georgia gets to SEC title game

When Georgia makes it to the SEC title game, there’s a chance they may have running back Richard Samuel back up to full speed. Head coach Mark Richt said after practice today that Samuel has a chance to play depending on how well he’s heeled. Samuel had surgery on his ankle at the end of last month following Georgia’s game against Florida in which he sustained what was classified then as a sprained ankle in the final minutes of the game.

The original prognosis as of the beginning of the month was that Samuel would be out at least four weeks; the SEC championship game is on Dec. 3.

Whether through injuries, departures or general knucklehead-like behavior, Georgia hasn’t had a consistent back all year. Getting Samuel back would be a huge boost for the Bulldogs.

Vandy safety allegedly involved in armed robbery

Vanderbilt safety Andre Simmons was involved in an armed robbery of a fellow student, according to a Davidson County affidavit obtained by WZTV FOX 17 in Nashville. The affidavit states that two armed men knocked on the door of a dorm room in Lupton Hall on the Vanderbilt campus and robbed a victim of about $5,000.

From the affidavit:

A fight ensued and the victim was struck in the head with the gun. The suspect with the money ran, while the other suspect, Andre Leigh Simmons, 19, stayed behind to keep the victim in the room.

“We’re not sure what happened, but the alleged victim has filed charges against (Andre),” Vanderbilt vice chancellor David Williams told OutKicktheCoverage.com. “The alleged activities are unacceptable to us and if Andre was in fact involved obviously we have a lot of concern with that.

“Andre is suspended from our program pending the investigation until the investigation is completed.”

Simmons is being held in the Davidson County jail on $100,000 bond on especially aggravated robbery and burglary charges

Ole Miss to be down three against LSU

Chuck Rounsaville of The Ole Miss Spirit tweets today that starting quarterback Randall Mackey as well as running backs Jeff Scott and Korvic Neat have been suspended for Saturday’s game for violation of team rules.

Coach Houston Nutt confirmed the suspensions, adding that they could be extend to the end of the regular season.

Mackey missed Ole Miss’ season opener after being hit with a disorderly conduct charge just prior to the beginning of the season. However, he has played in every game since then. Backup Zach Stoudt will get the nod against the Tigers in Mackey’s place this weekend, although WVU transfer Barry Brunetti could see snaps as well.

Scott is the team’s leading rusher with 529 yards and six touchdowns; Neat only has four carries for seven yards on the season.

Florida CB latest to be sidelined with season-ending injury

Cornerback Marcus Roberson has been an impact freshman for Florida this season with 22 tackles and an interception. Unfortunately for the Gators, Roberson will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a neck injury against South Carolina this past Saturday.

“We’re still evaluating him, but our medical staff has informed me that he will be out,” coach Will Muschamp said Monday. “It’s nothing that’s going to be permanent. He’ll be fine in four to six weeks. He strained his neck there, and they’re just taking precautionary measure, obviously, with something like that. He’ll be fine. He’ll be back for spring, but he will miss the rest of the season.”

Roberson played in all 10 games this season, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll play in Florida’s bowl game either — yes, Florida should be bowl eligible a week from now since the Gators have a game against Furman this Saturday. But at 5-5 it’s been a teeth-gnashing kind of year in Gainesville.