Mississippi State Upsets No. 22 Florida, 10-7

Mississippi State ran early, ran late and ended up running out of the Swamp with a signature win for second-year coach Dan Mullen.
Vick Ballard ran for 98 yards, Chris Relf added 82 and a touchdown on the ground and the Bulldogs upset No. 22 Florida 10-7 on Saturday night.
Mississippi State (5-2, 2-2 SEC) controlled the clock, dictated the tempo and kept Florida's mostly inept offense on the sideline.
The Gators (4-3, 2-3) lost consecutive home games for the first time since 2003 and dropped three in a row for the first time since the Steve Spurrier era. Yep, coach Urban Meyer has accomplished something that even former coach Ron Zook never did.
The Bulldogs, whose victory over Florida in 2004 led to Zook's firing, won in Gainesville for the first time since 1965. They snapped a 16-game losing streak at the Swamp and left 90,000-plus wondering what happened to a program that won two of the last four national championships.
"We're not very good right now," Meyer said.
Florida had a final drive to tie or take the lead, but Chas Henry missed a 42-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining. The Gators started at the 4-yard line with 2 minutes remaining and converted a fourth-down play to keep the drive alive.
But John Brantley threw a pass out of bounds to avoid a sack on third down, leaving the Gators with little chance but to try the field goal - a long shot for a punter who is handling field goals because of a back injury to place-kicker Caleb Sturgis.
Henry's kick missed way right, setting off a raucous celebration on Mississippi State's sideline. Players and coaches stayed on the field to sing the fight song with helmets and hands toward the sky.

Kentucky Wildcats upset South Carolina Gamecocks

Kentucky ralled in the second half Saturday to beat No. 10 South Carolina 31-28 at Commonwealth Stadium. South Carolina led 28-10 at halftime, then allowed 21 unanswered points in the second half. Kentucky's rally was capped by a 24-yard touchdown catch by an uncovered Randall Cobb late in the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks, which knocked off defending national champion Alabama last weekend, drove to the Kentucky 20 but quarterback Stephen Garcia's heave into the end zone for Lamar Scruggs was intercepted by Kentucky's Anthony Mosley with 4 seconds remaining. USC is now 4-2 overall, 2-2 in the SEC. Kentucky is 4-3 (1-3). The Wildcats snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Gamecocks and beat Steve Spurrier for the first time ever. Marcus Lattimore had 212 total yards and three touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter with an ankle sprain. Lattimore had 4 catches for 133 yards. Garcia had a career-high 382-yards in the loss, tossing two scores and two interceptions. Alshon Jeffery had six catches for 65 yards and one score. Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline also had a career day with 349 yards and four touchdowns. Chris Matthews led UK receivers with 12 catches for 177 yards.

Arkansas throws game away, and Auburn takes a wild 65-43 win

Auburn used defense, believe it, when we say it, for a touchdown and two big interceptions in the fourth quarter to score a wild 65-43 win over Arkansas in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers led 37-35 after three quarter, fell behind in the fourth, but the Razorbacks had no answer for the Tigers down the stretch. Auburn outscored Arkanas 28-8 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Cam Newton rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another. He rushed 25 times for 188 yards and was 10-14-0 for 140 yards passing. Auburn improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the SEC.

What a Homecoming...Georgia Shuts Out Vandy 43-0

Carlton Thomas ran for the first two touchdowns of his career, Aaron Murray passed for two touchdowns and Georgia welcomed new mascot Uga VIII by beating Vanderbilt 43-0 on Saturday.
Washaun Ealey led Georgia with 17 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Caleb King, who normally shares carries with Ealey, served the first game of his two-game suspension following his arrest for failing to pay a speeding ticket.
Georgia (3-4 overall, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) took its second straight lopsided win after four straight losses. The Bulldogs beat Tennessee 41-14 last week.
Georgia introduced its new mascot, Uga VIII, a 13-month-old white English bulldog, before the game.
Vanderbilt (2-4, 1-2) suffered its 15th loss in the last 16 games in the series.
Blair Walsh kicked two field goals for Georgia but missed from 31 yards in the fourth quarter to keep the Bulldogs from taking their largest margin of victory in the series. Georgia beat Vanderbilt 45-0 in 1976.

SEC Football facts on Georgia Bulldogs Homecoming

It has been 22 times that Vanderbilt has served as Georgia's homecoming opponent, including the Commodores' visit to play the Bulldogs on Saturday. Vanderbilt has been Georgia's opponent in virtually one-fourth of the Bulldogs' homecoming games. Georgia has a 69-17-2 record on homecoming, including 18-3 against Vanderbilt.
Also 22 Vanderbilt players who are from Georgia. The Commodores visit Georgia on Saturday. Vanderbilt has more players from Georgia than from any other state, including Tennessee.

SEC football facts on LSU

Of the 57 victories for LSU under coach Les Miles, 15 of those games are with the Tigers trailing in the fourth quarter. LSU has won its past two games by scoring on its final possession. In 26.3 percent of their victories under Miles, the Tigers have trailed in the final period.
It has been 37 years since LSU had a 7-0 record, a mark that the Tigers could reach if they beat McNeese State on Saturday night. In 1973, LSU won its first nine games before losing its final three.
LSU has 25 consecutive games against in-state opponents that have been won by LSU, which hosts McNeese State on Saturday night. The Tigers' most recent loss to a Louisiana school was inflicted by Tulane in 1982.

Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs game facts

Of the 12 losses suffered by coach Urban Meyer at Florida 9 of those losses have been inflicted by SEC West teams. Meyer has an 11-9 record against SEC West opponents, including SEC championship games, and a 50-3 mark against all other opponents since joining the Gators in 2005. Meyer's Gators play Mississippi State on Saturday.
It has been 22 years since Florida lost three consecutive regular-season games. The Gators, who had their most recent three-game losing streak in regular-season play in 1988, have lost their past two games heading into Saturday's contest against Mississippi State. Mississippi State, which has won its past three games, hasn't had a four-game winning streak in the regular season since 1999.
Although it has been 16 consecutive victories in Gainesville for Florida against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs visit Florida on Saturday, seeking their first victory in Gainesville since an 18-13 win in 1965.

Ole Miss will have their hands full in Tuscaloosa

One victory in 24 games in Tuscaloosa for Ole Miss, which visits Alabama on Saturday night. The Rebels' only victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium was a 22-12 win in 1988, and they've lost nine straight in Tuscaloosa since that triumph. Alabama has shut out visiting Ole Miss nine times and held the Rebels to fewer than 10 points 17 times. Ole Miss' highest score in Tuscaloosa is 23 points in 2006's 26-23 overtime loss.Maybe the new mascot will bring a change, Ole Miss needs all the mojo they can get. Alabama will come out gunning to right the wrong from last week against the Gamecocks.

Two Kentucky starters 'probably out' for South Carolina game

Kentucky Head Coach Joker Phillips all but ruled out his leading rusher seeing the field due to a stinger issue as well as a bruised elbow.
"Locke probably won't go Saturday," Phillips said in a quote released by the school. "From what we saw today, Locke is out. Yesterday we said we would take Derrick, but today we probably won't take Derrick to the hotel."
Sophomore Donald Russell and freshman Raymond Sanders will likely take over the bulk of the running game load, and Phillips expects them to take the ball and run with it, so to speak.
"We have come to a point when we took over seven or eight years ago that we wouldn't make any excuses if a guy was going to miss," Phillips said. "The next guy is expected to step up and make plays and do the things that we expect to get done. I feel comfortable in Donald Russell and Raymond Sanders that they will go in and do the job we are asking them to do."
Another UK player who will have to step up is sophomore Taylor Wyndham. Starting defensive end DeQuin Evans is "probably out" as well according to Phillips because of a sprained ankle, and Wyndham will replace the senior in the starting lineup.

SEC Football Online's Free Sportbook...Tigers vs Razorbacks

The No. 7 Auburn Tigers host the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks with their best shots of getting a crack at a national title. It’s no secret that the SEC is a heavily considered division when it comes to the BCS, largely because of the strength of schedule for all teams involved. As they stand slightly ahead of Alabama and LSU, the Tigers will have their hands full this weekend. That’s why the sterling play of quarterback Cameron Newton, who has soared in to Heisman contention this year, is such a huge part of this game. Newton has thrown for 1,138 yards and 12 scores while piling up 672 yards on the ground rushing along with an extra 9 scores. In a word, Newton’s a "gamebreaker" and has incredible talents rushing the ball despite being 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds.

#12 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1) vs. #7 Auburn Tigers (6-0)

Saturday, October 16th, Jordan-Hare Stadium, 3:30pm EST SECFootballOnline odds: Auburn -4.0 (60)

Those choosing to take the college football odds on Arkansas might want to tread lightly. The Razorbacks are just 3-7 SU in their last 10 road games, and a glaring loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide spoiled both their BCS candidacy and the Heisman hopes of Ryan Mallet. Even still, it’s hard to get your head around Mallet’s 1,748 passing yards. He’s also posted 13 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, but was awfully mistake prone against the Crimson Tide. Three of his interceptions came in that game. Turnovers are going to be the biggest difference maker in this game’s college football odds. Auburn is exceptional at generating second chances, posting 13 turnovers in their six games. In fact, they have at least 1 interception in their last 5 games.

Gamecock's Lattimore the next great Spurrier RB

"Marcus is already considered one of the best around," Spurrier said Tuesday. "There is no question about that. But we'll let him earn his way as he goes through the year. Whatever accolades come to him, we'll let them take their course. He's certainly a very good player and very good teammate. Guys love him." Lattimore's 37-carry, 182-yard performance against Georgia ranks among the top-10 showings of any Spurrier-coached back. But Lattimore's emergence as a big-time runner goes beyond one game. He ranks fifth in the SEC with 91.8 rushing yards per game. Spurrier likens Lattimore's running style to that of former Florida standout Emmitt Smith. "Emmitt, his shoulder pads seemed to always be square when he's coming through the line of scrimmage. Tacklers do not get a good, clean shot at his body because his pad level is so low," Spurrier said. "Even when they're diving at his feet and ankles, he's able to get his feet out of the ground if they come in there real low. That's how running backs can stay healthy a long time. "In fact, Emmitt, I don't think he ever had any knee surgeries or anything over the years, and he lasted a long time without injuries. I think Marcus' style will keep him healthy. He doesn't give the tacklers a good, clean shot at him. He has the ability, sort of, to glance off and break tackles." The coordinator of USC's defense, Ellis Johnson gets a daily look at Lattimore. "He's got horizontal movement. He's got vertical explosion," Johnson said. "He's got great pad level. He's got eyes; he sees things that other backs don't see. Obviously, he's got durability. He's big and strong enough to take a hit and still make yardage."

Gators get good news on Demps, Brantley injury fronts

Today, Meyer gave two thumbs up to the progress Demps has made in recovering from the injury from just a week ago.

"Good news on Demps," UF coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday. "He's feeling a lot better than he did last week.

"Obviously, we need his big-play shot. I say he is probable against Mississippi State. He did some practice Wednesday and then, he practiced Thursday."

The positive injury news wasn't limited to Demps, either. Starting quarterback John Brantley has been hampered by sore ribs and a sprained thumb, injuries that limited him during practice last week, but Meyer said the junior "feels good, much better than a week ago, and he's practicing at full speed."

Alabama's wide receiver Julio Jones status is still uncertain

Julio Jones’ status for No. 8 Alabama’s game against Mississippi is still uncertain. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban says Jones practiced and caught passes Wednesday. Alabama’s leading receiver broke his left hand against South Carolina and had surgery Sunday to insert a plate and screws.

Saban says Jones will be evaluated further before determining his situation for Saturday night’s game against the Rebels. He has said the main issue on playing time will be pain tolerance.Saban says right tackle D.J. Fluker will miss the game with a pulled groin. Jones played against the Gamecocks after breaking his hand and wound up with season-highs of eight catches and 118 yards.

Ole Miss picks bear for new, un-Confederate mascot

"Rebel Black Bear" won 62 percent of the vote in a final poll, the school announced Thursday. Its athletic programs will keep the Rebels nickname. It has been more than a decade since Ole Miss began stripping away its images of the Old South. Confederate battle flags were first to go. Next was mascot "Colonel Reb," the goateed Southern planter who cheered on the Rebels from the sidelines since 1979. Tradition dies hard in Oxford, where tens of thousands of fans turn out in ties and sundresses on fall Saturdays for elaborate tailgate parties in "The Grove" before football games. An unofficial motto is: "We may lose a game, but we never lose a party." "I know there were a lot of people emotionally invested in Colonel Reb and everybody might not completely agree with the bear, but I think everyone can be proud of how our students went about the process," said Sparky Reardon, the university’s dean of students.

Arkansas will have its hands full when the Razorbacks take on No. 7 Auburn.

Newton is part of a parade of mobile quarterbacks the No. 12 Razorbacks are facing this month, sandwiched between Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson and Ole Miss’ Jeremiah Masoli. Arkansas is hoping it can corral Newton in the same manner it did Johnson last week. The Aggies senior signal-caller finished 15 of 40 passing with 40 rushing yards as the Razorbacks came away with a win in the Southwest Classic. "I think there is a little bit of carryover but each guy plays different and each guy has something he can do well," Arkansas safety Tramain Thomas said. "I think with Cam, he creates well and is hard to bring down." "We’ve faced big quarterbacks, but not ones who are the caliber runner that this guy is," Robinson said. "This guy’s a big tailback that can throw the ball, basically. They’re very dynamic. He wants to get it downfield and when he does, he’s not looking to avoid you. If he’s got you in his sights, he’ll take you." "We have to make sure we don’t let him get up the field as often as has occurred with the people he’s played, because he’s damaged some people now." Robinson’s unit is looking to get the better of Tigers offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn for the third consecutive season. The Razorbacks beat a ranked Tulsa team while Malzahn orchestrated his fast-paced offensive scheme there in 2008 and earned a 44-23 win over a ranked Auburn foe last season.

Gator's Jenkins Added to Bednarik Watch List

Junior cornerback Janoris Jenkins was added to the 2010 Bednarik Award Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Wednesday. The award is presented to the nation’s top defensive player in college football. Fifty-two FBS schools, representing 10 conferences, are represented on the 2010 Maxwell Award list; 50 FBS schools from 11 conferences are on the Chuck Bednarik Watch List. During his career, Jenkins has appeared in 33 games as a Gator, including 30 starts. This season, he has recorded 25 tackles, with three for loss and his five defended passes tie for fourth in the SEC. In addition, Jenkins has two interceptions on the season including a 67-yard return for a touchdown versus Miami University, which is the second-longest in the SEC in the 2010 season. He has also been the starting punt returner all season, returning 10 punts for 90 yards (9.0 avg.), which ranks fifth in the SEC.

Auburn's Newton, Fairley Added To Midseason Watch Lists

Junior quarterback Cam Newton and junior defensive tackle Nick Fairley have been added to midseason watch lists for two prestigious college football awards, the Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday. Newton has been added to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is presented to the most outstanding collegiate football player in America. Fairley is now on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive player. Fairley joins senior linebacker Josh Bynes on that watch list, as Bynes was a preseason selection for the list. Newton currently leads the SEC in rushing (112.0 ypg) and ranks 17th nationally, and has had three games with at least 170 yards rushing this season. Newton also leads the SEC and ranks second nationally in passing efficiency (180.73), ranks second in the NCAA in points responsible for (21.0) and is second in the SEC and 12th nationally in total offense (301.7). He has twice been named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, after performances against Arkansas State and South Carolina. Fairley leads the SEC and is tied for fifth nationally in tackles for loss (12.5) and is tied for second in the SEC and tied for 24th in the nation with 5.0 sacks. Fairley, who ranks fifth on the team with 25 total tackles, was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance during Auburn's win at Mississippi State, and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after his performance vs. ULM.

Newest UGA mascot to debut this weekend

According to a press release issued by the school, Uga VIII will make his debut this Saturday as the Bulldogs host Vanderbilt at Sanford Stadium.

The pre-game "passing of the collar" from interim mascot, "Russ," to Uga VIII will take place at mid-field in the presence of UGA President Dr. Michael F. Adams, Director of Athletics Greg McGarity, and members of the Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler family, long-time owners of the Bulldog line of mascots.
"We had several puppies that were direct descendents from the Uga line to choose from," said Seiler. "We came to the conclusion that this dog had all the physical attributes that we look for in a Georgia mascot. He is the grandson of Uga VI. He is only 13 months old. He already weighs 55 lbs. and we think that he has an excellent head. We made the choice based on experience and I'm confident the Bulldog Nation will be pleased when he is introduced Saturday."

"Uga VIII is one of the most storied mascots in the history of college athletics," said McGarity. "He is the rallying point for the Bulldog Nation. As our mascot he represents everything we want our student-athletes and fans to be, proud, loyal, tenacious, and relentless. We look forward to his long and successful reign and appreciate all the Seiler family has contributed to our mascot program for more than half a century."