GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt is 18-2 on the road after the win over Vanderbilt. Quarterback D J Shockley was 15 of 30 for 298 yards and threw three touchdowns Six different receivers caught passes. Receiver Sean Bailey and tight end Leonard Pope dropped passes. Tailback Thomas Brown rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries. Georgia rushed for 148 yards. Richt said fullback Brannan Southerland improves each game. He had two scores against Vandy. The Commodores threw for 174 yards and rushed for 150. Georgia sacked Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler four times. Defensive tackle Kedric Golston left with an elbow injury in the first quarter. Golston, Gerald Anderson (concussion) and Tony Taylor (elbow) will not play against Arkansas. Dale Dixson, Darrius Swain and Marquis Elmore will see plenty of action in their place. Georgia’s defense is allowing 12 ppg and 286 ypg. The Bulldog defense has not allowed more than 17 points in a game this season. Quinton Banks (6-3, 185), a safety from Houston (Ga.) County, has committed to Georgia. (UGASports.com)

KENTUCKY: Coach Rich Brooks went on the offensive Monday to say that he will not resign his position. Receiver Rafael Little is averaging 92 yards per game rushing.

OLE MISS: Quarterback Micheal Spurlock was 19 of 32 for 210 yards, his third consecutive 200-yard game, in the loss to Alabama. On the drive that the Rebels kicked a field goal to tie the game 10-10, Spurlock was flagged on consecutive plays for delay of game. Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis, who leads the SEC with 12 tackles per game, had 15 tackles against Alabama. The Rebels were 1 of 3 in the red zone with a missed field goal and a blocked field goal. Sophomore quarterback Robert Lane has spent time this week practicing at the H-back, fullback and receiver position. Ole Miss is averaging only 13 ppg against Division I teams. (RebelGrove.com)

HOUSTON AT MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Cougars are 3-3 on the season. They lost to Memphis last week, 35-20. Quarterback Kevin Kolb will be difficult to stop. He threw for five touchdowns and five interceptions. Receiver Vincent Marshall is a Biletnikoff Award candidate. Defensive tackle Willie Evans has 9.5 tackles for loss on the season. Tailback Jerious Norwood has 424 yards on 81 carries. The Bulldogs could match the 2004 win total with a victory over Houston. The Cougars only have eight sacks in six games. (Bulldogblitz.com)

TENNESSEE: The Vols are ranked No. 101 in rushing offense averaging 98 ypg. Tennessee averages 2.9 ypc. Tailback Gerald Riggs has averaged 100 yards rushing in three wins and 70 yards rushing in two losses. Riggs averages 92 ypg. Both quarterbacks Rick Clausen and Erik Ainge will play in the game. Receiver C J Fayton (ankle sprain) and Jayson Swain (groin) have not practiced much this week, but they should be able to play. Left guard Rob Smith has worked some at center this week. Tennessee has not lost on the road in the Alabama series since 1991. The Vols have won nine of the last 10 games in the series. Defensive back Inky Johnson is replacing Jason Allen. Four different receivers have caught at least 14 passes. Tennessee allows 298 yards per game, sixth in the SEC. The Vols rank No. 7 in pass defense (205 ypg). (Volquest.com)

ALABAMA: Quarterback Brodie Croyle led Alabama on a final decisive 63-yard drive that ended with a Jamie Christensen 31-yard field goal to beat Ole Miss. Croyle, who was 22 of 37 for 234 yards, converted three third down opportunities on the final drive. He ran 20 yards for a first down on one third down play. Croyle, who has won his last consecutive eight starts, has not thrown an interception in his last 127 attempts. The Tide is 6-0 for the first time since 1996. Tailback Ken Darby ran for 100 yards on 20 carries. Darby is No. 2 in the SEC in rushing with 102 ypg. Alabama is 6-1 when he runs for 100 yards. Receiver Keith Brown caught six passes for 79 yards. He leads the team with 20 yards per catch. Receiver D J Hall injured his ribs in the win over Ole Miss. He should be able to play. Backup quarterback John Parker Wilson was arrested Saturday night for driving under the influence. He will probably be suspended for the game. Alabama defenders missed 19 tackles against Ole Miss. The Tide has not surrendered a point in the third quarter. Alabama is No. 4 in scoring defense and No. 5 in total defense. (Bamaonline.com)

VANDERILT: Cutler was 15 of 28 for 174 yards and one pick in the loss to Georgia. Tailback Jeff Jennings ran for 84 yards on 84 yards. Vandy’s defense is ranked No. 10 in total defense, No. 11 in pass defense, No. 9 in rushing defense and No. 8 in scoring defense. The Commodores are coming off three straight losses at home.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks three losses have come to teams with a combined 17-1 record (Georgia, Alabama and Auburn). Sophomore Dustin Lindsey is ahead of Ricardo Hurley at middle linebacker. Coach Steve Spurrier said he is eager to watch Syvelle Newton play three different positions. The Gamecocks have allowed 18 quarterback sacks, but Vanderbilt only has nine sacks. (Gamecockcentral.com)

AUBURN: Tailback Kenny Irons ran for a career-high 182 yards in the win at Arkansas. Auburn and Nebraska were the final two Division I teams to play a road game. Starting tailback Brad Lester went out with a first half injury. Auburn has won 13 straight times and 20 of its last 21 games. Quarterback Brandon Cox was 17 of 28 for 203 yards with three touchdowns and two picks. Cox is No. 4 in the SEC in passing averaging 232 ypg. The Tigers scored twice in the third quarter to go ahead 20-10 after trailing 10-6 at half. Auburn outrushed Arkansas 233 to 148 yards. In the third quarter, Auburn outgained Arkansas 158 yards to 25 and scored 14 unanswered points. The Tigers gained 436 yards. Linebacker Karibi Dede had two turnovers—a fumble recovery and an interception. The home team has won the past five meetings. (Auburnsports.com)

LSU: The Tigers beat Florida despite losing five turnovers, committing 11 penalties and suffering five sacks. Receiver Dwayne Bowe caught three passes for 82 yards. JaMarcus Russell was 14 of 22 for 236 yards with two picks and two interceptions. Tailback Joseph Addai ran for a career high 156 yards on 32 carries. Addai has three 100-yard games. Addai leads the SEC with 107 yards per game. Bennie Brazell, Dwayne Bowe, Early Doucet and Joseph Addai had a reception of at least 19 yards, but Skyler Green and Craig “Buster” Davis did not catch a pass. The Tiger defense sacked Cutler and Leak a combined nine times. No team has gained 100 yards rushing on LSU. In the past 13 years, the Tigers have swept Alabama and Auburn only twice in 2001 and 2003. During their three game win streak the Tiger defense is allowing 10 points and 191 yards per game. LSU is No. 14 in total defense allowing 290 ypg and only 68 yards rushing. No LSU opponent has run for 100 yards this season. The defensive line has great improved its play. LSU has lost 15 turnovers in five games. (Tigerbait.com)

FLORIDA: Florida is still struggling to run the ball and to protect the passer, partly because of the offensive line. On Florida’s opening drive after six games, they have accumulated 22 total yards. There are also continuing problems in the secondary, especially at safety. Fox NFL and College analyst Chris Landry told Gatorbait.net that Coach Urban Meyer “has the best and soundest offensive concepts of any coach in the SEC”. When Bill Belichick was on the staff at Cleveland Landry suggested that Belichick visit with Meyer. Belichick did and came away impressed.

Leak was 11 of 30 for 107 yards with no picks or touchdowns in the loss to LSU. Florida had 11 first downs and 10 penalties. Tailback DeShawn Wynn ran for 93 yards on 16 carries. Eric Wilbur punted 10 times for a 43- yard average. Linebacker Earl Everett had 14 tackles. Receiver Jemalle Cornelius and defensive end Ray McDonald played briefly despite injuries. Cornelius caught two passes for 22 yards.

The Gator defense forced five turnovers and made five sacks. Kyle Jackson and Tony Joiner continue to struggle at safety. Defensive end Jarvis Moss had three sacks and forced a fumble. Vernell Brown struggled as punt returner. He caught one at the six-yard line in the fourth quarter that would have gone into the end zone. There were times the Gators ran a five-receiver set with Kenneth Tookes, Billy Latsko and Kyle Morgan at receiver. Former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer, who is in a California junior college, has narrowed his decision down to Florida, Ole Miss and Wisconsin. Schaeffer is 60 of 120 for 1210 yards with 19 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He has run 64 times for 435 yards. The Georgia game has been officially set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS. (Gatorbait.net)

MIAMI: The Canes ran for only 34 yards on 39 carries against Temple. Kyle Wright, who sprained his right thumb, was 9 of 10 for 196 yards. Backup quarterback Kirby Freeman was 7 of 11 for 121 yards. Receiver Sinorice Moss caught three passes for 122 yards including a 92- yard scoring pass. Defensive line coach Greg Mark was fired Monday. His responsibilities have been shifted to defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. Nebraska defensive line coach John Blake has been mentioned as a candidate. The Canes are No. 1 nationally in total defense allowing 227 yards per game and No. 2 in scoring defense allowing 10 ppg. (Canesport.com)

FLORIDA STATE AT DUKE: On the 10th anniversary of the Cavs upset win over FSU, Virginia quarterback Marques Hagans threw for a career high 306 yard and two scores in Saturday’s victory over FSU. He took advantage of cornerback Tony Carter who was flagged three times for pass interference. Virginia gained 326 yards. Nole quarterback Drew Weatherford, who was 35 of 59 passing for 377 yards, threw a pick to Virginia’s Tony Franklin to seal the loss with 50 seconds left.

FSU rallied after trailing 26-10. He had three interceptions. The Noles gained 454 yards and converted 11 of 18 third downs. Virginia’s Connor Hughes had four field goals. FSU committed 13 penalties for 123 yards. Coming in to the game, FSU was No. 9 in the ACC in penalties averaging 62 per game. Tailback Leon Washington’s touchdown run was called back by one flag. A roughing the passer penalty on linebacker Ernie Sims negated a pick by A J Nicholson. Punter Chris Hall struggled with a 29- yard average.

Coach Bobby Bowden had a conversation this week with ACC coordinator of officials Tommy Hunt. Eight of the nine ACC losses since joining the league in 1992 have come on the road. FSU ran only twice in its last 19 plays. Freshman receiver Fred Rouse and guard Cornelius Lewis have been suspended for the Duke game for violating team policy. Rouse had an outburst in the Virginia game with an assistant coach and some of his teammates. Receiver De’Cody Fagg, who leads the team in receptions with 26, will also miss the game with a shoulder separation. Redshirt freshman cornerback Joe Manning has been dismissed from the team for undisclosed reasons.

In the past two games, the Nole defense has allowed an average of 22 ppg and 370 ypg. Also in the past two games, FSU did not create a turnover. The coaching staff nearly pulled Weatherford for Xavier Lee at one point in the game, but decided to stay with Weatherford, who is No. 7 in passing yards for a freshman with 1602. N C State legend Philip Rivers has the record for a freshman with 3054 yards. FSU is No. 18 in third-down conversions (46%) compared to last year when they were last at 24%. (Warchant.com)

N C STATE AT WAKE FOREST: Wolfpack athletic director Lee Fowler posted a letter on the school’s website pleading for patience. N C State is 7-9 over the past two seasons after starting 34-17 under Chuck Amato. Wake quarterback Cory Randolph has struggled with an ankle sprain.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FL.
HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM AND SAMSPORTSLINE.COM.
HE CAN BE HEARD AT 6:20 P.M. ON MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS ON 930 THE FOX IN JACKSONVILLE, FLA.