GEORGIA: Quarterback D J Shockley, who was 15- of- 34 for 198 yards, threw the winning score to Bryan McClendon with 3:18 left in the game in the win over Georgia Tech. Defensive back Thomas Flowers had a 33- yard punt return to set up the Bulldogs in Tech territory. On the ensuing drive, Tim Jennings intercepted Yellow Jacket quarterback Reggie Ball at the goal line. Freshman receiver Mohamed Massaquoi caught six passes for 71 yards. Tight end Leonard Pope had four catches for 64 yards. Tight end Kregg Lumpkin led the Bulldogs in rushing with 11 carries for 74 yards. The defense forced three turnovers. Georgia has beaten Georgia Tech five straight times and 12- of- the last 15 against Tech. Linebacker Tony Taylor will play this week. Lumpkin might have earned a starting nod after his performance against Tech. Five of LSU’s wins came by four points or fewer. Georgia is 2-2 in games decided by seven points or less.

BOWL GAMES: The loser of the title game has gone to the Capital One Bowl four of the last six years. Most indications say Auburn will be playing in the Capital One. The Cotton bowl has the first right of refusal on a SEC West team and the Outback on a team from the SEC East. Alabama hasn’t been to the Cotton Bowl since 1981. The SEC is still not happy with the Outback taking Kentucky over Georgia years ago, which ended up in the Peach Bowl. The Outback is enamored with South Carolina. Starting next year the Capital One, Cotton and Outback will each be required to take the title game loser at least once. Bowl possibilities this year are Sugar Bowl: LSU or Georgia vs. West Virginia; Capital One: Auburn vs. Wisconsin; Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Texas Tech; Outback: South Carolina vs. Michigan; Peach Bowl: Georgia vs. Boston College; Independence: Florida vs. Missouri.

TENNESSEE: Offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stevens and receiver coach Pat Washington have been fired from the Vol staff. Former assistant coach David Cutcliffe was named Monday as the offensive coordinator. Ole Miss tight end coach Matt Luke joined Cutcliffe. Vol tight ends coach Greg Adkins is now the offensive line coach. Quarterback Erik Ainge was 17- of- 25 for 221 yards and two scores. Kentucky had the ball three times inside the Tennessee 10-yard line, but came away with only two field goals. Tailback Arian Foster carried 26 times for 114 yards and had five catches for 44 yards. Kentucky quarterback Andre’ Woodson went out due to a shoulder injury in the second quarter. He was replaced by freshman backup Curtis Pulley, who was 23- of- 33 for 149 yards. Blake Garrettson (6-4, 280), an offensive lineman from Morristown, Tenn., is commitment No. 9 for the Vols.

OLE MISS: Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has been officially fired. Ole Miss was No. 111 in total offense and averaged an SEC- low 13.5 ppg. Linebacker Patrick Willis is weighing his NFL options.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Backup running back Demarcus Johnson, a redshirt freshman, has decided to transfer. Johnson was the third leading running back with 117 yards on 24 carries.

AUBURN: Assistant coach Hugh Nall is rumored to be a contender for the vacant Georgia Southern head coaching job.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Running back coach Madre Hill has been fired. Co-defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix has been promoted to assistant head coach.

ALABAMA: Coach Mike Shula will be given a raise expected to be around $1.4-1.5 million per year next month. Shula is currently making $900,000 per year.

ARKANSAS: Springdale, Ark., quarterback commitment Mitch Mustain said this week that he will continue to talk to coaches, but he remains committed to Arkansas. His team is in the playoffs. In ten games this season, Mustain has 36 touchdowns and five picks. Rivals.com ranks him as No. 17 in the nation.

FLORIDA: On the first score of the game in the win over Florida State, receiver Chad Jackson was covered by a linebacker and quarterback Chris Leak took advantage of the mismatch. Florida’s second score came when defensive back Reggie Lewis took a blocked field goal by defensive lineman Marcus Thomas back 52 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, defensive back Jarvis Herring had an interception at the Gator 1-yard and returned it 26 yards. Florida scored 17 points in the fourth quarter on a 34-yard field goal from Chris Hetland, a short touchdown pass from Leak to Dallas Baker after FSU tailback Leon Washington’s fumble and a short run by Markus Manson, who led the Gators in rushing with 39 yards on 11 carries. The Gators ran for 73 yards. Leak was 19- of- 28 for 211 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Jackson led all receivers with nine catches for 97 yards and one score. Herring had nine tackles, an interception, and forced a fumble. Freshman cornerback Avery Atkins intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and broke up two passes. Cornerback Dee Webb had six tackles, forced a fumble and broke up a pass. The defense had 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and held FSU to less than 50 yards rushing. Florida was unbeaten at home for the first time since 2000. Florida beat its biggest rivals Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State. Leak, Jackson, Thomas and Webb are expected to gather information on the NFL draft.

Gator bowl game possibilities: Independence Bowl-if Georgia beats LSU and LSU ends up in the Outback Bowl. A Georgia win could put UF in Shreveport. If Georgia loses and the Outback bowl takes them, then the Peach would have the option of taking Florida over South Carolina. If LSU wins and Outback takes Florida over Georgia it would send Georgia to Peach and South Carolina to Independence.

Florida recruiting: Bryan Thomas (6-0, 180), an athlete from Zephyrhills, Fla, committed to the Gators. He is still going to visit South Carolina and Ohio State. Jarred Fayson (6-0, 180), from Tampa, Fla., has also committed to the Gators. He runs a 4.3 in the 40-yards dash. Fason is the No. 48 overall recruit according to Rivals.com. Jacques Rickerson (5-10, 176), the cornerback from St. Augustine, Fla., also committed this weekend. Brandon James (5-6, 167), a running back from St. Augustine (Fla.) High, committed to Florida, Monday morning. He is Rickerson’s half-brother. Toryan Smith (6-0, 230), an inside linebacker from Rome, Ga., visited last weekend. He will announce his decision on ESPNU, Dec. 5. Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida are his three top choices. Brandon Spikes (6-4, 235), a Rivals.com four-star linebacker from Crest Senior High in Shelby, N. C., is down to Florida, Alabama and Virginia Tech. His team plays in the state semifinals this weekend. Lawrence Marsh (6-5, 260), a defensive tackle from Josey High in Augusta, Ga., has committed to Florida over Auburn, Clemson and Notre Dame. Trent Pupello (6-3, 245), a tight end from Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson, has committed to Florida. Larry Grant (6-2, 220), a linebacker from City College of San Francisco, was the latest commitment. He is the top rated junior college linebacker. Florida has 19 verbals.

FLORIDA STATE: FSU has lost three straight games for the first times since 1983. They have lost their last two games by a combined 48 points, the worst since 1981. FSU was 3- of- 11 on third downs. Quarterback Drew Weatherford was 24- of- 42 for 285 yards with two picks and one touchdown. Receivers Willie Reid (seven catches for 66 yards) and De’Cody Fagg (five catches for 68 yards) led the Noles. Washington led the Noles in rushing with 46 yards on 11 carries. FSU gained 49 yards on 28 carries. Tailback Lorenzo Booker, who boasted earlier in the week, had six carries for four yards. They had seven penalties for 54 yards. Two of Florida’s drives that ended in field goals were aided by personal foul penalties by Ernie Sims and Kyler Hall when Florida had third and long both times FSU committed four turnovers. FSU has had six different lineups due to injuries on the offensive line. Senior Ron Lunford replaced Cory Niblock. Bowden has 358 wins and Joe Paterno had 353. Bobby Bowden is 6-0 against Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer. FSU is out of the top 25 for the first time since Nov. 2001. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie has decided that he is returning next season. There is also hope that defensive lineman Clifton Dickson will be eligible by next summer. Junior linebacker Ernie Sims has been quite on his return for next season. Defensive lineman Kamerion Wimbley, who missed the Gator game with a sprained MCL, will not play in the ACC title game. FSU opponents have scored at least 20 points in each of the last seven games. That is a first for defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews. FSU is No. 3 in total defense in the ACC. Since the first quarter of the Wake Forest game, opponents are 21- of- 21 scoring inside the Nole redzone. Andrews said one of the problems is the team has not been able to work in full pads in five weeks. Receiver Kenny O’Neal will miss the game after serving a one-game suspension for missing the bus back to Tallahassee from Gainesville. Lunford will start at guard in Cornelius Lewis (suspended for first half) spot, Mario Henderson and David Overmyer will start at tackle. The team asked for and got to work in pads this week.

FSU recruiting: Tim Rawlinson (6-1, 215), a linebacker/safety from Prattville, Ala., committed to the Noles. Marcus Sims (6-0, 211), a two-way star at North Florida Christian, is looking at FSU, Miami, Tennessee, Southern Cal and Alabama. He visits FSU on Jan. 27.

MARYLAND: Terp defensive coordinator Gary Blackney retired after the loss to N. C. State. Maryland has had consecutive 5-6 seasons.

MIAMI: Quarterback Kyle Wright was 23- of- 30 for 248 yards in the win over Virginia. He ran for a career-long 31 yards to set up the go-ahead score. Tailback Charlie Jones ran 88 yards and two scores. Virginia scored on a 90 yards scoring pass from Marques Hagans to Deyon Williams, the longest play allowed in Miami history. Coach Larry Coker said he envisions Devin Hester as more of a Reggie Bush type threat in the future. Hester said he is likely to stay for his senior year. Defensive tackle Baraka Atkins is uncommitted. Senior offensive tackle Eric Winston might be the only first round pick. A crowd of 36,629 watched the Virginia game.

CLEMSON: Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning has spurned an offer from Texas A & M to replace the recently fired Carl Torbush. Clemson was ranked No. 16 nationally, the best ranking in eight years.

VIRGINIA: Hagans was 15- of- 28 for 206 yards in the loss to Miami. Tailback Wali Lundy gained 61 yards on 16 carries. Williams caught six passes for 152 yards. Virginia has never won in the state of Florida. Offensive coordinator Ron Prince has emerged as a leading candidate for the Kansas State job.

VIRGINIA TECH: Tailback Cedric Humes ran for 134 yards and two scores in the win over North Carolina. His teammate, tailback Branden Ore gained 104 yards on 17 carries. Tech outgained UNC rushing 277 to 36 yards. Quarterback Marcus Vick was 8- of- 15 for 61 yards. After leading at halftime, 6-3, Tech scored 21 unanswered points. Tech has the best passing defense in the nation. They have not allowed a 300-yard passer since the season opener. In the last three games, Vick has thrown for 321 yards and rushed for 40. Tech’s top rated pass defense, has not allowed a 300-passer since the season opener. Defensive end Darryl Tapp has 34 quarterback hurries and nine sacks.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels faced opponents that had a 75-47 record. The defense under Marvin Sanders improved to No. 44 nationally. Carolina was last in the ACC in rushing averaging 108 yards per game. Offensive coordinator Gary Tranquil has announced his retirement.

N C STATE: The Wolfpack got their sixth win against Maryland. Cornerback Marcus Hudson returned one of his two picks for a clinching score. Defensive end Mario Williams had four sacks and the Wolfpack defense allowed minus 6 yards in the third quarter. State lost four of its first six games.

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.