LSU: The Tigers are in the Peach Bowl (against Miami) for the third time the past ten years. The Peach Bowl is only the third bowl to pair two top ten teams-the other two are the Rose and Fiesta Bowls. This is the first time that two top ten teams have played in the game. The Tigers ended up in the Peach because the Capital One, Cotton Bowl and Outback all passed on them. LSU has lost to Georgia the past two seasons by a combined score of 79-30. Strong safety Jessie Daniels did not play in the SEC title game due to a sprained ankle. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s shoulder separation will not require surgery. He is questionable for the bowl game. This is the first time LSU has played Miami since 1988 when the Canes won 44-3. Former Tiger assistant Will Muschamp, now with the Miami Dolphins, interviewed last week with Middle Tennessee officials. Receiver Early Doucet left the SEC title game with an injured ankle. His status for the bowl game is undecided. Tailback Joseph Addai could be back for the bowl game.

If Alabama and Auburn win their bowls, the Tigers and Tide join LSU and Georgia as 10 game winners. Four ten-game winners are impressive in any conference. No other conference would have as many.

ALABAMA coach Mike Shula will be getting a raise in January. He is currently making $900,000 per year. Shula’s raise is expected to put him in the $1.5 million range. He is 19-17 in three seasons at Alabama. Defensive lineman Justin Britt has had shoulder surgery and will miss the bowl game. Running backs coach Sparky Woods said despite rumors of him going to join the Tennessee staff that he was happy at Alabama. The Tide’s Cotton Bowl opponent Texas Tech averages 399 ypg passing. Four receivers have more than 60 catches. Quarterback Cody Hodges completed 67% of his passes for 4,001 yards with 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Tech is No. 26 in total defense allowing 328 ypg. Alabama is No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (10.7) and second in total defense (248 ypg). Hargrave Military Academy running back Mike Ford, a member of the 2005 signing class, has gained from 190 to 220 pounds. Ford ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. Toryan Smith (6-0, 230), a linebacker from Rome, Ga., has committed to Notre Dame. He had narrowed his list to Alabama, Florida and the Irish. Tim Tebow (6-3, 217), a quarterback from Nease High, will make his announcement next Tuesday. Southern Cal’s Pete Carroll met with him Wednesday. The LSU staff is expected to meet with him Sunday and Shula has the last in-home visit Monday.

AUBURN offensive line coach Hugh Nall has taken his name out as a candidate for the vacant Georgia Southern job. The job came open after Mike Sewak was fired. Nall, who is in his seventh year on the Tiger staff, was an assistant at Georgia Southern from 1981-84. Nall is in his seventh year as a Tiger assistant. This is the sixth straight bowl game for the Tigers under Tommy Tuberville. The Tigers have a chance to win consecutive 10 wins season for the first time since 1988-89. (Auburn’s opponent) Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez will be coaching his last game in the Outback Bowl. Wisconsin finished 9-3 in a four- way tie for third place in the Big Ten. Badger junior tailback Brian Calhoun has rushed for over 1,400 yards this season. Junior quarterback John Stocco has 19 touchdowns and nine picks. Wisconsin is No. 8 in total offense (383 ypg) and No. 9 in total defense (432 ypg) in the Big Ten. Auburn and Wisconsin played two years ago in the Music City Bowl. Auburn is No. 1 in scoring offense in the SEC (34 ppg) and total offense (425 ypg). The Tigers are third in scoring defense (14 ppg). Raven Gray (6-3, 235), a four-star defensive end from Enterprise, Ala., has committed to the Tigers. He is the No.14 strongside defensive end according to Rivals.com. Gray might still have to attend a junior college.

SOUTH CAROLINA will play Missouri in the Independence Bowl. This is USC’s 12th bowl game. Their last bowl was the Outback in 2002. This is Missouri’s third bowl since 1998. Mizzo quarterback Brad Smith ran for 1,151 yards and threw for 2,022 yards and 12 scores. Missouri lost to Arkansas in the same bowl two seasons ago. The Tigers lost three of its last four games. Gamecock running backs coach Madre Hill was fired. There is a rumor that Carl Franks, the running backs coach at South Florida, could be hired for the vacancy. The Gamecocks were ranked No. 90 nationally in rushing offense. Co-defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix was promoted to assistant head coach. With Nix calling the defensive plays, the Gamecocks allowed only 17 points per game during the last six games of the season. South Carolina’s defense had 32 sacks, the most in the past 15 years. Gamecock assistant coach Rick Stockstill is rumored to be in the mix for the Middle Tennessee job. South Carolina and Mississippi State are talking to ESPN about moving their Sept. 23, 2006 to a Thursday night for television. Gamecock officials are looking for an opponent for Sept. 16 of next year after Central Florida pulled out of the game. The Citadel might be a possibility. Coach Steve Spurrier has been chosen as the Associated Press SEC Coach- of- the Year. Spurrier said this week that he expects co-defensive coordinator John Thompson to remain on staff.

FLORIDA: This is the 20th anniversary of the Outback Bowl. Florida is playing in its 15th straight bowl game, a school record. Iowa beat Florida two seasons ago in the same bowl. Iowa lost four regular season games, the most since 2001. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has a son, Bryan, who is a defensive end for Iowa. Jim Barrie (6-5, 310), an offensive lineman from Tampa Berkeley (Fla.) Prep, committed to the Gators over the weekend. He is a four-star Rivals.com prospect. FSU, Notre Dame, Michigan and Tennessee are recruiting him. Barrie is a lifelong Gator fan. The latest commitment is Brandon Antwine (6-0, 175), a four-star defensive tackle from Garland, Texas, has chosen Florida over Southern Cal. Florida has 20 verbal commitments. Miami Dolphin assistant head coach Will Muschamp and Florida assistant Charlie Strong have been mentioned as leading candidates for the Middle Tennessee job according to the Tennessean. Defensive end Ray McDonald had the first of two knee surgeries to repair the ACL tear in his right knee. He will have surgery on his left knee Jan. 5. Jermaine Cunningham (6-3, 200), a four-star defensive end from Stone Mountain, Ga., is visiting this weekend. He likes Auburn and Florida.

MISSISSIPPI STATE backup running back Demarcus Johnson, a redshirt freshman, has decided to transfer. He was the third leading rusher on the team with 117 yards on 24 carries. Brandon Henderson (6-1, 220), a tight end from Fayetteville (Ga.) Fayette County, has committed to State. Ryan Manson (6-5, 215), a junior college receiver at Mississippi Delta, has verbally committed to State.

TENNESSEE has made several changes to the offensive staff. Receivers coach Pat Washington and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens were fired. Washington has joined Ron Prince at Kansas State. Tight ends coach Greg Adkins replaced Stephens as the O-line coach. Former Ole Miss tight ends coach Matt Luke was hired as the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach. Former Vol assistant David Cutcliffe was hired as the offensive coordinator. Three Vol juniors-defensive tackles Justin Harrell, offensive linemen Rob Smith and Arron Sears-said they will submit the required paperwork to be evaluated by the NFL as to their draft status. Tennessee has signed a series with Oregon beginning in 2010 at Knoxville and at Eugene in 2013.

ARKANSAS guard Fred Bledsoe and defensive end Michael Tate have been suspended from the team after being charged with possessing marijuana in their dorm room. Bledsoe, a sophomore, played in eight games this past season and Tate, a redshirt freshman, played in one. Hog tailback Darren McFadden underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week to repair torn cartilage in his knee. McFadden, who sustained the tear during preseason drills in August, ran for 1,113 yards in his freshman season. He was selected as the AP SEC Freshman of the Year. Mitch Mustain (6-2, 190), a heralded quarterback from Springdale, Ark., is reportedly de-committed from the Hogs. The schools mentioned with him are Tennessee, (David Cutcliffe connection), Florida, Notre Dame and South Carolina. Mustain is the No. 2 pro-style quarterback prospect. According to Rivals.com Mustain has an accurate arm, works out of the shotgun and is a good runner. His coach, Gus Malzahn, has been rumored as a possible assistant at Arkansas. Quarterback coach Roy Wittke is reportedly out at Arkansas.

KENTUCKY picked up a big commitment when Micah Johnson (6-2, 252), a linebacker/running back from Fort Campbell, made his pledge to the Wildcats last week. Johnson selected as the state’s Mr. Football, chose Kentucky over Georgia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Louisville. Johnson ran for more than 1,350 yards this season and had nearly 120 tackles.

OLE MISS linebacker Patrick Willis is in the process of deciding whether to come back for his senior season or declare himself eligible for the NFL draft. Willis was the fifth leading tackler in the nation, averaging 12.8 total tackles per game. He had 128 tackles in 10 games.

VANDERBILT quarterback Jay Cutler has been invited to play in the Senior Bowl. He is the first Commodore quarterback to play in the game since Bill Wade in 1952.

FLORIDA STATE: FSU held Virginia Tech to only 41 yards rushing to win the ACC title game in Jacksonville, Fla. They were averaging 204 ypg. Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was 26- of- 52 for 335 yards. Hokie receiver Josh Morgan caught seven passes for 128 yards. Nole quarterback Drew Weatherford was 21- of- 35 for 235 yards. Receiver Willie Reid’s 83-yard punt return early in the second half was a pivotal play in the game. Reid also caught five passes for 79 yards. On the ensuing drive, FSU safety Pat Watkins intercepted a Vick pass and Nole tailback Leon Washington scored from 14-yards out. FSU outscored Tech 24-0 in the third quarter. Tech outscored FSU 19-0 in the fourth quarter and gained 182 yards. They had a 10 play, 59- yard drive, a six -play, 78 yard drive and 13 play, 93 yard drive. FSU was 3- of- 13 on third downs and Tech was nine of 20. Tech had the ball 89 plays to 60. FSU had 12 penalties and Tech had 17. Virginia Tech had the ball for 11 more minutes. FSU’s defense sacked Vick six times. Bowden’s first home visit, despite four feet of snow, was to Myron Rolle (6-2, 214), the senior safety at the Hun School of Princeton, N. J. Rolle, a FSU commitment, said he will enroll at FSU in January. Marcus Ball (6-0, 204), a five-star linebacker from Stephenson High in Georgia, is visiting this weekend. Florida, FSU, Miami and Virginia Tech are all recruiting him. Brandon Davis (6-2, 290), a lineman from South Miami High, has committed to the Noles. Kentucky and Auburn are also recruiting him.

BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles travel to Boise to play Boise State. N C State and Clemson were chosen for bowls before BC and the Eagles beat both teams but BC doesn’t travel as well.

CLEMSON: The Tigers meet Colorado in the Champs Bowl in Orlando, Dec. 27. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurt has led Clemson to 24 wins and Colorado quarterback Joe Klatt has played in 39 games. Klatt is in the top 15 in career passing yards and completions. Colorado is No. 9 in the nation in rush defense and Clemson is No. 13 in scoring defense (18 ppg). Darius Gaither (6-0, 195), a four-star defensive back from Fairfield Central, has committed to Clemson.

MIAMI: Steven Wesley (6-3, 235), a defensive end from Bartow (Fla.) High has committed to the Canes. He chose the Canes over Ole Miss, Alabama and Ohio State. Cane officials pressured ABC into arranging a Miami-Notre Dame Fiesta Bowl, without success.

N C STATE: In Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Wolfpack will play South Florida. N C State was last in a bowl game in 2003 when they beat Kansas. Former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer (6-2, 190), who played this past season at College of the Sequoias, visited N C State last weekend. State recruited Schaeffer before he went to Tennessee. Florida, Wisconsin and Ole Miss are listed on his schools to visit. Schaeffer had 3,300 yards and accounted for 45 touchdowns last season.

VIRGINIA: Cavalier coach Al Groh lost three assistant coaches in the span of few days. Linebackers coach Danny Rocco went to Liberty as head coach. Offensive coordinator Ron Prince has been hired by Kansas. Defensive coordinator Al Golden has been hired by Temple. The Cavs have lost 19 games in the past four seasons.

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.