Georgia at Alabama: ESPN will televise the Georgia game and GameDay will be in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is back in the polls (No. 16) for the first time since 2005. The Tide had not one, but two 21 point leads before Arkansas came back and went ahead by a touchdown. Alabama came back to score the final 10 points of the game. They went ahead on quarterback John Parker Wilson’s 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Matt Caddell with :08 seconds on the clock. It was the first fourth quarter rally since Alabama won the Independence Bowl in 2001. Wilson was 22- of- 44 for 324 yards with four touchdowns and two picks and one fumble. He had career marks in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns. On Alabama’s winning nine- play, 74- yard drive, Wilson was 7- of- 8 for 56 yards. Receiver D J Hall caught six passes for 172 yards to break the career mark set by Ozzie Newsome. Caddell caught nine passes for 91 yards. Tailback Terry Grant gained 96 yards on 20 carries. Receiver Will Oakley made a 16- yard catch on a third down play that kept the final field goal drive alive. Kicker Leigh Tiffin made two field goals including a 42-yarder to pull within four points at the 4:20 mark left in the game. Tiffin missed three field goals and an extra point last year. Javier Arenas had 113 return yards. Linebacker Darren Mustin missed time with a stinger. He is hoping to be back for Georgia. The defense allowed the Hog tailbacks to rush for 301 yards. Defensive end Keith Saunders made a game-high ten tackles.

Tide offensive players of the week: Caddell and Hall; defensive POW: Mustin and Saunders and special teams POW: Tiffin and Tyrone King. Alabama leads the series record, 35-24-4, but Georgia has won the past two games played in 2002 and 2003. Alabama has yet to defend an offense as balanced as Georgia’s.

Georgia had ten different receivers catch the football in the win over Western Carolina including seven different wide outs combining with 12 receptions for 159 yards. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was 14- of- 20 for 174 yards and two scores. Tailback Knowshon Moreno was six yards shy of the 100- yard mark. The defense held Western Carolina to only 201 yards. Offensive lineman Chester Adams didn’t start because he was being disciplined by offensive line coach Stacey Searels. Clint Boling, a freshman, replaced him. Four of the Bulldog offensive linemen will be playing their first road game. Running back Kregg Lumpkin could be ready for special teams play. Georgia is 1-7 against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Bulldogs are 22-3 on the road under Richt.

Kentucky at Arkansas: Hog tailback Darren McFadden ran 34 times for 200 yards and two scores in the loss to Alabama. McFadden sat out the Hogs last drive with a slight concussion. Quarterback Casey Dick, who was 11- of- 23 for 145 yards, threw three touchdown passes and one pick. The Hogs ran for 301 yards. Defensive lineman Ernest Mitchell, who had four tackles and a sack, was ejected in the third quarter for a personal foul on Alabama offensive lineman Justin Britt. Fred Bledsoe replaces him. Coach Houston Nutt has made secondary changes to deal with Kentucky’s Andre Woodson. He has moved senior Michael Grant to cornerback and senior Kevin Woods to safety. Tight end Ben Cleveland is looking at a redshirt season due to a pinched nerve. Receiver Marcus Monk is still doubtful after two knee surgeries. In Nutt’s nine years every time he has lost the first SEC game, they lost the next conference game.

Kentucky is in the top 25 for the first time since 1984. The Wildcats beat Louisville with :34 seconds left in the game when quarterback Andre Woodson, who was 30- of- 46 for 270 yards and four scores, hit receiver Steve Johnson for a 34-yard scoring play. Woodson has thrown 257 straight passes without an interception. Wildcat tailback Rafael Little ran for 150 yards and receiver Kennan Burton caught 10 passes for 100 yards. The Wildcats beat Louisville for the first time in five years. It was Kentucky’s first win over a top- ten opponent since they beat Penn State in 1977. Receiver Kennan Burton will likely play with a slightly sprained ankle. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard is averaging 11 tackles per game.

New Mexico State at Auburn: The Tigers have sustained two straight home losses—the first time that has happened since 1999. Auburn is committing too many turnovers (10 against Mississippi State and South Florida). The Tigers are last in the nation in turnovers margin after committing 13. Freshman quarterback Kodi Burns replaced starter Brandon Cox. Burns gained 86 yards rushing and 67 yards passing. The Tigers lost despite 217 yards rushing. Tailback Mario Fannin continues to fumble. The problem is with Brad Lester suspended and Tristan Davis hurt, the Tigers have few options at tailback. Freshmen and sophomores have scored Auburn’s 60 points. Linebacker Tray Blackmon, who has not played since the Kansas State game, is still struggling with a sprained ankle. Merrill Johnson, another linebacker, is out with a shoulder injury. Senior offensive lineman Leon Hart is out for several weeks with a separated shoulder.

New Mexico State (2-1), coached by Hal Mumme, formerly of Kentucky, beat UTEP last week. The Aggies are No. 5 in passing offense (398 ypg) and No. 11 in the nation in total offense (523 ypg). Junior Chase Holbrook ranked No. 4 in total offense (390 ypg). Junior receiver Chris Williams, who led the nation with 92 catches last year, has seven touchdowns in the first three games.

Florida at Ole Miss: The Rebels lead the Florida series 11-9-1. Ole Miss won the last two games against Florida by three point margins in 2002 and 2003 during Ron Zook’s era. Receiver Riley Cooper is limited with a sprained ankle. Defensive back Markihe Anderson has a PCL injury, but he can play. Offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey is day- to- day with a low ankle sprain. Receiver Bubba Caldwell and Bryan Thomas are a week away.

The Gators have outscored Tennessee, 34-3, during the tenure of Urban Meyer. After Tennessee pulled within eight points, the Gators scored 31 unanswered points. Quarterback Tim Tebow was 14- of- 19 for 299 yards and two scores against Tennessee. He rushed for 61 yards. Tebow, who has eight touchdown passes and one pick, has thrown for 835 yards on 45- of- 61 passing. Receiver Percy Harvin had four catches for 120 yards and rushed for 75 yards. The Gator’s are averaging 55 points and 521 yards per game. Florida is No. 71 in pass defense (233 ypg), but No. 6 against the run (46 ypg). The Gator secondary had 19 chances to make plays against Tennessee and made 18. Freshman linebacker Jerimy Finch is out for the year after breaking his leg and sustaining ligament damage against Tennessee.

Ole Miss quarterback Seth Adams has a sore shoulder, but he is expected to play against Florida. Adams was sacked and hurt his shoulder in the loss to Vandy. Brent Schaeffer replaced him and could start if Adams can’t go. Michael Herrick could also see action. Adams is fifth in the league in pass efficiency and passing yards per game. The Rebels have scored 65 points in its first three games. Memphis quarterback Martin Hankins threw for 343 yards against Ole Miss, Chase Daniel for 330 and Vandy’s Chris Nickson for 200.

The Rebels allowed 183 yards rushing and 200 yards passing to the Commodores. Tailback Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis gained only 66 yards on 21 carries. Ole Miss averaged only 1.3 yards per rush. The Rebels gained 208 yards passing, including 94 on two plays to receiver Mike Wallace, who has two straight 100- yard games. Ole Miss has struggled against teams that run the spread offense. Special teams have also been a problem. Vanderbilt collected six quarterback sacks and seven tackles for loss in the Ole Miss game. The Rebels ran for only 54 yards. Coach Ed Orgeron is putting more emphasis on the three new linebackers making plays. Junior linebacker Ashlee Palmer is the second leading tackler in the league with 32. His teammate, junior defensive back Jamarca Sanford, leads the SEC averaging 11 tackles per game. Middle linebacker Tony Fein and Chris Strong are expected to improve. Cassius Vaughn has replaced Terrell Jackson at cornerback. The Rebels are struggling to make tackles. They missed 25 in the loss to Missouri.

South Carolina at LSU: Starting quarterback Matt Flynn is expected to be back for South Carolina. Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, who was subbing for injured starter Matt Flynn, had a career day completing 20- of- 26 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Middle Tennessee. Eight different ball carries averaged five yards per carry. Receiver Early Doucet missed the game with a groin injury. His status is yet to be determined. Jared Mitchell, Demetrius Byrd and Terrance Toliver combined for nine catches for 183 yards and two scores. Offensive lineman Will Arnold has a viral infection in his knees that caused him to miss the MTSU game. Ten different Tigers caught passes and eight LSU players ran the ball. Middle Tennessee gained 550 yards against Louisville. LSU held the Blue Raiders to less than 90 yards. The Tigers lead the nation in scoring defense, total defense and pass efficiency defense. Linebacker Ali Highsmith leads the team with 21 tackles. Safety Craig Steltz leads the nation with four picks. LSU has won its first three games by a combined score of 137- to- 7. Tiger starting defensive lineman Charles Alexander will miss Saturday’s game with an injury.

USC will be missing defensive lineman Nathan Pepper, who tore a knee ligament after reaching the end zone with an interception and defensive back Brandon Isaac, who is nursing his shoulder, the one he had repaired by surgery in the offseason. Offensive lineman Gurminder Thind is also doubtful with an ankle sprain. Guard James Thompson, who was suspended for the first three games for violation of school policy, could play, but won’t start against LSU. Freshman defensive end Cliff Matthews will likely replace Pepper.

South Carolina has won six straight games. Coach Steve Spurrier wants more consistency from quarterback Blake Mitchell, who was 14- of- 21 for 147 yards with three touchdowns. Mitchell, who is 13-6, also threw three picks and was sacked twice. South Carolina has never beaten a team ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation. Kicker Ryan Succop has six touchbacks. USC is 11 –of- 11 in the red zone.

South Carolina’s defense has not allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters. They have allowed only 29 points in three games. USC is No. 29 nationally in total defense allowing an average of 306 ypg. The Gamecocks are 3-0 for the first time in six years. Two Gamecock running backs eclipsed the 100- yard mark in the win over South Carolina State. Mike Davis ran for 102 yards and Cory Boyd gained 132. The Tigers have dominated this series 14-2-1. This will be a battle of two of the best defenses in the league.

Gardner-Webb at Mississippi State: The challenge this week for State Coach Sly Croom is to not give away the momentum they gained last week with the Auburn win. Croom has had big victories over Florida, Alabama and Auburn, but his team has also lost to I-AA Maine. The State defense picked off three Auburn passes. Tailback Anthony Dixon ran 29 times for 101 yards. Christian Ducre added 64 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback Michael Henig is injured again, this time with a broken finger on his throwing hand. After undergoing surgery this week, Henig is out for two to four weeks. Wesley Carroll and Josh Riddell will share quarterback duties this week. State is No. 4 in the SEC in total defense, allowing only 304 ypg. For the ninth straight game, State didn’t allow an opponent to rush for 100 yards.

Gardner-Webb is 1-1 on the season. The Running Bulldogs beat Jacksonville University last week for their first win of the season. Junior David Campbell might be the best quarterback on the two teams. Sophomore tailback David Montgomery is fast enough to be a threat.

Arkansas State at Tennessee: After the Gator loss, Vol Coach Phil Fulmer is, 16-13, in his last 29 games. Once again turnovers (two picks and a lost fumble) and a lack of a running game (37 yards on 21 carries) cost the Vols in another loss to Florida. In Tennessee’s last five games against ranked opponents, Tennessee is averaging 83 yards rushing and allowing 218 ypg. They are 1-5 in those games. In those five games, they have allowed three punt returns and one kickoff return for a touchdown.

Against Florida co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison in the last four years, Tennessee is 0-4 and averaged only 37 yards rushing. One of those years was when Mattison was with Notre Dame. Quarterback Erik Ainge, who is still obviously struggling with his broken pinky, averaged only 9.5 yards per completion. In the red zone, Tennessee was only 3- of- 10 for 33 yards, one score and one pick. Defensively, the Vols have allowed more than 40 points in two of their three losses. The Vols allowed Florida to convert 7- of- 14 third downs. Florida gained nearly 300 yards on Tennessee in only 11 plays. Tennessee was outscored, 24-0, in the fourth quarter. Florida averaged 21 yards per catch. Daniel Lincoln continues his fine kicking after making two field goals. Tennessee has allowed punt returns for touchdowns against Cal and Florida. The Vols are 1-2 under Fulmer for only the second time. They were 1-3 in 1994, but rebounded to win seven of eight games. Tennessee hasn’t finished in the top 20 in rushing since 1999 when they were No. 20. The Vols are 5- of- 16 this year when faced with third and three yards or shorter. Even Fulmer’s most avid supports and former players are questioning whether or not he would survive a bad season. The Vol offensive line has allowed only two sacks this year.

Arkansas State, 1-1 on the season, beat SMU last week, 45-28, as quarterback Corey Leonard, a very good dual-threat quarterback, ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more. Leonard had 259 yards passing against Texas. He had a career high 266 yards passing against SMU. Reggie Arnold had a personal best 156 yards rushing. Tyrell Johnson had 14 tackles against Texas. Junior defensive end Brian Flagg has started 23 of his 24 career games.

Vanderbilt is off this week after beating Ole Miss. Tailback Cassen Jackson-Garrison ran for 119 yards and three scores. Quarterback Chris Nickson threw for 200 yards and ran for 55 more. Receiver Earl Bennett caught 11 passes for 100 yards.

ACC NOTES

Army at Boston College: Quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 435 yards on 30- of- 45 passing in the win over Georgia Tech. Tailbacks L V Whitworth and Andre Callender combined for 102 yards and two touchdowns. The receivers were much improved especially with Brandon Robinson’s 46-yard catch. Five holding penalties were called on the offensive line. The BC rush defense is ranked No. 4 nationally. BC held Tech running back Tashard Choice to only 31 yards. Linebackers Jolonn Dunbar, Mark Herzlich and Tyronne Pruitt were a big part of stuffing the run. The secondary has improved its tackling. BC could be 7-0 before facing Virginia Tech.

Clemson at N C State: The Tigers had little problem in beating Furman. Quarterback Cullen Harper has completed 36 of his last 45 passes for 536 yards and eight touchdowns. Offensive lineman Thomas Austin, a sophomore right guard, is favoring a bad ankle. Tailback C J Spiller ran for only (-1 yard). The Paladins had five sacks and held the Tigers to only 60 yards rushing on 33 carries. Safety Mike Hamlin had a pick, a fumble recovery, two pass-breakups and four tackles. Bowden is 5-3 against State including three straight wins. State defensive coordinator is Mike Archer, the former Kentucky defensive coordinator who Clemson played last year in the bowl game.

N C State allowed Wofford to run for 211 yards in the win last week. The Wolfpack are hurting without tackles DeMario Pressley (knee scoped) and his replacement junior John Bedics (ankle injury). Last year, linebacker LeRue Rumph had 13 tackles and a sack against Clemson.

Georgia Tech at Virginia: Tech committed 10 penalties and was only 2 of 14 on third down in the loss to BC. Quarterback Taylor Bennett was 20- of- 39 for 204 yards. Tech has yet to commit a turnover. Choice is very limited with a hamstring injury. If he can’t play then Jonathan Dwyer, Rashaun Grant and Jamaal Evans will fill in. Tech has not won in Virginia since 1990.

Virginia beat North Carolina by two points on the strength of 186 yards rushing by tailback Cedric Peerman and five field goals by Chris Gould.

Maryland at Wake Forest: Demon Deacon quarterback Riley Skinner could be back for the Maryland game. Receiver Kenneth Moore is averaging 148 all- purpose yards per game. The Wake defense is No. 10 in the league, allowing 277 yards passing per game.

Maryland leads the ACC in total defense allowing only 266 yards per game. Quarterback Jordan Steffy, who is No. 4 in the league in pass efficiency, has been sacked ten times this season, many on coverage sacks. Coach Ralph Friedgen might be ready to loosen the reigns on the offense by getting the ball to playmakers like tailback Keon Lattimore and receiver Darius Heyward-Bey. Linebacker Erin Henderson is averaging 10 tackles per game.

North Carolina at South Florida: Quarterback T J Yates has nine touchdowns in three games after the loss to Virginia. Brooks Foster has 13 catches for 255 yards and two touchdowns on the season. The Bulls won this game easily at Chapel Hill last year. UNC is two field goals away from winning the last two games, but they have also committed five more turnovers than their opponents at the same time.

Florida State is off after beating Colorado last week. The Nole defense had its most impressive performance of the season holding the Buffs to only (-27 yards rushing) and 306 passing. Junior cornerback Tony Carter picked off the first two interceptions of the season for the secondary. FSU had 126 yards passing and 221 yards total offense. FSU was only 1 of 13 on third down. Punter Graham Gano averaged 48 yards per punt and Preston Parker returned six punts for 84 yards. FSU is No. 89 in total offense. Quarterback Drew Weatherford is 47- of- 87 for 600 yards with one pick and four touchdowns. Tight end Charlie Graham is struggling with a hamstring injury. Receiver Greg Carr leads the team with 153 receiving yards and 19 yards per catch. Defensive lineman Andre Fluellen will be recovered from his elbow injury enough to play against Alabama.

Duke at Navy: The Blue Devils snapped their 22 game losing streak as quarterback Thaddeus Lewis threw three touchdown passes. Northwestern outgained Duke 506 yards to 309.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR MYCLAYSUN IN ORANGE PARK, FLA. HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON SPORTS RADIO 1010 XL.