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One of the big debates in college football is which conference is better the SEC or Big 12. Fans drool over the offensive numbers put up by Big 12 schools. The SEC is known for its defense, but during the offseason, conference schools need to significantly improve on offense. Four SEC teams-Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt- were ranked in the 100s in total offense stats last week and two more-South Carolina and Kentucky-were No. 80 or worse. Part of the problem is inconsistency at quarterback. Each of the above teams have played multiple quarterbacks and struggled with inadequate running attacks throughout the season. Conversely, eight SEC teams were in the top 24 in total defense last week. The SEC need not be as flashy as the Big 12 on offense, but league coaches need to look at what is not working on offense during the offseason.
The SEC is 28-7 in non-conference games this season.
AUBURN AT OLE MISS: The Tigers are going to be hard pressed to rebound after allowing West Virginia 31 straight points in last Thursday's loss in Morgantown. The Tiger defense allowed Mountaineer tailback Noel Devine to rush for 207 yards. Auburn had 11 missed tackles in the second half that cost amounted to 99 yards. Tiger quarterback Kodi Burns was 13- of- 21 for 111 yards with one score and one pick. He also added 82 yards. Auburn gained only 33 yards in the second half. The Tigers have lost three straight games which haven't happened since Tuberville's first season in 1999. Auburn lost for only the ninth time under Tuberville when leading at the half. The Tigers have led at halftime in every game this season, but they have been outscored 90-46 in the second half and blown four leads. Tiger running back Brad Lester, who had 13 carries against West Virginia, could benefit the most from the most recent offensive changes. Defensive end Antonio Coleman leads the SEC with 10.5 tackles for loss.
OLE MISS, coached by former Arkansas head man Houston Nutt, evened its record at 4-4 after beating the Hogs by two points. Quarterback Jevan Snead was 14- of- 27 for 209 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Receiver Mike Wallace caught five passes for 120 yards and one score. Tailback Cordera Eason led the Rebel running backs with 81 yards. Receiver Dexter McCluster carried 11 times for 52 yards. Joshua Shene kicked three field goals. Defensive end Greg Hardy, who was bothered by a foot injury, didn't get in the game until late in the fourth quarter. Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe did not play.
TULSA AT ARKANSAS: The Hogs have to win three of their last four games to be bowl eligible after losing a close game to Ole Miss. Hog quarterback Casey Dick was 20- of- 38 for 282 yards with two touchdowns and one score. Tailback Michael Smith ran 19 times for 129 yards. Tight end D. J. Williams caught 10 passes for 129 yards. There was a very questionable offensive pass interference play on receiver London Crawford that would have made the difference late in the game. Hog freshman linebacker Elton Ford is out for the year with a neck injury. Arkansas is No. 117 nationally in sacks allowed.
For the second straight week, the Hogs welcome back a former staff member. Gus Malzahn, the former legendary high school coach and Arkansas assistant, is the Tulsa offensive coordinator for the highest scoring team (55 ppg) in the nation. Tulsa's lowest scoring total this season was 37 points in a win over SMU. Tulsa quarterback David Johnson, who has 32 touchdowns and nine picks, leads the nation in pass efficiency. They also average more than 600 yards (255 yards rushing and 346 yards passing) per game. Slick Shelley, a former Tennessee transfer, has 25 catches for 457 yards and six scores this season.
GEORGIA VS FLORIDA (JACKSONVILLE): Coach Mark Richt's road records improved to 28-4 and 10-2 against ranked foes after the LSU win. He is looking for career win No. 80 in his 100th game. Richt is 9-8 in neutral site games. Georgia forced three turnovers and committed none. The Bulldogs scored double digits in every quarter in the win over LSU. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was 17- of- 26 for 249 yards and two scores. He also scored on a 7-yard touchdown. Stafford, who has 12 touchdowns and five picks, could be one of the few quarterbacks to beat Gator quarterback Tim Tebow twice in his career. Moreno, who gained 163 yards on 21 carries, has rushed for over 100 yards a total of 11 times. Freshman receiver A. J. Green caught three passes for 89 yards. He also added 22 yards rushing. Linebacker Darryl Gamble, who played for the injured Dannell Ellerbe, returned two Jarrett Lee passes 40 and 53 yards for touchdowns. He also made a career high 13 tackles. Gamble has 25 tackles in the last three games.
The last three times (2004, 2005 and 2008) Georgia has LSU the margin was at least 14 points. Florida was the last team to accomplish that feat from 1999-2001. Georgia's defense allowed it first 100-yard rusher (Charles Scott-144 yards) last week and Lee and Andrew Hatch threw for 309 yards.
Keys for Georgia: stop the big plays. Against LSU, the Bulldogs allowed LSU eight plays that went for 260 yards. Florida may have at least five players who are faster than any Bulldog defender. Georgia's interior defense-Geno Atkins, Corvey Irvin, and Kade Weston, is crucial in the game of stopping the running attack. Last year, Georgia was able to fill the gaps and redirect the Florida runners. Kicker Blair Walsh is only 2-of-5 in his last two games. Will Georgia punt to Brandon James? Georgia has not allowed a punt return for a touchdown since 2001. Only one back in Georgia history-Herschel Walker-has rushed for over 1,000 in two straight seasons. Moreno is 76 yards away from 1,000 for two straight seasons.
The Bulldogs allowed one sack in the LSU game and have given up just one in the last three games. In eight games, the offensive line has allowed only nine sacks. The offensive line-Clint Boling, Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones, Chris Davis and Justin Anderson-are playing the third straight game together as a unit.
These are the two winningest programs in the SEC over the past 10 years. Georgia is 104-31 and Florida is 99-35. Stafford and Tebow have a combined record of 39-10.Tebow is 15-5 and Stafford is 24-5. In the 39 wins, both quarterbacks have thrown 68 touchdowns and 22 picks. This is the first time since 1983 that both teams are ranked this high in the AP top 10. Last year, Stafford was 11- of- 18 for 217 yards and a career high three touchdowns and a pick against Florida. Moreno ran for 188 yards and three scores. Tebow was 14- of- 21 for 236 yards and a touchdown. He ran for two scores. Receiver Percy Harvin rushed 10 times for 97 yards and caught two passes for 41 yards.
FLORIDA: The Gators have scored 15 touchdowns in the past two games. They have scored 152 points in three games. The Gators have allowed 125 yards per game rushing in the past four games. Florida leads the league in scoring defense allowing less than 12 points per game. Gator running backs have accounted for 896 yards on 127 carries (7.1 ypc). Jeff Demps is averaging 11.9 ypc.
Freshmen Willie Green and Demps, who also had a 61-yard touchdown catch and run, blocked punts in the Kentucky win. Tebow, who was 11-of-15 for 180 yards, accounted for four scores. Safety Ahmad Black picked off a pass and returned it 40 yards for a score.
Quarterback John Brantley threw his first touchdown pass in the Kentucky game.
Three defensive tackles-Troy Epps (knee injury), John Brown (recovering from wrist injury) and Torrey Davis (not meet expectations)-didn't play. Freshman safety Will Hill had a team high 11 tackles. Running back Emmanuel Moody (ankle) and offensive lineman Jim Tartt (shoulder) are expected to play. Coach Urban Meyer said the reason Florida lost the game was because the team didn't tackle well, the defense busted coverages and the offensive line didn't protect Tebow. Freshman defensive back Janoris Jenkins should play despite a bruised shin. Linebacker Dustin Doe should also see action.
Meyer has put a gag order on his team this week to not discuss the infamous Georgia end zone celebration. However in his book URBAN'S WAY, he said, "That wasn't right. It was a bad deal. And it will be forever in the mind of Urban Meyer and in the mind of our football team. So we'll handle it. And it's going to be a big deal." A Gator win means Florida will be 16-3 since 1990 and will have gone 20 years without losing two straight games.
Keys for Florida: Cornerback Joe Haden and Jenkins, who are both under six-feet tall against the taller Georgia receivers A. J. Green (6-4) and Mohamed Massaquoi (6-2). Florida, who leads the SEC and is ranked ninth in pass efficiency defense, has 10 interceptions and five touchdowns.
TULANE AT LSU: The Tigers have allowed 103 points in losses to Florida and Georgia. LSU had never allowed at least 50 points twice in one season. In the two defeats, LSU has allowed 450 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Quarterback Jarrett Lee, who was 14- of- 28 for 285 yards, threw three picks in the loss to Georgia last week. Lee has thrown nine picks and 11 touchdowns. Four of his interceptions have been returned for touchdowns. Tailback Charles Scott, who ran 21 times for 144 yards, has rushed for over 100 yards in five games. Kicker David Colt scored eight points to become the leading scorer in Tiger history. He is six points ahead of Kevin Faulk. Tulane has lost three straight games after Rice beat them last week.
For the third time in seven games, the Tiger defense didn't force a turnover. LSU has forced an SEC-low seven turnovers and have 16 sacks. Miles admitted that freshman Jordan Jefferson might see more playing time with the leg injury to Andrew Hatch.
Tulane running back Andre Anderson, who had over 800 yards rushing, will not play after having season-ending shoulder surgery. LSU has beaten Tulane 16 straight times. Tulane has struggled on special teams.
KENTUCKY AT MISSISSIPPI STATE: In an effort to jump start the 96th ranked offense; Coach Rich Brooks is switching quarterbacks from Mike Hartline to freshman Randall Cobb. He becomes the first freshman quarterback to start since Tim Couch in 1996. Their passing numbers are similar, but Cobb is a better runner. There were not many positives for Kentucky in the Florida game. The Gator loss was the worst defeat since 1996 when they lost to Florida, 65-0. Backup quarterback Randall Cobb was 9- of- 18 for 78 yards. Starting quarterback Mike Hartline completed only 7- of- 16 passes for 33 yards. Kentucky special teams were especially dismal allowing two blocked punts in the first few minutes. The Wildcats are looking to become bowl eligible with a win over State.
Mississippi State earned a much needed win over Middle Tennessee last week on the strength of tailback Anthony Dixon's 124 yards and three touchdowns. Dixon had his eighth career 100- yard rushing game. He set a school record with his 29th career touchdown and 596th carry. Quarterback Tyson Lee was 17- of- 25 for 199 yards. State gained over 300 yards for only the fourth time this season. Defensive back Derek Pegues became the SEC career leading kick returner with 2,321 yards after he took back four kicks for 88 yards.
ARKANSAS STATE AT ALABAMA: The Tide created a two- game cushion in the divisional race with their win over Tennessee and LSU's loss to Georgia. For the first time since 1991-92, Alabama defeated Tennessee two years in a row. Alabama has won three of the last four against Tennessee. The Tide improved their record in Knoxville to 21-20-1. Coach Nick Saban said his team played its most complete game of the season since the Clemson opener. Alabama held the ball for 22 minutes in the second half. Quarterback John Parker Wilson was 17- of- 24 for 188 yards with no interceptions. Wilson has yet to commit a turnover on the road this year. He completed passes to nine different receivers against the Vols. Wilson was not sacked in the Tennessee game. Fullback/tailback Roy Upchurch led the Tide in rushing with 86 yards in 14 carries. Tailback Glen Coffee added 78 yards rushing. Receiver Julio Jones caught six passes for 106 yards, his first 100-yard game. Jones was the main target when Tennessee stacked the line. Consecutive catches by receiver Will Oakley and tight end Brad Smelley got the Tide out of a 2nd-and-17 hole in a scoring drive. The Tide defense held Tennessee to 36 yards rushing, 173 total yards and only nine points. Freshman Marcel Dareus saw more playing time at defensive tackle. Josh Chapman made three solo tackles in his effort to replace Terrance Cody, who is scheduled to return against LSU. Linebacker Donta Hightower led the team in tackles. Leigh Tiffin kicked three field goals.
November has been a rough month for Alabama as of late. They have three wins in five years during the month of November and have lost nine straight games during that time.
Arkansas State, who was idle last week, ranked No. 22 in total offense averaging 435 yards per game. They beat Texas A & M in their opener. The Red Wolves quarterbacked by Corey Leonard (over 5,000 passing yards and over 1,200 rushing yards), average 225 yards rushing, No. 12 in the nation. Reggie Arnold and Derrick Lawson are the two main runners. Alex Carrington is a very good pass rusher. Former Tide coach Ray Perkins coached at Arkansas State in the early 1980s.
TENNESSEE AT SOUTH CAROLINA: The Vols struggled offensively against Alabama. They are No. 112 nationally in total offense averaging 281 yards. Tennessee has scored more than 14 points once in the last six games. Quarterback Nick Stephens was 16- of- 28 for 137 yards and one score. Tailback Arian Foster led the Vols with 21 yards and Josh Briscoe was the leading receiver with four catches for 46 yards. Kicker Daniel Lincoln, who is 8- of- 15, missed two field goals. Safety Eric Berry caught a pass for seven yards in his only action on offense. Against Florida, Georgia and Alabama, Tennessee has been penalized 26 times for 252 yards. They were penalized seven times for 60 yards against Alabama.
Since 2002, Tennessee has lost 30 games and 18 of those contests have been by 10 points- or- more. Coach Phil Fulmer is 3-9 in his last 12 games against Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Since 2000, the Vols are 11-16 against Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Another SEC loss means Coach Phil Fulmer would have his second losing season in the SEC since 2005. He has had losing seasons twice in his 17 years at Tennessee. Defensive tackle Dan Williams has a high ankle sprain. Another defensive tackle Walter Fisher is battling turf toe injury.
South Carolina was off last week after the loss to LSU. The Gamecocks were held to a total of 42 yards in the second half against the Tigers. Coach Steve Spurrier was critical of quarterback Stephen Garcia for not avoiding the rush. LSU sacked Garcia six times. South Carolina has averaged only 67 yards rushing in the last three games. The Gamecocks are last in the nation in sacks allowed with 30. Gamecock quarterbacks have thrown 15 picks. Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson's contract was extended a year in the middle of the season. The Gamecocks are ranked fourth defensively in the nation allowed 256 yards and 16 points per game. Tailback Mike Davis and top backup Eric Baker are returning from injuries. In the all SEC rivalries since 2003, Tennessee-South Carolina is the closest one averaging a difference of only 5.75 points per game.
VANDERBILT IS OFF: The Commodores have lost three straight games after the Duke defeat. Offense continues to be a problem. Vandy gained less than 70 yards in the first half. The Commodores missed two field goals and committed three turnovers. Quarterback Mackenzi Adams, who was 14- of- 31 for 210 yards, threw two picks and was sacked four times.
ACC NOTES
MIAMI AT VIRGINA: These are two 5-3 teams looking to become bowl eligible. Last week, Robert Marve was the starting quarterback. He completed 11- of- 20 for 153 yards. Jacory Harris completed four- of- eight passes for 41 yards. The running game struggled with Graig Cooper and Javarris James combining for 41 yards. Matt Bosher, who kicked a 52 yarder, has made 12- of- 13 field goals. The Cane defense allowed Wake only 252 yards. Miami leads the nation in total number of freshman (13) in the two deep chart.
Virginia tailback Cedric Peerman gained 118 yards in the upset of Georgia Tech. Peerman has run three times for at least 110 yards during Virgina's four- game winning streak. Quarterback Mark Verica completed 29- of- 39 for 270 yards with two scores and two picks. Linebacker Clint Sintim has 9.5 sacks.
CLEMSON AT BOSTON COLLEGE: Quarterback Willy Korn, who was knocked out of the Georgia Tech game with a shoulder injury, said he is ready to play. Cullen Harper will start. Tailback C. J. Spiller is back from a hamstring injury. Guard David Smith also returns.
Boston College struggled in the loss to UNC. They allowed UNC receiver Hakeem Nicks, who caught eight passes for 139 yards, to catch three second quarter touchdowns. Quarterback Chris Crane, who has 12 picks, threw three picks. UNC defensive back Trimane Goddard took one pick back for a score. B.C. has the third best run defense (109 ypg) with Ron Brace and B J Raji.
FLORIDA STATE AT GEORGIA TECH: FSU is trying to beat Georgia Tech for the 13th straight time. FSU is tied with Maryland atop the Atlantic division. Last week, the Noles won despite rushing for only 89 yards. Quarterback Christian Ponder was 11- of- 19 for 159 yards and one score. Receiver Greg Carr had 100 yards in receiving. Taiwan Easterling caught a touchdown pass at the back of the end zone that gave FSU the lead. Linebacker Dekoda Watson (hamstring) is close to being healed. Georgia Tech did allow Virginia to throw for 270 yards passing. FSU's defense has not prepared much for Tech's cut blocks and triple option offense. Tailback Antone Smith is recovering from an elbow injury and sore ribs. Receiver Corey Surrency has been suspended for Saturday's game due to a violation of team rules.
Georgia Tech had its four game win streak snapped after losing to Virginia last week. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt was 7- of- 15 for 103 yards and a pick. Nesbitt fumbled twice in the third quarter and was sacked four times. Tech's defense has allowed more than 262 total yards twice this season. Tech leads the ACC with 236 yards rushing per game. They run 80% of the time. Tech's defense is No. 12 in total defense and No. 7 in scoring defense. They allow only 272 yards and 13 points per game. Tech has one of the best defensive lines in the nation going against one of the youngest offensive lines. Strong safety Morgan Burnett leads the nation with six picks.
TEXAS AT TEXAS TECH: The Red Raiders have won ten straight games and Texas has won nine. Tech has scored 106 point in the last two weeks. Texas is confident after wins over Missouri, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy has thrown for only three picks this season.
Tech has allowed three sacks this season but they have yet to face the pass rush that Texas will offer. Quarterback Graham Harrell threw for 518 yards and three scores in 2006 and 466 yards and five scores last year.
COACHING RUMORS (TOM DIENHART RIVALS.COM)-Clemson names-Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Vandy coach Bobby Johnson, TCU coach Gary Patterson. Former Florida AD Bill Carr's firm is helping with the search.
Auburn-if school officials buy out Tommy Tuberville at $6 million-Paul Johnson, Jim Leavitt, Steve Spurrier, Butch Davis and Jim Grobe are some of the names.
Mike Leach might be leaving Texas Tech at the height of his popularity
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.
E-MAIL BRENT AT brentbeaird@comcast.net
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