WESTERN DIVISION
No. 5 Arkansas (9-1, 6-0)This week: at Mississippi State University, 1:30 p.m. Arkansas coach Houston Nutt admitted he did not imagine his team would win nine-straight games after its 50-14 opening-game loss to the University of Southern California. “The one thing we did know is that we had a good football team,” Nutt said. “You can’t have five turnovers. We wanted to be physical and have our running game in tact. We expanded from there and got better each week.” The Razorbacks can clench the Southeastern Conference Western Division title with a victory Saturday against the Bulldogs.
No. 15 Auburn (9-2, 5-2)This week: at University of Alabama, 2:30 p.m. on CBS The Tigers will try to win their fifth-straight Iron Bowl on Saturday for the first time since 1954-58. The meeting will be the 71st Iron Bowl. “I know fans are looking forward to a great football game,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. “This is the finale. This is both teams’ bowl game championship, and we’re just excited about playing.”
No. 9 LSU (8-2, 4-2)This week: vs. Ole Miss, 7 p.m. LSU can go undefeated at home this season with a victory Saturday against Ole Miss. “We would take great pride in being undefeated at home,” Miles said. “I think it’s awfully important to our home fans and people in this state to come to our stadium and see us win.” The Tigers last went undefeated at home in the 2004 season when they finished 9-2 in the regular season and lost 30-25 to the University of Iowa in the Capital One Bowl.
Alabama (6-5, 2-5)This week: vs. Auburn The Crimson Tide will use Saturday’s game to strengthen their case to be invited to a bowl game. Alabama coach Mike Shula said a win against the Tigers could also help cure a few disappointing losses the Tide has endured this season. “There’s not much need to motivate your players on either side,” he said. “Everyone at both universities kind of points their seasons to this game.”
Ole Miss (3-7, 1-5)This week: at LSU Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said he does not think his defensive backs match up well with LSU’s wide receiving corps. “We’re going to have to play one of our best games there,” he said. “We’re going to have to pick and choose the times we’re one-on-one and sometimes give them some help.” The Rebels are ranked No. 91 in the nation in pass efficiency defense.
Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5)This week: vs. Arkansas Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said college football fans should not expect his team to roll over and die Saturday against the Razorbacks. “I’m sure they’re looking forward to this game,” Croom said. “They probably have their ring polished out and ready to go. They’re going to have to earn it. It’s our last home game here, and our kids are ready to play.” Arkansas defeated the Bulldogs 44-10 last season in Little Rock, Ark.
EASTERN DIVISION
No. 3 Florida (9-1, 7-1)This week: vs. Western Carolina (2-8), 11 a.m. The Gators’ 17-16 win Saturday against the University of South Carolina did not do anything to impress the Bowl Championship Series computers. USC jumped ahead of Florida and moved to No. 3 in the latest BCS standings. “It’s hard to imagine that Florida won’t be in that [BCS championship] game,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “I think in December, absolutely I want to be mentioned, if we’ve done our work. Am I concerned about it now? No.”
Kentucky (6-4, 4-3)This week: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (2-7), 12 p.m. The Wildcats will be in search of their seventh win of the season at home Saturday. “It’s nice to finally be in the mix in the upper echelon in the SEC East,” Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. “We’re currently second. It’s nice to get Kentucky into that position.” The last time Kentucky won at least seven games in the season occurred in 2002.
No. 22 Tennessee (7-3, 3-3)This week: at Vanderbilt University, 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln Financial Sports Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said junior quarterback Erik Ainge will likely play Saturday against the Commodores. Ainge did not play in the Vols’ 31-14 loss Saturday to Arkansas. “He practiced the whole time [Monday], did all the drills and that was encouraging,” Fulmer said in a news release. “It will be important for him to follow that with the same kind of work here in the next couple of days.” The junior quarterback injured his ankle Oct. 28 against South Carolina.
Georgia (7-4, 4-4)This week: bye week Georgia coach Mark Richt said his team is in much-improved spirits after its 37-15 triumph Saturday against Auburn. “That victory meant a lot to us,” Richt said. “We were struggling and looking for answers. We need a break physically and mentally. We’re only going to practice two days this week.”
South Carolina (5-5, 3-5)This week: vs. Middle Tennessee State (7-3) at 11:30 a.m. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier made an important announcement at his Tuesday press conference. “Here’s the best news,” he said. “Sidney Rice told me that he is coming back next year. So put that on the news.” Rice, a red-shirt sophomore wide receiver, leads the Gamecocks with 50 receptions and 758 yards receiving.
Vanderbilt (4-7, 1-6)This week: vs. Tennessee Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said freshman quarterback Jonathan Crompton may not be ready just yet to take over the reins on Rocky Top. “They’re a better team when Erik Ainge is running the show,” Johnson said. “He gives them that passing game that sets up their running game.” The Commodores defeated Tennessee 28-24 in Knoxville last year. The victory was Vandy’s first in Knoxville since 1975.
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]
Around the SEC
November 16, 2006