Week 11 of the college football season features some Southeastern Conference teams trying to build their résumés during the final stretch before bowl season and others trying to get their sixth win for bowl eligibility.No. 2 Alabama moved up in the polls this week after defeating No. 8 LSU, 24-15, and clinching the SEC West title. Alabama will face No. 1 Florida in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 5. The winner of the game could clinch a spot in the BCS National Championship game.SPURRIER TO FACE OLD TEAMBefore Florida (9-0, 7-0) moves on to Alabama, the Gators have to get past former Florida legend Steve Spurrier and South Carolina (6-4, 3-4).Spurrier, who played at Florida from 1963 to 1966 and coached at Florida from 1990 to 2001, is 1-3 against his old team. His only victory against the Gators was a 30-22 win in 2005.But current Florida coach Urban Meyer said the Gator Nation has plenty of respect for Spurrier. “When at first it was upon us, people wanted to create something that was not there other than a lot of mutual respect,” Meyer said in a teleconference. “You just walk out in the stadium and look on the side of the wall. There is a bunch of great stuff that coach has done.”
Spurrier was known for having high-powered offenses while he was coaching Florida, but South Carolina’s offense averages just 21.3 points per game, which is second-worst in the SEC.Florida, on the other hand, averages 35 points per game, which ranks No. 2 in the SEC.Despite the lack of points scored, South Carolina ranks No. 2 in the SEC in passing offense and averages 246 passing yards per game. But the Gamecock offense faces its toughest defensive competition this week, as the Gators rank No. 2 in the nation in pass defense, allowing only 134.4 passing yards per game.”We realize we’re pretty big underdogs, and the Gators are a very good team,” Spurrier said. “Some other teams have given them close games, so we’re hoping that’s what’s going to happen here Saturday afternoon.” SOUTH’S OLDEST RIVALRYAuburn (7-3, 3-3) will travel to Athens, Ga., to face Georgia (5-4, 3-3) a week after both teams had convincing victories against out-of-conference opponents.The matchup between the two teams is known as the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, which dates back to their first game on Feb. 20, 1892.”This is a huge game for us,” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik. “It’s a rivalry that has been in place for obviously a long time.”The Tigers are hoping to climb into the BCS top 25 with a win against the Bulldogs, and Georgia will gain bowl eligibility with a win against Auburn. Auburn ranks No. 1 in the SEC in total offense and averages 450.3 yards per game. Senior running back Ben Tate leads the Auburn rushing game, averaging 114.2 yards per game.”One of the advantages of the offense is if you are clicking,” Chizik said. “When it is operating on all cylinders, then you have a chance to wear defenses down.”VOLUNTEERS TRAVEL WESTTennessee (5-4, 2-3) will travel to Oxford, Ms., to face Ole Miss (6-3, 2-3) in a battle between teams that sit at fourth in their respective division standings.The Volunteers will gain bowl eligibility with a win against the Rebels. Ole Miss is trying to recover from losing two of its past three games against SEC opponents.The two teams haven’t met on the gridiron since 2005, when Tennessee defeated Ole Miss, 27-10.Despite early season troubles where he threw nine interceptions, Tennessee senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton has improved in the past three games and has thrown eight touchdowns and only one interception.”He’s played extremely well,” said Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin. “We’ve been great with the turnovers the past few weeks.”Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said to slow down Crompton, the team must also contain Tennessee senior running back Montario Hardesty.”It comes back to Hardesty,” Nutt said. “We’ve got to do a good job of stopping the running game.”Hardesty averages 100.1 yards per game, which is No. 4 in the SEC.- – – -Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]