Preview of SEC football games on tap for today:
Georgia at Ole Miss (12:21, SEC Network) – They are calling this game the “Hot Seat Bowl” since both Georgia’s Mark Richt and Ole Miss’ Houston Nutt are on thin coaching ice. Georgia earned its first win last week, pancaking Coastal Carolina 59-0. A bright spot has been quarterback Aaron Murray, who has thrown nine touchdown passes with just two interceptions so far. Ole Miss is coming off a 30-7 loss to Vanderbilt in which the Rebels threw five interceptions. Georgia freshman running back Isaiah Crowell could have a big day. The Ole Miss defense surrendered 223 rushing yards to Southern Illinois and 281 to Vanderbilt. SIU averaged 5.9 yards per run. Vandy averaged 5.7.
Arkansas at Alabama (3:30, CBS) – The winner will be the favorite to battle LSU for the SEC West crown. Alabama won 24-20 last year at Arkansas. Bama back Trent Richardson has rushed for 111 and 167 yards his last two games. Alabama ran the ball for 347 yards last week against North Texas. Quarterback AJ McCarron has not throw an interception since tossing two the first week against Kent State. Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson threw for 303 yards and two scores last week in 38-28 win over Troy. And Ronnie Wingo rushed for 109 yards for the Razorbacks, who are still trying to overcome the pre-season loss to Ronnie Wingo.
Florida at Kentucky (7:00, ESPN) – Florida is off to a 3-0 start under new coach Will Muschamp and leads the nation in run defense. Tennessee had a minus-9 yards rushing against the Gators in 33-23 loss in Gainesville last Saturday. Florida running back Chris Rainey has gained 119 and 108 yards rushing in his last two games. He also took a 3-yard pass from quarterback John Brantley and turned it into an 83-yard TD against the Vols. Kentucky managed but 35 yards rushing in 32 attempts in loss to Louisville, though six of those attempts were sacks. And, as we know, Kentucky has not beaten the Gators since 1986.
Florida Atlantic at Auburn (7:00, FSS) – The Tigers hope to bounce back from last week’s 38-24 loss at Clemson, which snapped a 17-game win streak for Auburn. Defense has been the downfall for Gene Chizik’s team. Utah State gained 448 yards, Mississippi State 531 and Clemson 624. Auburn running back Michael Dyer is coming off games of 150 and 151 yards rushing. In Howard Schnellenberg’s swan song, Florida Atlantic is 0-2 with a 41-3 loss to Florida and a 44-0 loss to Michigan State.
Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State (7:00, ESPNU) – Tech might not be a pushover. The Bulldogs are 1-2, but lost by two (19-17) at Southern Miss and by one (35-34) at home to Houston. Coached by former UK grad assistant Sonny Dykes, Tech’s offensive coordinator is former UK OC Tony Franklin. Freshman quarterback Nick Isham, out of Hidden Hills, California, has thrown for 693 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Mississippi State rushed for just 52 yards in that 19-6 loss to LSU. And Dan Mullen’s pass defense has been lacking, giving up 7.89 yards per attempt against LSU.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina (7:00, ESPN2) – The visiting Commodores are 3-0 and coming off a rousing 30-7 smacking of Ole Miss. Tailback Zac Stacy rushed for 169 yards in that win, and the ball-hawking Vandy defense came up with five picks. James Franklin’s team leads the nation in interceptions with 10. The fear in Columbia is that Steve Spurrier is running sophomore tailback Marcus Lattimore into the ground. Lattimore ran the football 27 times for 176 yards against Georgia, then 37 times for 246 yards last week against Navy. The Gamecocks have rushed for at least 220 yards in each of their first three games. Spurrier needs to get All-American wideout Alshon Jeffery going. He has yet to have a 100-yard game.
LSU at West Virginia (8:00, ESPN) – Great matchup in Morgantown between the Tigers’ defense and the Mountaineers’ “Air Raid” offense under WVU coach Dana Holgorsen, who played for Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan and coached with Mike Leach at Texas Tech. LSU ranks sixth in the nation in total defense (207.7 yards per game) and gave up just 193 yards to Mississippi State last time out. Oregon did gain 335 yards on the Tigers, but turned it over four times. LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee has been efficient. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 213 yards and a score at Mississippi State. WVU quarterback Geno Smith threw for 388 yards in the Mountaineers win over Maryland last time out.
College football on TV this week
