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Around the SEC: Team-by-team updates

Posted on 09.04.08
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This week’s best

GAME: Miami at No. 5 Florida, 8 p.m. Saturday

This used to be one of college football's top matchups. It's the 54th meeting between the schools, but the first time they have played since the 2004 Peach Bowl and the first regular-season matchup since 2003. The Gators have played Miami more than any other nonconference opponent but are looking for their first win against the Hurricanes since a 35-23 victory in 1985.

BET: If USC senior place-kicker Ryan Succop attempts a field goal from inside 40 yards, he will make it. He is 31-for-41 (75.6 percent) on field-goal attempts in his career and 17-for-18 (94.4 percent) inside 40 yards. He has converted 24 of his past 28 attempts (85.7 percent) from inside 47 yards. He has scored 171 points in his career, ranking ninth on USC's all-time list.

QUOTE: "I guess their concerns were on our receivers. They left the poor old tight ends open."

— Alabama’s Nick Walker, a 6-foot-5, 248-pound tight end who had a career-high seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown against Clemson

ALABAMA

You are correct

Coach Nick Saban made the right call concerning which running backs to use against Clemson. Saban thought the straight-ahead, power running of Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram matched up better against Clemson's speedy defense. It meant benching Terry Grant, last year's leading rusher, who is a fast, shifty runner. Ingram and Coffee each carried 17 times. Ingram gained 96 yards.

ARKANSAS

No rush to judgment

The biggest question for Arkansas entering the season went unanswered in the first game: Who will replace Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at running back? Arkansas rushed for 76 yards. Junior Michael Smith is expected to return from a one-game suspension and start ahead of freshmen Dennis Johnson and De'Anthony Curtis.

AUBURN

Flip-floppers

Chris Todd will start at quarterback this week ahead of Kodi Burns, but coach Tommy Tuberville says they're taking turns. Burns, who had stitches to repair a cut on his left leg, started in the opener. He threw for 15 yards against Louisiana-Monroe while running for 69.

FLORIDA

Strong returns

Florida opened the season with four interceptions against Hawaii, returning two for touchdowns — a first in program history. Ahmad Black's 80-yard interception return for a touchdown was the third-longest by an SEC player dating to 1996. Florida has intercepted 89 passes since 2003, when Charlie Strong took over as defensive coordinator.

GEORGIA

Bed he didn’t have nose-bleed seats

Coach Mark Richt was an interested observer at the Alabama-Clemson game. Richt had two reasons to want to see the game. His son, Jon, is a freshman quarterback for Clemson. The Bulldogs, who played earlier in the day, face Alabama on Sept. 27. Saban said Richt called him to make sure it would be OK for him to attend the game. Richt said it was worth it to see Jon trot onto the field and give him a hug afterward.

KENTUCKY

Catch him if you can

Kentucky's Myron Pryor, a 310-pound defensive tackle, picked up a critical fumble and ran — if you can call it that — 72 yards against Louisville. It was one of two defensive touchdowns for the Wildcats, who likely will ask their defense to carry them a year after quarterback Andre Woodson and a potent offense led the way.

LSU

Great Scott!

Charles Scott rushed for a career-best 160 yards and two touchdowns in LSU’s opening-game victory against Appalachian State. Scott, who was tabbed the starter in a loaded LSU backfield, took the first two handoffs from Andrew Hatch, and the team marched 64 yards for the first score.

MISSISSIPPI

Fast starter

Making his first start as a Rebel, sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead finished 10-of-22 for 185 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Memphis. Snead threw touchdown passes of 64 and 15 yards to junior wide receiver Shay Hodge. It marked the first two-touchdown game of Hodge's career. His lone two catches gave him a team-high 79 receiving yards.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

I’ll take that, thank you

Keith Fitzhugh put together an impressive opening-night showing by intercepting two Louisiana Tech passes. The fifth and sixth interceptions of his career, it marked the first time a Bulldog pulled in more than one pick in a game since Derek Pegues had a pair against Georgia in 2006. Pegues is expected back after sitting out the opener due to suspension.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Starting case

Despite not starting, senior running back Mike Davis rushed 14 times for 101 yards and a touchdown last week against N.C. State. It was his fourth career 100-yard rushing game. Included in his effort was a 50-yard carry, the longest of his career. He also caught a pair of passes for 31 yards.

TENNESSEE

Stick to the run

Jonathan Crompton struggled with accuracy, overthrowing open receivers and completing 19 of 41 passes for 189 yards in the Vols’ loss to UCLA. New offensive coordinator Dave Clawson tried to force the passing game in his debut, even though Tennessee averaged 5.2 yards per carry. The quarterback was making his second career start.

VANDERBILT

One-man show

Quarterback Chris Nickson, an 18-game starter before injuries sidelined him midway through the 2007 season, compiled 257 yards of offense and accounted for three touchdowns in Vanderbilt's 34-13 win at Miami of Ohio. Nickson did not commit a turnover. He rushed for a career-high 166 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

— Compiled from wire services

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