GameDay Oct 20 2012

DESTE LEE | DAILY JOURNAL

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The Daily Journal’s weekly college football preview section | Saturday, October 20, 2012

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GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

DAILY JOURNAL

At halfway mark, the season’s full of surprises

BY CHRIS DUFRESNE LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

Southern Cal would break offensive air-speed records, Matt Barkley was a lock for the Heisman Trophy and Oregon State coach Mike Riley needed thicker pants for the hot seat he was on.

Arkansas was the team to beat in the SEC West – it seems so silly now – and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel was Johnny Who? This must be why they don’t hand out achievement awards the Wednesday before Labor Day. Let’s take a halfway look at some developing stories:

STILL THE BEST

The Southeastern Conference is a beast – again.

The first BCS standings release AP had two SEC teams on top, AlMike Riley has led Oregon State to a surprising 5-0 start. abama and Florida. The SEC owned half of the BCS top 12.

The league has won six straight The only two schools in the na- anger and joy. Notre Dame has a BCS national titles and eight of tional top 15 are Oregon (8) and hard time moving the ball with its the 14 played. Last season’s title Oklahoma (15).

No. 76 offense, but it knows how game featured two SEC teams No. 1 Alabama ranks No. 52 to move the needle. Viewership and it could happen again. and Florida is No. 82. on NBC through four home So, defense is winning? Yep. games is at a six-year high.

NO DEFENSE? The BCS top 10 owns a naNational title talk is premature, Nobody plays defense anytional defensive average of 19.7. as Notre Dame must navigate more and pass-crazy offenses trips to Oklahoma and USC. have taken over the game.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE Mark this down, though: The True? Actually, no, it’s false.

The biggest surprise so far is ... Fighting Irish is a lock for a BCS A review of this week’s BCS Notre Dame is the biggest story bowl if they get to nine wins. standings show the top 10 because it’s Notre Dame. The Kansas State is the most sentischools have an average national Fighting Irish’s sitting at No. 5 in mental yarn because of Bill Snyoffensive ranking of 52.4. the BCS elicits equal pangs of der. At age 73, he’s done a

Today MISSISSIPPI STATE

Record: 6-0 Today: Home vs. MTSU (4-2) TV: 6 p.m., ESPN2.

Coverage starts: On Page 3

OLE MISS

Record: 4-3 Today: Off Read more: On Page 4

SOUTHERN MISS

Record: 0-6 Today: Home vs. Marshall (2-4) TV: 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network Read more: On Page 9

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remarkable job in getting Kansas State to 6-0. The Wildcats’ upset at Oklahoma is this year’s so-far signature win. K-State is a win at West Virginia today from changing the BCS computer calculus.

Oregon State, though, is the surprise team of the half-season.

The Beavers are 5-0 and No. 8 in the BCS following a 3-9 season that left many wondering if Riley was running out of time.

Beating Wisconsin was impressive and Riley made folksy, national news when he took the entire team to In-N-Out for burgers after the win at UCLA. The measure of Oregon State’s possible staying power, though, was winning at BYU with backup quarterback Cody Vaz.

QUICK KICKS

Biggest disappointments: The Big Ten (7-0 Ohio State isn’t eligible for a bowl), Auburn, Arkansas, Southern Cal’s offense, and the Texas defense.

Half-year Heisman: Geno Smith, West Virginia. We can’t dismiss last week’s ugly loss at Texas Tech, nor forget Smith has thrown 25 touchdown passes this year with no interceptions.

Best game: Texas A&M 59, Louisiana Tech 57. And that was in regulation.

Second-half team you don’t want to play: Oklahoma.

Newcomer: Texas A&M freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel. Wins over LSU and Alabama could prompt a nickname change from “Johnny Football” to “Johnny Heisman.”

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH

SOUTH CAROLINA AT FLORIDA: Attrition in the SEC continues as one-loss South Carolina visits undefeated Florida.

The Gators took over the Gamecocks’ No. 3 spot in the AP poll after South Carolina lost at LSU. Florida improved to 6-0 with a hard-fought win at Vanderbilt.

LSU AT TEXAS A&M: Can anyone stop Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who had 576 yards (395 passing, 181 rushing) and six touchdowns in the Aggies’ 59-57 win over Louisiana Tech?

We’re about to find out, as the nation’s No. 6 offense meets the second-ranked defense.

KANSAS STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA: This might have been a battle of top-five Big 12 teams if the Mountaineers hadn’t stumbled badly last week at Texas Tech.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith has thrown 25 touchdowns this year without being intercepted, but Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein could greatly enhance his Heisman Trophy chances by winning the head-to-head against Smith.

BYU AT NOTRE DAME: This is a potential “trap” game for Notre Dame in advance of next week’s trip to Oklahoma.

BYU has lost two games by a total of four points and its big, physical defense

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will pose problems for a Fighting Irish offense that struggles to score points.

Notre Dame’s so-far sensational start has been built around its second-ranked scoring defense. The Irish are allowing opponents only 8.67 points per game. This has the makings of a 9-6 finish.

STANFORD AT CALIFORNIA: Some of the fallout of conference-expansion schedule juggling includes having to move traditional games off traditional dates.

This year’s Big Game is in Berkeley with a twist: Cal is coming off a win and Stanford is coming off a loss.

Los Angeles Times (MCT)

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ON TV

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TODAY

11 a.m.

Purdue at Ohio State, ABC LSU at Texas A&M, ESPN Virginia Tech at Clemson, ESPN2 Minnesota at Wisconsin, ESPNU Iowa State at Okla. State, FX Penn at Yale, NBCsn 11:21 a.m.

Auburn at Vandy, SEC Network (WCBI, Columbus and WLMT, Memphis) Noon Florida International at Troy, CSS 2 p.m.

Stanford at California, Fox Boston College at Ga. Tech, FSS 2:30 p.m.

South Carolina at Florida, CBS Texas Tech at TCU, ABC Nebraska at N’western, ESPN2 N.C. State at Maryland, ESPNU Rice at Tulsa, FCSC BYU at Notre Dame, NBC UNLV at Boise State, NBCsn 3:30 p.m.

Shorter at West Alabama, CSS 6 p.m.

Alabama at Tennessee, ESPN Middle Tenn. at MSU, ESPN2 North Carolina at Duke, ESPNU Georgia at Kentucky, FSS Kansas State at W. Virginia, Fox Kansas at Oklahoma, FCSC 7 p.m.

Florida State at Miami, ABC Central Florida at Memphis, CSS All times Central

GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

Sports editor: John L. Pitts Page design: Daily Journal staff, with assistance from Scott Burden Sports staff: Parrish Alford (Ole Miss beat writer), Brett Brown, Brad Locke (Mississippi State beat writer), Gene Phelps, Brandon Speck.

On the cover: Louis Watson and other MSU players take the field before facing Tennessee. (Photo

by Deste Lee, Daily Journal)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

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Young players carry Bulldogs to new heights DEPTH CHARTS: Page 6 GAME KEYS: Page 7

each other. We’re all learning from Perk; he’s a good leader.”

The relationships between older and younger players have been vital to the development of the latter. There’s talent among the younger group, to be sure, but the veterans have done a good job guiding them along and teaching them the value of patience.

BY BRAD LOCKE DAILY JOURNAL

STARKVILLE – Josh Robinson dashed 10 yards into the end zone and could hardly contain himself. He wanted to just leap into the stands after scoring his first career touchdown last week versus Tennessee.

MIDDLE TENN. “To get the first one, AT MISS. STATE I tasted blood, so I’m always going to attack, attack, attack,” said Robinson, a redshirt freshman tailback for Mississippi State.

As the No. 15 Bulldogs (6-0) enter the second half of their season – starting with today’s homecoming game versus Middle Tennessee State (4-2) – they find themselves depending more on young players like Robinson.

On the season, he’s carried it 31 times for 163 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per

GETTING INTO POSITION

Take Dak Prescott. The backup quarterback, also a redshirt freshman, saw his role expanded against Tennessee. He DESTE LEE | DAILY JOURNAL threw his first career TD pass, finding Redshirt freshman Josh Robinson turns tight end Marcus Green from 13 yards in the corner against Tennessee. the second quarter.

Up until then, Prescott had been used carry. He’s become the first option off the mainly for running in short-yardage and bench behind starter LaDarius Perkins, red zone situations. His development to and redshirt freshman Derrick Milton this point has a lot to do with how closely has gotten some quality reps as well. he works with starter Tyler Russell.

“They’re giving us a lot more trust,” “He’s put in a position that he can look Robinson said of the coaches. “In the up to the older guys, and we’re making backfield it’s a stable, so we all work upon plays,” Russell said. “He knows the offense.

Just for him to learn everything I’m learning now at this stage is going to put him in a great position later down the road.”

No redshirt freshman has made quite the impact Benardrick McKinney has made at middle linebacker. His 50 tackles lead the team, and 26 of those tackles have come over the last two games.

“He’s only going to get better the more he plays,” defensive coordinator Chris Wilson said. “I’m looking for him to play his best this last half (of the season).”

There are big games ahead, like Alabama and LSU. If MSU can continue getting good play from the younger group, that increases the odds of a strong finish.

“Early in the season, sometimes people wonder why do we force-feed guys onto the field,” head coach Dan Mullen said.

“They need that experience, they need that development, they need to be able to grow, so as the year goes on, they’re ready to perform.” brad.locke@journalinc.com

MISSISSIPPI STATE

TONIGHT’S GAME AT A GLANCE

B&B CONCRETE CO., INC. Serving North Mississippi

130 N. Industrial Road • Tupelo • (662) 842-6312

Where: Davis Wade Stadium (55,082), Starkville.

Kickoff: 6 p.m. Television: ESPN2 Radio: MSU Network; XM 199; Sirius 94.

Records: MTSU 4-2, MSU 6-0.

Rankings: MSU No. 15 AP, No. 16 USA Today, No. 12 BCS. Series: Mississippi State, 4-0.

Last meeting: MSU won 27-6 on Oct. 17, 2009, in Murfreesboro.

Anthony Dixon became MSU’s career rushing leader that game.

Coaches – MTSU: Rick Stockstill, 38-42 (seventh year); MSU: Dan Mullen, 27-17 (fourth year).

Statistical leaders – MTSU: QB Logan Kilgore 116-172-3, 1,422 yards, 9 TDs; WR Anthony Amos 39-580, 5 TDs; LB Craig Allen 47 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack; LB Roderic Blunt 46 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1 INT; LB Leighton Gasque 3.0 sacks. MSU: QB Tyler Rus sell 105-182-1, 1,382 yards, 12 TDs; RB LaDarius Perkins 105599, 7 TDs; WR Chad Bumphis 28-468, 6 TDs; TE Marcus Green 13-158, 5 TDs; LB Benardrick McKinney 50 tackles, 2.5 TFLs. Trends: MSU’s 6-0 start is tied for second-best in school history. It also started 6-0 in 1944, and started 8-0 in 1999. … MTSU is 013 against top-25 teams since joining Division I-A in 1999. …

For the first time ever, MSU has scored 25 or more points in each of its first six games.

Notes: MSU is first in the country in turnover margin at plus-15. …

MTSU ranks 112th nationally in pass efficiency defense, while MSU ranks 16th. … Perkins is the only player to be ranked in the top two in the SEC in both rushing yards per game (99.8) and all-purpose yards per game (130.0).

Summing it up: “We’re going to need great leadership from our guys and keeping the focus and dealing with the (national) at tention.” – MSU coach Dan Mullen Prediction: Mississippi State, 48-14.

Brad Locke

S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10 N17 N24

www.hailstate.com Jackson State W, 56-9 Auburn W, 28-10 at Troy W, 30-24 South Alabama W, 30-10 Open date at Kentucky W, 27-14 Tennessee W, 41-31 Middle Tennessee, 6 p.m. at Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

Texas A&M at LSU Arkansas at Ole Miss

MIDDLE TENNESSEE A30 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N1 N17 N10 N24 D1

www.goblueraiders.com McNeese St. L, 27-21 FAU W, 31-17 at Memphis W, 48-30 Open date at Georgia Tech W, 49-28 La.-Monroe W, 31-17 at FIU W, 34-30 at Mississippi St., 6 p.m.

North Texas, 2:30 p.m. at W. Kentucky, 8:15 p.m. at South Alabama Open date Troy, 2:30 p.m. at Arkansas St., 2 p.m.

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GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

Building relationships is key for Freeze’s staff and his coaches spent Thursday and Friday on the road at various high schools and games.

OXFORD – Cordarrelle PatterBefore that, the weekly phone son has been a big-play wide recalls to recruits had a different ceiver for Tennessee this season, up-beat tone after the Rebels his first as a junior college transended a 16-game SEC losing fer. streak with a 41-20 win over Imagine, if you will, Patterson Auburn. lining up opposite Donte Mon“I’ll just tell you this,” assistant DAILY JOURNAL | FILE coach Wesley McGriff said. crief for Ole OLE MISS Hugh Freeze and his staff hit this “Monday, making calls to recruits Miss.

RECRUITING road this week for recruiting.

Hugh Freeze was a great day. It was a great UPDATE imagined that. day.”

Weeks after his weren’t the previous staff,” assisThere has been a more serious hiring as Ole Miss coach Freeze tant coach Tom Allen said. “Some buzz with Ole Miss in the quest had Patterson, a 6-foot-5 speedkids, they like that long-term refor Loganville, Ga., defensive ster, on his wish list, and he got lationship. They feel comfortable lineman Robert Nkemdiche, the into the conversation. with that and their parents do.” nation’s No. 1 recruit.

After putting together a staff on The long-term relationship Nkemdiche, currently a Clemthe fly, Freeze and his assistants with recruits is something Freeze son commit, has attended sevhad about three weeks together and his staff have been able to eral Ole Miss games, and it hasn’t to bring in an abbreviated class. work to their advantage this sea- hurt that his brother Denzel “We had some kids that son.

Nkemdiche has become not just couldn’t see past the fact that we During the open week, Freeze a place-holder on the roster but a

BY PARRISH ALFORD DAILY JOURNAL

Pos. ATH DT TE OLB RB DT S CB WR OL CB QB TE QB WR DL RB WR WR RB OL

OLE MISS COMMITMENTS

Player Jeremy Liggins Darious Cummings Christian Morgan Rashawn Smith Peyton Barber Finesse Middleton Charles Williams Zach Witchett Trey Bledsoe Daronte Bouldin Boddy Hill Devante Kincade Evan Engram Ryan Buchanan Derrick Jones Herbert Moore Mark Dodson Quadarius Mireles Dannon Cavil Eugene Brazley Davion Johnson

School/Hometown Lafayette East Miss. CC Plano, Texas Florence, Ala. Alpharetta, Ga. Gadsden, Ala. Hialeah Fla. Hinds CC Grenada Canton Moultrie, Ga. Dallas, Texas Powder Springs, Ga. Jackson Prep Eupora Memphis Memphis Hinds CC San Antonio, Texas New Orleans Byhalia

leader of an improving defensive unit.

him to East Mississippi Community College – Itawamba AHS running back Ashton Shumpert, IMPORTANT ROLE Nkemdiche and Crete, Ill., wide On Monday, Freeze admitted receiver Laquon Treadwell. the importance of recruiting after The most likely to sign are an SEC win.

Nkemdiche, Brassell and Connor.

“I don’t think we would have a The Ole Miss class of 21 verbal legitimate shot if we didn’t pull commits is currently ranked off some. I don’t think you have No. 21 by Scout.com. to pull off a certain number of “Recruiting’s been going really wins to be in the game, because well, ” Freeze said. we’re in the game with some reA big reason for that is the ally good recruits,” Freeze said. “I year-long relationship. do think they have to come here Freeze: “Last year we worked and see a very competitive team hard to get in it with some, but if with some of the better teams, you don’t have a developed relaand I think we’ve given them a tionship or a a go-to person in couple of signs of that. That helps that process, it’s hard to feel real us also.” confident in it. That’s something The top five targets for Ole that can only be developed over Miss are South Panola safety the course of a year, and that’s Tony Connor, Nick Brassell – an something that we have now.”

Ole Miss receiver and defensive back until grades trouble sent parrish.alford@journalinc.com

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DESTE LEE | DAILY JOURNAL FILE

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EASTERN Florida South Carolina Georgia Vanderbilt Tennessee Missouri Kentucky WESTERN Alabama Mississippi State LSU Texas A&M Arkansas Ole Miss Auburn

SEC 5-0 4-1 3-1 1-3 0-3 0-4 0-4 SEC 3-0 3-0 2-1 2-1 2-2 1-2 0-4

SEC STANDINGS

PF 140 142 147 52 95 55 38 PF 127 96 41 105 83 82 47

PA 60 70 102 111 129 133 152 PA 24 55 45 57 124 83 105

All 6-0 6-1 5-1 2-4 3-3 3-4 1-6 All 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-1 3-4 4-3 1-5

PF 167 239 248 123 228 162 130 PF 243 212 224 282 189 229 97

PA 74 86 145 134 189 179 230 PA 45 98 98 131 217 186 159

2011 Home 4-2 3-0 6-1 4-0 4-2 4-0 3-3 1-2 3-3 2-1 3-4 2-3 3-4 1-3 2011 Home 5-0 3-0 3-3 4-0 7-0 5-0 4-2 2-1 6-1 2-3 2-5 3-2 4-2 1-2

Div. 3-0 4-0 3-1 1-3 0-2 0-3 0-2 Div. 2-0 1-0 1-0 2-0 1-2 1-2 0-4

T25 2-0 1-1 0-1 0-3 0-3 0-3 0-4 T25 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-2 0-2

Str. W7 L1 L1 L1 L2 L2 L5 Str. W10 W8 W1 W5 W2 W1 L3

NO. 1 ALABAMA AT TENNESSEE

THE BUZZ: An Alabama victory would set up a potential matchup between unbeaten teams next week when the Tide host No. 15 Mississippi State, which is at home today against Middle Tennessee.

The Vols have lost 10 of their last 11 conference games and are 0-13 against Top 25 opponents since Derek Dooley took over the program in 2010.

KEY FACT: Alabama leads the nation in total defense, scoring defense, run defense and pass efficiency defense.

NO. 9 SOUTH CAROLINA AT NO. 3 FLORIDA

T25 = Games against teams in Top 25 (AP, USA Today, Harris) at time of matchup

(All game times converted to Central) Matchup Kickoff TV Sirius/XM Series Sagarin says LSU at Texas A&M 11 a.m. ESPN 91/ 91 LSU 27-20-3 A&M by 5 Auburn at Vanderbilt 11:21 a.m. SEC Network 92/200 Tied 20-20-1 Vandy by 3 South Carolina at Florida 2:30 p.m. CBS 135/135 Florida 23-6-3 S.C. by 1 Middle Tennessee (4-2) at Miss. State 6 p.m. ESPN2 94/199 MSU, 4-0 MSU by 21 Alabama at Tennessee 6 p.m. ESPN 85/ 85 Ala., 47-38-7 Alabama by 26 Georgia at Kentucky 6 p.m. FSN 92/200 Ga., 51-12-2 Georgia by 17 Note: The Sagarin ratings appear online at USAToday.com Off today: Arkansas, Missouri, Ole Miss

Saturday, Oct. 13 Mississippi State 41, Tennessee 31 Ole Miss 41, Auburn 20 Alabama 42, Missouri 10 Arkansas 49, Kentucky 7 Florida 31, Vanderbilt 17 LSU 23, South Carolina 21 Texas A&M 59, Louisiana Tech 57 Off: Georgia

THE BUZZ: First place in the SEC’s Eastern Division is at stake. The Gators are sitting atop the division and would move a step closer to the SEC title game with a victory. The Gamecocks would take command of the East race with a win.

KEY FACT: RB Mike Gillislee is second in the SEC with 615 yards on the ground and has seven TDs. The Gamecocks allowed 258 yards rushing in last week’s loss at LSU, so Gillislee could have a big day.

NO. 6 LSU AT NO. 20 TEXAS A&M

NEXT WEEK

Saturday, Oct. 27 Kentucky at Missouri, 11 a.m.

Tennessee at South Carolina, 11 a.m.

Ole Miss at Arkansas (at Little Rock), 11:21 a.m.

Florida vs. Georgia (at Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m.

Texas A&M at Auburn, 6 p.m.

Massachusetts at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m.

Mississippi State at Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

Off: LSU

THE BUZZ: LSU and Texas A&M both need a victory to keep pace in the SEC Western division. It’s a chance for the Aggies to prove themselves in their first year in the league, and pits one of the nation’s most prolific offenses in Texas A&M against one of the best defenses in the country.

KEY FACT: Texas A&M’s record against top-10 teams is 22-63, and the Aggies last beat a team ranked in the top 10 in a 9-6 win over No. 9 Nebraska in 2010.

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SEC games at a glance

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TODAY’S GAMES

LAST WEEK

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

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INSIDER

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JOURNAL RANKINGS

Parrish Alford, Brad Locke and John Pitts rank the SEC after Week 7: Ranking (1sts) Last week 1. Alabama (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3. LSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4. South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5. Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6. Texas A&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7. Mississippi State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8. Ole Miss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9. Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10. Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11. Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 12. Vanderbilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 13. Auburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 14. Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

NO. 13 GEORGIA AT KENTUCKY

THE BUZZ: With next weekend’s rivalry game in Jacksonville against East-leading Florida, Georgia needs rebound from a 357 loss at South Carolina on Oct. 6.

Kentucky just wants to halt a five-game losing streak by beating Georgia for the first time since 2009.

KEY FACT: Georgia is 13-4 following a bye under coach Mark Richt.

AUBURN AT VANDERBILT

THE BUZZ: Vandy is favored against a program that won the national championship two years ago. That’s a compliment to James Franklin’s Commodores but also a sad statement for Auburn, which seeks its first SEC victory.

Wire reports

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GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

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GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

DAILY JOURNAL

Depth Chart: Bulldogs

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Based on the best pregame information available; subject to change.

OFFENSE QB 17 15 RB 27 34 FB 23 35 LT 75 59 LG 61 66 C 63 55 RG 67 or 70 RT 77 78 TE 32 6 WR 19 16 WR 1 4 WR 8 3

Tyler Russell Dak Prescott LaDarius Perkins Josh Robinson Sylvester Hemphill Adrian Marcus Blaine Clausell Archie Muniz Gabe Jackson Ben Beckwith Dillon Day Dylan Holley Tobias Smith Justin Malone Charles Siddoway Damien Robinson Marcus Green Malcolm Johnson Arceto Clark Joe Morrow Chad Bumphis Jameon Lewis Chris Smith Brandon Heavens

(6-4, 220, Jr.) (6-2, 230, R-Fr.) (5-10, 190, Jr.) (5-9, 215, R-Fr.) (5-11, 235, Sr.) (5-10, 225, Jr.) (6-7, 305, So.) (6-5, 290, So.) (6-4, 320, Jr.) (6-3, 300, So.) (6-4, 285, So.) (6-3, 295, Jr.) (6-3, 305, Sr.) (6-7, 315, R-Fr.) (6-7, 300, Jr.) (6-7, 315, So.) (6-1, 240, Sr.) (6-2, 230, So.) (5-10, 180, Sr.) (6-4, 205, R-Fr.) (5-11, 200, Sr.) (5-9, 185, So.) (6-2, 205, Sr.) (5-10, 175, Sr.)

BRAD LOCKE’S COMMENTS 3,051 career passing yards, 10th on MSU’s all-time list.

On pace to score 14 TDs in regular season.

Has two catches for 8 yards.

93 percent blocking grade vs. Tennessee.

Team-high 94 percent blocking grade vs. Tennessee.

Has 15 career starts under his belt.

Played 49 snaps last week, tying his season high.

First-year player starting to solidify himself at this spot.

Five of 13 catches have been touchdowns.

Has eight catches for 106 yards last two games.

Has 16 catches for 197 yards last two games.

Second on team with 19 catches for 227 yards.

DESTE LEE | DAILY JOURNAL

WR Chad Bumphis is a prime target. |

SEC RANKINGS

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OFFENSE QB 10 Logan Kilgore 12 Jeff Murphy RB 21 Drayton Calhoun or 26 Jordan Parker LT 75 Darius Johnson 70 Roberto Loya LG 77 Josh Walker 60 Nick Nunez C 66 Micah James 60 Nick Nunez RG 58 Jesse Grisham 61 Jadareius Hamlin RT 73 Isaiah Anderson 70 Roberto Loya WR 81 Christian Collis 37 Harold Turner WR 9 Kyle Griswould 25 Reggie Whatley WR 87 Vincent Van Horne 88 Marcus Thurmond WR 6 Anthony Amos 1 Arthur Williams

Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. R-Fr. R-Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

5th

Scoring offense (35.3 ppg)

5th

Scoring defense (16.3 ppg)

7th

Total offense (412.0 ypg)

DEFENSE DE 55 Shubert Bastien So. 89 Dearco Nolan Jr. DT 96 Kendall Dangerfield Sr. 92 Patrick McNeil So. DT 90 Jimmy Staten Jr. 91 J.D. Jones R-Fr. DE 85 Omar McLendon Sr. 17 Alexandro Antoine R-Fr. LB 35 Craig Allen Jr. 39 James Roberson R-Fr. LB 33 Roderic Blunt Jr. 28 Christian Henry So. LB 30 Stephen Roberts Jr. 40 Leighton Gasque So. CB 18 Kenneth Gilstrap Jr. 24 Jared Singletary R-Fr. SS 22 David Jones Jr. 36 Jajuan Harley Jr. FS 20 Kevin Byard R-Fr. 31 Reginald Farmer Jr. CB 27 Chris Sharpe So. 7 Khari Burke So. SPECIAL TEAMS K 45 Carlos Lopez Sr. 89 Cody Clark Fr. P 48 Josh Davis Jr. 45 Carlos Lopez Sr. KR 18 Kenneth Gilstrap Jr. 25 Reggie Whatley So. PR 24 Jared Singletary R-Fr. 5 Jeremiah Bryson R-Fr.

5th

Total defense (331.5 ypg)

DEFENSE

DE 92 93 DT 97 60 DT 74 98 DE 90 96 LB 51 12 LB 50 52 LB 10 22 CB 13 24 SS 25 30 FS 5 38 CB 9 37

Kaleb Eulls P.J. Jones Josh Boyd Devin Jones

(6-4, 280, So.) (6-3, 280, So.) (6-3, 300, Sr.) (6-1, 260, Sr.) Dewayne Cherrington (6-3, 325, Sr.) Curtis Virges (6-3, 305, So.) Denico Autry (6-5, 255, Jr.) Shane McCardell (6-5, 260, Jr.) Deontae Skinner (6-2, 245, Jr.) Chris Hughes (6-1, 225, Jr.) Benardrick McKinney (6-5, 235, R-Fr.) Ferlando Bohanna (6-0, 225, So.) Cam Lawrence (6-3, 230, Sr.) Matthew Wells (6-2, 215, So.) Johnthan Banks (6-2, 185, Sr.) Jamerson Love (5-10, 175, So.) Corey Broomfield (5-10, 180, Sr.) Jay Hughes (5-11, 190, So.) Nickoe Whitley (6-1, 205, Jr.) Dee Arrington (6-1, 215, So.) Darius Slay (6-1, 190, Sr.) Taveze Calhoun (6-1, 180, R-Fr.)

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK 40 53 P 39 KR 27 4 PR 13 1

Devon Bell (6-2, 185, Fr.) Brian Egan (5-11, 210, Jr.) Baker Swedenburg (6-0, 185, Jr.) LaDarius Perkins (5-10, 190, Jr.) Jameon Lewis (5-9, 185, So.) Johnthan Banks (6-2, 285, Sr.) Chad Bumphis (5-11, 200, Sr.)

Started last two games opening in three-man front.

Has 12 tackles, 1.0 sack.

No tackles last week, but had a pass break-up.

Has 17 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.

Has 32 tackles, 3 pass break-ups.

26 tackles last two games, team-high 50 on season.

Second on team with 43 stops.

Has 25 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and 3 INTs. Last week’s INT was his first since Nov. 27, 2010.

Made career-high 8 tackles vs. Tennessee.

Had 4 INTs first three games, none the last three.

Engine Specification

Has made 8 of 12 field goals.

Of 26 punts, 11 downed inside 20-yard line.

Returned four kickoffs for 80 yards last week.

Cylinder displacement - 55.5 cc Power output - 3.5 hp Maximum power speed - 9000 rpm

Averaging 9.2 yards per return.

MSU on area radio: Aberdeen, WWZQ-AM (1240), Amory, WAMY-AM (1580), Corinth, WKCU-AM (1350), Tupelo, WXWX-FM (96.3), West Point, WKBB-FM (100.9).

Sales and Service

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

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Scouting report: Middle Tennessee at MSU KEYS FOR VICTORY

AP

427 yards vs. Kentucky, 449 vs. Tennessee. If there is any imbalance today, it might be on the passing side, because Middle Tennessee ranks 112th in the country in pass efficiency defense. It’s not great against the run, either, giving up 175.3 yards per game.

3. Hang onto the ball. MSU ranks first in the country in turnover margin at plus-15, with only three giveaways.

So ball security hasn’t been a problem, but a lapse in that department is the surest way to give MTSU a fighting chance at pulling the upset.

The Blue Raiders have done pretty well at creating turnovers, with 12 through six games. Nine of those are fumble recoveries, and cornerback Khari Burke has two of them.

WHAT TO WATCH

WHEN MTSU HAS THE BALL The Blue Raiders are dealing with a huge loss: Star tailback Benny Cunningham is out for the year with a knee injury he suffered in last week’s

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QB Logan Kilgore is an efficient triggerman for the Blue Raiders.

1. Don’t get trapped. MSU is coming off a huge win against Tennessee, and next weekend it visits No. 1 Alabama. So it might be easy to lose a little focus on this final non-conference game of the season.

Last time State was coming off a big win – against Auburn in Week 2 – it struggled to hold off Troy, 30-24.

That game was on the road, while this one is at home. MTSU, which like Troy is a member of the Sun Belt Conference, has played well enough of late to be considered a dangerous opponent.

It beat Georgia Tech in Atlanta, 49-28.

Trap game for MSU? Maybe so.

2. Maintain the balance. Over its last two games, State has run the ball 80 times and passed it 78 times. The offense is the most balanced it’s ever been under fourth-year coach Dan Mullen, and it appears to be hitting a stride.

MSU has topped 400 yards of total offense in each of the last two games –

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win at FIU. He rushed for 230 yards and has 600 for the season.

MTSU will now turn to LSU transfer Drayton Calhoun and freshman Jordan Parker, who have rushed for a combined 412 yards and two touchdowns.

The Blue Raiders can take encouragement from the fact that MSU gave up 213 rushing yards to Tennessee last week, with most of those yards gained by backups.

Logan Kilgore has been efficient at quarterback, throwing nine TDs against three interceptions in 172 attempts. He’s got some downfield threats in Anthony Amos (580 yards, five TDs) and Marcus Henry (20.2 yards per catch).

RUSHING GP Att Yrds Avg Jeff Scott 6 92 562 6.1 Randall Mackey 7 49 233 4.8 Bo Wallace 7 80 225 2.8 Barry Brunetti 6 32 161 5.0 I’Tavius Mathers 7 18 104 5.8 Total 299 1478 4.9

GP No. Yards 7 31 480 7 19 180 7 17 184 4 15 160 7 10 1 06 7 9 152 129 1607

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TD Long YPG 5 48 93.7 3 28 33.3 5 25 32.1 1 24 26.8 0 15 14.9 17 48 211.1

PASSING GP Cp-Att-Int Pct Yards Bo Wallace 7 107-168-8 63.7 1371 Barry Brunetti 6 19-27-0 70.4 177 Randall Mackey 7 3-5-1 60.0 59 Total 129-200-9 64.5 1607

DEFENSE Denzel Nkemdiche Cody Prewitt Mike Marry Charles Sawyer C.J. Johnson Joel Kight

CRUCIAL MATCHUP

MSU QB TYLER RUSSELL VS. MTSU SECONDARY WHEN MSU HAS THE BALL The Blue Raiders are weak against With tight end Malcolm Johnson the pass, giving up 266.7 yards per healthy, MSU’s offense can open up game, and opponents are completing even more than it already has this sea- 68.4 percent of passes. Russell was son. He was one of three tight ends to very sharp last week and could have a catch passes last week, which illusfield day. trates just how willing Tyler Russell is Brad Locke

OLE MISS LEADERS

RECEIVING Donte Moncrief Ja-Mes Logan Vince Sanders Korvic Neat Jamal Mosley Randall Mackey Total

to spread the ball around.

State has a deep receiving corps, but Russell has relied primarily on three seniors: Chad Bumphis, Arceto Clark and Chris Smith. Those three have combined for 30 catches over the last two games, and they’ve accounted for 60 of the 76 passes caught by MSU receivers this season.

The run game has been largely handled by LaDarius Perkins, but Josh Robinson and Derrick Milton have combined for 54 carries, and Robinson scored his first career touchdown last week.

TD Lng YPG 9 75 195.9 1 36 29.5 1 32 8.4 11 75 229.6

Avg TD Long Avg 15.5 5 75 68.6 9.5 0 40 25.7 10.8 0 41 26.3 10.7 0 30 40.0 10.6 1 28 15.1 16.9 0 68 21.7 12.5 11 75 229.6

GP Solo Ast Tot. TFL Sack Int. 7 21 23 44 9.0-28 2.0-14 1-8 7 24 20 44 2.0-12 1.0-9 2-23 7 19 20 39 4.5-14 1.5-10 1-38 7 24 13 37 2.5-14 0.5-4 – 7 15 17 32 1.5-8 1.0-7 – 7 21 9 30 3.0-14 1.0-6 –

Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace.

OLE MISS

S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10 N17 N24

AP

www.olemisssports.com Central Arkansas W, 49-27 UTEP W, 28-10 Texas L, 66-31 at Tulane W, 39-0 at Alabama L, 33-14 Texas A&M L, 30-27 Auburn W, 41-20 Open date at Arkansas, 11:21 a.m. at Georgia Vanderbilt at LSU Mississippi State

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GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

For some SEC teams, coaching seats heat up

BY MARK LONG ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Southeastern Conference could be getting another makeover.

This one would have nothing to do with expansion.

The league that has won six consecutive national championships has more coaches on the proverbial “hot seat” than in any recent year, with potential openings at Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Razorbacks are seemingly in disarray, while the Tigers, Wildcats and Volunteers have had all sorts of on-field problems.

With the season a little past the halfway point, talk about possible replacements is more rampant than speculation about the upcoming recruiting class or even basketball season. Well, not at Kentucky.

Still, all that conjecture can make a long season feel like it’s never going to end.

“There can be outside distractions whether you’re doing great or whether you’re doing not as well as you certainly would like to be doing,” Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. “The great thing about college football is everybody’s got an opinion. It’s the greatest sport on the planet, and part of what makes it so great in this part of the country is that everybody does have an opinion.

“When you get into this, if you’re not strong enough to handle that, then you’re in the wrong business – both as a player and as a coach.”

CRUNCH TIME

The way things have unfolded at Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee, it could be gut-check time for all four coaches and their assistants.

The Razorbacks fired coach Bobby Petrino in April for hiring his mistress to a position in the athletic department and initially lying about her presence during a motorcycle accident. Athletic director Jeff Long then hired former Michigan State and Louisville head coach John L. Smith to a 10-month contract.

Arkansas (3-4, 2-2 SEC) went 1-4 in September, including home losses to Louisiana-Monroe and Rutgers. Making matters worse for Smith, he mistakenly referred to Arkansas as Alabama during a speech and told reporters to smile two days after a 52-0 loss to the top-ranked Crimson Tide. Smith also is making

than anything on the business side. We are friends.

“And I can tell you this: there are not a lot of people out there that can say that they’re friends with their AD. There are not a lot of them. One thing that I do cherish and I do appreciate is our friendship.”

Expectations at Kentucky hardly compare to those at Tennessee, where coach Derek Dooley has come under fire after conference losses keep piling up.

The Volunteers (3-3, 0-3) are 14-17 in Dooley’s three seasons, but just 4-15 in SEC play. They also are 0-13 against Top25 opponents, and Dooley’s first two years produced the program’s first consecutive losing seasons since 1909-11.

There have been signs of progress, though.

Tennessee, outscored by an average of 19 points in seven SEC losses last year, led Florida in the second half and trailed by a score in the fourth quarter against Georgia and Mississippi State. But will BRUCE NEWMAN | OXFORD EAGLE that kind of improvement be enough to Just two seasons after winning a national title, Auburn coach Gene Chizik is feeling keep Dooley in Knoxville? the heat as his Tigers have stumbled to a 1-5 record this fall.

“More than anything, you have to define who you are, not somebody else,” headlines for his $40.7 million banksystem. Auburn has lost six consecutive Dooley said. “It’s a life lesson. You can’t let ruptcy.

SEC games by a combined score of 192somebody else define who you are. The Long said Monday he would like to 68 and is trying to avoid the program’s best way to define who you are is when have the team’s next coach in place two first 1-6 start since 1952. you make a mistake or you don’t play weeks after the regular season. He has Maybe the most telling mark is Chizik’s well, you don’t dwell on it. You don’t make not ruled out Smith as a candidate, but 17-15 record without 2010 Heisman Tro- an excuse. You don’t try to defend it. You given all that has happened this season, phy Cam Newton. just focus on the next mission and be it’s hard to fathom any scenario in which “You have to be strong enough to be proud of what you put into it every day.

Smith stays in Fayetteville. able to block out the positives when “When you do that, you feel good “In the end, it becomes who is interthey’re telling you how great you are beabout yourself as a man. You feel good ested in us,” Long said. “Even though I cause you’re never that great,” Chizik about yourself as a player and you go do have had quite a long time to look at and said. “You have to be able to block out the best you can. Right now, we haven’t research coaches, I don’t know who is the negatives when they tell you how bad done the best we can. That’s what we truly interested in us and we won’t know you are because you’re never that bad. ought to be concerned about.” that really until almost the end game be- That’s the message that I give to our team The Vols have plenty of company in cause we’ve all seen other searches on a daily basis. How much they choose that department. within this conference where they’ve to listen and buy into what everybody’s Four coaching changes would be rare ended up with their second, third choice opinion, I can’t control that.” in the SEC, which hasn’t had that many so to speak.” since Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and South Auburn secretly interviewed Petrino NOT GETTING LUCKY Carolina hired new coaches following the late in the 2003 season – while Tommy Kentucky (1-6, 0-4), meanwhile, has 2004 season.

Tuberville was still the Tigers’ head coach lost 13 of its last 17 games under coach “I’ve been through tremendous, fan– and many wonder whether Auburn Joker Phillips. The Wildcats have failed to tastic things as a coach in college footwould go after the offensive-minded build off that 2010 bowl berth, prompting ball,” Chizik said. “I’ve been through coach again. the fan base to clamor for change. some battles. I understand how the Of course, that would mean firing Phillips said Monday he talks with ath- whole ebb and flow of the nature of a colChizik two years after winning a national letic director Mitch Barnhart a couple of lege football season may go, good or bad. championship. times a week, but just about “small talk. ... I think most of our kids hear that and The Tigers (1-5, 0-4) rank last in the “He’s been very encouraging,” Phillips they understand it and they learn lesSEC in total offense, clearly struggling said. “It’s nothing which you want to get sons, because a lot of our guys on our with the transition from Gus Malzahn’s at. One thing Mitch and I are: We’re team have heard the same story two spread offense to Scot Loeffler’s pro-style friends. That’s more important to me years ago, but it was flipped.”

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8F

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

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9F

Golden Eagles take another shot at elusive first win “It’s a tough loss and then tacked on top of five previous losses, it’s a load that these players have to bear right now.”

There is no more time to dwell on that, as Marshall invades for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

BY MIKE HERNDON MISSISSIPPI PRESS

HATTIESBURG –Another week, another loss for Southern Miss, which has yet to give Ellis Johnson his first win as head coach.

MARSHALL AT Can the Golden SOUTHERN MISS Eagles put it behind them to focus on today’s homecoming game with Marshall?

Last Saturday’s 38-31 double-overtime cliff-hanger against Central Florida was particularly excruciating.

“It was a very heartbreaking, disappointing loss for our players,” said Johnson, whose Golden Eagles are now 0-6 and 0-2 in Conference USA. “I’m not going to say we outplayed Central Florida. I think they did the things they had to do to win a close ball game. ... I thought toward the end of the game, we were playing with a little momentum. The kids were playing with a lot of heart. We

HERD HAS STRUGGLED, TOO

AP

Ellis Johnson is 0-6 in his first season as head coach at Southern Miss.

had to come from behind and were able to do that. I’m not sure that five or six weeks ago we could have done that. I don’t know if we had the confidence or execution back then to do that.

The Thundering Herd, led by quarterback Rakeem Cato (2,311 yards, 18 TDs) is 2-4 after a 45-38 loss to Tulsa two weeks ago and is coming off a bye week.

“I think their record is a little deceiving,” Johnson said of the Herd. “They’ve played a pretty tough schedule, too. Defensively, they’ve been giving up a lot of yards and points, but they look very capable and are making some stops. ... I think they’re a better ball club than two wins, but I think we’re a better team than no wins.”

Today starts a stretch of games against teams with losing records that could be in reach for a team that can still finish the season on a high note.

After Marshall, the Golden Eagles play

Rice (2-5), UAB (1-5), SMU (2-4), UTEP (16) and Memphis (1-5).

While the season has already been a long one in Hattiesburg, Johnson said he’s confident that his team’s competitive fire is still there.

“Every week they’ve come back – there’s a bit of pouting, a little frustration, just like anybody would be going what we’ve been through – but there hasn’t been any attitudes or give-up,” Johnson said. “They come back on Sunday and have good attitudes about corrections on film. They have good work habits on the field. That’s all you can ask of them. I think they’ve been prepared every week.

“Would you change anything in a game plan?Yeah, you’d change something every time you come home whether you win by 30 or lose by 30. As far as what we’ve been doing and executing it and all that, it’s been good. I thought we showed some signs that other night that we’re growing up.”

TONIGHT’S GAME AT A GLANCE

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Where: Roberts Stadium (36,000), Hattiesburg Kickoff: 6 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network Records: Southern Miss 0-6 (0-2), Marshall 2-4 (1-1) Series: Southern Miss leads 5-2. Last year: Marshall, 26-20.

Coaches – Southern Miss: Ellis Johnson, 17-34 overall (fifth season), 0-6 at Southern Miss; Marshall: Doc Holliday, 14-17 at Marshall (third season).

Statistical leaders – Southern Miss: RB Desmond Johnson 70410-1; QB Anthony Alford 30 of 38m 373 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs; WR Dominique Sullivan 12-173-1, WR Tracy Lampley 9-144-0; LB Jamie Collins 48 tackles (31 solo), 10.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 3 pass breakups. Marshall: RB Steward Butler 61-321-2, RB Kevin Grooms 53-312-4; QB Rakeen Cato 218-312, 2,311 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs; WR Tommy Shuler 58-562-1; Dominick Legrande 69 tackles, 38 solo, 3.0 TFL, 1 INT. Trends: Southern Miss has posted 18 consecutive winning seasons – a streak that would be assured of ending with a loss tonight. ... Four of the seven games in this series have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Notes: Southern Miss will wear 1970 throwback uniforms tonight. ... The Golden Eagles are 56-19 in homecoming games, with 10 wins in the last 11 years. ... Marshall is second nationally in passing (396.0) and third in total offense 558.3. ... Southern Miss is averaging 4.7 yards per play, while its opponents are averaging 5.9 yards per play.

Summing it up: “Where we are is where we’ve been the whole time. We’re working with quarterbacks that had never taken a college snap before this year. There are some growing pains.

Has there been some improvement? I think there has.” – Ellis Johnson, Southern Miss head coach, on working this season with a group of inexperienced quarterbacks.

Prediction: Marshall, 34-27.

John L. Pitts

SOUTHERN MISS

S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10 N17 N24

southernmiss.com at Nebraska L, 49-20 Open date East Carolina L, 24-14 at Western Ky. L, 42-17 Louisville L, 21-17 Boise State L, 40-14 at UCF, 2OT L, 38-31 Marshall, 6 p.m. at Rice, noon UAB, 6:30 p.m. at SMU UTEP, 7 p.m. at Memphis, 3:30 p.m.

S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10 N17 N23

HerdZone.com at West Virginia L, 69-34 Western Carolina W, 52-24 Ohio L, 27-24 at Rice, 2OT W, 54-51 at Purdue L, 51-41 Tulsa L, 45-38 Open date at Southern Miss, 6 p.m.

UCF, 7 p.m.

Memphis, 1 p.m. at UAB, 3:30 p.m.

Houston, 11 a.m. at East Carolina, 1 p.m.

MARSHALL

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GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

|

GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

DAILY JOURNAL

State colleges: At a glance season-high 555 yards total offense ALCORN STATE against Bluefield, including a schoolLeague: SWAC (NCAA FCS) record 385 yards rushing. The team is Record: 3-4 (3-2 SWAC) Last week: Beat Alabama &M 21-20 averaging 221 rushing yards per game.

Today: at Prairie View A&M (1-5, 1-3) The buzz: The Braves have won two DELTA STATE SWAC games in a row for the first time League: Gulf South (NCAA Division II) since 2010. They haven’t won three in a Record: 3-3 (1-1 GSC) row since 2006.

Last week: Beat West Georgia 33-24 Today: at Valdosta State (5-2, 2-1) The buzz: Junior Trevor Wooden BELHAVEN leads the GSC in total offense (26/7 League: Mid-South (NAIA) ypg). He’s accounted for 15 touchdowns Record: 3-4 (2-1 MSC) (8 passing, 7 rushing). ... Delta State Last week: Beat Bluefield 66-10 leads its series with Valdosta 18-12-1, Today: at Lindsey Wilson (2-5, 0-2) with a six-game winning streak.

The buzz: The Blazers registered a S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 N3 N10 N17

ALCORN STATE (3-4) Grambling W, 22-21 at James Madison L, 42-3 Ark.-Pine Bluff* L, 24-6 at Arkansas State L, 56-0 Alabama State* (HC) L, 54-14 Southern* W, 20-17 at Alabama A&M* W, 21-20 at Prairie View A&M* 1 p.m. at MVSU* 1 p.m.

Texas Southern* 2 p.m.

Jackson State* 1 p.m. *–SWAC game

S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10

BELHAVEN (3-4) at Cumberlands (Ky.) L, 21-10 Louisiana College L, 24-13 at Cumberland (Tenn.)* L, 36-30 Campbellsville* W, 70-28 at Virginia-Wise W, 52-14 Kentucky Christian L, 13-10 Bluefield* (HC) W, 66-10 at Lindsey Wilson* 1:30 at Faulkner* 1:30 Pikeville 1:30 Bethel* 5 p.m. *-Mid-South Conference game

S1 S8 S22 S27 O6 O13 O20 O27 N3 N10

JACKSON STATE

League: SWAC (NCAA FCS) Record: 3-4 (3-2 SWAC) Last week: Beat Alabama State 37-34 Today: Home vs. MVSU (2-4, 2-2) The buzz: The Tigers had three SWAC players of the week – QB Clayton Moore (newcomer; 400 yards total offense, 5 TDs), DB Qua Cox (7 tackles, INT) and PK Ryan Deising (game-winning 30-yard FG).

MILLSAPS

League: Southern Ath. (NCAA D-III) Record: 5-1 (2-0 SAA) Last week: Beat Sewanee 42-28

DELTA STATE (3-3) Fort Valley State L, 31-23 at Elizabeth City State W, 26-7 North Alabama* L, 20-12 Abilene Christian L, 34-28 at Tarleton State W, 35-35 West Georgia* W, 33-24 at Valdosta State* 2 p.m.

West Alabama* (HC) 4 p.m. at Univ. of Indianapolis 5 p.m. at Shorter* 12:30 *-Gulf South Conference game

S1 S8 S15 S22 S29 O6 O13 O20 N3 N10 N17

JACKSON STATE (3-4) at Mississippi State L, 56-9 Tenn. State L, 38-12 at Texas Southern* W, 45-35 Southern* L, 28-21 Prairie View A&M* W, 34-13 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff* L, 34-24 at Alabama State* W, 37-34 MVSU* (HC) 3 p.m. at Grambling State* 4 p.m.

Alabama A&M* TBA at Alcorn State* 1 p.m. *–SWAC game

Today: at Rhodes (4-2, 0-1) The buzz: Sophomore Mike Barthelemy was named SAA Offensive Player pf the Week after rushing 14 times for 122 yards and two TDs against Sewanee. He leads the league with a 92.2 ypg average.

road games this season. The team is last in ASC total offense (282.6) and next-to-last in total defense (462.0).

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

League: SWAC (NCAA FCS) Record: 2-4 (2-2 SWAC) Last week: Beat Grambling 45-21 Today: at Jackson State (3-4, 3-2) MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE The buzz: Saturday’s win ended a League: American Southwest Con13-game losing streak in the series. ... ference (NCAA D-III) WR Julian Stafford was named the Record: 1-5 (0-3 ASC) Last week: Lost 27-14 to Howard Payne SWAC Offensive Player of the Week after catching 7 passes for 162 yards Today: at Texas Lutheran (3-3, 1-2) and two TDs and returning a kickoff 88 The buzz: The Choctaws have lost four games in a row and are also 0-4 in yards for another score.

MILLSAPS (5-1) A30 Mississippi College W, 23-17 S8 at LaGrange W, 54-7 S15 at Point W, 54-28 S29 at Centre* W, 33-16 O6 Huntingdon L, 45-24 O13 Sewanee* W, 42-28 O20 at Rhodes* 1 p.m.

O27 at Trinity (Texas) 1:30 N3 Austin 1 p.m.

N10 Birmingham Southern* 1 p.m. *-Southern Athletic Association game

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE (1-5) A30 at Millsaps L, 23-17 S8 Webber International W, 31-24 S15 at West Alabama L, 41-3 S29 at Hardin-Simmons* L, 31-0 O6 Sul Ross State* L, 75-42 O13 at Howard Payne* L, 27-14 O20 at Texas Lutheran* 1 p.m.

O27 East Texas Baptist* 3 p.m.

N3 Louisiana College* 1 p.m.

N10 at Mary Hardin-Baylor* 1 p.m. *-American S’west Conference game

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (2-4) S1 Concordia College L, 20-19 S8 at Alabama State* L, 29-7 S15 at Southern* W, 6-0 S22 at Northwestern State L, 45-14 O6 Alabama A&M* (HC) L, 35-0 O13 Grambling State* W, 45-21 O20 at Jackson State* 3 p.m.

O27 at Ark.-Pine Bluff* TBA N3 Alcorn State* 1 p.m.

N10 Prairie View A&M* 1 p.m.

N17 at Texas Southern* TBA *–SWAC game

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10F

High-octane Texas A&M challenges LSU

BY RALPH D. RUSSO ASSOCIATED PRESS

No. 20 Texas A&M has become a fascinating team.

The Aggies are thrilled to be in the Southeastern TOP 25 Conference, but their PREVIEW approach is still very much Big 12.

When Texas A&M hosts No. 6 LSU and the Tigers’ nasty defense today, the Aggies will get a chance to prove what so many Big 12 fans have thought all along: Those big, bad SEC defenses wouldn’t look quite so tough if they had to face high-powered Big 12 offenses every week.

SEC fans scoff at this, insist defense wins championships, and point to the six straight national titles the conference has won as proof.

As with many arguments, there is truth on both sides. But the debate seems to be more heated than ever because there is such a clear style difference between the top teams in the SEC (Alabama, LSU, Florida and South Carolina) and those in the Big 12 (especially West Virginia, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech).

Texas A&M can score a victory of sorts for the conference it left behind over the next few weeks.

The Aggies lead the SEC and are tied for sixth in the nation in total offense at 543 yards per game, behind fabulous redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel (aka Johnny Football). They average 47 points, run a fast-paced spread offense and are everything that makes fans (and coaches) of a more traditional approach to football cringe.

The Aggies lost 20-17 to open the season against No. 3 Florida, coached by former defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Chalk one up for old-school football.

Since then they’ve scored 88 points combined in victories against Arkansas and Ole Miss, two teams that prove not everybody in the SEC plays big-time defense.

You can be certain that those on the defensive side of the ball will push for some rules changes in the next few years to slow things down a bit. And you can be just as sure that the guys on the offense side will push back.

Whether it goes anywhere, who knows?

After LSU, A&M plays three straight road games against Auburn, No. 15 Mississippi State and No. 1 Alabama.

RUSSO’S PICKS

No. 1 Alabama 42, Tennessee 17 No. 9 South Carolina 20, No. 3 Florida 17 No. 17 West Virginia 45, No. 4 K-State 35 No. 5 Notre Dame 24, BYU 13 No. 6 LSU 38, No. 20 Texas A&M 24 No. 7 Ohio State 45, Purdue 21 No. 8 Oregon State 30, Utah 21 No. 10 Oklahoma 52, Kansas 14 No. 11 Southern Cal 52, Colorado 10 No. 12 Florida State 38, Miami 17 No. 13 Georgia 45, Kentucky 14 No. 14 Clemson 35, Virginia Tech 31 No. 15 Miss. State 38, Middle Tenn. 17 No. 16 Louisville 28, South Florida 17 TCU 35, No. 18 Texas Tech 28 No. 19 Rutgers 17, Temple 13 Toledo 33, No. 21 Cincinnati 28 No. 22 Stanford 28, California 20 No. 23 Michigan 27, Michigan State 14 No. 24 Boise State 35, UNLV 14 Last week: 15-3 Season record: 116-23

There’s more college football coverage at our website, including a link to our new college football page: collegefootball.ap.org/djournal

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

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11F

TODAY’S NATIONAL SCHEDULE EAST

New Hampshire (5-2) at Maine (2-4), 11 a.m.

Rutgers (6-0) at Temple (3-2), 11 a.m.

Sacred Heart (2-4) at Duquesne (4-2), 11 a.m.

CCSU (1-5) at Robert Morris (1-5), 11 a.m.

Wagner (3-3) at St. Francis, Pa. (3-4), 11 a.m.

Bowling Green (4-3) at UMass (0-6), 11 a.m.

Penn (2-3) at Yale (1-4), 11 a.m.

Cornell (3-2) at Brown (3-2), 11:30 a.m.

Bucknell (1-5) at Lehigh (7-0), 11:30 a.m.

Georgetown (3-4) at Colgate (3-3), noon Holy Cross (1-5) at Lafayette (4-2), noon Bryant (1-6) at Monmouth, N.J. (3-3), noon Harvard (5-0) at Princeton (3-2), noon Dartmouth (3-2) at Columbia (1-4), 12:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh (2-4) at Buffalo (1-5), 2:30 p.m.

Rhode Island (0-6) at Delaware (4-2), 2:30 p.m.

Indiana (2-4) at Navy (3-3), 2:30 p.m.

Gardner-Webb (1-5) at Stony Brook (6-1), 3 p.m.

Old Dominion (5-1) at Towson (3-3), 6 p.m.

Kansas St. (6-0) at West Virginia (5-1), 6 p.m.

SOUTH

Tennessee St. (7-0) at Jacksonville St. (3-3), 11 a.m.

Virginia Tech (4-3) at Clemson (5-1), 11 a.m.

Auburn (1-5) at Vanderbilt (2-4), 11:21 a.m.

Wake Forest (3-3) at Virginia (2-5), 11:30 a.m.

Morgan St. (3-3) at Howard (4-2), noon San Diego (3-3) at Jacksonville (6-1), noon FIU (1-6) at Troy (3-3), noon Presbyterian (2-5) at Charleston South. (2-4), 12:30 p.m.

N.C. A&T (3-3) at Delaware St. (3-3), 12:30 p.m.

Georgia Southern (5-1) at Furman (2-5), 12:30 p.m.

Coastal Carolina (2-4) at VMI (2-4), 12:30 p.m.

Edward Waters (1-3) at Savannah St. (0-6), 1 p.m.

Western Carolina (1-6) at Elon (2-4), 2 p.m.

Boston College (1-5) at Georgia Tech (2-4), 2 p.m.

Va. Lynchburg (1-5) at Grambling St. (0-6), 2 p.m.

Wofford (5-1) at Appalachian St. (5-2), 2:30 p.m.

South Carolina (6-1) at Florida (6-0), 2:30 p.m.

Villanova (5-2) at Georgia St. (1-6), 2:30 p.m.

Concord (4-3) at Liberty (2-4), 2:30 p.m.

South Florida (2-4) at Louisville (6-0), 2:30 p.m.

N.C. State (4-2) at Maryland (4-2), 2:30 p.m.

James Madison (5-1) at Richmond (4-3), 2:30 p.m.

FAU (1-5) at South Alabama (1-5), 2:30 p.m.

Norfolk St. (2-5) at Bethune-Cookman (4-2), 3 p.m.

MVSU (2-4) at Jackson St. (3-4), 3 p.m.

Louisiana-Monroe (4-2) at Western Kentucky (5-1), 3 p.m.

Davidson (0-6) at Campbell (1-5), 5 p.m.

Samford (4-2) at Chattanooga (3-3), 5 p.m.

S.C. State (2-5) at Florida A&M (3-4), 5 p.m.

North Carolina (5-2) at Duke (5-2), 6 p.m.

Duke, led by former Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe, hasn’t played in a bowl since 1994.The Blue Devils could get bowleligible tonight, but have lost eight in a row in this series and 21 of the last 22.

Georgia (5-1) at Kentucky (1-6), 6 p.m.

Idaho (1-6) at Louisiana Tech (5-1), 6 p.m.

Middle Tennessee (4-2) at Mississippi St. (6-0), 6 p.m.

Marshall (2-4) at Southern Miss (0-6), 6 p.m.

Ark.-Pine Bluff (4-2) at Southern U. (3-3), 6 p.m.

Alabama (6-0) at Tennessee (3-3), 6 p.m.

East Carolina (4-3) at UAB (1-5), 6 p.m.

UCF (4-2) at Memphis (1-5), 7 p.m.

Florida St. (6-1) at Miami (4-3), 7 p.m.

E. Kentucky (5-2) at Tennessee Tech (2-4), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST

Northern Illinois (6-1) at Akron (1-6), 11 a.m.

Purdue (3-3) at Ohio St. (7-0), 11 a.m.

Minnesota (4-2) at Wisconsin (5-2), 11 a.m.

Valparaiso (0-6) at Dayton (3-4), noon Army (1-5) at Eastern Michigan (0-6), noon Marist (2-4) at Drake (5-2), 1 p.m.

Missouri St. (1-6) at Illinois St. (6-1), 1 p.m.

UT-Martin (5-2) at SE Missouri (2-4), 1 p.m.

Ball St. (4-3) at Central Michigan (2-4), 2:30 p.m.

Western Michigan (3-4) at Kent St. (5-1), 2:30 p.m.

Michigan St. (4-3) at Michigan (4-2), 2:30 p.m.

Nebraska (4-2) at Northwestern (6-1), 2:30 p.m.

BYU (4-3) at Notre Dame (6-0), 2:30 p.m.

Montana (3-4) at North Dakota (3-4), 2:40 p.m.

Southern Illinois (4-3) at Youngstown St. (4-2), 3 p.m.

South Dakota St. (5-1) at N. Iowa (1-5), 4 p.m.

Morehead St. (1-5) at Butler (5-2), 5 p.m.

North Dakota St. (5-1) at South Dakota (1-5), 6 p.m.

Cincinnati (5-0) at Toledo (6-1), 6 p.m.

Indiana St. (5-2) at Western Illinois (3-3), 6 p.m.

Penn St. (4-2) at Iowa (4-2), 7 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Iowa St. (4-2) at Oklahoma St. (3-2), 11 a.m.

LSU (6-1) at Texas A&M (5-1), 11 a.m.

San Jose St. (4-2) at UTSA (5-1), 1 p.m.

Alcorn St. (3-4) at Prairie View (1-5), 2 p.m.

Nicholls St. (1-4) at Stephen F. Austin (2-4), 2 p.m.

Texas Tech (5-1) at TCU (5-1), 2:30 p.m.

Rice (2-5) at Tulsa (6-1), 2:30 p.m.

Lamar (3-4) at Central Arkansas (5-2), 6 p.m.

Kansas (1-5) at Oklahoma (4-1), 6 p.m.

McNeese St. (4-2) at Sam Houston St. (4-2), 7 p.m.

Baylor (3-2) at Texas (4-2), 7 p.m.

Tulane (1-5) at UTEP (1-6), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST

Stanford (4-2) at California (3-4), 2 p.m.

Weber St. (0-7) at Southern Utah (3-4), 2 p.m.

New Mexico St. (1-5) at Utah St. (5-2), 2 p.m.

UNLV (1-6) at Boise St. (5-1), 2:30 p.m.

Idaho St. (1-5) at Northern Colorado (1-5), 2:35 p.m.

Colorado (1-5) at Southern Cal (5-1), 5 p.m.

New Mexico (4-3) at Air Force (3-3), 6 p.m.

Sacramento St. (5-2) at E. Washington (5-1), 6:05 p.m.

UC Davis (3-4) at N. Arizona (5-1), 6:05 p.m.

Portland St. (2-4) at Cal Poly (6-0), 8:05 p.m.

Washington (3-3) at Arizona (3-3), 9 p.m.

Wyoming (1-5) at Fresno St. (4-3), 9:30 p.m.

Utah (2-4) at Oregon St. (5-0), 9:30 p.m.

San Diego St. (4-3) at Nevada (6-1), 9:35 p.m.

Times converted to Central

Document: F011DJS102012.eps;Page: 1;Format:(254.00 x 254.00 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Oct 19, 2012 01:17:07;JPC 72 DPI

GAMEDAY: WEEK 8

DAILY JOURNAL

12F | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2012

GAMEDAY: WEEK 8 Document: F012DJS102012.eps;Page: 1;Format:(254.00 x 254.00 mm);Plate: Composite;Date: Oct 19, 2012 11:03:42;JPC 72 DPI

DAILY JOURNAL