SEC East

1. South Carolina has faced Georgia QB Aaron Muray before but the Bulldogs have never seen Connor Shaw.

2. Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree and South Carolina running Marcus Lattimore have never faced each other.

3. Georgia-South Carolina tickets are going anywhere from $150 to over $1,000.

4. Herschel Walker on Todd Gurley: “He’s an incredible back,”

5. Florida is confident heading into this year’s matchup with LSU: “It won’t be like last year.”

6. Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel on facing the Tigers defense without Tyrann Mathieu: “They still have a great secondary.”

7. Derek Dooley on the performance of the Vols defense against Georgia: “We need to be really upset at the way we performed.”

8. Mark Story on Joker’s job: “If the University of Kentucky is looking for a reason to retain Phillips, it now has one, independent of UK football’s final record in 2012.”

9. Maxwell Smith update.

10. In four FBS games, Missouri’s offense is averaging just 18.75 points a game.

11, “Call it the James Franklin Bowl”

SEC West

12, LSU depth “dwindling at an alaming rate.”

13. Nick Saban: “I in no way, shape or form feel like we have an invincible team in any way, shape or form.”

14. Alabama secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt on the Tide’s next five games – all against conference opponents: “We’ve got five games here in a row where we’ll kind of run the gauntlet in the SEC. It’s hard to win on the road in the SEC, and any win you get, you are thankful for it.”

15. One concern of many for Arkansas – Razorbacks running back Knile Davis averaging a fumble every 12.4 touches.

16. Davis: “I’ve never been a quitter. I’m not surrounded by quitters.” Arkansas coaching rumors.

17. Mississippi State is watching tape of high school games to prepare for Kentucky’s freshman quarterbacks.

18. On the other side of the ball, Bulldogs running back LaDarius Perkins and the Bulldogs offense are ready to run: ” The coaches know we can run the ball on these guys.”

19. Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen on the Tigers upcoming schedule: “(W)e have good things going with October with a lot of games we feel good about.”

20. Auburn defense facing a quarterback in Tyler Wilson who threw four TD passes the last time he played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

21. Quarterback battle brewing at Ole Miss?

22. Bowl game in store for the Rebels this year?

23. Jackie Sherrill breaks down the A&M – Arkansas game. “The storyline around the country is Johnny Manziel, but the defense has contributed a bunch.”

Joker Phillips must feel that he’s being trailed by a black cloud these days.  Two plays into Saturday night’s game with South Carolina, quarterback Maxwell Smith — who Kentucky had built its up-tempo, passing game around — went down with an ankle injury.  Today, the severity of that injury was learned.

According to The Lexington Herald-Leader, Phillips said Smith (pictured at left) is out indefinitely after tearing a ligament in his left ankle.  Surgery will obviously be required.

On the bright side — at least for fans — they’ll be able to see “the next Tim Couch” in action on Saturday against Mississippi State.  In addition to true freshman signal-caller Jalen Whitlow who went in for Smith in UK’s 38-17 loss to Carolina, true freshman Patrick Towles will see action. Phillips said, “They’ll both play.”

As we noted last week, Towles was going to redshirt this season, even though fans, Towles and Towles’ father — who went to the press with his concerns — wanted to see what the Bluegrass State’s former Mr. Football could do.

On Saturday, everyone will find out.  And Phillips will hope all of the “next Couch” hype turns out to be true.

Kentucky quarterback Maxwell Smith has a separated shoulder but expects to play Saturday against South Carolina
Arkansas AD Jeff Long is sticking by his coach saying he expects John L. Smith to complete the season
Long expects to hire a long-term coach after the season is over
Texas A&M is planning a 3-year, $425 million renovation of Kyle Field, but they want help from the local government
Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease says facing LSU defense could be defning moment for the Gators
After a one-game suspension, South Carolina S D.J. Swearinger says he’ll target opponents lower
S Bacarri Rambo and LB Alec Ogletree will play for Georgia against Tennessee, according to their teammates
Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has been banned from off-campus recruiting for 30 days due to a rules violation
Keep up with all the day’s SEC news at MrSEC.com

SEC East

1. In the past 20 years, four quarterbacks have beaten Tennessee at least three times.  Georgia’s Aaron Murray can join that group with a win Saturday.

2. Georgia’s offense leads the nation with 35 plays 20 yards or longer.

3. Tennessee coach Derek Dooley on Georgia’s John Jenkins: “That sucker is a pretty good nose guard, and he is big.”

4. Big difference between last year and this year’s Florida teams?  Will Muschamp says it’s the depth to withstand injuries. The up-and-down career of Andre Debose.

5. Resetting expectations at Mizzou – and why this weekend’s game at UCF is key to a winning season.

6. Mizzou quarterback James Franklin on pain in his shoulder: It’s almost like I’m worried about doing it (delivering throws) because the pain is going to be there and I doubt that I’ll be able to put something on this throw or make that type of throw.”

7. Kentucky quarterback Maxwell Smith is day-to-day – “who is UK’s next best quarterback?”

8. What should Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart do about Joker Phillips?  Nothing, until the Wildcats lose seven games.

9. Big problem facing Vanderbilt? Lack of size.

SEC West

10. Dan Mullen and the 4-0 Mississippi State Bulldogs have their goals set high: “The opportunity could be there for championships.”

11. Pat Dye on Auburn’s defense Saturday night: “It was one of the most amazing transitions I’ve seen.”

12. Nick Saban on the 2012 version of his team: ”We probably have a team that doesn’t have as many defined stars as we’ve had in the past.”

13. Ole Mis coach Hugh Freeze on Alabama: “They’re the gold standard in football right now.”

14. Rebels quarterback Bo Wallace: “The shoulder is tight, but I’m optimistic.”

15. Les Miles on chewing out players during a game with TV cameras rolling: “We occasionally have a conversation that cannot wait until I get to the confines of a locker room.”

16. Miles took three questions about left tackle Josh Dworaczyk in Monday’s press conference.

17. Jim Harris on John L. Smith:” Hog fans may want him returned to Utah yesterday, but one can’t help but laugh with him or at him, or both. Or maybe cry for him.”

18. Why Texas A&M should still worry about the Razorbacks: “It’s the freedom that can come with utter failure.”

SEC/College News

19. Auburn student coach Joseph Bagwell  – who passed away Saturday -“was born with literally half a heart — without a right ventricle.”

20. Harvey Updyke arrested for an incident involving a returned lawn mower.

21. What rights do college athletes retain when signing NCAA paperwork?

22. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher on the Heisman Trophy.  “Like I say, that’s for show dogs.”

23. More than $1 billion spent on stadium refurbishments in the state of Texas.

24. FBS football players - 17 percent less likely to graduate then their male peers.

25. The Pac-12 fired three refs that have found work in the NFL.

SEC WEST

1.  Nick Saban and Alabama are getting separation between themselves and other programs.

2.  Bama hasn’t trailed in regulation time in eight games and its last three foes each had less than 10 offensive snaps on the Tide’s side of the 50.  Wow.

3.  Gene Chizik says he’s had “several meetings and several heart-to-hearts about growing up” with struggling Auburn QB Kiehl Frazier.

4.  Arkansas John L. Smith says Bama’s offense is not “going to be as hard as preparing for some other people because… they’re not going to fool you with variety.”

5.  Hog backup QB Brandon Allen says he grew up a lot in last week’s loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

6.  Assuming LSU takes care of business with Idaho, two pretty big records will fall tomorrow in Baton Rouge.

7.  Tiger punter Brad Wing says he really wants to win the Ray Guy Award.

8.  Byron De’Vinner keeps right on talking, but for Mississippi State “it only matters what he’s told the NCAA.”

9.  Why will MSU travel to Troy on Saturday?  In the words of Navin R. Johnson, it’s a profit deal.

10.  Ex-Bulldog defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will be heading up Texas’ D when the Longhorns visit Ole Miss.

11.  Winning has made football fun again in Oxford.  (Ya don’t say.)

12.  Kevin Sumlin gave Texas A&M tailback Christine Michael just two second-half carries last week “based on health history.”

13.  An SMU beatwriter says the Aggies should beat their old rivals “by a couple of touchdowns” tomorrow.

SEC EAST

14.  The last time Florida lost to Tennessee, gas cost just $2.10 a gallon.

15.  The Gator/Vol rivalry is “gaining traction again.”

16.  Instead of 0-2 like last year, Georgia has started this season 2-0, but Mark Richt says the Dawgs have “got to keep fighting for our lives because it’s such a fine line between winning and losing.”

17.  Scheduling Florida Atlantic makes fiscal sense for UGA and FAU.  (Too bad it’s a “who cares?” game.)

18.  Turnover-prone Western Kentucky might be just what Kentucky’s defense needs.

19.  Andre Woodson believes Maxwell Smith will “be one of the best quarterbacks ever to come through” UK.

20.  Connor Shaw “hasn’t quite been 100%” and now Steve Spurrier says he’ll make a decision about which signal-caller to play tomorrow night.

21.  When it comes to linebacker Shaq Wilson, the Gamecocks “feed off his energy.”

22.  Juco nose tackle Daniel McCullers says Tennessee is “going to be ready” for Florida power running game.

23.  Writer: “With the season-ending loss to Kentucky last November, Rocky Top hit rock bottom.  On Saturday, we’ll see just how far the Vols have rebounded.”

24.  Vanderbilt’s James Franklin says his team’s got to get back to what it did a year ago — “which is fight… focus on the details… have a chip on our shoulder.”

25.  The Commodores passing game has been dodgy in 2012… but the run game’s been “almost non-existent.”

26.  Is there any chance Missouri will look past Arizona State to South Carolina?

27.  The Tigers’ banged-up O-linemen are dealing with position changes.

28.  Interesting note: Last week’s Mizzou-Georgia game did better TV ratings in Atlanta (no shock) and Kansas City than it did in St. Louis.  (But it was still the highest-rated ESPN college football game ever in the Gateway City.)

SEC/COLLEGE FOOTBALL

29.  Tons of game picks from CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman can be found right here.

30.  Get ready for legal haggling as the Big East suggests Notre Dame will have to negotiate itself out of the league. (Kinda like half the other teams in the league have done.)

31.  Fox’s Erin Andrews wants to know how close Tennessee is to being “back.”

32.  How dirty is recruiting in Memphis?  Dirty enough that it feels like old times.

1.  Florida corner Marcus Roberson is out for the rest of the season with a neck injury.

2.  The Gators — who’ve now lost five of their last six — will try to finish strong.  (Good thing they’ve got Furman coming to Gainesville next.)

3.  Georgia isn’t celebrating anything yet as it turns its attention to Kentucky.

4.  But looking ahead, one oddsmaker would make Georgia a 10.5 point underdog to LSU in the SEC Championship Game.

5.  Kentucky is reeling after a 30-point blowout loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.

6.  UK will continue to go with freshman Maxwell Smith at quarterback (who didn’t get much help in Nashville on Saturday.)

7.  With “little hope” in the SEC East, South Carolina turns its attention to in-state foes The Citadel and Clemson.  (One should be considerably tougher than the other.)

8.  Steve Spurrier teared up after Saturday’s game while explaining to his players how significant it is for Carolina to have beaten Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in back-to-back years.

9.  Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray has been cleared to return to practice and is listed as questionable for Saturday game…

10.  Good thing, because the Vols’ game with Vanderbilt will define their season.

11.  James Franklin doesn’t want his team to get too emotional for Saturday’s game in Knoxville.

12.  Kevin Stallings says Cleveland State came into Nashville and outplayed his team “from start to finish.”

1.  Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is happy with freshman quarterback Jacoby Brisett’s composure.

2.  Chemistry isn’t a concern for the guards on Billy Donovan’s basketball team.

3.  Georgia players say they’re past last year’s chippy, often dirty Auburn game — “a game that nearly got out of hand.”

4.  The Dawgs expect to have deep threat Malcolm Mitchell back on the field this weekend.

5.  Freshman quarterback Maxwell Smith is learning the expectations associated with being Kentucky’s starting quarterback.

6.  UK has two starting defensive tackles back from injury and as a result Joker Phillips says “you can’t attack us up the middle.”

7.  Everything still looks good for Gamecock quarterback Connor Shaw and his chances of playing on Saturday.

8.  Carolina’s basketball team has a lot of holes to fill.

9.  Demoted Tennessee O-lineman James Stone is working to get a starting job back.

10.  Vol players say their new Wildcat formation makes them feel “like we’re playing a video game.”

11.  James Franklin believes center Logan Stewart has earned himself a reputation for being a hot-head and now opposing teams “are trying to get him to react.”

12.  Lance Goulbourne doesn’t get a lot of pub, but it’s hard to ignore the forward’s abilities.