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SEC’s success drags games into spotlight Published: Friday, September 21, 2007 PRINT E-MAIL As if there weren’t enough big games in the SEC, three interdivisional matchups that might not have been circled on many calendars back in the summer have turned out to be important and intriguing. Kentucky, coming off a huge victory over rival Louisville, visits Arkansas on Saturday, with the Razorbacks trying to rebound from a heartbreaking loss at Alabama. An 0-2 league start is no way for Darren Mc-Fadden and the Hogs to defend their Western Division title. Alabama is trying to start 3-0 in the conference in its first season under Coach Nick Saban. Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa, having lost its SEC opener to South Carolina. In Baton Rogue, the coach who used to dominate the league tries to pull off a big upset. Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks could take a huge leap with a victory over LSU. The Tigers have been as dominant a team as any in the country, allowing only seven points in three games. The picks: TODAY No. 4 Oklahoma (minus 22 1 / 2 ) at Tulsa Sooners ranked third in nation in total offense; Tulsa fourth... SOONERS 58-24. SATURDAY Washington State (plus 24 1 / 2 ) at No. 1 Southern California Trojans have won four consecutive in series... USC 42-14. No. 12 South Carolina (plus 16 1 / 2 ) at No. 2 LSU Tigers are 14-2-1 against Gamecocks, 9-1 at home... LSU 35-14. No. 3 Florida (minus 21 ) at Mississippi Rebels won past two meetings in 2002-2003... FLORIDA 46-17. East Carolina (24 1 / 2 ) at No. 5 West Virginia Mountaineers are 11-0 against Pirates in Morgantown... WEST VIRGINIA 41-20. Arizona (plus 16 ) at No. 6 California Wildcats upset Bears 24-20 last season... CAL 44-17. Rice (plus 38 1 / 2 ) at No. 7 Texas Longhorns have won 36 of 37 against Owls... TEXAS 50-10. Northwestern (plus 22 ) at No. 8 Ohio State Wildcats’ most recent victory in Columbus was 1971... OHIO STATE 38-14. Iowa (plus 7 1 / 2 ) at No. 9 Wisconsin Hawkeyes have won four of past five meetings... WISCONSIN 27-21. No. 10 Penn State (minus 3 ) at Michigan Penn State’s eight consecutive losses in series marks longest skid COLLEGE PICKS to one team under JoePa... MICHIGAN 28-24. No. 13 Oregon (minus 16 1 / 2 ) at Stanford
Ducks have won five consecutive over Cardinal... OREGON 55-17. Army (plus 28 1 / 2 ) at No. 14 Boston College Eagles are 23-3 against Army since 1970... BOSTON COLLEGE 35-3. No. 15 Clemson (minus 7 ) at N. C. State Tigers have won three consecutive against Wolfpack... CLEMSON 26-20. No. 22 Georgia (plus 3 1 / 2 ) at No. 16 Alabama Bulldogs are 1-7 in Tuscaloosa, with victory coming in 2002... GEORGIA 27-26. William & Mary (no line ) at No. 17 Virginia Tech Hokies freshman Tyrod Taylor threw for 287 yards in first start last week... VIRGINIA TECH 44-6. Syracuse (plus 36 1 / 2 ) at No. 18 Louisville Cardinals are No. 1 in nation in total offense; Orange 116 th... LOUISVILLE 58-10. Charleston Southern (no line ) at No. 19 Hawaii Could be short day for QB Colt Brennan (sprained ankle )... HAWAII 50-10. No. 21 Kentucky (plus 6 1 / 2 ) at Arkansas Last meeting in 2003 went seven overtimes and Razorbacks won 71-63... ARKANSAS 36-31. North Carolina (plus 13 1 / 2 ) at No. 23 South Florida In first meeting last year, Bulls won 37-20... SOUTH FLORIDA 34-17. Ball State (plus 22 ) at No. 24 Nebraska Cornhuskers’ last game against Mid-American Conference team was 1997, a 59-14 victory over Akron... NEBRASKA 48-21. Illinois State (no line ) at No. 25 Missouri Tigers ranked seventh in total offense... MISSOURI 50-14. LAST WEEK’S RECORD 19-3 (straight ); 9-7-1 (vs. points ). SEASON 63-4 (straight ); 28-25-1 (vs. points ). More Stories From: RALPH D. RUSSO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS · Weekend matchups loom large in Big 12, SEC · SEC’s success drags games into spotlight · COMMENTARY : SEC remains nation’s top football league · Forecast calls for landslide · COLLEGE PICKS : Auburn vs. Tennessee the biggest SEC game Yesterday's Most Popular 1. Arkansas football team still making noise 3. Hogs downplay talk of rankings 4. HOG CALLS : Blue-collar Hogs' effort energizing crowds 5. Surging Hogs not obsessing over national polls Today's Most E-mailed 1. Hogs, Horns renew rivalry with fresh faces 2. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS VS. NO. 7 TEXAS LONGHORNS : 'A different animal'Pelphrey : Longhorns SEC-like 3. LIKE IT IS : Texas' Barnes good at raising bar, eyebrows 4. THE RECRUITING GUY : 3 UA recruits on display at all-star event |
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