SEC

Sporting News, The, Nov 16, 1998 by Mike Strange, Bob Holt

EAST DIVISION

BIG GAME: When the season opened, no one figured a mid-November battle between Arkansas and Tennessee would feature unbeaten teams. The Razorbacks haven't beaten a ranked team, but a 34-0 win over Ole Miss last week was an impressive warmup. Tennessee has played the in tough and will force senior QB Clint Stoerner to make good decisions. Vols QB Tee Martin, considered a liability in September, has matured into a strength and Tennessee's receivers are making the most of their opportunities. This also could be a preview of the conference championship game, which will be played in December.

LOOKING AHEAD: Florida can't be blamed for looking ahead. Weak South Carolina (1-8) is in The Swamp this week, but the Gators' November 21 date at Florida State has its usual terrific implications. The Gators aren't counting themselves out of the national championship picture just yet.

CAMPUS STROLL: After Kentucky rallied for a dramatic 37-35 victory over Mississippi State, Wildcats coach Hal Mumme donned a "FOCUS 1-1-99" T-shirt, a reference to the program's first bowl eligibility since 1993. QB Tim Couch led a Wildcats rally from 11 points down despite a sprained thumb.... Florida QB Doug Johnson took a hard hit early in the fourth quarter and had to be pulled from the game at Vanderbilt.

WEST DIVISION

BIG GAME: Alabama and Mississippi State play Saturday in Starkville in a game that has bowl implications for both teams. Alabama (6-3) is bowl eligible, which is big for a young team coming off a 4-7 season. Mississippi State needs one more win to qualify for bowl play.

LOOKING AHEAD: Arkansas does not have to beat the Vols to win the West. For Arkansas, the key will be a November 21 game at Mississippi State. If the Razorbacks win that one, they are assured of winning the West and playing in the conference championship game, regardless of how they do at Tennessee or in the regular-season finale against LSU.... The Mississippi State-Alabama game will feature the SEC's two leading rushers in MSU's James Johnson and the Tide's Shaun Alexander. They have rushed for a combined 2,059 yards. Johnson has 1,040 in eight games, averaging 130, and Alexander has rushed for 1,019 in nine games, averaging 113.2.... MSU has yet to beat a team with a winning record.... LSU will have to pull two road upsets to avoid a losing season--an incredible fall for a team that was ranked as high as No. 6 nationally. The Tigers, who have an open date Saturday, have to win at Notre Dame and Arkansas to finish 6-5.

CAMPUS STROLL: Alabama's 22-16 win at LSU made the Tide 14-0-1 at Tiger Stadium since 1971. The Tigers' last win over the Crimson Tide at Baton Rouge was in 1969.... Mississippi State senior TB Johnson has rushed for 2,009 yards in 19 games over two seasons since transferring from East Mississippi Junior College. Bob Holt