AROUND THE SEC: TIgers turn tide on former coach
Louisiana State got their revenge on Alabama coach Nick Saban. More importantly, the No. 2 Tigers took sole possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference Western Division and remained in contention for the national championship, rallying to beat the No. 17 Crimson Tide, 41-34.
Saban coached LSU for five seasons, winning a national championship in 2003. He left Baton Rouge for the National Football League before accepting the head coaching position at Alabama, one of LSU's archrivals.
Though this game was already crucial to LSU's postseason aspirations, there was also an added desire to beat their former coach. A telling image was a picture of Saban hung on LSU's campus during the week; students donated money to charity so they could throw darts at it.
After two ties and three lead changes, Alabama (6-3, 4-2 SEC) took a 34-27 lead in the fourth quarter when Javier Arenas returned a punt for a touchdown. LSU quarterback Matt Flynn calmly engineered a scoring drive to tie the game with a touchdown pass to Early Doucet.
The Tigers (8-1, 5-1 SEC) forced quarterback John Parker Wilson to fumble on Alabama's ensuing drive and recovered the ball at the Alabama 3-yard line. Running back Jacob Hester rumbled in for a score to clinch the Tiger victory.
LSU has shown a definite flair for the dramatic this season. Their last three wins have been decided by late-game touchdowns.
SOUTH CAROLINA SLIDE: South Carolina's season-long inability to stop the run came to a head in a 48-36 loss to Arkansas. The reeling Gamecocks (6-4, 3-4 SEC) gave up an astounding 541 yards rushing to the Razorbacks for their third straight loss.
Darren McFadden tied an SEC record with 321 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Felix Jones added 163 yards and three touchdowns for Arkansas (6-3, 2-3 SEC).
South Carolina was in first place in the SEC East before losing to Vanderbilt on Oct. 20. That started a downward spiral which has seen them tumble in the rankings and the SEC East standings.
SEC BOWLERS: Eleven of 12 SEC teams can conceivably play in the postseason, a testament to the conference's strength.
Nine schools have already earned bowl eligibility, and Vanderbilt and Mississippi State need just one win. Only Mississippi, which has a losing record, will surely not play in a bowl this season.
This puts a crimp in Vanderbilt's plans, as the SEC has only eight automatic bowl tie-ins. The Commodores could be left out even if they do become eligible.
See more at www.insidevandy.com
