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smazza · October 27, 2006

Under-Dawgs Face 'Tall Order' Vs. Gators

By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer

3:34 PM PDT, October 26, 2006

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After four consecutive games decided by seven points or less, this year's "Cocktail Party" between No. 9 Florida and Georgia could be a mismatch.

The Bulldogs have lost two of their last three, falling to Tennessee and Vanderbilt at home, and dropped out of the national rankings for the first time since 2001. Georgia rebounded against Mississippi State last week, but had to hold on for a 27-24 victory against a team that hasn't won on the road in the Southeastern Conference in six years.

"We definitely have a tall order ahead of us, especially the way we have been playing as of late," coach Mark Richt said. "We have to get a whole lot better in a hurry."

The Gators (6-1, 4-1) don't have nearly the same worries.

They posted league wins against Tennessee, Alabama and LSU before losing at Auburn two weeks ago. They returned home feeling like they gave one away because of quarterback Chris Leak's two costly turnovers and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

They spent the last two weeks regrouping, readying for Georgia (6-2, 3-2) and realizing they remain in control of the league race.

"We're still in the hunt," linebacker Brandon Siler said. "Let's keep things in perspective. We're still No. 1 in the SEC right now. The SEC championship was our goal when we started this and it's still our goal. We're still in the hunt. We control our own destiny."

Elsewhere in the Top 25 on Saturday, No. 1 Ohio State hosts Minnesota and No. 2 Michigan is home for Northwestern.

No. 3 Southern California travels to Oregon State for what will be the Trojans' final game outside of California in the regular season.

No. 5 Texas is at Texas Tech; No. 7 Auburn is at Mississippi; and No. 8 Tennessee is at South Carolina as Phillip Fulmer and Steve Spurrier renew their rivalry.

No. 11 Notre Dame tries to extend its winning streak over Navy to 42 straight games in Baltimore.

No. 13 Arkansas plays Louisiana-Monroe at Little Rock; No. 17 Wisconsin hosts Illinois; and No. 18 Boston College faces Buffalo.

No. 19 Oklahoma is at No. 23 Missouri and in another key Big 12 game No. 20 Nebraska is at Oklahoma State.

No. 21 Georgia Tech hosts Miami in a pivotal game in the ACC's Coastal division.

No. 22 Texas A&M is at Baylor; No. 24 Wake Forest faces North Carolina, which fired coach John Bunting earlier this week; and No. 25 Oregon faces Division I-AA Portland State.

On Sunday, unbeaten No. 16 Rutgers hosts Big East rival Connecticut.

In the Florida-Georgia rivalry, the Gators have been in control lately.

The Gators have won seven of eight and 14 of the last 16 in The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, the 50-year-old nickname given to the series played in Jacksonville and the moniker both schools are trying to eliminate in an attempt help curb alcohol abuse by students.

Former Florida coach Spurrier beat the Bulldogs 11 times in 12 years beginning in 1990, turning around a series Georgia had mostly dominated since 1915.

Since Spurrier left, the outcomes have been considerably closer but Georgia has only one once.

Florida opened as a 14-point favorite over Georgia this week.

"I think there are ups and downs for every program every year," Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "We're just plugging away knowing there's that one game where we're all going to bust out."

No. 3 USC at Oregon State

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- The last time the Trojans visited Corvallis, it was so foggy that it's a wonder anyone in the sellout crowd actually saw Reggie Bush's wily 65-yard punt return against Oregon State, never mind the rest of the game.

But when USC emerged from the haze of its first game played in fog since 1937, the Trojans were 28-20 victors.

"That was a heck of a football game. They were really ready to beat us that night. They were prepared to do it," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "They had a senior club and a bunch of guys that were ready to get that done."

This week, Oregon State coach Mike Riley was jokingly asked if he was going to bring the fog machine back.

"They're going to bring it in on Thursday. It'll start filling the valley again, so it should be good and thick by Saturday," he joked.

The Beavers (4-3, 2-2 Pacific-10) are on a two-game winning streak. The Trojans (6-0, 4-0) have won 27 straight conference games.

Minnesota at No. 1 Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Like two locomotives on a collision course, Ohio State and Michigan are rapidly drawing closer.

But before they can get to their Nov. 18 showdown at Ohio Stadium, each has three teams -- none with a winning record -- to get through.

"We know Michigan is a great football team and after our game we might catch up on some games they might be playing later on Saturday," Ohio State defensive back Antonio Smith said. "We've seen the rankings but that doesn't mean anything to us. We have to get better as a team and go out and get ready for Minnesota this week."

The Golden Gophers (3-5) are winless in the Big Ten and needed a late blocked field goal last week to hold off I-AA North Dakota State, 10-9.

Since beating No. 24 Iowa to close out difficult September, the Buckeyes (8-0) have coasted through three October games.