SEC East notebook: Georgia offense been feasting on Auburn lately

The Georgia Bulldogs have become an offensive juggernaut in the Deep South's oldest rivalry.

Over the last three years, 13th-ranked Georgia has averaged more than 37 points a game against Auburn, a streak the Bulldogs certainly appear poised to extend with this year's high-powered unit.

``I don't know the answer why,'' coach Mark Richt said, breaking into a slight grin. ``But I sure hope the streak continues.''

Georgia (8-2, 5-2) defeated the Tigers 45-20 last season and pulled off a 37-15 upset at Auburn in 2006. The year before that, the Tigers won at Sanford Stadium with a last-second field goal, 31-30.

The teams will be meeting for the 112th time on Saturday at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Even though the Bulldogs are plagued by injuries on the offensive line, Richt believes this is the best group of skill-position players he's had in his eight-year tenure.

Matthew Stafford is the second-rated passer in the SEC, throwing for a league-high 2,587 yards with 15 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Knowshon Moreno is the league's No. 2 rusher with 1,113 yards and 15 TDs. Freshman A.J. Green and senior Mohamed Massaquoi are the fourth- and fifth-ranked receivers in the league. The Bulldogs are averaging nearly 33 points a game, second only to Florida.

``Going into this game, we are so paper thin on the offensive line, it's scary,'' Richt said. ``But I know Matthew is a very skilled quarterback, very experienced. He doesn't hold on to the ball too long and anticipates when to get the ball out. Knowshon is a tremendous runner. No matter how good the blocks are, he's going to get more. He makes people miss and he breaks tackle. For us to have the offensive production we've had with our line issues is good.

``I think,'' Richt added, ``this is the best combination of skill players and playmakers we've ever had on offense.''


-- FLORIDA: With the SEC East title wrapped up, coach Urban Meyer held a ``state of the union'' meeting Sunday with his players to address the Bowl Championship Series.

It's something Meyer does every week during the season, but the focus is usually on the division race. Not anymore. The third-ranked Gators know they have loftier goals within reach this season. Meyer realizes his players are going to hear about the BCS and read about it, so he wants all the information first to come from him instead of from ``Uncle Jim or someone like that.''

``I think it was appropriate,'' Meyer said. ``That was the first time we've even addressed it. We addressed it for six minutes. I told them very clearly what it is, and if I hear it again, then we're going to have extra running.

``There's no business discussing that. Here's exactly where we stand. Here's who we play. Here's your schedule for the next four weeks. Let's move on. That's what we did. I'm proud to say it's over, it's done.

``Our focus is very clear.''

The Gators (8-1, 6-1), ranked third in the latest BCS standings, probably could earn a spot in the national championship game by winning its final four games. It starts Saturday against No. 24 South Carolina. Florida also plays The Citadel and rival Florida State before facing top-ranked Alabama in the SEC title game in Atlanta.

``We're going to be talking about it, so let's talk about it, and then it's over, done,'' Meyer said. ``You've got a pretty good team coming that just beat Arkansas, obviously coach (Steve) Spurrier coming in town, so we have to be ready for that one.''


-- KENTUCKY:Consider Kentucky's quarterback duel over. It's Randall Cobb in a landslide

The freshman has sparked Kentucky's previously lethargic offense and had 187 yards of total offense and three rushing touchdowns in last week's 42-38 loss to Georgia.

Cobb has made believers of his teammates, and his play means sophomore Mike Hartline who had been splitting time with Cobb will likely spend the rest of the season as a backup.

``(Cobb) has been the leader out there,'' said running back Alfonso Smith. ``He's been sparking play after play. If a play breaks down he just takes off running for a first down. That just gives everyone else confidence and takes pressure off everyone and makes us play more relaxed.''

Coach Rich Brooks said Cobb's play has helped Kentucky overcome its offensive woes. Brooks retooled the offense while switching from Hartline to Cobb and the freshman has repaid his coach's confidence with the kind of exciting play the Wildcats lacked much of the year.

``If you're not throwing and catching, you got to do something else to help win games, and that's what we're doing now,'' Brooks said. ``This offense has taken a little bit of a turn, and obviously Randall has provided us a different kind of way to move the football. We will continue to do that.''

Cobb will again take the reins for Kentucky (6-4, 2-4) against Vanderbilt this Saturday.


-- SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is ready for one streak against Florida to end the Gators have blocked at least one kick in each of the last three games against the Gamecocks.

Blocks were crucial to Florida's win in 2006, when Jarvis Moss' hand saved the Gators national championship. He not only got his hand on what would have been the game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired in the 17-16 win, but also blocked a fourth quarter extra point that made the final difference. Florida also blocked another field goal earlier in the game.

The Gators blocked a South Carolina punt in 2007 that led to a touchdown in a 51-31 win, and managed to block an extra point in their 30-22 loss in 2005 the only time Florida has lost under coach Urban Meyer after blocking a kick.

Spurrier said South Carolina (7-3, 4-3) can't afford a special teams breakdown to beat the No. 3 Gators this week. He said he's especially interested in his punting game because Florida has blocked five punts this season, while South Carolina's new special teams coach Ray Rychleski hasn't coached a team that allowed a blocked punt in eight years.

``I'm sure they're going to try and block a punt because they do it every game or about every other game,'' Spurrier said. ``Just to see if they can block one of Ray Rychleski's punt team.

Spurrier then paused, realizing how out of character he sounded telling people to pay close attention to his team punt.

``The fans may find that interesting if we can get a punt off,'' Spurrier said, laughing. ``How about that?''


-- TENNESSEE: Tennessee safety Eric Berry is piling up the national award nominations almost as quickly as he's piled up interception return yards.
The SEC's career interception return yardage leader was named one of eight semifinalists for the annual Lott Trophy on Wednesday.

Berry is the first sophomore to be named a semifinalist in five years of the award, which recognizes a defensive player with impact on and off the field.

The Fairburn native has been picked as one of 15 semifinalists for the 2008 Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive player. He's also been selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation's top defensive back.

``He's as good as we've had here and we've had some really great players here in the secondary,'' coach Phillip Fulmer said. ``Eric has that unique combination of being that outstanding athlete that plays the ball and does things when he has his hands on the ball and physically can come up and tackle and be a really outstanding leader.''

Berry has 442 career interception return yards and leads all major college players with 220 interception return yards this season for the Vols (3-7, 1-5).

He's just 60 yards shy of breaking the NCAA career record held by Florida State's Terrell Buckley.

Berry also leads the SEC and is tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead with six interceptions this season.

He's third on the Tennessee team with 64 tackles this season.


-- VANDERBILT:Bobby Johnson will have a decision to make at quarterback. Mackenzi Adams suffered a hip pointer against Florida and was replaced by Chris Nickson who drove the Commodores to their only touchdowns in their 42-14 loss to the Gators. But Adams was able to practice Tuesday, and he said he's fine.

``I'm expecting a full recovery by Saturday so that's good,'' Adams said.

The Commodores (5-4, 3-3) visit Kentucky on Saturday night needing to end a four-game skid to become bowl eligible for the first time since 1982. Adams had his best game in 2007 throwing the ball against Kentucky with 193 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 loss.

Johnson said Adams did well gutting out his injury in practice. Adams split the work with Nickson, and Johnson isn't making a decision until later in the week.