Take A Breath, SEC Fans -- But Not A Deep One

   It's SEC lite this weekend, with only four games, none of any magnitude. But the three conference matchups carry fetching subplots and all, if the betting public knows its stuff, are anticipated to be close.

   --Vanderbilt, which has beaten Tennessee once in the last quarter-century, ranks as a three-point favorite. In between game-planning, Phil Fulmer has placed calls to colleagues for advice on his next coaching move. Here's some advice: Beat the Commodores and salvage a speck of football dignity from the season.

   Is this Vandy's year to start balancing out this one-sided rivalry?

  --LSU, not long ago in the national title discussion, is a mere three-point fave at home against resurgent Ole Miss. The Tigers' resurrection from near-death against Troy was impressive but it verified that LSU, with spotty QB play and an inconsistent defense, is second tier this year.

   Inconceivable at the start of the season, can the Rebels give LSU a run for the money?

   --Arkansas picked itself up after a dreadful start and is somehow a road favorite in the SEC, if only against Mississippi State (and by one point). Bobby Petrino has steered this young team into position for to contend next year in the SEC West. Well, for third place, maybe.

   Who wins this one?

A Nutt Job At Ole Miss

    The media build-up to the Ole Miss-Arkansas game was supposed to make us feel sorry for Houston Nutt, who was chased out of Arkansas last season and replaced by the scurrilous Bobby Petrino.

   Not that any neutral fan should pull for Petrino, seeing as how his handling of the midseason abandonment of the Atlanta Falcons is an unforgivable sin.

   But let's not pity Nutt, who signed on Ole Miss' dotted line about the same day he received a hefty buyout from the Razorbacks. Nutt hit the lottery, and he did leave the Razorbacks' cupboard all but bare.

   Who among all you non-Rebels and non-Razorbacks hoped would win this game?

   Having said that, Nutt has made Ole Miss competitive this season -- and likely headed for a bowl.

   Still, nearly all head coaches wear out their welcome. No need to pity them when they get paid a princely sum to move on.

   By the way, any Petrino defenders out there?

   

     

Bobby P-Nutt Angle Enlivens Ole Miss vs. Arkansas

   Though both lost Saturday, Bobby Petrino at Arkansas and Houston Nutt of Ole Miss have their squads on the upswing. The Razorbacks led Kentucky until collapsing at the end, one week following its upset of Auburn. The Rebels scared the beejesus out of Alabama, two weeks after dunking Florida.

   Until then, the game's only theme was Nutt returning to Arkansas, where he fled after last season. At stake now for the winner is the designation of "SEC Team Not To Be Taken Lightly."

   How will the Arkansas contingent welcome home Nutt? Did he depart on good or bad terms?

   

   

      

From The Frying Pan Into . . .

    Poor Arkansas. In the midst of a treacherous four-game swing, they get a Florida team coming off a home loss to Ole Miss. Coach Urban Meyer practiced the Gators late into Sunday night.

   That might be sufficient preparation for the Razorbacks, outscored 101-24 in the past two weeks by Alabama and Texas. Coach Houston Nutt, who fled for Ole Miss, left Arkansas high and dry with a string of subpar recruiting classes. Bobby Petrino is making do with leftovers.

   The Gators' loss deters them from looking ahead to LSU next week. So this is lousy timing for the Razorbacks, who need a break.

No Razor's Edge Margin Here

   Arkansas takes another shaky step through a frightening four-game gauntlet against No. 7 Texas. A week after their traumatic five-TD loss to then-No. 9 Alabama, the Razorbacks can expect no mercy. The two schools vie for the same high school recruits out of the Lone Star State, and Mack Brown wants to make an impression on any youngsters torn between the two.

   Next up for Arkansas: No. 4 Florida. Then, No. 15 Auburn. Only after that will the Razorbacks get a non-ranked opponent: unbeaten-for-now Kentucky.

   Wonder why Houston Nutt flew the coop for Ole Miss? He saw the schedule, then the "year" column on the roster.

   Those 22 freshmen (including three starters) who Bobby Petrino lifted from the cradle and sent out for duty are growing up fast. Too fast.

Hate 'em or hate 'em: Woe is Steve and Bobby

   One is a NASCAR-type bad guy in college circles. The other's name is dirt in the NFL.

   Many SEC observers are likely taking glee in the tough times of Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino, who face lo-o-o-o-ng seasons without a reversal of fortunes.

   Spurrier has dropped seven of eight games at South Carolina. The culprit this year is offense, where his influence is greatest, given that the accomplished strategist calls three-fourths of the plays. For the most part, he turns over the defense to his coordinator.

   "Blocking and throwing and catching has been our biggest problem," says Spurrier, whose wisecracks and occasional jabs at others suggests he enjoys wearing the black hat. "We haven't had a consistent running attack or a consistent passing attack. How's that?"

   Not good, especially since he views the roster as his most talented yet at the school.

   Worse, the Gamecocks have shelved receiver Kenny McKinley, their main threat, for at least another week with an injury. As consolation, the next opponent is Wofford.

   Then there is Arkansas, which could face four straight Top 10 teams for the first time in NCAA history in a single season. The Razorbacks confront No. 9 Alabama this week, followed by a makeup with No. 7 Texas, then No. 4 Florida and No. 10 Auburn.

   Under new coach Bobby Petrino, who fled the scorned Atlanta Falcons in the middle of last season and probably shut the door on future head jobs in the NFL, the Razorbacks had hoped to rev up for the scary run with blowout wins. But they eked past Western Illinois and Lousiana-Monroe by a combined five points.

   "Change is hard on everybody, and particularly seniors," said Petrino, explaining the slow start. "They've got to work on buying in."

   Outside of their own communities, few tears are being shed for Spurrier and Petrino. Perhaps the pair should look forward to Nov. 8, when one is sure to win. It's Arkansas vs. S.C. in Columbia.

   What are your feelings toward the two coaches? Love to see 'em suffer?