Around the SEC

By Chip Towers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

East Division

Florida (4-0, 2-0)

Next game: at LSU, 8 p.m. Saturday

Whether quarterback Tim Tebow (concussion) plays will be a “game-time decision” but there are subtle indications the senior might play. Tebow split repetitions with backup John Brantley in practice Tuesday and Wednesday and “he looked good,” coach Urban Meyer reported. Meanwhile, the coach said doctors are telling him his star player would be no more susceptible to another concussion Saturday than he would later in the season. Meyer insisted he is not withholding a decision to gain a strategic advantage.

Kentucky (2-2, 0-2)

Next game: at South Carolina, 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Both of Kentucky’s starting cornerbacks -- including All-SEC senior Trevard Lindley of Hiram -- will miss the game. Lindley has a sprained ankle, and Paul Warford has a quad strain. The Wildcats will go with sophomore Randall Burden of LaGrange, and freshman Martavious Neloms of Memphis. ... Junior RB Derrick Locke racked up a career-high 204 all-purpose yards against No. 3 Alabama, but all he could talk about was a second-quarter fumble that the Tide returned for a touchdown 35 seconds before halftime to make the score 21-6. It was the second fumble of Locke’s career.

South Carolina (4-1, 1-1)

Next game: vs. Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Expect quarterback Stephen Garcia to test Kentucky’s young corners early and often with wide receivers Moe Brown (18 catches, 283 yards) and Tori Gurley (17 catches, 244 yards) and tight end Weslye Saunders (14 catches, 156 yards). Saunders, who lit up Georgia and had 12 catches in the first two games, has had two in the past three games and none last week.

Tennessee (2-3, 0-2)

Next game: vs. Georgia, 12:21 p.m. Saturday

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin did not like being reminded the Vols have not had a sack in the past two games while Ohio and Auburn attempted 87 passes. “Are you trying to get me to rip my dad?” he said, referring to defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. “It’s hard to deal with that many passes without a sack. He’s never been around that; I’ve never been around that, but we’re there. There were nine sacks that we missed in those two games, so they’re there to be had.”

Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-3)

Next game: at Army, noon Saturday

At 6-foot-2, senior Myron Lewis is considered tall for a cornerback. But he’ll be dwarfed by the receiver he’ll be trying to cover from Army. At 6-feet-10, Alejandro Villanueva is the tallest player in college football and, a former offensive tackle, he weighs 285 pounds, too. He has 12 catches for 191 yards and three touchdowns this season. “I mean, I feel sorry for the cornerbacks,” Vandy coach Bobby Johnson said.

West Division

Alabama (5-0, 2-0)

Next game: at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

LB Courtney Upshaw was ordered to attend anger-management classes after a domestic violence incident in August involving his girlfriend. The 19-year-old sophomore was granted youthful-offender status, as was his girlfriend, who was charged with the same crime. ... 679 days after catching his last touchdown pass while at Georgia Tech, tight end Colin Peek finally caught another one Saturday. He also had career-high six passes for 65 yards.

Arkansas (2-2, 0-2)

Next game: vs. Auburn, noon Saturday

Freshman Tenarius “Tank” Wright was named the SEC defensive lineman of the week after the Razorbacks’ 47-19 victory over Texas A&M. Wright posted three tackles, two for loss, a four-yard sack and forced two fumbles against the Aggies. Wright’s strip of A&M QB Jerrod Johnson at the Arkansas 9-yard line in the second quarter was the defining play of the game. The Hogs led 14-10 when Jerry Franklin scooped up the ball and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. It continued a 30-run for Arkansas, which got down 10-0 to open the game.

Auburn (5-0, 2-0)

Next game: at Auburn, noon Saturday

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn calls his return to Arkansas “a business trip,” but his actions in practice betray him, according to players. “He’s more energetic, and you can tell it’s a matter of he wants everything to be perfect,” junior running back Mario Fannin told the Birmingham News. “So we understand that.” Malzahn, who is credited with resurrecting the Tigers’ offense, left Fayetteville in a messy split with then-coach Houston Nutt following the 2006 season. But Malzahn has been back since as offensive coordinator at Tulsa. The Hurricanes put up 528 yards but lost 30-23..

LSU (5-0, 3-0)

Next game: vs. Florida, 8 p.m. Saturday

Running back Charles Scott said he was not pointing to the stands when he was flagged for excessive celebration following his 33-yard touchdown run in the waning moments of the Georgia game Saturday. Quite literally, he said, he was pointing to the heavens. “It was an amazing run,” he told reporters this week. “There was only one explanation how I did that. It was God.” Scott said he thought neither he nor Georgia’s A.J. Green should have been flagged. “If they don’t want us to be happy about scoring, they should let us know,” he said.

Mississippi State (2-3, 1-2)

Next game: vs. Houston, 12:30 p.m. Saturday

The Bulldogs have been working on ball security after committing five turnovers in last week’s loss to Georgia Tech. ... State’s glad to see the Yellow Jackets drop off the schedule. In two games they scored 80 points and gained 979 yards, and State committed nine turnovers.

Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1)

Next game: vs. Alabama, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Freshmen DE Craig Drummond, a highly touted freshman from Chicago, is leaving for “academic and personal reasons,” according to coach Houston Nutt. He was an early enrollee last January. His departure would cost one point in the APR academic rankings. The Rebels have already lost three scholarships for the 2010 class because of a low APR score.