Florence, Ala. | Saturday, May 18, 2013
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This week's SEC previews

Georgia Tech (6-5) at Georgia (10-1)

Where: Athens, Ga.

When: 11 a.m.

Line: Georgia by 13

TV: ESPN

The lowdown: Georgia has already locked up a berth in the SEC Championship Game, but the Bulldogs are looking for much more than that in this rivalry game. Georgia has to win to keep its BCS destiny in its own hands. Mark Richt also wants to come out of the game healthy. Any significant injury could hamper the Bulldogs’ chances to beat Alabama. ... QB Aaron Murray is coming off a 330-yard, 4-TD effort against Georgia Southern in a 45-14 win a week ago. ... Murray leads the SEC in pass efficiency with a 174.3 rating. He’s thrown 28 TD passes against 7 interceptions. ... Georgia leads the all-time series 62-37-5. ... Georgia Tech is third nationally in rushing at 324.9 yards per game.

Kentucky (2-9, 0-7) at Tennessee (4-7, 0-7)

Where: Knoxville

When: 11:21 a.m.

Line: Tennessee by 14 TV: Fox 54

The lowdown: Joker Phillips will end his tenure at Kentucky today, while Derek Dooley didn’t last the season at Tennessee. Jim Chaney will coach the Vols in the season finale. ... One team will remain winless in SEC play while the other will avoid a winless SEC season. ... Kentucky snapped an 8-game losing streak last week by pounding Samford 34-3. ... Dooley’s fate was sealed by a 41-18 loss against in-state rival Vanderbilt. ... Tennessee has gone seven straight games in which its defense has given up 38 or more points. ... Vols lead the series 74-24-9.

Vanderbilt (7-4) at Wake Forest (5-6)

Where: Winston-Salem, N.C.

When: 2:30 p.m.

Line: Vandy by 12.5

TV: ESPNU

The lowdown: Vanderbilt is the hottest team in the SEC right now, bringing a 5-game winning streak into today’s game at Wake Forest. The Commodores are coming off a 41-18 thrashing of Tennessee, which ultimately cost Derek Dooley his job with the Vols. ... Vanderbilt’s Andre Hall earned defensive player of the week honors for his play against Tennessee in which he intercepted two passes and had five tackles. ... Receiver Jordan Matthews contributed to the win with 7 catches for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns. .... Wake Forest is trying to get bowl eligible with a victory. ... Vanderbilt leads the series 8-6.

Florida (10-1) at Florida State (10-1)

Where: Tallahassee, Fla.

When: 2:30 p.m.

Line: No line

TV: ABC

The lowdown: Florida looks to keep its BCS title game hopes alive with a crucial road game at Florida State. The Gators are fourth in the current BCS standings and could move into title contention with a win today and a Notre Dame loss to USC. ... Florida has won three in a row since losing to Georgia, but the Gators remain offensively challenged. ... Florida ranks 10th in the SEC in scoring at 25.82 points per game and last in passing offense at 143.36 yards per game. ... Florida State is 14th nationally in total offense and seventh in scoring at 42.9 points per game. ... Florida leads the all-time series 33-21-2, but lost the 2011 matchup 21-7 in Gainesville.

Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3) at Ole Miss (5-6, 2-5)

Where: Oxford, Miss.

When: 6 p.m.

Line: Ole Miss by 1.5

TV: ESPNU

The lowdown: Plenty at stake in the Egg Bowl as Mississippi State tries to prevent Ole Miss from becoming bowl eligible while upping its bowl stock with a ninth win. ... Mississippi State snapped a three-game losing streak with last week’s rout of Arkansas while the Rebels have lost three in a row. ... Ole Miss holds a sizable 60-42-6 edge in the Egg Bowl series. ... Rebels flirted with an upset of LSU last week before falling 41-35 as Donte Moncrief caught 6 passes for 161 yards and 2 TDs. ... Mississippi State’s Tyler Russell was the league’s offensive player of the week after throwing for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns against Arkansas.

Missouri (5-6, 2-5) at Texas A&M (9-2, 5-2)

Where: College Station, Texas

When: 6 p.m.

Line: Texas A&M by 22

TV: ESPN2

The lowdown: Missouri is another SEC team trying to get bowl eligible after missing out last week in a 31-27 loss to Syracuse. ... To get a sixth win, the Tigers will have to beat the Aggies, who have won four straight including the upset of then-No. 1 Alabama two weeks ago. ... Texas A&M has scored 177 points in its four-game winning streak. ... Uzoma Nwachukwu caught 4 passes for 160 yards, including an 89-yard TD pass, last week against Sam Houston State. ... Aggies lead the series 7-5 but lost 38-31 last year in overtime. ... Johnny Manziel became the first SEC player and first freshman to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a single season and has already broken the school record for total offense.

South Carolina (9-2) at Clemson (10-1)

Where: Clemson, S.C.

When: 7 p.m.

Line: Clemson by 4

TV: ESPN

The lowdown: Gamecocks look for a fourth straight victory and a 10th win this season with a road trip to Clemson. ... Tigers have one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 44.6 points and 535 yards per game. ... South Carolina’s defense is in the top 20 in three categories. ... Clemson QB Tajh Boyd is second nationally in passing efficiency with a 172.73 rating. ... Kenny Miles had a career-high 127 rushing yards last week as South Carolina struggled to beat FCS Wofford 24-7. ... Clemson leads the all-time series 65-40-4, but South Carolina won last year’s matchup 34-13.

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Words from the River: A Shoals Author Fair
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shoals Dulcimer and Folk Music Association Festival
Broadway Recreation Center
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Northwest Alabama Backgammon Club
Flobama LLC
5:45 PM
Florence Rotary Club
Marriott Shoals Conference Center
12:00 PM
Boomers and Seniors dances
The Club
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Overeaters Anonymous
First Cumberland Presbyterian
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Boomers and Seniors dances
The Club
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Quad City Squares Square Dance Club dances and lessons
Royal Avenue Recreational Center
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Poll
Did John F. Kennedy represent the Tennessee Valley’s best interest when he was president?