As always, Gamecock Man gets the Game Thread up first. That is where you should go to discuss the game. Here is where you go to laugh at what dumb-looking prediction I made.

1. Tim Tebow. Yeah, yeah, he's not scoring eight touchdowns a game like he was last year, but Tebow has still been surprisingly effective, especially in that stat we actually keep track of: Wins.

This is really incredibly, awe-strikingly efficient. That's an 8.5:1 TD-to-INT ratio, for those of you keeping score at home. Oh, and he's rushed for 10 TDs, so you can almost call that a 13.5:1 TD-to INT ratio. And while a 65 percent completion rate for 193.3 ypg is not Colt McCoy-esque, it's what something like 90 percent of the quarterbacks in the country would call a good day. There are three priorities for any defense facing Florida:

(1) Stop Tim Tebow
(2) Stop Tim Tebow
(3) Stop Tim Tebow

Do that, and South Carolina has a chance.

2. The other guys. A chance will only take you so far, though. Even if Ellis Johnson and Co. manage to slow down Tebow, they have to figure out a way to deal with Percy Harvin, Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey. When Urban Meyer talked about building the fastest team in America, he wasn't just trying to keep the fans happy. I remarked a couple of weeks ago during the LSU-Florida game that it was the first time I'd ever seen anyone make the Bayou Bengals look slow. But that's exactly what the Gators did, particularly on offense. Trying to stop Florida is like playing whack-a-mole. There's some skill involved, but you have to be lucky enough to have your mallet in the right place at the right time.

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It didn't used to be all that easy for me to apologize. Then, I got into this whole blogging thing, with it's "record" and "accountability" and such nonsense. And it got a bit easier to apologize -- about some things, anyway -- as I found myself doing a bit more of it.

But I've never been happier to say "I'm sorry" than I am right now:

Ellis Johnson, I'm sorry for what I wrote when you were first being considered for the defensive coordinator job.

Sure, the things I said weren't all that critical or mean-spirited, but they were still much more in the "can this guy coach?" category than the "let's give him a chance" side of the spectrum.

Yes, apparently, Spurrier's list looked something like this:

Bud Foster
Ellis Johnson
Dave Odom

...

I'm just wondering how we went from one of the best DCs in college football to the DC at the one SEC school that has managed to make South Carolina look like a competent team for the last five or so years. ...

the highlights -- such as they are -- from Coach Johnson's resume ...

And on and on it went.

And I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Sure, there's nothing saying that Bud Foster, or DC-for-five-minutes Brian VanGorder, wouldn't have done as well or even better. But "as well," by itself, is pretty dang good.

This includes, by the way, a game against Georgia, one of the best offenses in the conference, and other teams that are at least marginally competent. (That's about as good as it gets in the SEC this year, folks.) Only four of the Gamecocks' 10 opponents have managed more than 17 points.

I bring this up now because we're going to need that defense this weekend more than any other game on the schedule. Tim Tebow, the guy who annihilated South Carolina's already crumbling defense last year, is waiting in the Swamp. Chris Rainey, Jeffrey Demps, Percy Harvin -- they should be there as well.

But I trust you. I trust you to have a plan that will at least slow the Gators down, at least keep the score respectable and preserve our hopes of being ranked at the end of the year.

It won't be easy. But there's no one I'd rather have leading this defense into the Swamp than you.

--cocknfire

Those of you who have been reading this site for a while are probably familiar with Gatorpilot, who is a regular commenter on Garnet and Black Attack and runs the Florida blog Orange and Blue Hue. Some of you may remember that I wrote a strongly worded reply to some negative things Gatorpilot had to say about our coach and program after we lost to Vanderbilt. However, despite our differences, Gatorpilot and I are actually pretty cool with each other. I'll have to admit that he runs a cool blog, and I guess he has a right to hate the guy who built Florida's program, even though it is kind of strange. Plus, I think we have proved Gatorpilot wrong in his estimation of our Gamecocks: Spurrier is not dead, and our future looks bright with a possible New Years Day bowl this year and a promising 2009 on the horizon.

Unfortunately, our next obstacle is a powerful Gators team that is winning against good teams by huge margins. Gatorpilot graciously agreed to answer some of my questions about this juggernaut they call the Florida Gators. My questions are in bold with his answers below. My answers to Gatorpilot's questions are here.

1. First of all, let's get the obligatory Spurrier question out of the way. You've outspokenly criticized Spurrier's choice to coach a division opponent. For his part, SOS claims that the novelty of playing his old team has worn off and that now this is just another game between two teams that need a win, Florida to preserve their national title aspirations and South Carolina to improve their chances at a premier New Years Day bowl. Urban Meyer is now calling the game a rivalry game, although some FloridaFlorida can consider a team a rival when that team has only beaten the Gators once in the past 20 years. How do you feel about Spurrier coming home for the second time? Is this still a unique, emotional game for you or did the Gators exorcise the demons by beating Spurrier the past two years, especially in last year's blowout victory? Do you think your feelings about this reflect those of the average Gators fan?

One thing I would like to make clear is that I have a great deal of respect for Steve Spurrier and his coaching accomplishments.  And my voice doesn't speak for Gator Nation when I say I'm still unhappy that he chose to coach at a school which plays the Gators yearly, but I know there are still plenty of people out there who feel that way.

The novelty may have worn off, but when Spurrier says "it's just another game" he's obviously glossing over reality.  This is not just another game, and won't be for as long as Spurrier is coaching in Columbia.  It's a big deal.  The Gators are vying for a national championship for the second time in three years.  Any success Spurrier enjoys over Florida destroys those hopes, and he knows that.  Personally, I think he enjoys it.  But that's just his nature.  He's a competitor, and a self-described "Old Testament" (eye for an eye) coach.  There is no doubt in my mind that he has Florida's administration and boosters in his thoughts every year when he plays the Gators.  After all, he never forgot a late field goal made by Georgia 30-something years ago, using it as a burning fire to start a dominating streak over the Bulldogs.  So why would he forget being "jilted" by Jeremy Foley and UF president Bernie Machen?

He also elevated the play of South Carolina, which -- no offense intended -- was once a team Florida didn't have to worry about too much.  The Gamecocks are now a more than competent SEC team.  Florida doesn't need any more difficult games.  The Gators have to play Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and FSU every year, and now we have to lump South Carolina in that group.
 
Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow did a lot to assuage Gator fears last year when they hung 51 points on the Gamecocks in South Carolina.  That seemed to be an emphatic statement that Florida football is still Florida football, with or without Steve Spurrier, and that was important for our collective psyche.

2. While Florida has always been good under Urban Meyer, the Gators are blowing out opponents by record margins since the stunning loss to Ole Miss. They've even done it to two former top-10 teams, LSU and Georgia. Honestly, Florida looks every bit as good as some of the best teams I've seen play, such as the mid-90s Nebraska team that blew out Spurrier's Gators in a national title game. Why is Florida peaking right now? Are they really this good, or have they feasted on opponents' mistakes? Can they maintain this level of play?

I'd be the first to tell you if I thought Florida was anything less than the real deal.  It seems fervent fans of their teams tend to focus on all their team warts.  I'm here to tell you, there aren't many warts.  Florida is playing as well as I have ever seen any Gators squad play, at any time in history, and right now are in the running to go down as possibly the greatest ever to play in Gainesville.  The defense is close to that magical 2006 season's level.  Special teams is off the charts with their blocked punts and return game.  And the offense is obviously ringing up pinball scores.  Florida could easily have scored 60-70 points on Georgia and LSU if Meyer hadn't called off the dogs.

What impresses me most is Florida's focus these past five games.  It's still a worry that they'll forget to show up for a game, like they did against Ole Miss, but they are on a different planet right now with regards to their discipline, preparation, and focus.  They seem to understand that if they win out, they will likely be playing for a crystal football, and are treating each and every game with total attention to detail.  Can they maintain this level?  I sure hope so.

See the rest after the jump.

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1. Florida, 162 points (8 first-place votes)

2. Alabama, 160 (6)

3. Georgia, 134

4. LSU, 127

5. South Carolina, 113

6. Mississippi, 96

7. Kentucky, 86.5

8. Vanderbilt, 70.5

9. Arkansas, 52

10. Auburn, 46

11. Mississippi State, 27

12. Tennessee, 18

Sorry for the low turnout, but we had one slow week last year as well. Looks like this week will be it this season.

It might have made a difference. Florida, which actually split too first-place votes with Alabama, edged the Tide by two points for first. The only other change was Tennessee wresting control of the race for the "Worst of the Best" Cup with a convincing loss to Wyoming. I can assure you: When the SEC Power Poll started last year, none of us imagined Wyoming would ever alter the standings.

Voters explain more after the jump.

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The Good

Heisman Contending QBs

Colt McCoy, Chase Daniel, Sam Bradford, and Tim Tebow all had big days. McCoy further solidified his status as the front-runner for the Heisman by going 38-45 for 391 yards and rushing for another 41.

The Bad

The Big East

Although West Virginia picked up an OOC win against Auburn, the conference's shot at having anything resembling an elite team went out the window when South Florida and Pittsburgh lost to Louisville and Rutgers, respectively. As for the Mountaineers, after an atrocious start, WVU looks to be right back in the mix of things and are my pick to do well down the stretch, but they are clearly not the RichRod-led teams of years past.

The Ugly

Auburn

I like Tommy Tuberville, so I hate to hear the rumblings about his status on the Plains. However, it would be hard to defend many of his decisions this year. First, he hired Tony Franklin. Then, he allowed Franklin to make Chris Todd, a player who is clearly not capable of playing well in the SEC, the starting QB and refused to pull the plug on Todd until after Todd had cost them a couple of games. Then, he fired Franklin midseason but refuses to give up on the spread offense despite the fact that it's just not working.

What's probably most perplexing is that against both Vandy and WVU, the Tigers had lots of success early running out of power formations. In both games, however,
Auburn reverted to shotgun spread formations and was then unable to move the ball. Memo to Tuberville: this is not working, and you're going to lose your job if you don't win a couple of games down the stretch. Run out of the I!

1. Alabama
Go to Athens and look like the best team in the conference during a beat down of Georgia. But can they finish the season this time?

2. LSU
Not sure about the Bayou Bengals, but everyone else either has a major question or suffered an implosion this weekend. So here they sit.

3. Georgia
It's a power poll, folks. Yes, Georgia looked terrible against Alabama. But they still appear to be a good team. There's no reason to go crazy; the spelling-challenged Dawgs are in it until the end.

4. Florida
But for a blocked extra point, they would have had a chance to win in overtime. Tebow's apology, though, makes it all better.

5. Vanderbilt
Bye week, but well deserved for the 'Dores. Now they gear up to try to do what has eluded them so far: Find a way to six wins and go bowling. Once they get that sixth win ... who knows?

6. Mississippi
Who wants a Vandy-Ole Miss SEC CG? Seriously, though, Houston is working his special magic in Oxford.

7. Auburn
Wow. Their offense is so horrible, words fail.

8. Kentucky
Gasp! They play an SEC team! This early?!? It must be a scheduling error.

9. South Carolina
GARCIA!!!!!!!! WE ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!! Then again, it was UAB.

10. Tennessee
Please, replace Crompton and fire Clawson. Do it for the children.

11. Mississippi State
Played LSU tough, which is enough to stay ahead of the Hogs.

12. Arkansas
Bacon.

1. Florida, 261 points (8 first-place votes)

2. Georgia, 257 (14)

3. LSU, 233 (1)

4. Alabama, 205

5. Auburn, 174

6. Vanderbilt, 161

7. Tennessee, 122

8. Mississippi, 121

9. South Carolina, 96

10. Kentucky, 89

11. Arkansas, 39

12. Mississippi State, 36

Florida and Georgia continue their back-and-forth battle for first place. The interesting thing about this race is that those who like Georgia still like Florida. Some of those who like Florida, though, are still hesitant about Georgia. Real hesitant. Like, one of them voted Georgia 8th. (You know who you are and I know who you are. But it's way too early in the season to call anyone out, so...)

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt creeps ever closer to that elusive 5th spot, going from 48 points down to 13. Tennessee slips past Ole Miss by a single point despite a near consensus that their undefeated season will end against Florida in ugly fashion. For some reason, South Carolina moves to ninth -- hooray moral victories! -- while Arkansas holds a slim three-point lead in the race to avoid the coveted "Worst of the Best" cup.

That said, many of our voters are still trying to sort things out.

"Next week the percentage of cream-puff games drops dramatically and we start answering some questions," noted Save the Shield.

Or, as Pelican State Sports said: "Next week, most teams will have some SEC play, and so this ballot should start to look a bit more reasonable and consistent.  Or, it could be like last year, and I will pull the teams out of a hat and rank them that way."

A team-by-team look at things after the jump.

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1. Georgia
That's more like it. Now, pay no attention to the Gamecocks. Look ahead to the Sun Devils. No, really, ignore us completely...

2. Florida
The Tebow Spread is dead. Long live the Tebow Spread! If he survives until the end of the season, the Gators should make a run.

3. Auburn
No reason to think they're not real good. But no real reason to think they're great, either.

4. LSU
They haven't done anything special. But they also haven't underperformed, and LSU could be one of the Top 4 teams in the conference on autopilot.

5. Alabama
Welcome the new resurgent Tide. Same as the old resurgent Tide. Will a mediocre victory over Tulane temper the expectations in Tuscaloosa? Who am I kidding? Nah.

6. Ole Miss
I think Wake is pretty good. So what does it say about the Rebels that they went into Wake's house and played them close?

7. Kentucky
With Tennessee and South Carolina both eagerly offering third place in the East to whomever will take it, the Wildcats and the Commodores could end up fighting for it. The end is nigh.

8. Vanderbilt
Okay, I don't think the Commodores are going to win the conference or anything. But they're a good team. A Sept. 20 game against Ole Miss could shake up both divisions.

9. Tennessee
Cupcake to the rescue, as UAB comes to Knoxville.

Mmmm, cupcakes.

10. South Carolina
It's too soon. But Jamon Meredith is coming back, and...

11. Mississippi State
Sly is apparently trying to put the sting back into being CROOMED. But at least they won.

12. Arkansas
Does anybody doubt that if the Hogs had played a team with a pulse, they would have lost either or both of their first two games?

 
So you've got one last chance to knock off a rival who's deemed itself too good for your conference. You're the huge underdog, you're at home and you're in overtime. Your opponent has already scored a touchdown, so a field goal does you no good. How many runs do you call to start the first overtime?

How about three straight?

That's right. On first down, knowing they needed a touchdown,  Ronnie Weaver up the middle for five yards. They then ran Ronnie Weaver up the middle for four yards. They then ran Ronnie Weaver up the middle for zero yards.

They might have tried it again. But, alas, a penalty pushed them back five yards, leaving them a fourth-and-6. To their credit, the Knights then tried to pass, but QB Michael Greco couldn't find an open receiver. So he ran up the middle. He was stopped inches short of the first down.

Weaver must have been tearing it up on the ground earlier in the game, right? Um, not so much.

Well, you know somebody liked that play-calling.

That wath a great offenthive therieth!

The only change Dr. Lou would have made: All of those runs should have been quarterback draws.

Speaking of coaches resigning from glory programs before their first game... Mike Price also made an interesting call as an underdog in UTEP's This is as Close as We'll Come to a Bowl against Texas. Down 14-6 early in the second quarter and stopped at the Texas 48, UTEP decided to rely on the breathlessly described "strong leg" of Jose Martinez.

EPIC FAIL.

Martinez not only missed the 65-yarder, it landed in the waiting arms of Quan Cosby, who is notably a Texas player. None of the UTEP players, however, seemed to realize this, as Cosby returned the ball to the Miners' 35. It took Texas five plays to convert the de facto turnover into seven points.

But give Price credit for sticking to his guns. Down 42-13 with less than 9:30 to go in the fourth, Price again sent Martinez out to try for a long field goal, this time from 52 yards out. Martinez missed again.

Not that Texas fans were thrilled with their coaching, either. SBN colleague Burnt Orange Nation labeled OC Greg Davis as the offense's LVP.

In this case, we saw a version of the latter, especially on offense in the third quarter, when Texas time traveled to 2007, complete with the "We're gonna pass with McCoy whether it's a good idea, a bad idea, or a wholly nonsensical idea" game plan. ... [I]f you're looking for reasons why losses may await the 'Horns against Missouri, OU, Texas Tech, Pokie State, or Kansas look no further than last night's disappointing stretches of offensive football.

Hooray empty-feeling 29-point wins!

So much for balance. Remember when Florida was going to run fewer Teb-draws to protect their Heism@n quarterback?

Yeah, that lasted a long time.

I commented during the game that Dan Mullen was calling plays like an eight-year old on Xbox. There was too many Tebow carries (13 out of 27 for the team) and there was never enough protection. Why not run more six-man lines or keep more backs with Tebow to protect him? His health should not be sacrificed to maintain the scheme.

SPREAD UBER ALLES!!!! For the record, the run numbers for Tebow over two games in the "less Tebow-run-oriented" Florida offense.

Gripe of the week. From SBN colleague The Ralphie Report, on Colorado's game against FCS opponent Eastern Washington:

Like I said yesterday EWU showed us how the run the spread offense.

Now, that's confidence in the coaching staff.

Sorry if I missed your favorite/least favorite coach. These are the best of the week, but there are plenty of coaches making boneheaded calls every week. If you see one you want me to highlight, drop an e-mail to garnetandblackattack --at-- gmail --dot-- com.

Can someone please explain to me why Urban doesn't pull Tebow? It's 42-0 with the third quarter almost over, and not is Timmy still in the game, he's still running the ball and taking hits. Georgia, meanwhile, played it smart by taking Moreno out of the game for good after he had some problems with cramps. They left Stafford in, but they're protecting him and letting him work on his game in a safe environment. Why does Florida risk letting Tebow get hurt? Urban's thought processes baffle me sometimes.