The SEC title hunt looks ever murkier as #11 Auburn upset #8 Alabama for the fourth year in a row. The Tigers defense sacked the Crimson Tide’s QB Brady Croyle 11 times.
But since LSU has beaten Auburn and Alabama, they’re more likely to represent the SEC West: if the Tigers win tonight against Mississippi (kickoff’s in a half-hour), and beat Arkansas (3-6, 1-5) in the regular-season finale next Friday, they’ll advance to the conference title game on Dec. 3 in Atlanta.
(9 catches for 9 yards by the Buckeyes’ Ted Ginn, though older brother Greg always prefered basketball)
Thanks to their QB Troy Smith, Ohio State won on the road against Michigan, 25-21, to earn a share of the Big Ten conference title (from AP):
Smith threw for a career-high 300 yards and a touchdown and scored once on the ground.
Smith spun to avoid a sack and made an 11-yard pass early in the drive and eluded another loss with quick feet, buying enough time to complete a 26-yard pass to set up Pittman’s winning run.
“There will be a lot of No. 10 jerseys and a lot of kids on Thanksgiving weekend trying to make those moves in a pile of leaves,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Smith completed 27 of 37 passes and ran for 37 yards, getting sacked only once, a year after his spectacular performance led the Buckeyes to a win over Michigan. Smith ran for 145 yards and a TD and threw for 241 yards and two more touchdowns in last year’s 37-21 win over the Wolverines.
“Troy is probably the best we’ve seen,” Wolverines defensive tackle Pat Massey said. “Troy was a difference maker out there.”
Currently, Joe Paterno’s Nittnay Lions are leading the Michigan State Spartans, 31-14, towards the end of the 4th quarter. If Penn State wins, they will win their first Big Ten title since 1994, along with a BCS bowl berth.
(85 yards rushing with one TD for PSU QB Michael Robinson, along with 10 for 20,109 yards and a touchdown passing)
UPDATE: Penn State wins, 31-22.