Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin ruffled feathers in Gainesville this week when he took what some perceived as another subtle shot at UF coach Urban Meyer.
Kiffin said he thought Alabama's Nick Saban, and not Meyer, was the best coach in the Southeastern Conference.
"They've done an unbelievable job with back-to-back national recruiting titles. They're playing unbelievable," Kiffin said. "They're so well-coached. I would think they're the best-coached team in the conference."
Kiffin also praised quarterback Jonathan Crompton's 310-yard, four-touchdown performance against Georgia.
Crompton had never thrown for more than 200 yards against an SEC defense.
It was also the first time he had thrown multiple touchdown passes in a conference game.
SNEAD FORCING THINGS: Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead has struggled to live up to the preseason hype. The Rebels signal caller has thrown as many touchdowns (nine) as interceptions this season.
Coach Houston Nutt believes Snead is making mistakes because he's feeling pressure to make plays.
"In the fastest league in America, you can't force things," Nutt said.
The Rebels are also feeling the loss of first-round draft pick Michael Oher. Without Oher at left tackle, the Ole Miss offensive line has given up eight sacks this year.
Oher's replacement, Bradley Sowell, has struggled to protect Snead's blind side.
"There's no question (that we miss Oher)," Nutt said. "But you don't have him. I've been proud of how far Bradley Sowell has come."
WILDCATS ADJUST WITHOUT HARTLINE: Kentucky will be without quarterback Mike Hartline for Saturday's game against Auburn as he recovers from an injury to the MCL in his left knee.
The Wildcats' biggest playmaker, sophomore Randall Cobb, was effective in the Wildcat package against South Carolina and played quarterback in high school.
But coach Rich Brooks said he would prefer not to put Cobb under center.
Junior Will Fidler will more than likely get the call against the Tigers.
Without Hartline, Kentucky will probably lean on its running game, especially tailback Derrick Locke, this week.
"If you can't throw it, it's going to be a heck of a lot harder to run it," Brooks said.
