Is Saban's victim list mounting?

When you assemble an elite football program in the Southeastern Conference, it's best to avoid Nick Saban.

Florida coach Urban Meyer is the latest to endure his wrath, losing 32-13 in last year's league championship and 31-6 last Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Otherwise, Meyer's Gators have won 27 consecutive games.

"I'm confident they'll respond," Meyer said this week. "It's week to week now. Even with a veteran team it's week to week, but we're a young team."

It's way too early to label Meyer, who led Florida to national titles in 2006 and '08, as another victim of the Saban steamroller.

Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer was on a 79-14 run that included two league titles and the 1998 national title when his Volunteers were stunned by Saban's second LSU team, 31-20, in the 2001 SEC title game. Tennessee never finished another season in the top 10 under Fulmer, who was forced to resign in 2008.

Georgia coach Mark Richt was on a 68-15 surge that included two SEC titles when Saban's second Tide team ruined a "Blackout" in Athens two years ago with a 41-30 romp. Richt's Bulldogs have gone 9-9 in SEC games since.

Saban also booted Auburn's Tommy Tuberville out of the SEC in '08 with a 36-0 drubbing, while the regime of LSU's Les Miles has become the tire fire you can't help but watch.

Pasquali's Pix:

Tennessee at Georgia: Somewhere there is an explanation for a 1-4 Georgia and third-ranked Oregon both opening as 12-point favorites to defeat the Vols. Bulldogs 24, Vols 16.

UTC at The Citadel: Charleston hasn't been much of a vacation spot for the Mocs, who haven't won there since 2002. Mocs 33, Bulldogs 22.

Alabama at South Carolina: The Gamecocks are the first of six SEC teams to face Bama after an off week, with Ole Miss on deck. Crimson Tide 23, Gamecocks 19.

Virginia at Georgia Tech: Twenty years ago, this game catapulted the Yellow Jackets to a share of the national championship. Jackets 31, Cavaliers 22.

Eastern Michigan at Vanderbilt: Why CBS officials bypassed televising this one is beyond befuddling. Commodores 34, Eagles 21.

LSU at Florida: Shouldn't it be illegal for an offense with Rueben Randle, Russell Shepard and Terrence Toliver to reek? Gators 17, Tigers 12.

Auburn at Kentucky: It's not every week that Randall Cobb is the second-most exciting player on the field. Tigers 30, Wildcats 21.

Florida State at Miami: This matchup isn't what it once was, but it's making a comeback. Hurricanes 35, Seminoles 30.

Last week:

Winners....................21

Players shuffled..........4

Pasquali is 104-21 overall (83.2 percent) this season.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

OTHER PICKS

Arkansas 39, Texas A&M 28

Miss. State 35, Houston 21

N.C. State 20, Boston Coll. 7

Va. Tech 38, C. Michigan 6

Clemson 23, North Carolina 22

Navy 20, Wake Forest 13

Nebraska 19, Kansas State 14

Ohio State 42, Indiana 13

Oregon 51, Wash. State 10

Boise State 52, Toledo 7

TCU 37, Wyoming 14

Arizona 24, Oregon State 19

Utah 31, Iowa State 21

Stanford 33, Southern Cal 20

Michigan 26, Michigan St. 23

Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 16

Notre Dame 26, Pittsburgh 24

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