SEC Sports Blog

Each year they get out-spent on their recruiting budget. Each year their recruiting classes are ranked #12, dead last, in the SEC. Each year the academics of Vanderbilt keep them from admitting the top athletes in the nation. Thursday night that did not matter as the Commodores came out firing in the 2nd half against the #24 South Carolina Gamecocks. Vanderbilt handle South Carolina at home, beating them for the second straight season, causing a rush to the bookstores from the students for new Vanderbilt apparel and to buy Vanderbilt football tickets. With the win Vanderbilt, an underdog just a week ago @ Miami of Ohio, is now 2-0 as they look to play in a bowl game for the first time since 1982.

Week #1 of the 2008 college football season is not over yet, but it sure did start well for the SEC (as expected). The nation’s top conference has won 9 of 10 games thus far with only Mississippi State’s surprising loss @ Louisiana Tech as the lone blemish for the conference. #1 Georgia rolled over Georgia Southern as did #5 Florida over Hawaii and #7 LSU over Appalachian State. #10 Auburn not only put up 34 points on Louisiana-Monroe, but their defense shut out the Warhawks just like South Carolina in their 34-0 win over NC State. Vanderbilt was an underdog @ Miami (OH) but won easily 34-13 and Ole Miss handled Memphis 41-24. Arkansas struggled to a 28-24 win over FCS member Western Illinois and Sylvester Croom’s Mississippi State Bulldogs fell @ LA Tech 22-14. In the nightcap on Saturday, the ACC’s top-ranked team, the #9 Clemson Tigers were man-handled by Nick Saban’s #24 Alabama Crimson Tide 34-10.

Two games involving SEC teams remain for Week #1 incluing Kentucky @ Louisville on Sunday and #18 Tennessee @ UCLA on Monday. Fans can find a great variety of SEC merchandise items online including Alabama apparel, Ole Miss clothing, Georgia hats, Auburn apparel & more at College Sports Fans.