Will MuschampOTHER PICKS• LSU 45, New Mexico St. 7• Ole Miss 38, Memphis 16• Va. Tech 24, W. Michigan 17• Virginia 35, Kent State 16• Louisville 42, Wake Forest 13• Pittsburgh 33, Akron 20• Clemson 31, North Carolina 21• Miami 29, Duke 24• MTSU 27, Old Dominion 20• Michigan St. 48, Wyoming 13• UCLA 34, Arizona State 27• Wisconsin 55, So. Florida 14• Kansas State 33, UTEP 14• Ohio State 38, Cincinnati 27• Baylor 35, Iowa State 26• USC 28, Oregon State 24• Nebraska 31, Illinois 19
On multiple occasions this week, Alabama football coach Nick Saban has lamented the four turnovers and nine offensive penalties his Crimson Tide committed last Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
So how must Florida counterpart Will Muschamp be feeling?
Muschamp's Gators were pummeled 42-21 in Tuscaloosa, allowing a school-record 645 total yards. Florida is off this week before its Oct. 4 showdown at Tennessee, a team the Gators have defeated nine consecutive times.
"We're all very disappointed and frustrated," Muschamp said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference, "but as poorly as we played in some situations, we did create some opportunities with some turnovers and scoring on defense. At times, I thought we ran the ball well, and I thought we protected well. It was 21-21 in the third quarter, and we've got to find ways to win games in those situations.
"We've got to do a better job of coaching, and that falls on me. We'll get that done."
Muschamp is 24-17 nearing the midway mark of his fourth season in Gainesville, and he's 14-12 in SEC contests. His predecessor, Urban Meyer, went 36-12 in league games.
Last Saturday marked the worst career performance for Florida redshirt junior quarterback Jeff Driskel, who completed just 9 of 28 passes for 93 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown.
"He needs to play better, and that's the bottom line," Muschamp said. "There is no question he pressed and forced some throws into some coverage, and he needs to take the checkdowns in those situations, especially when it's third and long. He knows he needs to play better, and he will."
Pasquali's Pix:
Tennessee at Georgia: The last time the Volunteers prevailed in Sanford Stadium, Phillip Fulmer was Tennessee's coach and Joe Tereshinski was Georgia's quarterback. Bulldogs 37, Vols 17.
Vanderbilt at Kentucky: The Wildcats went 0-3 against James Franklin's Commodores, getting outscored 100-14. Wildcats 34, Commodores 10.
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M: The Razorbacks lead the SEC with 324.5 rushing yards a game, while the Aggies are tops with 405 passing yards a game. Aggies 38, Razorbacks 33.
Florida State at N.C. State: Not sure if Jameis Winston and the Seminoles are playing this weekend on ABC or TMZ. Seminoles 38, Wolfpack 14.
Louisiana Tech at Auburn: Tigers coach Gus Malzahn considers quarterback Nick Marshall the "best guy" when the game is on the line, not that it's applicable this week. Tigers 59, Bulldogs 20.
Samford at UTC: Mocs coach Russ Huesman is 4-1 against Samford, but that one still stings a bit 10 months later. Mocs 34, Bulldogs 21.
Missouri at South Carolina: Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has won 19 of his last 22 games against SEC East foes. Gamecocks 27, Tigers 19.
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse: Irish quarterback Everett Golson has started 13 regular-season games in his career and has won all 13. Irish 26, Orange 16.
Last week:
• Winners: 20
• Clemson botches: 5
Pasquali is 85-15 overall (85.0 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.