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What to watch: Georgia, Alabama can clinch spots in SEC title game, No. 2 Michigan at No. 9 Penn St

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What to watch: Georgia, Alabama can clinch spots in SEC title game, No. 2 Michigan at No. 9 Penn St


It’s that time of the college football season when clarity arrives for many of the conference races.

No. 1 Georgia and No. 8 Alabama can clinch spots in the SEC title game on Saturday, No. 13 Utah is fighting for survival in its bid for a third straight Pac-12 title and No. 9 Penn State needs a win against No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten East.

Georgia hosts No. 10 Mississippi at night and will go into the game as East champion if No. 16 Missouri beats No. 14 Tennessee earlier in the day. Otherwise, the Bulldogs win the East by beating the Rebels.

If Tennessee wins and Georgia loses — which would end its 37-game regular-season win streak — it would set up a huge East showdown in Knoxville next week.

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Alabama visits Kentucky and will win the West if it beats a Wildcats team that has dropped two straight home games.

No. 5 Washington can take a big step toward its first Pac-12 championship game (and title) since 2018 with a win over No. 13 Utah in Seattle. The Utes would be out of the race with a loss. No. 6 Oregon, which hosts Southern California, has the inside track for the second spot in the Pac-12 title game.

If No. 11 Louisville beats Virginia at home Thursday, the Cardinals will move closer to a matchup with No. 4 Florida State in the ACC championship game. The Seminoles host Miami, which would be eliminated with a loss or a Louisville win.

No. 7 Texas and No. 15 Oklahoma State, the Big 12 co-leaders, both have manageable remaining games and are on a collision course to meet for the championship. The Longhorns visit TCU and the Cowboys are at UCF.

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No. 2 Michigan (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) at No. 9 Penn State (8-1, 5-1), Saturday, noon ET (Fox)

This top-10 matchup is part of the three-team round robin that will decide the East champion, assuming there are no upsets.

Michigan has kept rolling off wins amid the sign-stealing scandal threatening to blow up its season. This will be the toughest test to date for the Wolverines, whose best-in-the-nation defense will be tasked with stopping an offense averaging better than 40 points per game.

If Michigan wins, the East would come down to the Wolverines’ home game against No. 3 Ohio State on Nov. 25. If Penn State wins and Ohio State beats the Wolverines, the Buckeyes win the division outright.

If Penn State wins out and Michigan beats the Buckeyes, the three teams would be tied and the East representative in the Big Ten title game would be determined by a comparison of non-divisional opponents’ conference records. Penn State currently holds that tiebreaker.

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The top five contenders are all quarterbacks: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Oregon’s Bo Nix, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Florida State’s Jordan Travis and Georgia’s Carson Beck, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Penix (plus-140) and Nix (plus-200) are the top betting favorites by a wide margin. All five play key games this week and will have ample opportunities to make impressions.

1/133 — Air Force is first in the nation in rushing. Hawaii, its opponent, is last.

4 — Navy’s starting quarterbacks this season, most in the nation.

30 — Texas has scored at least this many points in each of its first nine games, a program first.

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100 — Years since Pittsburgh and Syracuse met in the first college football game in Yankee Stadium. The teams square off in the new Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

188 — Consecutive pass attempts without an interception by Florida’s Graham Mertz, 15 behind Tim Tebow’s school record (2007-08).

Duke (6-3, 3-2) at North Carolina (7-2, 3-2), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (ACC Network)

Both are among the five teams tied for fourth in the ACC and likely playing for a best possible bowl.

It’s an intriguing quarterback matchup. Drake Maye is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, so this likely will be the third-year sophomore’s last Victory Bell Game. True freshman Grayson Loftis, who led Duke to a win over Wake Forest last week, is in line to start again in place of the injured Riley Leonard and Henry Belin IV.

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Jimbo Fisher’s seat at Texas A&M could become intolerably hot if the Aggies don’t beat Mississippi State at home. Texas A&M was less than five minutes from pulling out a huge road win against Mississippi but lost 38-35 after giving up a late touchdown and having a field-goal try partially blocked.

The Aggies’ best win is against Auburn and those close losses to Alabama and Tennessee are still losses. Here come the Bulldogs, who are 1-5 in the SEC.

___

Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football



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How to buy Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mercer Bears tickets

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How to buy Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mercer Bears tickets


The No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide take on an FCS opponent, the Mercer Bears (9-1), at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

If you are in the market for Crimson Tide vs. Bears tickets, information is available below.

Alabama vs. Mercer game info

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How to buy Alabama vs. Mercer tickets for college football Week 12

You can buy tickets to see the Crimson Tide play the Bears from multiple sources.

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Alabama Crimson Tide schedule

  • Week 1: Aug. 31 vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 63-0 win
  • Week 2: Sept. 7 vs. South Florida Bulls, 42-16 win
  • Week 3: Sept. 14 at Wisconsin Badgers, 42-10 win
  • Week 5: Sept. 28 vs. Georgia Bulldogs, 41-34 win
  • Week 6: Oct. 5 at Vanderbilt Commodores, 40-35 loss
  • Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, 27-25 win
  • Week 8: Oct. 19 at Tennessee Volunteers, 24-17 loss
  • Week 9: Oct. 26 vs. Missouri Tigers, 34-0 win
  • Week 11: Nov. 9 at LSU Tigers, 42-13 win
  • Week 12: Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Mercer Bears
  • Week 13: Nov. 23 at Oklahoma Sooners
  • Week 14: Nov. 30 vs. Auburn Tigers

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Alabama Crimson Tide stats

  • From an offensive standpoint, Alabama ranks 34th in the FBS with 430.4 yards per game. Meanwhile, its defense ranks 43rd in total defense (338.3 yards allowed per contest).
  • The Crimson Tide have been finding success on both offense and defense, ranking 13th-best in scoring offense (38.1 points per game) and 14th-best in scoring defense (18 points allowed per game).
  • Alabama is putting up 238 passing yards per game on offense (57th in the FBS), and ranks 38th on defense with 198.3 passing yards allowed per game.
  • From an offensive standpoint, the Crimson Tide rank 31st in the FBS with 192.4 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, they rank 57th in rushing yards allowed per contest (140).

Mercer Bears schedule

  • Week 1: Aug. 29 vs. Presbyterian Blue Hose, 63-10 win
  • Week 2: Sept. 7 at Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 31-2 win
  • Week 3: Sept. 14 at Chattanooga Mocs, 10-3 win
  • Week 4: Sept. 21 vs. The Citadel Bulldogs, 38-21 win
  • Week 5: Sept. 28 at Wofford Terriers, 22-3 win
  • Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. Princeton Tigers, 34-7 win
  • Week 8: Oct. 19 at Samford Bulldogs, 55-35 loss
  • Week 9: Oct. 26 vs. Western Carolina Catamounts, 44-34 win
  • Week 10: Nov. 2 vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers, 37-31 win
  • Week 11: Nov. 9 at VMI Keydets, 34-0 win
  • Week 12: Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET at Alabama Crimson Tide
  • Week 13: Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Furman Paladins

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Mercer Bears stats

  • Mercer has been keeping opposing offenses in check on defense, allowing just 296.5 total yards per game (11th-best). Offensively, it ranks 26th by racking up 409.7 total yards per game.
  • The Bears have been productive on both offense and defense this season, ranking 16th-best in points per game (34.8) and eighth-best in points allowed per game (16.6).
  • With 233.2 passing yards per game on offense, Mercer ranks 33rd in the FCS. On defense, it ranks 97th, allowing 239.1 passing yards per contest.
  • The Bears rank 30th in the FCS with 176.5 rushing yards per game, but they’ve been carried by their defense, which ranks best by allowing just 57.4 rushing yards per contest.

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This content was created for Gannett using technology provided by Data Skrive.



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Alabama Guard Latrell Wrightsell’s Second Half Shooting Keeps Crimson Tide Unbeaten

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Alabama Guard Latrell Wrightsell’s Second Half Shooting Keeps Crimson Tide Unbeaten


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 2 Alabama basketball team survived an early season scare on Monday night as the Crimson Tide defeated the McNeese State Cowboys 72-64 to stay unbeaten through the season’s first three games.

Alabama endured an over nine-minute field goal drought in the second half but was able to scrape together just enough offense to hang on for the win. Who shouldered the load offensively for the Crimson Tide in the middle of their second half struggles? Graduate guard Latrell Wrightsell.

Wrightsell scored a season-high 15 points along with two rebounds and two assists as his season continues to warm up. The veteran guard missed significant portions of the offseason with injury and started the season a bit slow, making just two of his first 13 three-point attempts in his first two games. His shooting stroke looked to have returned on Monday as he made five-of-nine from beyond the arc, including four in the second half to ensure an Alabama victory.

“Yeah, I mean, this is what we expected him to be,” Nate Oats said. “He’s another one that missed the exhibitions with an injury so he’s just now getting back into his rhythm. The one-for-nine that’s not him, last game. Some of those were good shots he just missed. Some of them, you know, you’ve got to get a feel for what’s a good shot, what’s not. Some of that’s hard to do if you’re not practicing like he was out a month. So I thought he had a lot better feel. Honestly, I thought he turned down some I wish he would have taken. As well as he was shooting it tonight there were three or four he should have shot, I thought. If he would have taken three or four more and get 12 or 13 threes up, that’d be great, because he’s one of the best shooters in the country in my opinion.”

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Wrightsell’s 12 second-half points paced the Crimson Tide in the second half, doubling forward Grant Nelson’s six points as the Alabama offense struggled in the second frame. His third three-point make of the second half extended the Crimson Tide’s lead to 21 before Alabama went ice-cold.

McNeese State was able to cut Alabama’s lead down to six at 60-54 as the underdogs rallied, but it was Wrightsell again, making his fourth three-point shot of the second half that re-extended the lead to nine with just over five minutes to play, stopping the drought and propelling Alabama to victory.

“I mean, I just work out every day,” Wrightsell said on his last make .”I didn’t even realize that, but I’m just thankful for my teammates finding me when I’m open, trusting my shot and just getting to shoot when I’m ready.”

The Crimson Tide enters a challenging stretch of non-conference action beginning on Friday against Purdue. Wrightsell returning to form as one of the nation’s most dangerous shooters will go a long way towards helping Alabama navigate the nation’s most difficult non-conference schedule.



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Alabama Decimates the LSU Tigers on The Joe Gaither Show

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Alabama Decimates the LSU Tigers on The Joe Gaither Show


The Alabama Crimson Tide went to LSU this past weekend and dominated the Tigers in Death Valley. Let’s break down the game on the Monday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” with Mason Woods as we look at the offense and defense during part one, the special teams and off field implications in part two.

The conversation opens by discussing the Alabama offense as offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was in his bag the entire game. We discuss the Crimson Tide’s usage of its running backs as Jam Miller and Justice Haynes combined for 27 touches in the game. We discussed Jalen Milroe’s performance as it was nearly perfect and then discuss the Crimson Tide’s newest offensive wrinkle.

The conversation shift to the defensive end as we talk about Kane Wommack’s outfit and his plan to torment the LSU offense. Domani Jackson got a special shoutout as we discussed his efforts in erasing LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy as well as Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson’s performances.

Part two begins by concluding the LSU game, talking about the Alabama special teams performance and LSU coach Brian Kelly’s postgame complaints involving officiating and Alabama’s defensive game plan.

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The conversation then moves to the greater landscape of college football and where Alabama finds themselves before turning to the hardwood and discussing Alabama’s basketball game against Arkansas State.

The show can be seen on the BamaCentral YouTube channel. Keep up with each show on YouTube,Facebook and Twitter. Shows can also be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.





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