Lane Kiffin hasn’t even held the Tennessee head-coaching job for three months and already he’s managed to tick off fellow SEC coaches Urban Meyer (Florida), Nick Saban (Alabama), Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) and Mark Richt (Georgia).

That kind of preaching-to-the-choir comment fit perfectly into the rhetoric of his first press conference. I doubt it got much of a rise in Gainesville, since the Gators have owned the Vols in recent seasons.

What really irked Florida Coach Urban Meyer was that Kiffin continued to attempt to hire — unsuccessfully, as it turned out — receivers coach Billy Gonzales while the Gators were preparing for the national championship game.

More recently, Kiffin has gotten on the nerves of Alabama Coach Nick Saban to the extent that Saban is asking players who already have committed to the Crimson Tide not to take official visits to UT.
This is in response to Kiffin’s hiring of Lance Thompson off Saban’s staff. Thompson, considered Alabama’s best recruiter, got a big raise to jump to the Vols just two weeks before signing day.
Considering that UT is a combined 1-6 since Meyer and Saban arrived at Florida and Alabama, you have to take your victories wherever you can find them.

And don’t forget that Kiffin also has tugged on Steve Spurrier’s visor. First Kiffin hired his brother-in-law, David Reaves, off the South Carolina staff. Then Kiffin and Spurrier exchanged comments in the press about recruiting.

While we’re at it, Kiffin also threw a $400,000 offer at super recruiter Rodney Garner in an attempt to lure him off Mark Richt’s staff at Georgia. Garner chose to stay at Georgia.

For those keeping score, Kiffin has kicked sand at Meyer, Saban, Spurrier and Richt. It’s no coincidence that those are the coaches of the four most important opponents on UT’s schedule every year. Those are also four programs that the Vols must match in recruiting if they are to regain relevance in the SEC.

Obviously this is all part of Kiffin’s plan to breathe a little life into a Tennessee program that could use a shot in the arm. Is he going about it the right way? Probably not, although that won’t matter if he wins.

If pissing off your fellow conference coaches motivates the program and players, then go for it. But if nothing changes and the Vols get flattened by all of these teams next year, then Kiffin is just going to look like a pompous ass who got what was coming to him.

What’s that old saying? Revenge is best served cold? Well cold, hot, lukewarm, whatever – Florida absolutely gave it to Georgia on Saturday in a 49-10 rout in the game formerly known as “The World’s Outdoor Largest Cocktail Party.”

Urban Meyer and the rest of the Gators didn’t appreciate Mark Richt and the Bulldogs celebrating as a team after scoring the first touchdown in last year’s contest. So Meyer’s team made it personal this time around and while the game was close until the third quarter, once Florida got a lead, it never took its foot off Georgia’s neck.

The Bulldogs really never stood a chance Saturday. There was no way Meyer was going to allow his team to forget about what Richt and UGA did last year and it was comical when he called a time out to savor the flavor with under a minute to play and the game well in the bag. It was nice “up yours” to Richt.

Nothing against Texas, Penn State, Alabama and the rest of the top rated teams in college football, but Florida is the most dangerous team in the nation right now. The loss to Ole’ Miss could have been crippling, but now Tim Tebow and the rest of the Gators are playing with unwavering passion and focus.

Looking at the rest of its schedule, Florida has a solid chance to finish with only one-loss. Vanderbilt, South Carolina and certainly Florida State will provide a challenge, but the Gators should finish 11-1 and with some help, could still play for a national title.

No. 25 vs. No. 25:
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 7 Texas Tech, 8:00 PM ET ABC
Both of these teams are coming off convincing wins but in completely different fashions. The Red Raiders absolutely routed a Kansas team that many thought could possibly hand Tech its first loss of the season. The Longhorns, meanwhile, got a major challenge from Oklahoma State but managed to hold on to victory despite some second half mistakes by Heisman candidate Colt McCoy. This will be the fourth consecutive ranked team (Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State) that UT faces in as many weeks. Can they keep playing at a high level or are they due for a letdown? The big question surrounding this game is how UT’s defense will stack up against TT’s explosive offense and vice versa. Not that the Longhorns are playing stout defense by any means, but they’ll be Tech’s toughest challenge to date. It’s going to be interesting to watch the dynamics of this game play out between Horns’ McCoy and Red Raider Heisman hopefuls Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. McCoy certainly has an easier challenge this week, but Harrell and Crabtree have helped Tech average over 400 yards of offense in every game this year. Texas is arguably the most complete team in college football, while Tech can light up the scoreboard. The team that plays defense last might be the one that comes out victorious.

No. 8 Florida at No. 6 Georgia, 3:30 PM ET CBS
The game formally known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Party” should be quite interesting this year after Mark Richt instructed all of his players to have a team celebration on the field after UGA scored the first touchdown in last season’s contest. The shrewd move didn’t go unnoticed by Urban Meyer and the Gators, who will no doubt seek a measure of revenge this weekend in Jacksonville. Florida has come alive since Ole’ Miss upset them a few weeks ago, pounding Arkansas, LSU and Kentucky with the greatest of ease. The Gators seem to have re-focused and a win over the Bulldogs could make a huge statement. Both of these teams still have national title aspirations and there is absolutely no love lost here. This is one of the fiercest rivalries in college football.

Upset Watch:No. 15 Florida State at Georgia Tech, 3:30 PM ET
The Seminoles have ridden strong defensive play all the way to the No. 15 spot in the polls, but does anyone else get the feeling they’re due for a letdown? GA Tech was a major disappointment last week in losing to Virginia, but that might have been more a testament to how great of a coaching job Al Groh has done turning around the Cavs than an indication that the Jackets are overrated. Even though GT isn’t ranked anymore, this is still an even matchup and I think the Jackets are going to try and make a statement to get back into the top 25.

Other notable games:
Nebraska at No. 4 Oklahoma, 8:00 PM ET ESPN
The Huskers’ defense has improved over the past couple weeks, but will they be any match for Sam Bradford and the explosive Sooners’ offense?

Northwestern at No. 17 Minnesota, 12:00 PM ET
It doesn’t have the same luster as Ohio State-Penn State did last week, but this is the best of what the Big Ten has to over this weekend. The transformation of the Golden Gophers has been remarkable after they one just one game last year.

Florida vs. Georgia
The winner of this game should become the SEC East representative against Alabama in the conference’s title game, while the loser will probably not play in a BCS bowl game. Florida has revenge on their mind; they remember Georgia’s end-zone celebration from a year ago. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt ordered the entire bench on to the field after scoring their first touchdown in a 42-30 victory. Gators coach Urban Meyer was upset by the antics but has downplayed the animosity between the schools this week. You can expect fireworks on the field this Saturday at the Gator Bowl. National coverage will begin at 3:30 PM ET on CBS. Click here for the official Florida vs. Georgia smack thread.

Texas vs. Texas Tech
Texas is completing the final leg of their gauntlet schedule; they defeated: then-No.1 Oklahoma on Oct. 11, then-No. 11 Missouri on Oct. 18, then-No.7 Oklahoma State last week, and now face No. 6 Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday evening. Another week, another Heisman Trophy candidate will line up against the Longhorn defense. Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell has thrown for 3147 yards with 28 touchdown passes on the season. The winner of this contest will have the inside track to win the Big 12 South title, a division that features four teams ranked in the top nine of this week’s BCS bowl standings. National coverage will begin at 8PM ET on ABC. Click here for the official Texas vs. Texas Tech smack thread.

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys had home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs last season, thanks in large part to a pair of victories over the New York Giants that propelled them to a NFC East title. But the Cowboys postseason run came to a quick end, as the Giants defeated them during their improbable run to a Super Bowl title. The Cowboys are hurting coming into this week’s game, with quarterback Tony Romo missing his third straight game because of a broken right pinkie and tight end Jason Witten will be a game-time playing decision due to his broken ribs. 40-year-old Brad Johnson will be in charge of the Cowboys offense, and he has looked his age at times on the field. He has been sacked six times in two weeks, and against a Giant defense that leads the NFL with 26 sacks, Johnson’s lack of mobility will be a major concern for the Dallas coaching staff. Regional coverage will begin at 4:15 PM ET on Fox.

What a wild, wild week in college football. No. 1 USC falls to Oregon State. Ole’ Miss shocks No. 5 Florida. Little ol’ Navy beats No. 16 Wake Forest. Michigan turns the ball over five times in the first half, but overcomes a 19-0 deficit to defeat No. 9 Wisconsin.

And if all that wasn’t enough, No. 8 Alabama rolled into Athens and stomped No. 3 Georgia, 41-30. So much for the Bulldogs’ plan to “Black Out” the Tide.

Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide built a shocking 31-0 halftime lead and despite the Bulldogs best efforts at a comeback in the second half, Alabama cruised. They played about as close to perfect as they could, totaling 129 yards on the ground (Glen Coffee had 86 yards and 2 TDs), dominating the time of possession battle and despite playing in a hostile environment, amassing only two penalties for a nine yards. They also scored on their first five possessions and turned the ball over just once.

Georgia was at a disadvantage with dynamic RB Knowshon Moreno hobbled, but even if he were 100%, it wouldn’t have mattered. Alabama came out with more energy, played a cleaner game and quite frankly, Saban just out-coached Mark Richt. The Dogs could do nothing in the first half and it was almost like Alabama was in UGA’s offensive huddle the entire night. And it was only a matter of time before Georgia’s lack of experience on the offensive line caught up to them like it did tonight. ‘Bama’s defensive front was more physical and it showed with how UGA could do nothing on the ground, which in turn affected Matthew Stafford and the passing game.

Criticize Saban for the way he left LSU for the NFL and then the Miami Dolphins for Alabama, but the man has brought quality football back to that school in just two years. And with USC, Georgia and Florida all falling this week, the Tide will find themselves in great position to make a run at a title appearance. Saban’s biggest task now is not allowing his team to have a setback against programs like Kentucky, Ole’ Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas State over the next few weeks before they have to play at LSU in November.