It's too bad Tennessee only had five days between games this week. Otherwise, a school that is quick to honor its athletes might already have named a street after Rick Clausen.

This week, he's the most popular Vol since Peyton Manning. And it's not just because he rallied UT from a 21-0 deficit to beat LSU in Tiger Stadium on Monday night.

He's the classic underdog.

He's regarded as the third-best quarterback in his own family, behind older brother, Casey, and younger brother, Jimmy, who already is being recruited by every college in the Northern Hemisphere.

Both his college head coaches decided he wasn't good enough to start. First, Nick Saban at LSU; then, Phillip Fulmer at UT.

Rick Clausen doesn't even have his own number. He's just borrowing Manning's No. 16 until it's officially retired at the end of this season.

Clausen doesn't run fast enough. He doesn't throw hard enough. He's supposed to be holding a clipboard, not the reins of a top-10 team.

All he does as a quarterback is prove everybody wrong.

You think he's too slow? He bounces off the bench faster than any quarterback UT has ever had.

You think his arm isn't strong enough? Try wrestling the starting job away from him.

Clausen took the starting quarterback job by default last season when freshmen Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer were injured. His coach gave the job to Ainge in preseason, and Clausen took it back in the first game. He took it back again in the second half Monday night.

He shouldn't have to take it back a third time.

Ainge might be UT's quarterback of the future. Clausen is the quarterback for the here and now.

Ainge can take his job back after the season. Manning can have No. 16 back, too.

But if Clausen struggles today against Ole Miss or next week against Georgia, let him see it through. Don't give up on the quarterback who never gives up.

Sure, he said he thought about going home after he was benched before the LSU game. It's one thing to think about quitting. But he didn't quit. Instead, he saved the coach who gave up on him.

Clausen repeatedly has surprised the coaches and media, myself included. But the players don't share those doubts. Neither do many of the fans.

When a co-worker asked me in preseason who would be the starting quarterback, I quickly answered, "Erik Ainge." She frowned.

When I gave my wife the same answer, she said, "That's not right."

No, I guess it wasn't.

Tennessee 27, Ole Miss 0: UT might have had a short week, but Ole Miss is short on talent. UT's defense against Ole Miss' offense will be the biggest mismatch of this SEC weekend.

Florida 24, Alabama 20: If the Vols hope to pass the Gators in the SEC East, they need to do it in the next five weeks when Florida plays three of its four games against nationally ranked teams - Alabama, LSU and Georgia. None of the three games will be in The Swamp.

Alabama might have the defense to slow down Florida's passing attack, but the decisive matchup will be Florida's front seven against Alabama's offensive line.

Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier won his first SEC road game in Tuscaloosa. So will new Florida coach Urban Meyer.

Auburn 27, South Carolina 10: An ankle injury to South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell has created a rare opportunity for Spurrier. He gets to coach a running quarterback.

Antonio Heffner, who will sub for Mitchell, is arguably the best running quarterback ever to start for Spurrier. That's not saying much. Spurrier's idea of a running quarterback is one who sets up fast in the pass pocket.

South Carolina fans might ask: "What pass pocket?"

Gamecocks quarterbacks have been sacked 13 times for an SEC-high 120 yards in losses in the first four games. Expect more of the same against Auburn, which ranks third in the conference in sacks.

LSU 34, Mississippi State 13: If LSU fans are shocked at their team blowing a 21-0 lead against UT, they haven't read coach Les Miles' bio.

Last year, Miles' Oklahoma State team led the other UT 35-7 in the first half. Final score: Texas 56, Oklahoma State 35.

LSU fans also shouldn't be surprised their team ranks last in the SEC in pass defense after two games. Texas quarterback Vince Young is best known for his running - except when he plays against Miles' defense.

In the comeback victory against Oklahoma State, Young completed 18-of-21 passes and set a school record with 12 consecutive completions.

Miles' team might have a chance to blow another huge lead today. LSU has outscored Mississippi State 165-19 in the last four games.

Vanderbilt 23, MTSU 10: A victory against the Blue Raiders will make the Commodores 5-0 for the first time since 1943. A victory against the Blue Raiders will make the Commodores 5-0 for the first time since 1943.

You almost have to read it twice to comprehend it.

The Commodores are only two victories away from being bowl-eligible, and they haven't played Kentucky yet. They already have won two SEC games for the first time since 1999, and they haven't played Kentucky yet. They're also only two victories away from their first winning season since 1982, and - did I mention? - they haven't played Kentucky yet.

And think about this: Third-year Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson now has an overall winning record against two other SEC coaches. He's 1-0 against Ole Miss' Ed Orgeron and 1-0 against Arkansas coach Houston Nutt.

Top 25: Southern Cal 52, Arizona State 27: Texas 48, Missouri 20; Virginia Tech 27, West Virginia 24; Florida State 31, Syracuse 13; Michigan State 31, Michigan 30; Miami 34, South Florida 17; California 34, Arizona 20; Notre Dame 34, Purdue 30; Texas Tech 45, Kansas 31;Wisconsin 37, Indiana 23; Minnesota 31, Penn State 27; Virginia 27, Maryland 20; UCLA 48, Washington 23; Boston College 55, Ball State 7; Iowa State 23, Nebraska 20; Louisville 63, Florida Atlantic 17.

Record: 66-20 (.767) overall, 44-42 (.512) against the spread.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.