If you glanced at the University of Tennessee and Memphis football media guides, you would get the wrong idea about the rivalry.

UT has a Power T, an appropriate reminder of the school's football tradition. Memphis has trophies on its cover and rings on the back.

In fact, judging from the Memphis media guide, you would think the Tigers were bumping helmets with Southern Cal and Texas for national championships, rather than still reveling in a 1996 victory over the Vols.

Most UT fans would greet the Memphis press guide with a snicker. The same bowl appearances that signify success for the Tigers could get a UT coach fired.

One of the trophies pictured on the media guide cover is a large silver football worthy of a Super Bowl. But it's actually a GMAC Bowl trophy.

There's a gold football at the bottom of the press guide. It's bigger than the silver football, but without identifying marks. So you don't know if the trophy is symbolic of an achievement or merely ornamental.

There's also an even larger rocket-shaped trophy, compliments of a Motor City Bowl. If you see a car shaped like that trophy, seek help immediately.

Amidst the trophies, there's an understated plaque from the New Orleans Bowl, whose sponsorship apparently isn't lucrative enough to provide its winning team with a silver or gold football.

On the back of the press guide, three Super Bowl-sized rings dominate the page. One is from the Motor City Bowl, another is from the GMAC bowl, and the third is from the New Orleans Bowl.

UT fans once would have had a big laugh over such a prominent display of trophies from bowls they wouldn't have attended without a disguise. But bowl humor isn't what it used to be at UT.

Even after UT's stunning loss to the Tigers 10 years ago, could you have imagined the two teams meeting under these circumstances? UT is coming off a non-bowl season, and Memphis has played in three consecutive bowls.

These are the glory days for a Memphis program that made two bowl trips before 2003. Feel free to snicker -- if your team played in a bowl last season.

UT 41, Memphis 17: The Tigers appear to be catching the Vols at just the right time. They had two weeks to prepare for the game; the Vols have an SEC showdown with Georgia next Saturday.

The Tigers haven't done that badly with just one week of preparation for UT. Five of the last seven games -- all but one of which was won by the Vols -- have been decided by five points or fewer.

Never mind the timing or history. Memphis ranks 73rd nationally in total defense despite playing Ole Miss, Division I-AA Chattanooga and East Carolina.

How bad is the Memphis defense? It's so bad that coach Tommy West fired defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn after three games.

Florida 30, Alabama 20: If you like dark humor, then you're hoping for a battle of kickers.

Florida kicker Chris Hetland has missed his only two field-goal attempts this season. Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin missed two field goals and an extra-point in an overtime loss to Arkansas last Saturday.

Advice to Tide: Score early. Florida has only allowed one touchdown and 10 points in the second half.

Georgia 31, Ole Miss 10: Maybe Brent Schaeffer should have transferred to Georgia instead of Ole Miss. Then, Georgia coach Mark Richt could try to decide between four quarterbacks instead of three.

No matter who's at quarterback for the Bulldogs, he will have the advantage of going against the Ole Miss defense, which has given up more points than anyone else in the SEC.

LSU 38, Mississippi State 0: The Bulldogs' optimism after winning their first game will be short-lived. Today's objective should be: "Get out alive."

LSU's defense has been beating teams up (see Auburn running back Kenny Irons and Tulane quarterback Lester Ricard for details). There's also a recent history to consider.

In the last three LSU-Mississippi State games, the Tigers have outscored the Bulldogs 129-13.

Kentucky 30, Central Michigan 27: The Wildcats probably have figured out in the last few years that they can't take anyone lightly. They need to remember that against Central Michigan, which played Boston College a seven-point game, lost by 24 at Michigan and beat an Akron team the week after Akron upset N.C. State.

For those keeping score, UT with new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, 119 points; Kentucky with former UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, 106.

Vanderbilt 24, Temple 10: It's not just a victory for the Commodores. It's a winning streak.

Following a victory over Tennessee State, this will give Vanderbilt a two-game winning streak for only the second time in the Bobby Johnson era.

Temple has another streak going. It has lost four consecutive games and been outscored 174-10.

If you want to say something nice about Temple football, call it "balanced." The Owls rank 118th out of 119 Division I-A teams in scoring offense and scoring defense.

Top 25: Ohio State 27, Iowa 24; Southern Cal 34, Washington State 10; Michigan 31, Minnesota 23; Texas 52, Sam Houston State 0; Virginia Tech 24, Georgia Tech 13; Notre Dame 38, Purdue 27; Oregon 34, Arizona State 31; Clemson 45, Louisiana Tech 17; California 42, Oregon State 31; Nebraska 34, Kansas 17; Boise State 38, Utah 34; Colorado 31, Missouri 27.

Record: 86-10 (.896) overall, 40-42 (.488) against the spread.