Following Tennessee’s most impressive victory of the season, I have reevaluated the team’s least impressive performance of the season. I now view it quite differently.

Remember how one of Florida’s reserves said UT players gave up in the second half of the Gators’ 59-20 victory? I’m now in full agreement with him.

But I don’t believe the Vols gave up out of fatigue or frustration. I believe they did it by design.

I’m not accusing anyone of point shaving. I’m applauding their strategy.

Once it became obvious UT wasn’t going to win in The Swamp last month, what difference did the final score make? Never mind if UT couldn’t win the battle. It could still win the war (i.e., the SEC East championship).

I realize I’m treading on irrational ground here, but this column has never backed away from farfetched themes (I picked UT to play for the national title in 2005). So bear with me. Besides, I’ve got evidence.

Look what Florida has done since its victory over UT. It has lost to Auburn and LSU and barely managed to beat Ole Miss.

Don’t give their opponents all the credit for that. Save some of the praise for the UT brain trust, which obviously had the courage and creativity to implement a plan that most coaches couldn’t have imagined, much less employed.

I liken it to Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope strategy in his upset of George Foreman, who punched himself into exhaustion as Ali leaned against the ropes. Similarly, as the Vols were absorbing a humiliating defeat from the Gators, they were setting their opponent up for a fall.

Florida couldn’t help but believe it was invincible after that victory. Overconfidence was unavoidable.

The mighty Gators now have two SEC losses. The wily Vols have only one.

Tennessee 27, Mississippi State 10: With a 35-14 victory over Georgia behind them and Alabama up next, UT would appear vulnerable to an upset. But that’s asking a lot of a Mississippi State team that has a true-freshman quarterback and little threat of a passing attack.

If the Bulldogs have success early, UT fans shouldn’t be alarmed. The Vols will just be setting them up.

Arkansas 30, Auburn 27: The Tigers suddenly have momentum with an upset of Florida and a drubbing of Vanderbilt on successive Saturdays. But they don’t have Darren McFadden.

As a freshman, McFadden rushed for 108 yards on 13 carries against Auburn. Last year, he had 145 yards on 28 carries against the Tigers.

LSU 31, Kentucky 13: As shaky as Kentucky quarterback André Woodson looked against South Carolina, this is no game for a comeback. LSU, which beat Kentucky 49-0 last year, is giving up 13 fewer yards per game than any other team in the country.

But don’t expect the Tigers to continue their fourth-down success (5-for-5 against Florida). They should only need three downs against the Wildcats.

Alabama 34, Ole Miss 27: You knew it would take Nick Saban time to build up Alabama’s defense. But a promising offense has been a big disappointment.

The Tide returned its starting offensive line, quarterback and top two wide receivers from last year, yet it only ranks fifth in the conference in rushing and sixth in passing. There’s help on the way from an Ole Miss defense that ranks last in the conference.

Georgia 27, Vanderbilt 24: The Bulldogs have lost six consecutive games to SEC East opponents. That streak is no big deal if you’re Vanderbilt, which has had 14- and 13-game losing streaks within the division.

But this is Georgia, which won an SEC championship just two years ago and has the best mascot in college football. Uga VI deserves better.

South Carolina 27, North Carolina 23: Former South Carolina coach Lou Holtz talked about changing the culture at a program renowned for mediocrity.

Current South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier didn’t talk as much about changing the culture. He just changed it.

South Carolina is 5-1 and ranked seventh in the country. If it wins three more games this season, Spurrier would have 23 victories in three years.

No other South Carolina coach has won more than 22 games in three seasons.

Top 25: Ohio State 42, Kent State 13; Cal 38 Oregon State 27; Boston College 30, Notre Dame 13; South Florida 27, Central Florida 17; Oklahoma 38, Missouri 24; Southern Cal 42, Arizona 17; Oregon 45, Washington State 24; Virginia Tech 31, Duke 14; Arizona State 34, Washington 27; Cincinnati 45, Louisville 38; Illinois 31, Iowa 24; Penn State 34, Wisconsin 31; Kansas 45, Baylor 22; Texas 37, Iowa State 17.

Record: 107-26 (.805) overall, 59-53 (.527) against the spread.

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

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.