Adams: Is it payday or payback?

Arkansas State had no idea what it was getting into. This was supposed to be a payday, not payback.

You know how the buy-a-victory program works. A major college football power (hold the snickers, please) offers a fledgling Division I-A program a huge payday, and all it asks in return is that you show up, take a beating and be polite enough not to accuse anybody of running up the score.

How was Arkansas State to know UT would be 1-2, coming off a 59-20 shellacking from Florida? And the fallout was as bad as the game.

Memphis sports columnist Ron Higgins wrote that it was time for a coaching change (and he wasn’t suggesting that Phillip Fulmer throw a coordinator under the bus). The News Sentinel radio show, The Sports Page, asked callers if Fulmer had lost fans to the point of no return. Fourteen of 18 said “yes.”

Not even the mascot got a pass. Poor Smokey was pictured on the Internet with a paper bag over his head.

Now, the Indians must be thinking, “They’ll want to take it out on us.”

Not to worry, guys. After last week, Fulmer has a newfound respect for holding down the score.

UT 38, Arkansas State 20: When you hear UT fans talking about “over and under 40,” they aren’t referring to age. They’re merely classifying UT’s opponents, according to how many points they’re expected to score against the nation’s 102nd-ranked defense.

As of now, the over-40 bunch includes Cal and Florida. Likely additions: Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky.

Sabama 31, Georgia 30: Isn’t it about time coach Nick Saban asked for a raise? At a mere $4 million a year, he’s a steal.

It’s not just that the Tide is off to a 3-0 start. But arch-rival Auburn is 1-2.

If you asked, “What does Saban have to do with Auburn’s struggles?” then you aren’t familiar with Saban’s intimidating stare. It goes statewide and beyond.

Why do you think Georgia coach Mark Richt closed practice this week? He didn’t want Saban’s stare to distract his players.

And don’t worry about Uga biting Saban. Worry about Saban biting Uga.

Florida 54, Ole Miss 17: Gators coach Urban Meyer has expressed concern about going on the road with a young team for the first time.

Relax, coach. What’s the worst thing that can happen?

Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron might make crazy talk with one of your freshmen during pregame warmups. Or quarterback Tim Tebow could be besieged by autograph seekers in The Grove.

Just wondering: When was the last time the SEC featured a bigger coaching mismatch than Meyer vs. Orgeron?

Possible answers: Alabama’s Bear Bryant vs. LSU’s Jerry Stovall in 1981, Florida’s Steve Spurrier vs. LSU’s Curley Hallman in 1993, and Anybody vs. Kentucky’s Bill Curry (1990-96).

LSU 27, South Carolina 7: Spurrier might have a few tricks up his sleeve for the vaunted LSU defense. That should be worth a few first downs and maybe even a touchdown.

But his sleeves aren’t long enough for the Tigers.

You think Meyer vs. Orgeron is a mismatch? How about South Carolina’s offensive line vs. LSU’s defensive front?

Forget yards and points. A realistic offensive goal for the Gamecocks: They can identify quarterback Blake Mitchell afterward without having to check his teeth.

Arkansas 45, Kentucky 41: This could be the highest scoring SEC game of the season that doesn’t involve Florida’s offense or UT’s defense.

Kentucky’s offense is based on balance. Arkansas’ offense is based on unbalance.

Arkansas’ Darren McFadden carried the ball 33 times, caught three passes, returned two kickoffs and lined up occasionally at quarterback in the WildHog formation against Alabama. He finished with 260 all-purpose yards and a slight concussion.

I can understand Arkansas pushing McFadden for the Heisman Trophy. But 33 rushes and two kickoff returns might be pushing too hard.

Auburn 30, New Mexico State 14: It’s an SEC homecoming for Aggies coach Hal Mumme. But that’s hardly cause for celebration.

Mumme lost his last game at Kentucky 59-21 to Tennessee in 2000. In fact, he lost his last nine SEC games.

His finish at Kentucky wasn’t much different from his start at New Mexico State, where he went 0-12 in his first season. Last year, the Aggies improved to 4-8, and now they’re 2-1 after knocking off UTEP last week.

This was supposed to be a laugher in preseason. The man not laughing is Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, whose team has lost back-to-back home games and has serious quarterback issues.

Mississippi State 31, Gardner-Webb 7: If Gardner-Webb is the Runnin’ Bulldogs does Mississippi State become the Passin’ Bulldogs by default?

Based on last week, no. The Bulldogs threw for a grand total of 41 yards in an upset of Auburn.

Scary fact for the Bulldogs: Coach Sylvester Croom is 0-1 against I-AA teams the week after playing Auburn. Mississippi State lost to Maine 9-7 in 2004.

Top 25: Southern Cal 45, Washington State 17; West Virginia 48, East Carolina 20; Penn State 30, Michigan 27; Texas 52, Rice 13; Wisconsin 34, Iowa 24; California 34, Arizona 13; Ohio State 40, Northwestern 10; Oregon 45, Stanford 20; Boston College 34, Army 10; Clemson 31, N.C. State 20; Virginia Tech 41, William & Mary 7; Louisville 48, Syracuse 13; Hawaii 55, Charleston Southern 14; South Florida 34, North Carolina 23; Nebraska 34, Ball State 7; Missouri 45, Illinois State 13.

Record: 57-12 (.826) overall and 26-29 (.473) against the spread.

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