Mississippi State and South Carolina were getting after each other pretty good when I thought to myself what a top-flight college football weekend this one’s turned into. Agreed?

I’m thinking particularly now of the Saturday night Arkansas-Alabama gem, which ended 28-21 in favor of Arkansas after I had given up and gone to bed. The Florida-Kentucky game notwithstanding, pretty good Southeastern Conference games included lowly Vanderbilt’s 26-7 leveling of Duke, and Alabama-Birmingham’s truly 13-10 shocker over an LSU team I felt like was ready to come into its own.

But as for South Carolina and State, once again old salt Lou Holtz lulled a team to sleep and bumped ’em off. It was the Bullies who allowed the Gamecocks to score 13 late points and take home the important SEC encounter 23-19. And I thought coach Jackie Sherrill’s Bulldogs were pretty well in command at one point.

Then No. 25 State had pretty well quieted now No. 23 SC’s 80,000 fans when the real South Carolina, I guess, showed up. In fact, it really looked like State was on its way to a big conference win. State’s defense forgot assignments, though, and SC passers Phil Petty and Erik-Who Kimrey threw for 330 yards.

Two field goals in the first half instead of touchdowns perhaps came back to haunt MSU. Field goals that are good are okay, but touchdowns that are good are better. When SC’s Kimrey threw a 25-yard TD strike to Jermale Kelly for the go-ahead points with less than five minutes to play, I said &uot;uh-oh.&uot;

It won’t be as easy this weekend when 21st-ranked University of Southern Mississippi butts heads with reciprocal head-butter Memphis in a key Conference-USA battle at USM, but I look for the Golden Eagles of coach Jeff Bower to roll the Tigers in the trenches.

Southern’s playing and beating pretty good folks — namely Alabama and Oklahoma State the last two weekends after playing No. 11 Tennessee to the hilt before dropping a 19-16 decision. USM plays tough at home. And when ranked.

Mississippi State takes on Florida at State this Saturday, and I’m afraid playing at home won’t help the Dogs. Surely Ole Miss can shade Kentucky at home, though.

LSU can’t handle Tennessee, even in Baton Rouge, I don’t believe. I look for Arkansas to edge No. 24 Georgia in Arkansas, and South Carolina to squeeze by Alabama at Tuscaloosa. That’s the &uot;mainest&uot; ones in the SEC.

HURRIED HASH… The Delta State Statesmen, I guess you’ve noticed, have gone 4-0 in four starts this football season — first time to do that since about 1970-something. They’re also 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Locals like Floyd &uot;Epp&uot; Eppinette and Bob M. Dearing are in &uot;Hog Heaven.&uot;

4Vanderbilt squared off seriously against Deuce McAllister and Ole Miss, but couldn’t stop the Heisman Trophy candidate completely. Deuce, who is averaging 196 all-purpose yards per game this season, dazzled fans with an 87-yard punt return against Auburn in a 35-27 loss. He’s averaging 10.1 yards per touch this season.

4Jonesville’s daredevil professional bullrider Chris Shivers is still going great guns on the PBR Circuit. There’s no telling how much money the 21-year old has won &uot;doing&uot; that dangerous sport. The last time I looked Chris was leading the money list nationally, and in overall points as well.

Chris is pretty good with the mike, too, I know those of you that check out PBR&160;shows noticed. Maybe he rides hard to get to talk to pretty interview girls.

Glenvall Estes is a long time sports columnist for The Natchez Democrat.