'Bama, Georgia to clash

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference hierarchy is already turning a bit topsy-turvy, and Georgia and Alabama deserve some of the blame — or credit.

The 16th-ranked Crimson Tide (3-0, 2-0) have emerged as a surprising Western Division contender and just knocked off defending champion Arkansas. The 22nd-ranked Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1) got the East out of whack with a loss to South Carolina and are trying to work their way back up tonight when the two teams cross divisional borders.

"Any team out of the other division, you look at the schedule and say, 'I wish these guys were on the schedule,' " Tide defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. "The perfect season would have Florida and Georgia on the schedule. Both of them are top-ranked teams out of that division. Any time you can play teams like Florida or Georgia, it does a little bit more for you all week."

Especially since Georgia has been one of the league's powers for the most part under coach Mark Richt, winning two SEC titles in four years before stumbling last season. Alabama's fortunes during that time have been up and down.

It has already been a wild ride for SEC teams with Kentucky knocking off then-No. 9 Louisville, Auburn losing two in a row and the Tide beating the Razorbacks. Not to mention Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks beating the Bulldogs.

"I love playing in the SEC every week," Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "It's unbelievable how tough it is. It's exciting every week."

The Bulldogs' last visit to Alabama certainly was exciting. They won 27-25 on Billy Bennett's 32-yard field goal with 42 seconds left in 2002 for their first win in Tuscaloosa, but the two teams haven't met since the following year.

Both have redshirt freshman tailbacks who appear to be rising stars, strong defenses and even blowout wins over Western Carolina. Alabama beat that team 52-6, Georgia 45-16.

The Tide is trying to keep the good times rolling after vaulting into the rankings for the first time since the end of the 2005 season.

"They've got nothing but a lot of positive momentum going on," Richt said.

The Tide's Terry Grant has won the first three SEC freshman of the week honors and rushed for 403 yards and five touchdowns. Georgia youngster Knowshon Moreno has run for 268 yards while backing up Thomas Brown, and Alabama's defense isn't expecting a break after facing the Razorbacks' Darren McFadden last week.