BATON ROUGE, La. – The 2009 national champion LSU baseball team received a special proclamation Friday from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal during a reception at the Governor’s Mansion.

South Carolina at Arkansas
Saturday 11:21 p.m. SEC Network
Line: Arkansas by 7

South Carolina is coming off a tough 31-13 loss at Tennessee a week ago and will look to bounce back this week on the road against Arkansas.

Tuscaloosa, AL (Sports Network) - Top-10 foes meet up in Tuscaloosa in a key SEC Western Division battle, as the ninth-ranked LSU Tigers come calling on the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

This is the week that a large number of LSU fans start turning red – or make that crimson – with anger.

The LSU defense has been doing some trash talking, but the coaches probably don't mind. It seems like the jawing involves the linebackers and the secondary.

Kelvin Sheppard was amused by the questions about whether there was any competition among the defensive players. "Chad Jones is one who is always taking credit for the tackle even when he's not around," he chuckled.

Sheppard has been a stalwart on defense for the Tigers. He has accumulated 39 stops over the last 3 games, but his value to the team goes beyond his stats.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU’s ground game has run aground.

The ninth-ranked Tigers are averaging 141.5 yards rushing. Not a terrible number, but that’s 25 yards per game below their pace from a season earlier and 73 yards below their average during their 2007 national championship campaign. Some good games against bad teams have helped LSU pad its stats, too.

The only time LSU has had a 100-yard rusher in a single game this season was when Charles Scott managed 112 yards last weekend in a 42-0 victory over Tulane.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network)

OUTLOOK: Last season was one to forget for the SEC, as only three of the 12 league members earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Things are expected to be much different in 2009-10, however, as the SEC is ready to regain its position as one of college basketball's elite conferences.

Virtually every time the Pulaski Academy Bruins face fourth down, the prep school team from Little Rock, Ark., goes for it. No matter the distance.

LSU heads to Tuscaloosa for their much-anticipated SEC West showdown against #3 Alabama this weekend.

A top-notch prospect from California is usually a Pac-10 lock. Schools like USC, California, UCLA and Oregon are always on their short list, but Scout.com four-star recruit Cassius Marsh broke the mold. The Westlake Village, Calif., native chose LSU over the West Coast schools.

LSU's Director of Football Operations plus a former Tigers star & Tiger Athletic Foundation member speaking at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club about the Tigers' last game versus Tulane and the titanic test ahead at Alabama:

LSU's final non-conference game of the season will be broadcast on ESPNU. The Tigers host in-state foe Louisiana Tech on Novermber 14. Kickoff time has been shifted to 6 p.m. to accomodate the network.

BATON ROUGE -- On Monday, LSU head coach Les Miles addressed the media as his ninth-ranked team prepares for it's trip to Tuscaloosa to face No. 3 Alabama. Watch on-demand video of the press conference now.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network)

ALABAMA: The Crimson Tide were the only SEC team not in action this past weekend. They have been idle since October 24th when they recorded a thrilling 12-10 victory over Tennessee.

NEW YORK (AP) - Texas took a small step forward in the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, and the remaining unbeaten teams held down the first seven spots.