Ellington

It's not going to be a fun Saturday if you're a fan of the Mississippi's Big 3 college football teams. Much like the stock market, they all appear headed for a fall as they fan out across Alabama and Georgia.

Mississippi State at Alabama-Tuscaloosa: Mississippi State gets less out of its talent than any team in the country. Every time somebody asks Jackie Sherrill a hard question, he starts mumbling. If his running backs could elude tacklers as well as the Jackal dodges questions, the Bulldogs would be unbeaten. Meanwhile, Alabama has some of the best players money can buy. This could get ugly. ... UAT 42, Another Lost Season 14

Southern Miss at Alabama-Birmingham: USM has won the last two games in this series by a grand total of 3 points apiece. Of course, the Gilded Buzzards had an offense back then. Now they have an injured Derrick Nix and problems at quarterback, no matter who is playing. ... UAB 21, USM 18

Ole Miss at Georgia: This one has blowout written all over it, too. The Rebs can't run and they can't stop the run or the pass. And Eli can't play defense. Meanwhile, Georgia is furious about being humiliated by Florida again. Expect the Dawgs to run it up if they get a chance. And they will. ... Georgia 49, Ole Miss 21

Alabama A&M at Jackson State: It's this simple for the Tigers: they have to win every game or they won't be going to Birmingham for the SWAC title game this year. Blitz-happy Alabama A&M comes in riding a six-game winning streak. Last year they sacked Jackson State QB Robert Kent so many times (6) he almost changed his name to Groceries. If JSU can protect Kent today, JSU will win. And they will ... JSU 26, Alabama A&P 14.

Elsewhere, Alcorn State visits Mississippi Valley (Braves will win 32-21), Belhaven plays host to Union, Ky., at Newell Field, Millsaps visits Rhodes, Louisiana College calls on Mississippi College in Clinton, and Delta State climbs the Ozarks to play at Ouachita Baptist.

Oh yeah, Holmes is at Pearl River and Jones is at Northeast in the semifinals of the junior college playoffs.