The Woodshed

State's upcoming stretch of Georgia (7), LSU(3) and Florida(5) will likely be the toughest run of games any team in the country faces this year. Southern Cal, for example, only has one game on the schedule against a current top 15 opponent (Cal, currently 14). The only bright spot is the first two games are played at home, starting with Georgia this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

State is currently a 15.5 point dog against Georgia and a rational observer can't seem to understand why the spread is so small. Adding to State's offensive struggles, back-up tailback Ambrose is likely out for the season with an ACL. God help us if Norwood gets banged up early.

The big story early in the week is how many players on this State squad call Georgia home. Seven from the last recruiting class alone are from the Peach State. Croom has marked talent rich Georgia as crucial territory on the recruiting trail.

"They've got so many players in the state of Georgia that Georgia and Georgia Tech can't get them all, so they might as well let us have some," said Croom.

No television execs thought it was a good idea to pick up the LSU game next week (I guess no one is thinking about an upset in Starkville this weekend), so Templeton scheduled a 1:30 p.m. CT kick-off.