I'm posting this from the road, so I've got to be quick with these today. Here we go:

• Great article from Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel on how Gus Malzahn has changed trends in college football with his fast-paced offense. (Hat tip to O-A News scribe Andrew Gribble for the link. Read his blog here. It's good.)

• And here's ESPN.com blogger Chris Low's take on Malzahn.

• Jerry Hinnen of The War Eagle Reader takes an in depth look at Auburn's defensive stats and concludes that the Tigers are OK but not too special.

• Tennessee running backs coach/special teams coach Eddie Gran is all business as he prepares to take on the school that employed him for 10 years, writes Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

• Vols freshman RB Bryce Brown has a bum hip, but he's improving, writes Austin Ward of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

• Tennessee is finding out that, like a snowflake, no two spread offenses are the same, writes Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

• How good is Tennessee safety Eric Berry? He's No. 2 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s NFL Draft big board, writes Low.

• Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy has the freedom to make audibles (well, some freedom) and may have to contend with crowd noise at Kentucky this week, writes Michael Casagrande of the Decatur Daily.

• McElroy had to wait on the Tide to see if they landed Tim Tebow before signing on, writes Ray Melick of the Birmingham News.

• Georgia linebacker Marcus Dowtin has improved his focus this year and it's showing on the field, writes David Hale of the Macon Telegraph.

• Here's an ESPN.com general preview article for the week, by ESPN's Rece Davis. Its sums up the Auburn-Tennessee game thusly:

• Auburn versus Tennessee is a huge barometer for both. The Tigers are piling up prolific offensive numbers under coordinator Gus Malzahn, who says Tennessee's defense has no weakness. Auburn ranks fifth in the nation in rushing, and although a win in this game wouldn't be like beating a vintage Volunteers team, it would show that the Tigers haven't simply preyed on lesser competition. If the Tigers win, they should be ranked in the top 15 or 20. For the Vols, who face a daunting schedule ahead, this game is nearly a must-win to keep the season from unraveling. Or at least it would unravel if you had the same team every week.

• Rob Moseley or the Register Guard reports that Oregon might reinstate RB LaGarrette Blount. As you might remember, Blount was the one who punched a Boise State player and generally went berserk in the season opener.

• Register Guard columnist George Schroeder writes that the Ducks are making the wrong move.