3-point stance: Skov will lead off the field

1. When Stanford lost redshirt junior linebacker Shayne Skov for the season to a freak knee injury in the first half of the 37-10 victory at Arizona, the No. 5 Cardinal lost more than its leading tackler. “Shayne was the on-field passionate leader,” head coach David Shaw said. Such is the respect that the defense has for Skov that he merely will shift to become the off-field passionate leader. “He’ll be pissed if they don’t play at a high level,” Shaw said.

2. Georgia became a sexy preseason pick in part because the Bulldogs play an SEC schedule that excludes No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Alabama and No. 14 Arkansas. However, there's another team that may ride an unexpectedly soft schedule into a BCS berth. No. 11 Florida State plays an ACC schedule without No. 13 Virginia Tech, No. 25 Georgia Tech and North Carolina. If the Seminoles win at No. 21 Clemson this week, they may cruise until they play No. 15 Florida on Thanksgiving Saturday.

3. The good news is that Kentucky’s red zone defense is outstanding. Opponents have driven inside the Wildcats’ 20 five times and come out with four field goals and no touchdowns. The bad news is that the Wildcats have given up four touchdowns, all on passes between 24-28 yards. “We can’t allow people to throw the ball over our heads,” Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said. Next up: Florida, with a rejuvenated passing game under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

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