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No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 11 Ole Miss in SEC matchup

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Here are some things to watch in Week 6 of games in the Southeastern Conference:

GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 3 Alabama at No. 11 Mississippi: It’s been a lopsided series of late, with Alabama winning the past 10 in a row. But the Rebels are 4-0 for the first time since 1970 and giving up just 8.5 points per game, which leads the SEC. The Crimson Tide counter with a potent offense, led by quarterback Blake Sims, receiver Amari Cooper and a three-man backfield of T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake and Derrick Henry. “Something’s got to give at some point,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “At the end of the day it’ll be about players making plays.”

MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: Texas A&M’s passing offense against Mississippi State’s defense. The 6th-ranked Aggies keep rolling along with sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill, who helped lead Texas A&M to a come-from-behind win over Arkansas last weekend. Hill leads the league with 1,745 yards passing and 17 touchdown passes. The 12th-ranked Bulldogs are allowing a league-high 319 yards passing per game.

NUMBERS GAME: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier owns a 20-1 career record against Kentucky, which hosts the Gamecocks on Saturday. No current Football Bowl Subdivision coach has won more games over an individual school. … Florida’s nine-game winning streak over Tennessee is the Gators’ longest in the series’ 43-game history. … This is the first time since 1958 that Ole Miss (11th) and Mississippi State (12th) have been ranked among the nation’s top 12 teams at the same time.

LONG SHOT: No. 15 LSU is in an unfamiliar position this week as an eight-point underdog at No. 5 Auburn. Since losing 13-3 to eight-point favorite Florida in 2009, LSU has been more than a seven-point underdog just twice, in its last two meetings with Alabama. An LSU defense that allows just 13 points per game – the sixth-lowest average among FBS schools – will be eager to redeem itself after getting gashed by Mississippi State’s rushing attack in a 34-29 loss to the Bulldogs two weeks ago.

IMPACT PERFORMER: LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris makes his first career start Saturday at Auburn. Harris sparkled in a relief role last week, as he led seven consecutive touchdown drives in a 63-7 blowout of New Mexico State. Harris became the first LSU true freshman to throw three touchdown passes or to account for five touchdowns in a single game. “Harris has some ad-lib to his game which is very, very positive,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “He is really fast and can really throw the ball. He can extend a play so really good things can happen.”

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Compiled by Steve Megargee in Knoxville, Tennessee, and David Brandt in Jackson, Mississippi.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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