MONDAY SPORTS: Gamecocks move up in polls; Clemson readies for FSU; Cards win another

*The South Carolina Gamecock football team moved up in both major polls this week by virtue of the lopsided, 52-7, win at Arkansas Saturday while Clemson remains 4th in the Coaches Poll and 3rd in the AP ranking following a 24-14 win over Boston College. The Gamecocks moved up three spots and back into the coaches top 10 at #9. The Gamecocks also moved up three positions in the AP poll to #11. This week, Clemson faces a major showdown with 5th-ranked Florida State. That game kicks at 8:00 PM Saturday at Death Valley. South Carolina will be in Knoxville to take on Tennessee.

*In the NFL Sunday the Carolina Panthers turned in a dominating performance in a 35-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings star Adrian Peterson played in the game, just two days after the death of his 2-year old son on Friday.

*Monday Night Football  on ESPN will feature the Indianapolis Colts taking on the San Diego Chargers at 8:30 PM.

*The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodges 1-0 on Saturday in Game 2 of the best-of-seven National League Championship series. Or, to quote sportswriter Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times: “The most expensive team in baseball has been rolled on the riverfront, mugged in a Busch, kicked by a Clydesdale and sent staggering back to Los Angeles with pockets empty, eyes wide and winter coming.” Game 3 is Monday night in L.A.

*The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5 Sunday night at Fenway Park in the second game of the AL championship series. The Red Sox revival was in no small part due to a grand slam by David Ortiz in the 8th inning. The series is now tied 1-1.