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Cooper-Hargreaves duel in Alabama-Florida clash

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A look at things to watch in the Southeastern Conference during Week 4 of the season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Florida at No. 3 Alabama: The Gators lead the nation in turnover margin, and they’ll likely need to force more takeaways to have a shot at pulling the upset in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has won its last three meetings with Florida by an average margin of 24 points, and the Tide are favored by 14 ½ points in the latest matchup between two of the SEC’s heavyweight programs. This game features a star-studded individual matchup between Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves. Cooper leads all Football Bowl Subdivision players with 33 catches and ranks third nationally with 454 yards receiving. Hargreaves is regarded as one of the game’s top cover corners.

MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: Arkansas RBs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams vs. Northern Illinois run defense: The Cooper-Hargreaves showdown will command a lot of attention, but Arkansas’ attempt to maintain its huge early-season rushing production is also worth noting. Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks third nationally with 362 yards rushing per game. Collins has rushed for 411 yards while averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Williams has run for 322 yards and has gained 9.8 yards per rush. Northern Illinois ranks 13th nationally in run defense.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Nine of the SEC’s 14 teams are averaging more than 40 points per game and 12 teams are averaging more than 30. Texas A&M is tops with 54.3 points per game. … LSU’s Travin Dural is averaging more than 30 yards per catch so far this season, which leads the league by a wide margin. … Kentucky freshman receiver Garrett Johnson caught six passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns against Florida. It’s the first time a UK freshman has caught two TD passes in a game since Randall Cobb in 2008.

LONG SHOT: Mississippi State has lost 14 straight games against No. 8 LSU and 21 of 22 dating back to 1992 when the league split into two divisions, but the Bulldogs appear to have one of their better teams in recent memory. Quarterback Dak Prescott ranks fourth in the league in total offense, and Preston Smith has been named the SEC’s defensive lineman of the week three consecutive weeks. LSU is 43-3 in night games at Tiger Stadium under coach Les Miles.

IMPACT PLAYER: Missouri’s Maty Mauk has thrown 12 touchdown passes, putting him in a three-way tie for the FBS lead with Washington State’s Connor Halliday and Western Kentucky’s Brandon Doughty. The sophomore might have a chance for another big game this weekend when the Tigers host Indiana, which lost 45-42 to Bowling Green last weekend.

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

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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