Will the SEC get shut out of the BCS championship game?
The first BCS Standings are six days away. So what did we learn this weekend?
1. After four straight national championships, will the SEC get shut out of the BCS title game? There is no way to understate what Alabama’s loss to South Carolina meant in the big picture. Just when a lot of people (this writer included) were convinced that the Crimson Tide was going to Glendale, they lose in Columbia and it throws the door open for just about anything.
This morning, with the first BCS Standings set to be released on Sunday, the SEC has three teams in the Top 10 of the coaches poll (No. 7 Auburn, No. 8 Alabama, and No. 9 LSU.) Those three teams all have to play one another in October and November. We don’t know a whole lot but this much we do know: Like it or not, if No. 1 Ohio State runs the table, the Buckeyes will be in the big game. So unless Ohio State loses at Wisconsin on Saturday or at Iowa on Nov. 20, everybody is playing for No. 2. Of course, we said the same thing about Alabama.
We know that a one-loss SEC got to the big game in 2006 (Florida), 2007 (LSU actually had two losses), and 2008 (Florida). But if you’re an SEC fan, your teams have a tough uphill climb.
Bottom line: There is going to be a lot of scoreboard watching in SEC territory the rest of this season.
2. South Carolina just flat beat Alabama: Yeah, Alabama was No. 1 and had won 19 straight games. But the fact is once the game started, South Carolina’s best players–WR Alshon Jeffrey, RB Marcus Lattimore, DB Stephon Gilmore, and yes, quarterback Stephen Garcia–were better than Alabama’s best players. It was one of the best games I’ve seen Steve Spurrier call in the 30 years I’ve been covering him. He kept the Alabama defense off balance all day.
Here is my favorite stat from that game: South Carolina had 10 offensive possessions. One was right before halftime and another was at the end of the game when South Carolina was trying run the clock instead of score. On the other eight possessions South Carolina scored five touchdowns.
It is another example where the grind of the SEC schedule just takes the edge off even a great team. Alabama had emotionally invested in two straight games at Arkansas and at home with Florida.
3.The Coaches Poll makes no sense: South Carolina beat Alabama, the nation’s No. 1 team, by two touchdowns. But when the new coaches poll comes out Alabama is No. 8 and South Carolina is No. 12. Auburn is No. 7 and South Carolina lost by a touchdown at Auburn two weeks ago. On what possbile level does that make sense?
4. Auburn is going to get its shot. The Tigers, who kicked a field goal at the buzzer to win at Kentucky, starts the week at No. 7 in the coaches poll. But in the next three weeks Auburn will get a chance to play its way into the national championship discussion. There are five SEC teams in the top 13 (Auburn, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Arkansas). By the end of this season Auburn will have played the other four.
The Tigers have No. 13 Arkansas and No. 9 LSU in back-to-back games at Jordan-Hare Stadium the next two weeks. Then there will be a trip to Ole Miss. Win those and the Tigers will be in the mix for the final two games with Georgia and Alabama.
5. Georgia Tech is getting better: It’s been painful to watch Georgia Tech go through some of its growing pains but this team is getting better. It looks like Anthony Allen is finally getting on track at the “B” back position with 195 yards. Joshua Nesbitt is getting a little more confident throwing the ball. Tech had over 36 minutes time of possession. The defense continues to give up a bunch of yards but is creating some turnovers. This team is a long way from being as good as the ACC champs of 2009, but the trend lines are going in the right direction. The Yellow Jackets should handle Rick Stockstill’s Middle Tennessee team on Saturday but then there is a trip to play a wounded Clemson at Death Valley. Win those both and get a week off before a Thursday night trip to Virginia Tech followed by a home game with Miami. In other words, everything Tech is playing for is still in front of them.
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“Barnhart and Durham:” We’ll welcome Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill and discuss what Alabama’s loss means to the big picture of college football as we approach the release of the season’s first BCS Standings. Please join us at 10 a.m. www.790thezone.com.
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646 comments Add your comment
Bama Fan #2
October 11th, 2010
7:06 am
Tip of the cap to the war chickens!!! RTR
Special K
October 11th, 2010
7:18 am
SEC has a tough road ahead. I just don’t see us getting back in the BCS. Too many evenly matched teams in the SEC. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. You can’t say that about most of the other BCS Conf’s. Rammer Jammer!!
MURPHY
October 11th, 2010
7:30 am
Has the cycle of the run for the SEC ended? College football goes in cyclles. FSU and Miami had their runs,Nebraska,USC ect. Has the nation caught up with the SEC?
Palladin
October 11th, 2010
7:31 am
1. If Auburn or LSU remain undefeated, or if Alabama doesn’t lose another game, then the SEC will be in contention. It will be a closer call if South Carolina or Florida win out.
2. South Carolina beat Bama straight up, but it wasn’t coaching that won the game. The SC players quite simply put forth more effort and played an almost perfect game. The coaches certainly deserve credit for preparing their team to win, but it wasn’t play calling that won the game — the victory was the result of players making plays for 60 minutes.
3. Yes. The poll makes sense. The coaches understand that, while the best team usually wins, they don’t always win. Just looking at the outcomes of the games in the SEC so far this season will tell you that much. Is Georgia that much “better” than LSU, based upon the difference in the results of their games with Tennessee?
4. Auburn controls their own destiny. That said, they do have some very significant contests on the horizon. If they should finish this season undefeated, they will get their shot at the Big Game.
5. They couldn’t hardly get any worse, could they?
social circle dawg
October 11th, 2010
7:35 am
Unfortunately we are probably going to see an Oregon vs Ohio State for the championship….get to hear Boise whine about why they should be in the big one….so they’ll get smoked in a BCS bowl by an SEC team that won’t get voted in the champinship game because the media is tire of the SEC being on top.
Empty Seats Between the Hedge clippings
October 11th, 2010
7:36 am
UGA sure had a party Saturday in Sanford Stadium and received a lot of gifts from Rocky Flop. Battle of the bottom feeders part two this weekend. Vandy and the Dawgs should be a real nail biter for Dawg fans.A loss to Vandy on homecoming may be CMR’s swan song. Sing Fat lady sing !
Ray Goff
October 11th, 2010
7:37 am
UGA rules this state.
Ghostballer
October 11th, 2010
7:39 am
It makes sense, Tony, because nobody on the planet believes South Carolina is a better football team than Alabama, despite what the scoreboard said on Saturday.
If a one loss...
October 11th, 2010
7:42 am
..AL team gets left out of the MNC, and an undefeated Boise team likewise gets left out, you will see them play each other in either the Sugar Bowl or Fiesta Bowl – and look for Boise to win going away…jus tlike Utah v AL a couple of years ago…
CalGatorBrotha
October 11th, 2010
7:43 am
We Tony…We? give me a break…you been tooting Bama’s butt hole since day one and none of the “experts” were willing to give S. Carolina credit that they could pull off the upset.
Buckeye
October 11th, 2010
7:44 am
“…like it or not”??
Go Bucks. Go Big 10.
Buckeye
October 11th, 2010
7:47 am
Oh yea,
GO ‘DORES! Vandy laid down 52 on Saturday! We’re coming to take it to you UGA.
PapaDawg
October 11th, 2010
7:47 am
I can’t stand the thought of Boise St with their cream puff schedule going to the Championship. There is at least 10 teams in the top 20 who would whip them.
Dawg_Mike
October 11th, 2010
7:48 am
1- Not likely- Lots of balll to be played
2- Yes they sure did. great game but the stupid song that never ever ever stops on the PA system….hideous.
3- Has it ever?
4- yes they will
5- whatever
Bonus- Gator fans have to stop giving UGA fans grief for gimmicky gear after coming out dressed as Clemson Saturday night.
Astropig
October 11th, 2010
7:49 am
Spurrier is still the best coach that the SEC has seen since Bear Bryant dominated. ( And you could argue that Bryant would struggle with the 85/25 restrictions of the present era). He proved that again Saturday.We are watching a special coach do a special job in a tough place to win. When other conferences ask just what is so special about the SEC, you can point to the Head Ball Coach and tell them that we have men like him at EVERY school. Their conference may have just one.
Palladin
October 11th, 2010
7:49 am
@CalGatorBrotha
Oh really? A Gator fan bragging about Alabama being “upset”? Didn’t Florida play a game this weekend? I watched a little of the LSU game, but it looked like they were playing Clemson. Is Urban trying some of Mark Richt’s game strategy? Use black helmets next time — that’s the trick.
Purple Haze
October 11th, 2010
7:50 am
Tony….Friday You Said….
LSU is awful. LSU will be in this game all the way because the Tiger defense is so good. It will be a low scoring game because both coaches know their offense can lose the game and will thus be very conservative. Florida wins the game when LSU mismanages the clock and fails to kick a potential winning field goal. Florida 14 LSU 13.
I Say….
How you like dem Tigers now…..?
As@ Clown…only thing mismanged in this game was your sorry pre game prognostication…..you need to put down your pencil and retire….
A Differnet Jim
October 11th, 2010
7:51 am
Yes, the SEC will be excluded. Boise is being kept up in the polls so the ohio state univ can finally beat someone in the championship game. The plan is for the sec and the pac 10 to not be in the BCS championship game. Time for a playoff.
PapaDawg
October 11th, 2010
7:54 am
Florida has at least two more losses coming, Auburn & LSU & 1 are barely winning & will lose at least 1 each so I think Bama has the Best team in the Conference, will win out and be there for the Big Game. I hate saying this cause I’m diffinitely NOT a Bama Fan
Palladin
October 11th, 2010
7:54 am
@A Differnet Jim
There is still a half a season to play. Let’s compare undefeated teams after the regular season ends.
PapaDawg
October 11th, 2010
7:55 am
Astropig is your real name Steve Spurrier
big dawg
October 11th, 2010
7:55 am
If the dawgs win out, could they possibly be in the shootout in Glendale??? Just curious. You bunch of redneck idiots.
MURPHY
October 11th, 2010
7:55 am
Astropig,
Spurrier proved on Saturday he has still got it! Wow what a coaching job! Bad for Bama that Carolina and the rest of their opponents have a week off before they play. Puts Bama in some bad situations. Congrads to Carolina!!! Hope to see Spurrier in the Dome.
Mike Singletary
October 11th, 2010
8:00 am
Enter your comments here
82Dawg
October 11th, 2010
8:02 am
Les Miles should be known as “Chesire Cat”how many lives do they have?. LSU is the luckiest team around. OR are they that good?
Slick
October 11th, 2010
8:02 am
Could it be that the SEC is not as good as you think it is? Things always go in cycles and the SEC’s cycle is running out!
Jeff
October 11th, 2010
8:04 am
Well of course…Ohio State has to play one “big” game if you can even call it that. How about THE so called OHIO State University come play a SEC schedule. THE ohio state university would be lucky to have 3 losses. The BCS is a bunch of crap
Father of 5
October 11th, 2010
8:07 am
Alabama is still the nation’s prettiest team. Everyone knows that. The played UF in the championship playoff and won, so we know they are the best. Like ice skating, the judges were near unanimous.
Then SC came along and whacked Alabama on its knee. The judges will need to do some wrangling to get Alabama back on top — but they will. They’ve proven their willingness to rig the final standings in the past.
I know this is blasphemy to all BCS voters, but Boise St and TCU can beat OSU or Alabama (I didn’t mention Oregon, because we know Boise can beat them; and I didn’t mention Utah — and we all know what they did to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl). Deal with it – nobody can judge the best football team by looking at them. They must play the game.
Palladin
October 11th, 2010
8:08 am
Slick
October 11th, 2010
8:02 am
Could it be that the SEC is not as good as you think it is? Things always go in cycles and the SEC’s cycle is running out!
That could be the case. They’re either all very good, or all very bad. I don’t think that you really believe in your wishful thinking. We’ll find out in the post-season… Again.
PapaDawg
October 11th, 2010
8:09 am
SEC is still the strongest in the land. I assure you at least half the league would beat Boise St. by 10+ points
jimmymack
October 11th, 2010
8:11 am
seem like the sec is better top to bottom than ever
Wil
October 11th, 2010
8:12 am
Hope so. Conf is not that good this year. I see 2 losses for every team
Purple Haze
October 11th, 2010
8:12 am
82 Dawg….Luck is where preparation meets opportunity….
jumbeauxtiger
October 11th, 2010
8:16 am
No memtion of the other big SEC game last Saturday between, at the time, 2 top 14 teams LSU and Florida? Of course had Miles screwed up you would have mentioned it Tony. What a gutsy call by Miles with the game on the line with the fake field goal.
The Voice of Reason
October 11th, 2010
8:17 am
What, no blather-and-bombast from “Bama Stan” or “Bama Charlie” today?
FACT: Saban is 3-6 at Alabama when trailing at halftime.
Dave Cutler
October 11th, 2010
8:18 am
As an Auburn fan I understand we are about to get into a nasty part of our schedule. ARK and LSU are always tough and a trip to Ole Miss scares me. UGA and BAMA are always tough of course. But I have to say, if Auburn were to be SEC Champions and have only one loss, and a one loss Big Ten or Pac 10 team gets in over us, after what we have seen the SEC be the past 5 years….I would just be beside myself and really not know what to say. It wold be clear evidence that your starting position in the polls is what it is all about. Ohio State? Give me a break. They look just as slow as they always do. Cam Newton is twice the player of Pryor. I think Boise would kill them. Oregon is a scary team though. I wouldn’t want any part of them.
Dave Cutler
October 11th, 2010
8:21 am
And before I get blasted about the speed thing…I understand Ohio State has speed in the skill positions…their receivers and backs are fast…the difference and the reason they get slaughtered in their bowl games is because the speed on the lines.
Ed
October 11th, 2010
8:22 am
Tony, Tony, Tony.
Ge this straight. Saban likes to have 1 great year per decade. He’s willing to throw the other seasons for that. It’s usually a season when all the other teams are down in his conference. That’s Saban. 4 great years in his 36 years. 32 ok years. That’s his career. Can never sustain success. The human yo-yo, Mr. Up and Down. The model of inconsistency. Should have listened to me a few months ago. Saban has a history of imploding. Alabama will lose 2 more, so get used to your ideal crumbling. Think twice before you pick Saban, of all people, to follow a National Championship year, with another great year.
No, Spurrier’s plan wasn’t all that great. It was Saban’s plan was all that bad. Running backs 65 yards? Fake punt?
Tidewatch
October 11th, 2010
8:22 am
Bryant could have handled the scholarship limits. He won his final two national titles after the 30-95
limits were established,and even when the scholarshipe were almost unlimited,they were unlimited for every school. While Spurrier’s coaching and his team impressed many,one win over an exhausted team doesn’t make him a legend. What were the comments about him last year after Connecticut crushed South Carolina. Heck,after Saban beat Florida and Texas,people called him the best since Bryant,some the best ever. Today,people question the offensive gameplan, that did not use Ingram or Richardson,for the final 14 minutes.
Palladin
October 11th, 2010
8:23 am
@The Voice of Reason
ANOTHER FACT: Alabama rarely trails at halftime.
Enjoy this loss. They are few and far between. Saban has coached about 47 games at Alabama. Even with the terrible start in 2007, Bama has only trailed at halftime 6 times. Not a terrible record. Voice of Envy might be a more appropriate name.
RTR!!!
5IML
October 11th, 2010
8:23 am
With BAMA’s loss it does appear that the SEC’s BCS championship streak will end this year. We all knew it couldn’t last forever, just like BAMA’s streak. Speaking of, it was not coaching that won the game for Carolina. It was their players’ execution. Carolina played like they wanted to win. As evidenced by poor tackling, penalties, horrible blocking, and atrocious execution, BAMA played like they expected to win.
One more thing: Alshon Jeffrey is a beast.
Yeah right
October 11th, 2010
8:24 am
Clemson took your highest ranked team to OT and you think you’re some dominant conference? You’re no better than the pac 10 or big 10. In fact, the sec is probably 3rd on the list.
Saban and meyer--- the beginning of the end
October 11th, 2010
8:24 am
Ok, in keeping with being “PROACTIVE” and not waiting until the program gets stale, Florida and Alabama need to go ahead and fire those bums..RIGHT? According to the anti-richt people, its time for them to go.
Remember, there is NO excuse for Coach Richt losing to SC…WE ARE GEORGIA!!! (ok dummys, same thing!!!!) And only giving up 17 points looks pretty good after that 35 point outburst that Mullet boy and The ol ball coach hung on them. Look at Saban having to fake field goals, and saying G** D****Mit on national TV. Hes lost his composure. His QB had to stand up AFTER he got done and address the team… Watch the interviews. HIS QB had to talk AFTER HE GOT DONE cause he had lost words to say. Isnt that what he does though? He comes in, turns it around, wins a title, and then gets blown out the next year by someone??? Remember that 45-16 bare butt spanking that none other than MARK RICHT handed him in 2004? THE YEAR AFTER HIS TITLE?? It wasnt long he bolted for the NFL, so before he leaves bama high and dry… pony up whatever it takes and buy him out.. SABAN MUST GO!!!!
And Urban Meyer. Wow, he should have stayed retired. Surely, he must have THOUGHT there could POSSIBLY be a fake field goal!! There was NO CHANCE that kid was gonna hit the kick from there, and yet, BOOOM, OUTCOACHED!!! At the half the gators only had around 69 yards of offense.. REALLY??? wheres the genius in that? And then like laxative through an old man, here came the offense of LSU, who has NO PASSING ATTACK at all throwing it all over the gator secondary and then the game winner. Is this the same LSU who really lost to TENNESSEE the week before? who struggled to beat UT???
The same TN who needed 2 overtimes and 5 missed field goals to win over UAB?? On top of all of that, he has lost his ability to motivate his team. He resorted to ORANGE JERSEYS!!! Dont he know that stuff dont work? They were playing LSU!! Cant he get his team UP for that one?? wow. Fire MEYER NOW!!!
Ok, haters, we have just taken YOUR words against you. So SHUTUP!!! VIVA COACH RICHT!!!! FOREVER!!!!!
jumbeauxtiger
October 11th, 2010
8:25 am
82 Dawg, you obviously didn’t watch the game. LSU dominated statistically as the Gators scored 2 TDs on 2 drives totaling 34 yards and a 3rd TD on a kickoff return. The Gators only had one substantial drive for a score the whole game(51 yards came on one play when the DB fell down).
This is not taking anything away from the Gators at all. LSU simply outplayed them and had it not been for the turnovers, it would have never come down to the end of the game.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
8:26 am
Let’s say Auburn goes undefeated. If Auburn got left out of the BCS title game, there would be an uproar like you’ve never seen. Boise and TCU’s schedule should exclude them since neither one have a tough schedule. Oregon will fall soon. Ohio State is always overrated.
Should be fun.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
October 11th, 2010
8:26 am
Tony, I love your writing.
LSU keeps making improvements week by week.
I would rather be lucky!
JBT
Ed
October 11th, 2010
8:26 am
When you lose 9 or 10 guys form your defense, it’s not that good. Alabama’s defense didn’t just “reload” like everybody thought. Grantham only gave up 17 to South Carolina. Alabama just got torched for 35.
I Agree
October 11th, 2010
8:27 am
Richt is a genius. He really laid one on the Vols, didn’t he?
He should get a lifetime contract.
poopdawg
October 11th, 2010
8:27 am
I hate to admit pulling for SC over Bama but Paul Finebaum’s comment last week that Bama’s biggest obstacle the rest of the year was falling asleep . Bama gave Ark nor SC any respect.
OK, for the last time...
October 11th, 2010
8:29 am
…there is only ONE ‘Carolina’, and it wears Carolina Blue – the other team is in South Carolina and is USC…or, is it USC East…