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
DZ
October 11th, 2010
1:12 pm
A lot of crazy stuff can happen:
* Ohio State – @Wisc, @Iowa, Michigan; Do not have to play Mich St. (I can’t wait for the Big-10 CG next yr.)
* Oregon – can anyone in the Pac-10 keep up? Probably not. UCLA, @USC, Wash, @Cal, Ariz, @Oregon St. (I can’t wait for the Pac-10 CG next yr.)
* Boise State – I can’t see any of their lame-o opponents pulling an upset. Overrated Nevada is NOT going to beat them. All we can hope is more than one team plays them close enough to cast doubts.
* TCU – BYU is bad but who knows. Also Air Force and @Utah to play. Close games would help.
* Nebraska – Next three are not exactly pushovers: Texas, @Okl St, Mizzou; the last 4 after that are weak. Also Big 12 CG to play.
* Oklahoma – FSU is the only game they’ve won big (??). I smell an upset in their future. Iowa St, @Mizzou, Colo, @Texas A&M, Texas Tech, @Baylor, @Okl St., Big 12 CG.
* Auburn – Ark, LSU, @OM, UGA, @Bama.
* Utah – @Air Force, TCU, @Notre Dame, BYU.
————–
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:12 pm
WashingtonDCduck
No one seriously thinks Saban would leave Bama and go to Michigan or any other school. It would not make sense for Saban to leave and go start all over again in a dying state like Michigan.
WashingtonDCduck
October 11th, 2010
1:13 pm
**** SEC COUNTRY **** (( Let me ask you a question ))
LET’S JUST SAY A SEC TEAM DOES NOT PLAY IN THE TITLE GAME…. Hypothetically. Throw out all the debating, let’s just say it happens this year. WHO DO FOLKS DOWN IN THE SEC WANT TO SEE PLAY IN THE BCS TITLE GAME?
Would folks like to see Ohio State get pasted again by someone else? Do people finally want to see Boise State, or TCU get into the big game and have Georgia do what they did to Hawaii a few years back in the Sugar Bowl?
As an Oregon Rabid nut, I’d still love to get a showdown vs. the Quacks and Auburn, or maybe ‘Bama wins out. I do not want to play a step-child school (see schools in Ft. Worth and Boise). Nebraska has looked tough, hell, the Sooners have as well.
Thoughts?
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:15 pm
AU Engineer
That one really made me laugh. For a Bama fan, not grad, to say that the U of Alabama has a medical school is hilarious. UAB is a totally different school altogether with their own football, basketball etc programs. They are in the Conference USA.
Gotta love Bama fans.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:16 pm
“WHO DO FOLKS DOWN IN THE SEC WANT TO SEE PLAY IN THE BCS TITLE GAME? ”
Oregon and Nebraska would be cool. I have nothing against either school. Portland ROCKS!!!!!!!
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:17 pm
“As an Oregon Rabid nut, I’d still love to get a showdown vs. the Quacks and Auburn, or maybe ‘Bama wins out.”
Auburn is not, I repeat NOT, going to go undefeated. They don’t have the defense they had in 2004. Oregon/LSU would be cool.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 11th, 2010
1:21 pm
DCDuck, you guys versus any of the current top 6 teams.
jumbeauxtiger
October 11th, 2010
1:24 pm
Ralph Russo, the AP national college football writer, today wrote that Miles “curiously let the clock run off about 20 seconds before calling its last timeout” with 35 seconds left when it was 4th and 3.
Russo obviously needs some football lessons. Miles let the clock run down so that if the Tigers made the 53 yard FG, the Gators wouldn’t have much time to take the ball down the field and kick a game winning FG as the score would have been tied. Instead, by letting the clock run down Miles made the Florda coaches believe that’s exactly what he was doing; going for the field goal. That was very ingenious on Miles’ part.
It amazes me that some of these media guys spout off without actually thinking through what they say.
Bear's Ghost
October 11th, 2010
1:25 pm
Mike Low of ESPN wrote last week that 7 times prior to Saturday the #1 team had beaten a top ten team at home, then gone on the road to play a ranked team the following week. In 6 of those 7 instances, the #1 team lost. USC-east played a great game and flat whipped Bama. It might be the best thing for the Tide to refocus now rather than stumble late. Anyway congrats to both Tigers on tough wins. We’re looking forward to those two matchups in November.
Geaux Tigers!
October 11th, 2010
1:27 pm
Oregon and Nebraska would be one heck of a game. Boise St. TCU, just to give a big Middle finger to the BCS conferences, would be cool too. Oregon Boise St. would be a shootout and probably the highest scoring BCS game in history. TCU Nebraska would be a low scoring affair although, I think the Huskers Offense would be too much to handle for TCU in the 4th Quarter.
All in all, Unfortunately (unless it’s LSU!) We’ll probably see a 1 loss SEC team vs. Ohio St again…
Bamafan
October 11th, 2010
1:30 pm
Funny how the barn fans throw t-paper in trees when the teams wins!! LOL only barn fans
would do that!!! 1 GUN SALUTE WAR EAGLE!!
Geaux Tigers!
October 11th, 2010
1:32 pm
jumbeauxtigers: Great point!
Miles was genius with clock management at the end of both halves against UF. His use of timeouts to keep time on the clock allowed LSU to score 10 points before halftime, then as you mentioned made sure UF would have very little time for a game winning drive had LSU kicked the FG.
I mentioned in another blog post that Miles wouldn’t make the same mistakes twice in a row and pointed to the Arkansas game last year after the Ole Miss mess. LSU put together a beautiful 2 minute drive against the Hogs to set up a game winning FG. Les is good for one clock management issue a year and he seems to learn from it. I just wish whatever he learned would carry over to the next season.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:33 pm
“Funny how the barn fans throw t-paper in trees when the teams wins!!”
You must really be hard up for an insult.
“only barn fans
would do that!!”
It beats getting drunk and going to jail.
WashingtonDCduck
October 11th, 2010
1:33 pm
WAR EAGLE – well, let’s hope Auburn can muster just enough defense to get through the nasty SEC unscathed. Who knows, it’s only the midway point of the year. Lot’s of games left still.
GEAUX TIGERS – out of all the schools in the running, I’m least sure about Ohio State. I know they beat us in the Rose Bowl, granted with Masoli who couldn’t throw a rock in the ocean if he tried, the Bucks still have some tough games and I have not been super impressed with ANY of their games. Their 8 home games might be just enough, with not that many road tests, to punch a ticket to Glendale AZ for title game.
On a side note, give OREGON’S DEFENSE credit for only giving up 14 second half points all year, and zero 4th qt. points all year. We lead the country in takeaways- that speed running all over the field creates havoc for QBs. Just a thought.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:34 pm
“All in all, Unfortunately (unless it’s LSU!) We’ll probably see a 1 loss SEC team vs. Ohio St again…”
Then that means we all can celebrate another SEC title. O State has never beaten an SEC in bowl history.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:35 pm
“WAR EAGLE – well, let’s hope Auburn can muster just enough defense to get through the nasty SEC unscathed. Who knows, it’s only the midway point of the year. Lot’s of games left still. ”
Trust me, I would LOVE for that to happen but unfortunately it’s not. Our defense is too much of a problem. I’d be happy with 1-2 losses and a Cam Newton Heisman.
Geaux Tigers!
October 11th, 2010
1:40 pm
DCDuck:
You’re right, I have overlooked the Ducks D in the second half. And with that offense, they are never really out of games.
You’re also right about the Big 10 and Ohio St. They have not been that impressive against less than stellar competition. Wisconsin is going to be a tough test as will Michigan. Does OSU play Michigan St. as well this year? If so, that will be a big test for the Buckeyes as well.
By the way, I know it’s only 6 games into the 2010 season but I’m already pumped up for the LSU Oregon game next year in Dallas. Going to be a good one!!
Beast from the East
October 11th, 2010
1:48 pm
I think Nebraska and Oregon look like the two best undefeated teams at this point. One loss teams, I’d have to give the nod to Bama and South Carolina. I just hope we don’t end up with Boise State and TCU as the only undefeated teams left at the end of the season.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:49 pm
“I just hope we don’t end up with Boise State and TCU as the only undefeated teams left at the end of the season.”
Why?
Boise Dawg
October 11th, 2010
1:53 pm
Rick James… no SEC team has beaten an out of conference opponent currently ranked in the top 25. Auburn may be the best team in conference and they needed overtime to beat a bad Clemson squad. I don’t think Ohio State would be afraid to play anyone in the SEC this year.
Boise Dawg
October 11th, 2010
1:57 pm
Washington DCduck… Stepchildren? Really? How does any Oregon fan talk crap about Boise State. I guess you guys have had your fill though, so I understand you not wanting to face Boise in the BCS championship. What is your record against the Broncos? Oh, yeah thats right 0-2.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
1:59 pm
“I don’t think Ohio State would be afraid to play anyone in the SEC this year.”
They weren’t afraid of Florida in 2006 and look how that ended up. Also, see LSU.
jumbeauxtiger
October 11th, 2010
2:01 pm
Boise Dawg, West Virginia was beat by LSU and is ranked 25th in both polls this week.
North Carolina was ranked when LSU beat them and would be ranked today if they had beaten the Tigers.
Beast from the East
October 11th, 2010
2:02 pm
WDE,
Because I do not want to see them in the BCS title game. I, like most, do not think they would be better than 8-4 or 9-3 in they played in the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 or Pac 10. They are both good programs and have earned much respect but I really do not believe either is a legit top 5 team at the end of the year.
Just my opinion.
Boise Dawg
October 11th, 2010
2:05 pm
Jumbeaux.. my mistake on LSU over West Virginia. The reality is though North Carolina is not a very good football team and wouldn’t have been ranked based on all the players that were out…. and neither is the Penn State team that Alabama beat.
Honky Talkin'
October 11th, 2010
2:09 pm
The winner of the SEC should get an automatic berth in the BCS Championship game, regardless of their record. No other conference has the grueling schedule a SEC team has. That means you Boise State and TCU.
Boise Dawg
October 11th, 2010
2:10 pm
WDE. I don’t see anyone in the SEC right now that is as good as 2006 Florida, 2008 Florida or 2009 Alabama. If Auburn can run the table then maybe they are that good and would probably end up in the title game. I think Oregon and/or Ohio State will lose 1 though… .the team that has the easiest BCS path is Nebraska.
Boise Dawg
October 11th, 2010
2:18 pm
Beast the hypotheticals are just stupid. What are you basing the logic of Boise or TCU losing 3 to 4 games in a BCS conference? Boise State > Oregon St. > Arizona > Iowa.
Here is a hypothetical for you… I am pretty certain if Boise played Georgia’s schedule this year they would be undefeated right now. And then who would they have left? Florida and Auburn would be the only teams capable of giving them a game and I guarantee Boise wouldn’t lose both of them. Kentucky? Vanderbilt? Georgia Tech? The Broncos would rip through all of those teams.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
2:18 pm
“I don’t see anyone in the SEC right now that is as good as 2006 Florida, 2008 Florida or 2009 Alabama.’
LOL! That 2006 Florida team was NOT good. Go back and look at the stats on that team. They lucked out a few times and squeaked out some wins.
kinggator
October 11th, 2010
2:18 pm
Word on the street is that Roosters were seen flying over Columbia, SC!! And three things in life that are for certain: death, taxes, and Spurrier getting in your head if you play against him long enough.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
2:20 pm
jumbeauxtiger
LSU has played and beaten 3 ranked teams. It does not matter that two of them are no longer ranked. That argument has been made against Auburn in the past and it gets really old. All a team can do is play and beat whatever team is on their schedule.
kinggator
October 11th, 2010
2:21 pm
National Title game will be OSU vs. Boise State!! OSU will get bucked by the broncos!!
RTR!!!
October 11th, 2010
2:23 pm
WDE!!!
First, since when do medical schools have mascots and football teams? A diploma from the UASOM at UAB will read from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Find a graduate of the program and find out, if that’s not too far off the farm for you. Secondly, its part of the University of Alabama system. We all know about the great medical school and law school at Auburn…oh right there isn’t one, not even at your grand campus in Montgomery. There IS a real good veterinary program for all the tipped cows spread across the plains on sunday mornings, and a pharmacy school to fill orders from our doctors. Shut up and be a fan!
Atlanta Gator
October 11th, 2010
2:24 pm
Couple of comments . . . .
First, congratulations to all my Tiger and NOLA friends. I’m afraid LSU was due.
Second, imagine my surprise when I went to Gatorzone.com (official Florida Gators website), and saw the headline “Gator in contention for recycling title at Homecoming.” How far the mighty have fallen.
Third, I am not fan of the Gators’ orange jerseys. They remind me of Clemson, Charley Pell and probation hell. Best looking uniforms the Gators have are the blue jerseys on white pants with orange trim. Second best are white on white or white on blue. There is such a thing as too much orange. The only thing worse than orange on white would be orange on orange.
Whats wrong
October 11th, 2010
2:26 pm
with the blog!! where is my post??
jeff
October 11th, 2010
2:28 pm
washington duck–i would love to see oregon vs. oklahoma
Atlanta Gator
October 11th, 2010
2:29 pm
WDE, re the 2006 Gators, that was an amazingly goofy comment. The ‘06 Gators were a damn fine team with a great defense and an offense that won 13 games, including a 41-14 blow-out of the top-ranked team in the country. As for the ‘06 Gators’ several close wins, give some credit to your SEC competition. I always do.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
2:30 pm
“A diploma from the UASOM at UAB will read from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Find a graduate of the program and find out, if that’s not too far off the farm for you. Secondly, its part of the University of Alabama system.”
So……….why do both schools have different mascots, logos, and conferences?
“There IS a real good veterinary program for all the tipped cows spread across the plains on sunday mornings, and a pharmacy school to fill orders from our doctors.”
Ah, nothing like a little Bama fan, not grad, to make fun of the Vet school. Guess you hate animals. Auburn also has a great Engineering, Architecture, Business, Education, etc……….
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
2:31 pm
Atlanta Gator
Just saying, look at the stats. That team was not that great. The 08 team was better, faster and stronger.
jeff
October 11th, 2010
2:31 pm
WDE–That Florida team in 2006 wasn’t goog??!! Maybe not great for sure…they won a bunch of tight games but ask Troy Smith, Ted Ginn and that undefeated Ohio St. team if they were good.
5IML
October 11th, 2010
2:32 pm
It’s amazing how one game defines a legacy (for internet posters). Before kickoff on Saturday, Spurrier was an ol’ washed up, has-been who couldn’t cut it in today’s SEC. Since Saturday night, he was been re-anointed as the greatest SEC coach ever. As always, the truth is somewhere in between.
S. Car won the game because, as a team and as individuals, they wanted it more. They executed the plays and fundamentals. There was no fancy coaching or tomfoolery.
Atlanta Gator
October 11th, 2010
2:32 pm
“Word on the street is that Roosters were seen flying over Columbia, SC!!”
Spurrier beats Alabama, and the Gators lose. It’s a crazy, mixed-up world, my friends.
jeff
October 11th, 2010
2:33 pm
I really don’t think Ohio St. wins out. Last week everyone already had Bama in the title game, now everyone has OSU? When will all learn. I think OSU loses in November when they go to Iowa? Something about them just doesn’t feel right and the rout of Miami looks different now that Miami got rolled by FSU.
Marcus
October 11th, 2010
2:35 pm
No–OSU loses this week under the lights in Wisconsin. Please God don’t let Ohio St. in the BCS title game. It’s a bad rerun we’ve all seen before.
RTR!!!
October 11th, 2010
2:36 pm
Poor Lad,
Here’s the link: http://medicine.uab.edu/about/44668/
History & Overview
The University of Alabama System–composed of the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa), the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville–was created in 1969. At the same time, the Medical College of Alabama, located in Birmingham, became known as the “University of Alabama School of Medicine.”
Why are you arguing about something you know nothing about. Your school is not churning out Rhodes Scholars as evidenced by your eager idiocy. And again…since when do medical schools have mascots and football teams?
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
2:37 pm
jeff
Look, I know UF beat up on OS. All I am saying is look at their wins in 2006. They had some close calls and their numbers were not better than the 08 teams. I’m not knocking them down. Just making a point.
Atlanta Gator
October 11th, 2010
2:39 pm
WDE, the 2006 Gators did it with great defense, and then partied with the offense in the BCS game. The 2008 Gators blew most of their opponents out, put up big numbers, and then relied on their defense to win the BCS championship. In both instances, the Gators also had great special teams play, one of the hallmarks of an Urban Meyer team.
re: BCS for sec
October 11th, 2010
2:40 pm
No and it could not happen to a finner bunch!
Beast from the East
October 11th, 2010
2:40 pm
Atlanta Gator,
I agree with you on the uniforms. I has to do a double take when I first saw them. If they do wear the orange jerseys, I’d prefer they changed the helmets to blue.
WDE,
Don’t discredit that 06 Gator squad. That was one tough defense and the offense just did what they had to do to win. Sure they won a few games by the skin of their teeth, but how many teams in this day and age don’t? There’s an awful lot of good teams out there. The days of any team just rolling through their schedule are a thing of the past.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!
October 11th, 2010
2:41 pm
RTR!!!
I know people who finished at UAB and they don’t consider themselves a part of the Tide. UAB med school is a part of UAB, right? UAB has it’s own identity. That’s all I’m saying.
“Your school is not churning out Rhodes Scholars as evidenced by your eager idiocy. ”
Look ma’am, I know you’re angry about the Tide rolling off the tracks, but please go menstruate on a RTR blog.