Will SEC get team to BCS title game? (answer below) (video added)
Nick Saban and/or Mark Richt need some help for BCS title berth. (Jason Getz/AJC)
(Video added below)
Is it time for a rare dirge at SEC headquarters?
Not quite.
Three non-SEC teams — Kansas State, Oregon, Notre Dame — top the BCS rankings. This is the equivalent of a Big Foot sighting – or maybe three of them. But there’s still a possibility that the winner of the SEC championship game in the Georgia Dome between Georgia and Alabama will wind up in the BCS championship game.
Loading ...SEC schools have won six straight BCS titles. In short, two of the three undefeated teams ahead of Georgia and Alabama have to lose for a chance to make it seven. And that could happen.
Here’s how I see it breaking down:
No. 1 Kansas State (10-0).
Schedule: at Baylor (4-5), vs. BCS No. 15 Texas (8-2)
Recap: The Wildcats will beat Baylor. The Bears can score a ton of points but their defense can’t hold up against a Sun Belt team. Texas has lost to its two strongest opponents this season, West Virginia (48-45) and Oklahoma (63-21), and both were home games. But the Longhorns are 4-0 on the road this season and they won at Texas Tech 31-22 a week ago. The biggest obstacle to a Texas upset: Its defense hasn’t been able to stop the run all season, allowing 200 yards per game. Rushing is the strength of the Kansas State offense (213.6). Kansas State also is helped by the fact that there is no Big 12 championship game this season because the defections of Nebraska and Colorado dropped the conference under the mandated minimum of 12 teams for a conference title game.
Bottom line: Barring an unexpected meltdown, Kansas State will be in the BCS title game.
Chip Kelly's "Quack Attack" will have a hard time staying unbeaten in the next three weeks. (AP photo)
No. 2 Oregon (10-0).
Schedule: vs. BCS No. 13 Stanford, at BCS No. 16 Oregon State, Pacific 12 Conference title (if necessary).
Recap: The Ducks are averaging nearly 55 points a game. That can cover up a lot of deficiencies. But USC is the highest ranked team Oregon has played this season, and the Ducks barely escaped 62-51. Stanford took Notre Dame to overtime earlier this season in South Bend before losing. Last week the Cardinal upset Oregon State. Stanford can run the ball and, therefore, control the clock and keep Oregon’s offense off the field. So this game has upset potential. Similarly, the Ducks’ game against rival Oregon State in Corvallis won’t be easy. The Beavers have the second-lowest scoring defense in the conference (19.1) and are accustomed to seeing Oregon’s offense. The Ducks have won the last two meetings in Corvallis but prior to that Oregon State had won five straight. Even if Oregon gets through both of those games, the team still has to win the conference championship game (against USC or UCLA).
Bottom line: With potentially three difficult games, it says here Oregon will lose one of them.
Brian Kelly's team has won 10 straight but still must find a way to win at USC. (AP photo)
No. 3 Notre Dame (10-0)
Schedule: vs. Wake Forest, at BCS No. 18 USC.
Recap: This is the wild card. The Irish will walk all over Wake Forest, which has lost five of its last eight and just got drilled by North Carolina State 37-6. The question is what happens in the USC game in two weeks, and Georgia or Alabama fans could be in the uncomfortable position of rooting for Lane Kiffin in that game. The Trojans’ defense has slipped significantly but Notre Dame is not an overpowering offensive team. Also, while the Irish won in Los Angeles two years ago, this series has been dominated by the Trojans since 2002, with nine wins in the last 10 meetings. Expect this game to tip on a turnover.
Bottom line: Maybe this is just the part of me that has a difficult time visualizing no SEC team in the BCS title game. But USC will upset Notre Dame.
Agree or disagree? The digital venting lines are open and we’ve put up a poll.
Hey, moving pictures! (And why Georgia can beat Alabama)
By Jeff Schultz
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387 comments Add your comment
oldbird
November 12th, 2012
11:43 am
No matter what happens, at least it is fun to still be thinking and talking about a national championship on November 12. Go Dawgs, Beavers, Longhorns and Trojans.
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
November 12th, 2012
11:44 am
This may shock some of my SEC brothers: They do play football outside of the south. Remember Michigan State last year? How about Boise State last year. The SEC has for the last couple of years had two very good programs (Bama and LSU). Everyone else in the SEC is no better than Big 12/Pac 12 schools. Sad but true.
bhamwreck
November 12th, 2012
11:44 am
Thomas Brown please take your thorazine and wipe the drool off.
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
11:45 am
I give all due to kudos to those SEC! SEC! teams who actually part of the recent NC run. Those that were not ( read dogs) have no claim.
Thomas Brown
November 12th, 2012
11:45 am
“There’s still a possibility that the winner of the SEC championship game between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will wind up in the BCS championship game.”
________________________________________________
There is, Jeff Schultz; you’re right as rain.
Al
November 12th, 2012
11:45 am
@oldbird
I second that!!
After further review
November 12th, 2012
11:45 am
I agree that it will take two of the three undefeated teams to lose for the winner of the SEC Championship game to make the BCS Championship game this year, whether that is Alabama or Georgia. Of the three, Kansaas State probably has the easiest schedule for the rest of the season, so it will come down to can Oregon and ND both win out? Strenght of schedule does matter, and the three undefeated teams have all faced a stronger schedule than UGA has, for sure.
The Truth
November 12th, 2012
11:47 am
It’s pressure cooker time…. Oregon’s been here before but KState and Notre Dame have not. I see USC over ND and wouldn’t be shocked to see Texas upset KState. I still think Oregon will run the table, but hopefully I’m wrong there. Oh and if Dawgs don’t beat Bama…. I don’t care. SEC streak means nothing to me if there ain’t no Dawgs in it!
Will SEC get team to BCS title game? (answer below) – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | football.sportreports.tk
November 12th, 2012
11:47 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Will SEC get team to BCS title game? (answer below) – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | football.sportreports.tk
November 12th, 2012
11:47 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Joey
November 12th, 2012
11:50 am
“What is Ga Tech’s record against Vandy and Miss State the last few years? 4-0 Floriduh”
******************************************
Are you seriously bragging about that, wreck?
John on Whiteleigh
November 12th, 2012
11:50 am
Jeff: great minds must think alike. I did the same analysis you did and came up with the same conclusion. I think the BCS powers would love to keep SEC teams out of the National Championship game and the scenario you describe is the ONLY way an SEC team gets to go – and may not then.
oldbird
November 12th, 2012
11:50 am
For those that want to bash UGA’s schedule, take a look at Bama’s. Played 2 ranked opponents, LSU and Texas A & M. Lost to one, should have lost to the other.
bill arp
November 12th, 2012
11:50 am
K-State vs. Oregon in the BCSCG.
UGA or Alabama vs. Notre Dame in the Sugar.
Loser of the SECCG could possibly still get an at-large BCS berth and play someone like Fla State or Clemson.
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
11:51 am
john w,
Nice handle. Did you vote in the CA condemn amendment?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 12th, 2012
11:51 am
“I still see a 11-1 or 12-1 SEC team jumping a head of Notre Dame. Mainly because of strenght of schedule!”
There is no way a 1 loss team jumps an undefeated Notre Dame team. In case you didn’t already know, ND has a MASSIVE alumni program and way more money than the SEC.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 12th, 2012
11:52 am
“Maybe this is the part of me that says I’ll believe there’s no SEC team in the BCS title game when I see it. But USC will upset Notre Dame.”
Maybe but then again, USC isn’t good. If Oregon and K State stay undefeated then a 1 loss SEC team will not play for it.
After further review
November 12th, 2012
11:52 am
Nikki: you’ll have an easier job convincing Ann COulter and Sean Hannity to both endorse Barack Obama that in getting Thomas, some of the other more die-hard UGA fans to admit any college is superior to UGA in anything.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 12th, 2012
11:54 am
“Alabama fans are the only fans that think the rules should be changed to benefit them”
You obviously haven’t been reading the UGA blogs.
Munsondawggie
November 12th, 2012
11:54 am
I agree oldbird!!!
Dawgs still have achance to win it all
Buckeye
November 12th, 2012
11:54 am
john w,
Let’s review the dogs vs top 25 over the past few years. Nevermind, you only have to count with 4 fingers.
Play LSU and/or Bama once in a while, would ya?
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
November 12th, 2012
11:54 am
Bama will get Sugar Bowl bid. Florida, if it beats FSU, would be next in line for BCS at-large, followed by LSU. Just living in reality. GO DAWGS!
Thomas Brown
November 12th, 2012
11:55 am
You left out that Oregon must play Southern California in the PAC-12 CHUMPionship game. This is because UCLA loses all their remaining games.
I will NOT root for Southern California against Notre Dame. Any team whose claim to fame is beating then 5-Loss Southern California who will NOT be ranked in the final BCS Rankings will get JUMPED by # 4 and # 5 playing each other, especially since I see Kansas State losing anyway – so we will be # 3 and # 4 playing each other while UNRANKED Southern California a 5-LOSS team is the claim to fame by BOTH Notre Dame and by Oregon.
Who in the BLAZES did Oregon beat ?
Who in the BLAZES did Notre Dame beat ?
Who in the BLAZES did Kansas State beat ?
Alabama has already beat # 7 BCS Ranked LSU.
Georgia has already beat # 6 BCS Ranked Florida.
Alabama or Georgia, will add that they ALSO beat # 3 or # 4.
The SEC beats up on itself.
Yes, but that doesn’t mean that if Oregon, Kansas State or Notre Dame were in The SEC, that THEY would be undefeated either.
______________________________________________________
OBVIOUSLY, THEY WOULD NOT BE UNDEFEATED IN THE SEC
______________________________________________________
I see once again, my topic, has become The Topic.
bhamwreck
November 12th, 2012
11:55 am
I wasn’t really bragging, John, but another poster was trying to say that Clemson couldn’t beat Vandy or Miss St. He specifically named those wonderful teams as examples of SEC dominance.
Jet Puffed
November 12th, 2012
11:56 am
First of all, NO WAY on God’s green earth is UGA the 5th-best team in the country. The truth hurts UGA, so don’t kill the messenger.
The SEC-bias has gotta come to an end! A prevoius poster said UGA’s SOS was 13th….IN THE SEC! UGA has gotten “Jet-Puffed” the past 2 seasons by playing one the weakest schedules in D-1. So far in 2012 they have played only 2 teams worth a darn, and they’re 1-1. And, after this past Saturday, one those teams showed they might not be as good as perceived. UF’s an SEC power? No SEC power has to get a BLOCKED PUNT TD to win vs. a team like UL Monroe.
UF had SIX (6) TOs vs UGA and only lost by 8 pts. UGA got SIX (6) TOs in a single game, yet only managed 17 pts? Nuff said.
Reality doesn’t matter. ESPN/BCS dictate NCAA football. They’ve got their financial wagons tied to the SEC. If you’re incapable of comprehending this just look at the latest BCS rankings. 1, 2 & 3 are undefeated. They are followed by SIX SEC teams, 3 of which have 2 losses!
I doubt all 3 will, but even if Oregon, K-St & ND go undefeated, am I going to be surprised when the powers that be tell me how an SEC team is more deserving of a title shot than 2 zero-loss teams? Nope!
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 12th, 2012
11:57 am
How many dawg fans really want to see UGA get hammered on national tv by Oregon?
Big Crimson 75
November 12th, 2012
11:58 am
Dooley is out in Knoxville.
Reports are all over the place he was informed yesterday the School has made their decision.
It might be too late in the Season for the SEC CG winner to sneak in the big game.
The best chance now is the noose tightens around the necks of the top 3 Teams.
It’s easier hunting than being hunted.
In 2007, the SEC gave it away, only to watch West Virginia & Mizzu fumble their title chances.
LSU got back in it & stomped Ohio st.
bhamwreck
November 12th, 2012
11:58 am
Thomas Brown do you think Florida was trying to be down to La Lafayette by a touchdown in the 4th quarter? How do you think they will do against FSU’s defense in Tally? Probably not good.
bill arp
November 12th, 2012
11:59 am
As for Ohio State and the whole Big 10(or 11 or 12 or whatever it is now), they have slipped into the same category as the Big East. Irrelevant.
I could actually see the loser of the SECCG playing the likes of Oklahoma in the Fiesta, with the almighty Louisville team playing big bad Fla State in the Orange.
Of course the Rose will have the likes of a 9-3 Pac 12 team vs a 9-3 Big 10 team.
Wouldn’t those get you excited? Woo-hoo.
Whopper Dawg
November 12th, 2012
11:59 am
Only the SEC can stop the SEC.
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
November 12th, 2012
12:03 pm
Thomas, 35-7 is the reason Georgia is in its current position. ND, Oregon and KState beat everyone on their schedule so far. Oregon SOS =45th, ND SOS = 28th, KState = 29th. Georgia SOS = 40th. They do play football in other areas of the United States. Get over it. GO DAWGS!
Dawglasville
November 12th, 2012
12:06 pm
I think is it very possible, not probable, that two of the three fall. I don’t think there will be any leap frogging. Interesting that the ESPN talking heads now have UGA in the Sugar Bowl vs Clemson.
Gman 84
November 12th, 2012
12:06 pm
Dawg fans need to convcern themselves with SECCG. Win that and we are in play. Can’t contorl what happens elsewhere, Lose the SECCG and the BCS couldn’t matter less.
Winning the SEC makes it a great year no matter how the BCS shakes out. Lose the SECCG and this year becomes last year.
Cdpridg
November 12th, 2012
12:06 pm
Dawgs are superior to all of our rival teams and fanbases….all of you are beneath us…
Thomas Brown
November 12th, 2012
12:08 pm
Missy State and Vandie, neither one have beat any top team.
Same goes for Oregon, Notre Dame, and Kansas State – they haven’t beat anyone either.
bhamwreck,
Florida beat # 9 Texas A & M, beat # 8 LSU, and beat # 7 LSU.
______________________________________________
FLORIDA DID NOT FUMBLE BUT HAD BALL STRIPPED
______________________________________________
UGA has Top 25 Offense
UGA has Top 25 Defense
UGA beat # 6 BCS Ranked Florida.
You give zero credit to UGA for
______________________
CAUSING 8 TAKE-AWAYS
______________________
6 of which our Defense came-up with. Of the UGA Defense which caused these 8 take-aways from Florida, 8 will be in the NFL.
Dawglasville
November 12th, 2012
12:08 pm
Where does Petrino land? I say Auburn.
Thomas Brown
November 12th, 2012
12:09 pm
Florida beat # 7 LSU # 8 South Carolina and # 9 Texas A & M
Thomas Brown
November 12th, 2012
12:14 pm
What do I think Florida will do to Florida State, when Florida State LOST to 6-4 North Carolina State ?
Who has Florida State beat ?
No one.
AJ
November 12th, 2012
12:14 pm
If UGA pulls
“The Chip Kelly plan”
you know, run up the score against terrible teams to skew average margin of vicxtory to try and lead the nation in offensive scoring
Let’s say UGA unloads on G South for 100 points, and lays another 80 points on GT, not hard to imagine.
then UGA finishes the season, #1 in average margin of victory, #1 in scoring offense
the bcs computers will love UGA
And Murray wins the Hiesman throwing for 15-20 td’s in next 2 games!!!
Big 12 is a joke
November 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
If your conference is so pathetic as to not have a championship game you should be banned from the BCS Championship….period!!! Respectable teams are fleeing the Big 12 …..get a championship game first…nobody will respect K St. until you do!!!! ah lighten up I’m just kidding.
Jet Puffed
November 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
The Aaron Murray pic above says “Reasons Behind Bulldogs SEC Success”
Is this a rhetorical comment?
The only good SEC teams UGA played in 2011 (SC & LSU) wupped UGA. The only good SEC teams UGA has played thus far in 2012 (SC & UF) are 1-1 vs the Dawgs, the L was another wuppin, and the W was aided by SIX TOs!
Three of UGA’s 2012 SEC opps are 7-23, 0-20 in the SEC AU, UT, UK
Those three teams in 2011 were 18-19 overall, and 7-17 in the SEC. UGA beat ZERO SEC teams with winning Conf records; AU went 4-4, followed by 3-5 UF, then three 2-6 teams (Vandy, UK, Miss St), a 1-7 UT and an 0-8 Ole Miss.
Thus far in 2012, three of UGA’s SEC opps have 0 conf wins. And if Vandy beats UT this week, 0-7 UT & 0-7 UK will face off on 11/24 to see who goes winless in the conf along with AU (Tigers ain’t beating Bama).
WOW! What are those reasons behind UGA’s SEC success?
Thomas Brown
November 12th, 2012
12:22 pm
We beat Florida.
Mr. Dawg
November 12th, 2012
12:22 pm
In 2007 West Virginia was #2 in the BCS standings with an 11-1 record and featured the outstanding duel threat of Steve Slaton and Pat White. All the Mountaineers had to do was beat a 4-7 Pittsburgh team over whom they were heavily favored in the “Backyard Brawl” and they would be in the BCS Championship game…Pittsburgh won and Florida slipped in to play Ohio State in a game MANY thought should have been a Michigan\Ohio State rematch because Florida wasn’t particularly flashy! (Can you say Alabama\LSU in 2011?) Then Florida whipped up on OSU. As they saying goes, that’s why they play the games.
Matt
November 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
I think the best team should be in the championship game, which doesn’t always equate to the undefeated team, especially in the SEC. I think the winner of the SEC championship should probably be in the BCS championship game based simply on strength of schedule. It’s hard to get through a season in the SEC undefeated when you’re playing that caliber of team week in and week out. I just don’t think Oregon, K State, or Notre Dame could play in the SEC and be undefeated. They’d all be 1 loss, possibly 2 loss teams at a minimum.
All that being said, right now, I’m not sure there’s a team that could beat Texas A&M. They’d be in the thick of it if it weren’t for the 8 points TOTAL that seperated them from winning against Florida/LSU.
Jet Puffed
November 12th, 2012
12:27 pm
Man, wouldn’t SEC fans be beside themselves if Urban-MEYERZ’ 10-0 Ohio State Buckeyes were in-the-mix!
Go Gator! 1, 2, 3, FO, fhiive … them there Gaytas don’t take no jive!
Only in America can such an idiot be living so large off of her taxpayers!
Joey
November 12th, 2012
12:27 pm
Buckeye: “I give all due to kudos to those SEC! SEC! teams who actually part of the recent NC run.”
**********************************************
And I must give kudos to that magnicificent, THE FREE TATTS U (ohio st) who was an instrumental part of those championships by the SEC teams.
FREE TATTS rolled over (as usual) early and often.
Thanks again . . .
Big 12 is a joke
November 12th, 2012
12:30 pm
None of it will matter because Kansas St. WILL lose to Texas and Notre Dame WILL lose to USC. Oregon might even lose to USC in Pac-12 championship.
David Granger
November 12th, 2012
12:32 pm
Oregon controls its own destiny. If they win out they will definitely be in the NC game.
You’re right about K-State and Texas. Texas is not what they have been, but they’re still a strong team.
Notre Dame’s only strong opponent is USC, and they’re not what they have been. Still, it’s a rivalry game, and you never know.
I suspect that most of the people in the network (and maybe even in the NCAA itself) would prefer to see Notre Dame in the national championship game because of it’s nationwide fanbase. If ND plays for a national title, the game will attract a lot more fans in the northeast (which is the largest media market) than a game between a team from the midwest and a team from the Pacific northwest.
But the K-State v. Texas game is a week AFTER the ND-USC game…so if both teams win out, K-State will get a boost by having their last remaining big game a week later.
I really believe that…if all three currently undefeated teams win out…the NC game will be Oregon vs. K-State.
For an SEC team to get in, two of the remaining three undefeateds have to lose. It’s the only way.
LawDawg
November 12th, 2012
12:32 pm
The SEC wins 6 in a row and a 1-loss team will not even get to play? That is patently ridiculous. Good think a playoff is around the corner.
faked punter
November 12th, 2012
12:33 pm
TD. UBIASED. And which of the top three WEST teams did Georgia beat this year??!!!!!!