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
Phil's Fan in ATL
November 13th, 2012
10:10 am
The best team in college football is OR. They will run the table & win it all. No SEC in the title game.
Reece Davis
November 13th, 2012
10:29 am
Does anyone know this bit of CFB history? Which National Championship Team suffered a loss in the regular season or more than 10 points?
Not sure if ever happened before?
ARdawg
November 13th, 2012
10:36 am
Reece Davis
Oklahoma played in a BCSNC after a drubbing (38-7 IIRC) by KState in the Big12 championship game one year.
Reece Davis
November 13th, 2012
10:41 am
Thanks ARdawg for the history help. Any other example where the team with the one-sided loss went on to become National Champion?
Thomas Brown
November 13th, 2012
11:34 am
(1) AL just last year scored only 6 points at HOME and LOST, yet Won NC
(2) Choklahoma 2008 gave up 45 points at HOME and LOST, yet played for NC
(3) FL at HOME LOST 2008 to a 9-4 Ole Miss team, yet Won NC
(4) Ohio State at HOME LOST 2007 to a 9-4 Illinois, yet played for NC
(5) LSU 2007 LOST to a 8-5 Kentucky team, yet Won NC
(6) LSU 2007 ALSO LOST at HOME to a 8-5 Arkansas giving up 50 pts, Won NC
(7) FL LOST double-digits to Auburn 2006, yet Won NC
(8) Choklahoma 2003 LOST 7-35 to Kansas St 4-LOSS, yet played NC
(9) LSU 2003 LOST 7-19 to an 8-5 FL, yet played for and Won NC
(10) Nebraska 2001 LOST by 26 pts, yet played for NC
(11) Florida State 2000 LOST to Miami, yet played for NC
(12) Florida State 1998 LOST to 7-5 NC State 7-24, yet played for NC
There is a LONG HISTORY of this, and more importantly, it is WHO you BEAT that matters while Notre Dame, Kansas State and Oregon cannot match the wins ALREADY by either Alabama over # 7 LSU nor Georgia over # 6 Florida; and when The SEC Championship Game is played 4 pm a day AFTER on Saturday than the PAC-12 CHUMPionship Game, there will be a
BUMP-UP.
So, say 650 of us on this blog question to only 500 who say The SEC is shut-out.
Take that.
I told you so.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 13th, 2012
12:07 pm
LSU won it all with 2 loss’s in 2007 and they won it in 2003 with a 10+ point in-conference loss…
Shack
November 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
Nice research tb…. Since youre bringing the facts, how many of those one loss teams jumped undefeated teams from power conferences?
If only Georgia wild have brought your enthusiasm to Columbia or bama wouldnt have come up lame against a middle of the road big 12 speed team…. U wouldnt b so desperately looking for excuses why the crystal football won’t b in south…..
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
Shack
I think that just like some others in here, you are getting the cart ahead of the jacka$$…
Mike Franklin
November 13th, 2012
1:14 pm
The sports media is about the single most trend-oriented crew one can imagine. These tidal surges are inspired by people in high offices who wish to create a designer public opinion and to do so, they unleash their keyboard commandos on the sports world. In this case, the customized message is to hate the SEC by generating as much negative sentiment as possible with a massive onslaught from the print media.
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
1:28 pm
Mike
I thought that was normal Nerd-protocol, lol. Bradley’s got them whipped into a frenzy thinking they will win the Crystal fruitbowl…
Shack
November 13th, 2012
1:44 pm
SEC power conference:
Top shelf: Alabama
Second shelf: Lsu, Florida
3rd shelf: sc, a&m
Bottom shelf: Georgia and rest of pretenders…..
Sec def has best top teams, but not very deep and and full of chokers…..
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
2:15 pm
Shack
now its my turn to pray for your poor delusional li-n a$$. So all the pollsters in the country are lying about where UGA should be ranked? Tell me Shack, have they taught computers to lie now? LOL, I guess you’re smarter than everyone else, or you’re just a fool. I’m guessing somewhere in the middle…you’re a joker telling lies just to see who you can bother. Time to go to the basketball blog son, cause you know sheet about football…
Shack
November 13th, 2012
2:26 pm
Slow down king…. Georgia got past Florida, that’s a good win…. Then barely slipping by Tennessee and Kentucky told me something is wrong with this team… The south Carolina southern smack down told me lots more about the lack of “team” in Athens, it was a debacle on every level. I didn’t learn much from the rest of the games, as Georgia played awful schedule….
Seems like preseason talk… How good Georgia is supposed to b, not what they achieved… Have another gulp of kool aid…. Better make reservations for annual pilgrimage to Orlando… Capital1 here come the dawgs
Dawg fan
November 13th, 2012
2:35 pm
Texas didnt lose to Oklahoma at home, it was a neutral site game in Dallas as it always is.
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
2:58 pm
Shackster
How you goung to improve a 9-1 team that just finds ways to win? SC was an abberation. You form your theory behind 10% of our game. As an expert, lol, I guess hating a team you see what you want to see. Well, keep whinning, while we keep winning. We weren’t a great team, but we have recovered. What are you going to do when we are 11-1 going into the SEC-CG? Keep showing everybody how smart you are by saying the Dawgs are bottom tier SEC, LOL. Everybody else sees you for what you really are except the other idiots that hate us beyond reason and logic…Forever be known as SHACKLED BY A DAWG…LOL…
Shack
November 13th, 2012
3:07 pm
Here come the hypocrites …”a team that just finds ways to win” seems like that argument was bogus when it’s about ND (except they won all their games and had tougher schedule), but for Georgia it’s valid… U showed ur true colors…. Always making an excuse for bulldawgs shortcomings… As soon as richt goes, Georgia will have a chance… Stop spreading the bs, only truth sets us free
If not for richt, team wld b undefeated
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
3:13 pm
Shack
your “facts” are no more than jealous conjecture. I think you wear that word well…
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
3:22 pm
Shack
If you are calling the polls rigged or wrong or stupid, then what do you make of the rankings of three teams that haven’t played BAMA, OR LSU, OR SC, OR T A&M, OR UF, OR EVEN THE LOWLY DAWGS, LOL. Your arguement is full of holes. It’s the SEC baby, winners of the last 5-6 NCs. Go ahead and count us out. Just shows you aren’t very bright. There was so much hope for you when you were young, lol…
Shack
November 13th, 2012
3:22 pm
I guess your just conditioned to accept mediocre bowls year end year out, watching Tennessee, Florida, auburn, Lsu, and Alabama lift the crystal trophy.. Top recruiting classes year in and year out, but never able to win the big game…. Right is a choker, doesn’t know how to get guys ready for the really big games…..
Just sad how defend the B- legacy….. Georgia deserves better
Junkyarddawgs
November 13th, 2012
3:22 pm
ND loses to USC
KState loses to Texas
Bama loses to UGA
Oregon loses to UGA
GO DAWGS!!!
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
3:38 pm
Yeah, if you don’t finish #1 out of over 100 teams, over 99 failed and only one team was a winner. Hope you teach your children how to lose with class. #1 or nothing, lol. You must be very miserable since life teaches you different. Over a billion people on this earth, are you #1 or just another loser like the other 999,999,999+ losers, lmaoff…
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
3:41 pm
Shackattack
What team is your Champion???
Ga>Oregon
November 13th, 2012
4:07 pm
Georgia can beat oregon–the dogs D can shut down their gimmick offense and the O can put up big points against their weak D. After a big win over alabama and a couple of upsets, the Dogs will be in the BCS title game—mark it down!
Shack
November 13th, 2012
4:22 pm
Bulldog hope springs eternal…… Until last nail in the coffin, then fire richt
Shack
November 13th, 2012
4:27 pm
Oregon looks like best out there… They’ve been there b4… Rotatate a lot of players, thus fresh and hungry…. And are firing on all cylinders…. Think of them as Texas a&m on full throttle… I’m not Oregon or pac12 guy…. I guess we’ll see over next 2 weeks
Real Dawg Fan
November 13th, 2012
6:20 pm
Mark Richt has taken this team to the SECCG 6 times in 13 years. He’s won the SEC twice(not done since 1982), finished #2 in final AP poll twice. BEST COACH UGA HAS EVER HAD!
When we do win the NC, there will be no worries of probations, sanctions, or restictions.
GO DAWGS
Real Dawg Fan
November 13th, 2012
6:24 pm
@Shack
How do you think we could ever attract another decent coach.
“Let me get this right, the last guy won 10 games a year and SEC Championships but THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH?” “So I have to win NAT Champ or I fired?” “No thank you I’ll go where people aren’t delusional.”
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
6:42 pm
RealDawg
“Oregon looks like the best out there”,,,,,,,”now I’m not an Oregon or Pac-10 guy”, Geeze Louise Shack, I guess you aren’t (really aren’t) an SEC guy either…I’m takng a stab in the dark, ummmmmmmmmmmmmuhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ok, I’m thinking maybe, just maybe, ACC…Going out on a limb here, Shack probably thinks GT might even win the ACC-CG, LOL…
14 Titles
November 13th, 2012
8:50 pm
alabama–fluke loss against a*M–they just came out flat. Bama beats ga easy in the SEC title game and gets back in the BCS title match against oregon. Alabama will beat oregon by 10===book it.
t2go
November 13th, 2012
9:21 pm
I say two or all three lose a game! USC has to beat Notre Dame…Oregon has too much to go through and an 8-2 Texas team that has been playing better is nothing to sniff at. I would love to see Oregon vs an SEC team! But if the NC game is Kansas St. or Notre Dame vs anybody other that an SEC team that will not determine who is the best in the country. Seriously do you think Vegas would have ANY of those teams favored over Bama, or LSU..NO! Do you think K State or N Dame would be favored over USCe or Georgia or Texas A&M? NO!
DawgNole
November 13th, 2012
9:27 pm
Shack
November 13th, 2012
3:22 pm
I guess your just conditioned to accept mediocre bowls year end year out, watching Tennessee, Florida, auburn, Lsu, and Alabama lift the crystal trophy.. Top recruiting classes year in and year out, but never able to win the big game…. Right is a choker, doesn’t know how to get guys ready for the really big games…..
Just sad how defend the B- legacy….. Georgia deserves better
_____________________
You’re not even literate. Did you go to school? Second-grade writing ability at best. And you expect people on this blog to take notice of you and your worthless opinions? Phtt!
Shack
November 13th, 2012
9:41 pm
So the logic that everyone goes back to is the subjective test of who is better? Why not say whoever earns ticket on field gets to play in bcscg? An undefeated team from power conference gets ticket punched…. These aren’t my rules, it’s just the way things are…. I would hate a KST vs ND game, but if those are last two guys standing, that will b game… Would love to see Oregon vs SEC, but looks like that won’t happen, because SEC didn’t deliver
Shack
November 13th, 2012
9:49 pm
As far as richt is concerned, ur comments r right on script… Ur probably one of those Atlanta brave apologists too, talking about how many playoffs were made, not how many rings were won…. Keep cheering for all those other bcs sec championship teams from other schools and tell yourself that your happy coming up short time and time again…. A winner would trade all those participation ribbons in for a championship…. It’s sad
LHarding Dawg
November 13th, 2012
10:35 pm
K State vs. ND, two teams that don’t play a championship game. If the rules work like that, why play a SEC championship game.
kingdaddy
November 13th, 2012
11:49 pm
LHarding
I guess that’s the price of mega-conferences. Just making it to the CG is a great accomplishment. Too bad we have to beat each other up. I would be happy with less Conference games, but only if they are replaced with only quality OOC…No Cupcakes…play a real team or don’t waste your time. Play out of a major conference or take the week off…
chase
November 16th, 2012
8:23 am
Funny, all of you MORONS who keep saying “Georgia had their chance but blew it by losing to SCAR blah bitty blah”
did you forget in 2007 when LSU lost 2 games and got in and won the NC or last year when Bama lost at home to LSU and didn’t even make the SEC title game and still got in and won the NC??!?!?!
Did we forget that?! How come it is okay for those teams, in your moronic opinions, to lose games at home, not make the SEC title game and yet you don’t consider them to “have had their chances and blown them” THAT is the essence of blowing your chance and yet they still got in
It is a double standard with the media et. al. when it comes to Georgia…just is…IT IS NOT PARANOIA IF THEY ARE OUT TO GET YOU!
Spot
November 18th, 2012
1:52 am
To Rob about the ducks, when you ARE NOT TOUGH you get the respect you deserve. when someone can punch you in the mouth you FOLD UP.