The SEC West tiebreakers: Hold your breath and count to five
"If I'm the world's greatest coach, how come I keep losing to Leslie Miles?" (AP photo)
The most intriguing team in the land isn’t the one that won The Greatest Game Ever Played If You Don’t Care About Touchdowns. It’s the one that lost. As it stands, Alabama has a better chance of winning the national championship than it does the SEC crown, and wasn’t it only 2007 — help me on this, Georgia fans — when we were told a team that doesn’t win its conference doesn’t deserve to play for the BCS title?
That was the reason given then for elevating two-loss LSU, which had lost its final regular-season game at home, ahead of two-loss Georgia, which hadn’t lost since Oct. 6, in the final BCS poll. Never mind that the Bulldogs entered the final weekend ranked ahead of the Tigers. But the same thinking mightn’t apply if it comes to a choice between one-loss Alabama and one-loss Anybody Else. (Oklahoma, Oregon, Arkansas, even Clemson.)
Alabama, see, has the aura of a champion, if not necessarily the results. (It has Nick Saban, who somehow remained the world’s greatest coach after finishing fourth in a six-team division in 2010.) It was ranked No. 1 in preseason despite having lost four Round 1 NFL draftees plus its starting quarterback, and it fell only one spot in the BCS rankings after losing at home on a night when all Nick’s men couldn’t muster a TD.
The calls for an LSU-Alabama weren’t just immediate in the aftermath; they’d been raised even before the game began. (The thinking being that, since an SEC team is going to win the BCS anyway, why not make the title game at least interesting?) After prevailing in Tuscaloosa, LSU shouldn’t need to prove it can beat Bama twice to be national champ, but that could well be its assignment. Which would be grossly unfair, but when has big-time college football even been fair?
Even more confusing: LSU can lose to Arkansas in Baton Rouge on Nov. 25 and still represent the SEC West in the Georgia Dome. This is because of a complicated-but-sensible SEC tiebreaker. Were LSU to lose that game and finish in a three-way tie with the Tide and the Razorbacks, the Tigers would still get the West nod as long as they don’t fall more than five BCS spots behind Alabama. The SEC rule in question:
The tied team with the highest ranking in the Bowl Championship Series Standings following the last weekend of regular-season games shall be the divisional representative in the SEC championship game, unless the second of the tied teams is ranked within five-or-fewer places of the highest ranked tied team. In this case, the head-to-head results of the top two ranked tied teams shall determine the representative in the SEC championship game.
You might recall that Texas beat Oklahoma in 2008 but couldn’t play for the Big 12 title and was omitted from the BCS title game because the Sooners finished first in the BCS rankings to the Longhorns’ third. That wasn’t right: When teams are tied, head-to-head should be the determinant. The five-or-fewer rule comes close to making that a reality. But there are loopholes within this loophole.
If Alabama is No. 1 in the Nov. 27 BCS standings to LSU’s No. 7, Alabama would represent the West, head-to-head be hanged. If Arkansas should beat LSU and nose ahead of the Tigers in the rankings, Alabama would likewise prevail. Because Arkansas would then be the second-place SEC team in the BCS standings, and Alabama beat the Hogs on Sept. 24.
Here we pause to consider Arkansas’ possible plight. Should they beat LSU, the Razorbacks could make the case that they’re playing the best football in the nation’s best league, but they’d surely be blocked from playing for the SEC title. And the team Arkansas just upset would not, provided LSU stays ahead of Arkansas in the BCS standings, which could well happen. (As we speak, the Tigers are No. 1 to the Hogs’ No. 6.)
Yeah, a nice eight-team playoff would come close to solving all this, but I’ve abandoned hope of that. But at least we in the Eastern time zone are facing a welcome bit of clarity, championship-wise. If Georgia beats Kentucky on Saturday, the Bulldogs will play for the conference title. If they lose to Kentucky, the Georgia athletic association will announce Sunday that it has dropped the sport.
By Mark Bradley
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351 comments Add your comment
Real Confusion
November 16th, 2011
3:13 pm
what about the fact that IF UGA loses the SECCG, SC will get a better bowl game than UGA?
ARdawg
November 16th, 2011
3:16 pm
Real
You call that a fact? I don’t.
ARdawg
November 16th, 2011
3:20 pm
If UGA loses the SECCG, their record will be 10-3 and the division champ. If they won 11-2 would guarantee the Sugar. 10-2 SC’s would likely get the pick after UGA 10-3 between Capitol One or OutBack. If they got a NYs bowl at all.
Of course that is assuming the SEC East is the ACC champ again this year
Mean Ole Dawg
November 16th, 2011
3:21 pm
What about the possible scenario where the top 2 BCS teams are members of the same conference? This could easily happen (possibly this year) and obviously one of them would not be a conference champion. That is probably why there is no rule allowing only conference champions to play for the BCS NC. I know of no rule that says two members of the same conference can’t play in the BCS NC.
Real Confusion
November 16th, 2011
3:22 pm
I could see a 3 loss GA team going outback instead of a 2 loss SC in cotton
Single Wing
November 16th, 2011
3:24 pm
Just don’t see the Hogs winning in Red Stick or UGA winning in the dome. Wilson and Murray won’t even have time to blink, and Alabama had their chance at home and lost. LSU shouldn’t have to beat them twice.
Neyland's Ghost
November 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
“Your the idiot!”
MB, don’t you just love this blog?
Sam
November 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
What I want to know is what if Ga beats an undefeated lsu. Lsu can’t play in the game but I bet they would put bama in even though lsu beat them at their place. This is why the bcs and college football is so freaking DUMB. Just take the top 8 ranked teams at the end of the year. Those 4 winners then play and then those 2 left play for the championship. It’s not complicated. Rotate the bowls where 2 bcs bowls play the first round of 8 teams. Then the other two bcs bowls play for the final 2 games and then the rotated location each year is the nat champ. No one would have any right to complain over this system. And sorry winning your conf DOES NOT mean you get in. It’s based on RANKING as it always should be.
Matt R
November 16th, 2011
3:27 pm
Wahhh, wahh, wahhh, spoken like a true blind Bulldog fan. Yeah, starting out getting whipped up on Boise State, lookin real good, real good. Way to represent the SEC. Keep it up – keep bringing down the conference with inexplicable losses. Keep good ole Mark Richt around as long as you’d like.
Alphare
November 16th, 2011
3:31 pm
ARDawg,
“That was the dated argument to leave Georgia out of the CG in 07. Doesn’t mean that it will apply to Bama this time around although the scenario is exactly the same.”
exactly the same? tell us what’s exactly the same? number of losses or the way you lost? which are they?
Randy
November 16th, 2011
3:32 pm
Alphare the idiot. Ga LOST to TWO unranked teams that year and ONE was a BLOWOUT LOSS dumbass. Lsu lost two games by a combined 5 points, one against a top 20 team AND one in OT. Performance and score does matter idiot.
Just sayin' what we're ALL thinking....
November 16th, 2011
3:33 pm
Georgia Fans — Get a grip, people! Seriously. You’re team is 8-2 because it is the tallest dwarf in the room called SEC East. Drop the same dwarf into the SEC West, you’re 5-5, tops. We all know this to be true.
Just sayin' what we're ALL thinking....
November 16th, 2011
3:37 pm
Georgia Dawgs, GET a Grip. Do it today while there’s still time. Your team is the tallest dwarf in the room called SEC East. Big Whoop. Drop the same dwarf in the SEC West and you’re 5-5, tops. This is real, do not adjust your screen.
Alphare
November 16th, 2011
3:39 pm
A portion of the dawg fans are not only delusional, but idiotic too.
Those fans equate this year’s BAMA team to the 07 dawgs!
Really, BAMA lost only 1-time to the #1 ranked team in overtime after 4 failed field goals. How did the dawg lost your TWO games in 07? can you smart azz clarified?
Randy
November 16th, 2011
3:40 pm
I love it when someone calls someone an idiot and can’t even use correct grammar. You’re NOT your dumb rednecks
BILLY JACK
November 16th, 2011
3:54 pm
Hey Alphare-the fact is Georgia will be playing in the SEC championship Alabama will watch it on tv.
Alabama Dog
November 16th, 2011
3:56 pm
aw is a clueless bammer: spot on, my friend! Nobody (particulary alabma was lobbying for Georgia to be in the BCS title game in ‘07. Why, you ask? Because Georgia didn’t win their division, or the SEC championship that year. I agree they probably shouldn’t have played in the game that year for those reasons. The facts are this for Alabama: they had their shot to solidify their position on November 5th, at HOME no less, and didn’t get it done. NOW all of a sudden, the very things that kept Georgia from going in ‘07 aren’t relevent any more. Gimme a break! Are the rules and attitudes on who makes the game dependent upon who may get left out? It certainly looks that way to me. We were called WHINERS in ‘07 for saying the same things Alabama fans are saying in ‘11.
JNR
November 16th, 2011
3:57 pm
Billy
Fact is Ga has ZERO chance of playing in the nat champ game and will be in a bcs bowl. You will get blown out and play in some middle tier bowl.
JNR
November 16th, 2011
3:58 pm
Should read will not be in a bcs bowl. Bama WILL be in a bcs bowl, if not the national champ game.
Alphare
November 16th, 2011
3:58 pm
Billy Jack,
“the fact is Georgia will be playing in the SEC championship”.
Billy, the fact is you obviously don’t know what is “will be”.
just a fan
November 16th, 2011
3:58 pm
I am posting a link of an interview with LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
The state of Georgia’s top linebacker prospect says he would like to be a part of the young Dawgs’ success, and, after a few more official visits, he’ll make a decision in January.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7239668
Alabama Dog
November 16th, 2011
3:59 pm
Alphare: use the “we’re undefeated in regulation” card. It worked for Les Miles in ‘07.
GTBob
November 16th, 2011
4:03 pm
If Okie St loses to OU, very likely we’ll have a rematch of Bama/LSU for the NC.
I really just don’t see this happening. You are saying that Bama, who wasn’t even the best team in their division will get a rematch when the number 3, and 4 teams are both conference champions? Personally I think the voters will surge Oklahoma at that point and we would get an LSU/Oklahoma championship. I don’t think there is any way Bama gets in unless all the top teams start losing. The media doesn’t love Bama that much.
Google thug
November 16th, 2011
4:04 pm
Would be real funny with all this talk about uga already playing in atlanta if they lost to kentucky.
Junior
November 16th, 2011
4:04 pm
Hey Mark, grow back the mustache you had when I was a kid!
Seriously??
November 16th, 2011
4:10 pm
A lot of smack talk from fans of a program that hasn’t done squat on the national scene in 30 years. FIVE SEC schools have won Natl Titles since UGA was a significant national player. LSU, FLA and Alabama have multiple titles and even the UT Fat Boy and the AU Cheater got theirs. Six weeks ago all of you were calling for CMR’s head and now you would think CMR and UGA are on top of the world. UGA stuggled to beat Ole Miss, Vandy and FL while LSU and Alabama beat them all by 25 plus points. Beat a mediocre Auburn team and all of the sudden its as if you already one the SEC. A lot of sour grapes from a lot of sour fans of a program that hasn’t beat Spurrier, Saban or Miles in their last games against each. Bradley knows nothing about football and needs to stick to the roundball and his roots from KY.
1969 Graduate
November 16th, 2011
4:20 pm
The problem is the gormless characters running college football.
Does that mean the college administrators? Maybe. Or the college coaches? Maybe. Or is it the NCAA? Maybe.
In any case, those who really do have the power, and should exercise it properly, don’t do their job, and have delegated things to the money boys at ESPN. This is known as selling out to the highest bidder, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
It’s sorta like the Ghetto Ranger jerseys Georgia wore in the Boise game. Designed by Nike, right? But who gave Nike the right to do that? Was it our former, and disgraced Athletic Director? In a similar bad move collegiate Athletic Directors, coaches, conferences, and school presidents, and their staffs have given ESPN the right to say what happens.
It doesn’t have to be this way. They don’t have to default on their obligations.
Hard to believe college football has such a stupid set of rules to determine who wins the big prize, or maybe it’s not hard to believe in the rules, since the only rules seem to be what does ESPN want.
Don’t get me wrong, I want a playoff. But, in its absence, let’s at least have the same rules for everyone.
I thought UGA and USC West should have played for the National Title in 2007. Had we had a playoff, I doubt anyone could have beaten them, but that assumes of course that they would have been in the playoff.
How ’bout in baseball we have a new rule that says that the best wild card team makes the playoffs unless the Yankees look like they would be a “better opponent” because their uniforms are so handsome (and they’re in a big market).
Such a rule would eliminate UGA from any playoffs on the basis that their G.P.R. uniforms were so ugly that no one could stand to see them in the highlight films.
In the real world (not the ESPN world) games are settled on the field, but in the ESPN world games are settled, and titles decided, by talking heads, and their bosses.
I hope UGA wins the championship, Arkansas wins over LSU before that, and the whole stupid BCS Charlie Foxtrot comes to a grinding halt. What if nobody would agree to show up and play, all agreeing the game’s contestants unfairly arrived at?
Oops, I forgot, they’ve already sold out…
Go, Georgia Bulldogs.
Alabama Dog
November 16th, 2011
4:20 pm
Seriuosly??: if you call finishing in the top 10 5 straight years “not being a significant player”, what would you call it? Sure, we readily admit Georgia has not done what LSU, Alabama, Auburn & Florida have done in the last 8 years-we can’t deny that. BUT, we have done something NONE of those schools have: not change coaches every single time they have what they believe is a subpar season. It’s called INTEGRITY!!!!
BiggDawgK
November 16th, 2011
4:23 pm
Nice article Mark. Don’t forget to add to the insanity in 2007 Georgia was ranked #4 and somehow even though #1 and #2 lost in the final weekend, Georgia didn’t move up. If allybammer and their dirt stupid inbred fans are in the BCS Championship game without playing in the SEC Championship game college football is a pathetic joke.
Dawg Realist
November 16th, 2011
4:38 pm
Hey “Seriously??,”
Georgia didn’t exactly “struggle” to beat Ole Miss. We beat them by 14 points in Oxford, and the Rebels’ two scores came on a punt (reverse) return and a half-back pass, but I digress . . . regarding Auburn, do you think Bama will obliterate and humiliate them like we did? As for the coaches you referenced, Richt is a combined 4-4 against Saban and Miles, and he is 4-3 against Spurrier since he arrived at SC.
Beast from the East
November 16th, 2011
4:49 pm
I’m still of the opinion that you shouldn’t be able to play for the MNC if you didn’t win your conference (even if you have the pedigree if an Alabama). After all, why even have conference championship games if they don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things?
Seriously??
November 16th, 2011
4:52 pm
Dawg Realist- guess you are using that 14 pt win at Ole Miss as your signature win. Better watch out this week becsaue KY beat Ole Miss by 17!!!
aw
November 16th, 2011
4:55 pm
Response to @aw Easy Answer. In 2007, YOU LOST TO TENNESSEE BY 3 TOUCHDOWNS!!!! not to mention South Carolina. You have beaten 3 teams this year with a winning record in your 8 wins.
Also, real simple UGA is the 4th Best team in the SEC West 4TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alabama Dog
November 16th, 2011
4:57 pm
Dawg Realist: you neglected to mention the fact that the 45-7 BEATDOWN of Auburn was their WORST defeat in 15 years, according to last Sunday’s B’ham News. That includes games against the “mighty” Alabama & LSU!!!!!!
GTBob
November 16th, 2011
5:08 pm
Georgia didn’t exactly “struggle” to beat Ole Miss. We beat them by 14 points in Oxford
That’s almost as much as Louisiana Tech and Kentucky beat them by. Kudos to UGA.
savannahdawg
November 16th, 2011
5:25 pm
If you are not the best in your conference, how the hell can you play for the national title? really???? This is why sports writers shouldn’t vote or make these decisions. Bama had their shot and lost!!! Are they that good??? Hell no…………….their offense sucks!! They don’t have a kicker worth a crap!!! Someone get real. You morans are in denial here. Stop loving the teams you wish to be the best and honor the ones who actually are playing great this year!!!
@aw
November 16th, 2011
5:33 pm
I don’t know whether to laugh at you or feel sorry for you. Since you seem to know everything, please tell me how LSU jumped 6 spots, 2 weeks after losing at home? You know what, forget it. Further proving the point Bammers can’t have intelligent conversations. LSU beat Bammer at HOME, you guys lost but all the necks can’t seem to fathom that. Keep making excuses and justifying your weak argument. Have a good night.
Neyland's Ghost
November 16th, 2011
5:37 pm
“You morans”
All we need now is “your a moran”
Beast from the East
November 16th, 2011
5:42 pm
Neyland’s Ghost,
You just being meen.
Alabama Dog
November 16th, 2011
5:45 pm
savannahdawg: well said. Alabama’s game against LSU November 5th was, in effect, a “play in” game for the BCS title game, and they lost-at home, no less. Do overs are a nice idea, but that isn’t the way it works. Anybody think Carolina would want a “do over” with Georgia? I doubt it.
Neyland's Ghost
November 16th, 2011
5:46 pm
Beast from the East
Sorry, couldn’t help it. Good post above and I agree with you about conference championship games. I guess their real purpose is big money.
GT GRAD
November 16th, 2011
5:48 pm
The absolute best scenario:
UGA beats Kentucky.
LSU beats Arkansas.
UGA beats LSU in SEC Championship game!
All of the current undefeated teams remain undefeated.
This way there will be no SEC team in the NC game…………….THIS WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF AN 8 TEAM PLAYOFF SYSTEM FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL!
Finally!
I would also like to hear SEC fans complain about this situation for the next 10-15 years……..hillarious!
GT GRAD
November 16th, 2011
5:54 pm
Oh yeah……..since I am dreaming of the best possible scenario. I also would want GT to beat UGA by 35 points prior to the SEC Championship game to ensure UGA has no chance of playing in the NC game after beating LSU by 21 points!
I realize this is not reality; but it would be absolutely great for NCAA football………..we would have a playoff system within 2 years!
The scenario I have outlined is unlikely, but remotely possible; is it not?
Mark Bradley of the AJC: The SEC West tiebreakers: Hold your breath and count to five
November 16th, 2011
6:02 pm
[...] Georgia athletic association will announce Sunday that it has dropped the sport. By Mark Bradley The SEC West tiebreakers: Hold your breath and count to five | Mark Bradley Download The FREE GIQ Toolbar Follow GamblingIQ on Twitter @GamblingIQ Follow GamblingIQ on [...]
loganvilledawg
November 16th, 2011
6:10 pm
Mark, what would happen if Arkansas beats LSU, and after the fallout all 3 of the teams (Alabama, Lsu, and Arkansas) are all ranked with 5 of each other in the BCS?
sam
November 16th, 2011
6:20 pm
If ARK is ranked above LSU, Bama goes to the SECCG. If LSU is ranked above ARK, LSU goes to the SECCG.
Saban goes down, Saban goes down!!
November 16th, 2011
6:20 pm
Poor Bama and their GOD Saban. It’s so funny to listen to these ignorant, arrogant, bama fans trying to defend their overrated coach and team. The mighty Tide lost at home as a favorite this year, and they lost 3 regular season games last year after being ranked #1, and after this year they will have only played in 2 SECC games the past 10 seasons. Yet their retarded fans think they are still a powerhouse in the SEC. Last time i checked, LSU, Auburn, UGA, Tenn, and Florida had played in more SECC games the past 10 years than the mighty TIde. Bama fans live in the past, always have and always will. LSU beats them at home this year, Auburn beats them at home last year, but yet they are the most awesome team in the SEC, My ASS. They are overrated this year, and they were overrated last year.And their offense is mediocre, they have no big play receiver, their Q.B. is average at best, he is the 4th or 5th best Q.B. in the SEC in a year the SEC is down as it relates to Q.B’s, Bama’s defense is good, but they haven’t beaten but one team with a decent offense, that being Arky. LSU has no offense, they are ranked 79th in the country. So you Bama fans that are raving about your overrated team as usual, wakeup. UGA, or S.Carolina would lite up Bama, yes UGA, who has a balanced offense,that is rated 30th in the nation, would give Bama all they wanted. And UGA has the 4th rated defense in the country. And last time i checked UGA had beaten the mighty Tide 3 of the last 4 times they played, and 2 of those were on Bama’s home field. Add that to the fact Auburn has beaten the mighty Tide 6 out of the last 8 games, not to mention LSU kicking their asses again at home this year. Add all of these facts up, and you have an overrated Bama team that impressed ESPN due to their coach, but nobody else in the SEC is impressed with them, except retarded Bama fans.Auburn, UGA, S.Carolina, and LSU fans certainly aren’t impressed with the mighty Tide. So keep bragging about your coach who is so overrated, and keep bragging about your team that has no offense, and an overrated defense that hasn’t played a decent offense all year, and you will realize once again when u don’t play in SECC game how great your team really is. 2 SECC games in 10 years is not very impressive, even retards should realize this!!!!!
Beast from the East
November 16th, 2011
6:22 pm
Neyland’s Ghost,
What’s the pulse of the UT faithful? Are they still being patient with Dooley or are they starting to grumble? The Gator Nation is still behind Muschamp, but he would help his cause quite a bit if he can manage to win the next 2 (Furman and FSU) and have a solid showing in a bowl game (Gator Bowl is the most likely scenario I’ve seen).
Beast from the East
November 16th, 2011
6:26 pm
I just hope LSU wins out. They’ve played a heckuva tough schedule and have been one of the most focused football teams I’ve seen in years with all of the adversity they’ve faced. Much like Auburn did last year. Miles is a little nutty, but he’s done a wonderful job this season to date.
tyler
November 16th, 2011
6:30 pm
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