Why Bama would be better off NOT playing for the SEC title
"Best of luck against Arkansas. Seriously!" (AP photo)
As we discussed in this space last week, Alabama might not play for the conference title even if Arkansas beats LSU on Friday. For Alabama to win the tiebreaker and qualify for the SEC championship game, No. 3 Arkansas would have to pass No. 1 LSU in the BCS standings, and there’s no guarantee the Hogs will do that.
And if I’m Alabama, I’m thinking I’d just as soon not play for the SEC title. If I’m the Tide, I’ve already got what I need.
Assuming Alabama beats Auburn on Saturday, the Tide would surely be sitting No. 2 in the BCS rankings with one week to go. But the team that represents the West in the SEC championship game would have to face Georgia, which hasn’t lost since Sept. 10, and would have to do it in the Georgia Dome. If you’re all but assured of a berth in the BCS title game, why risk losing?
Yes, we’ve come 180 degrees since 2007, when Georgia led LSU in the next-to-last BCS standings but was passed by the Tigers at the wire. LSU beat Tennessee in the SEC championship game while the Bulldogs sat in Athens and watched, and immediately the ESPN-led cry went up: “You can’t play for the BCS title if you don’t even win your conference!”
Funny how almost nobody is saying that anymore. With the losses suffered by Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Oregon over the weekend, the SEC West now holds the top three spots in the BCS standings. Provided Alabama beats Auburn, it’s all but certain that SEC teams will finish 1-2 in the final rankings. And Alabama, which lost to LSU on Nov. 7, sits in the best spot of the three.
Arkansas probably can’t get to the SEC championship game no matter what it does. LSU could lose to Arkansas and still play for the SEC title, and a lot of numbers-crunchers think the Tigers could lose to Georgia — but not to both Arkansas and Georgia — and drop no lower than No. 2. But if Alabama beats Auburn it could be locked in at No. 2 without another game to play and that, all things considered, would have to be Position A.
Let’s say Arkansas beats LSU and passes the Tigers in the BCS rankings. Let’s say Alabama beats Auburn and moves to No. 1. Now let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that Georgia upsets Alabama in our fair city. That would leave Alabama with two losses and LSU and Arkansas with only one, and the all-SEC BCS title game would surely be staged without the Tide. (Can’t imagine a one-loss Oklahoma State or Virginia Tech nosing ahead of a one-loss LSU or a one-loss Arkansas that just beat LSU.)
Back in 2007, Georgia was blocked from the BCS title game because it didn’t play for its conference championship. For Alabama in 2011, playing for the conference championship wouldn’t seem essential — and it might even be injurious to the Tide’s health. Weird season, huh?
By Mark Bradley
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500 comments Add your comment
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
4:19 pm
How do you stop a bulldog from pulling his pud???
Paint it orange and blue, then he’ll only beat it once every 7
Now that was FUNNY!
5IML
November 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
Let’s throw out the teams with multiple losses and look at who vies for number 2:
BAMA – three-point loss at home in overtime to number one team (LSU 11-0)
Arkansas – 24-point loss on the road to BAMA (10-1)
Okie St – 6 pt loss in 2OT to Iowa St (6-4)
Va Tech – 20 pt loss at home to Clemson (9-2)
Stanford – 23 pt loss at home to Oregon (9-2)
Boise St – 1 pt loss at home to TCU (9-2)
Houston – undefeated
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
SEC commish idiot
You are still an idiot
I am right
BCS blows
My mom is 87 and has alzheimer’s
Go to he!!
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
GOT to throw a flag on any SEC member fan on not wanting two SEC teams in the BCS NCG. If you are one of those people then you are not a real SEC fan and need to be banished to the ACC or Big 10.
GA Cracker
November 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
Cry me a river Mutts!! We all know the Gamecocks deserve to be the SEC East rep in the title game. You have the weakest schedule of any SEC team yet your whining over Bama/LSU/Arkansas is pathetic. The chances of you beating one of those teams is about as good as Hershel Walker speaking a coherent sentece!!
bjohndawg
November 21st, 2011
4:25 pm
And Boise cannot get in…TCU has won mountain west automatic bid.
No way Mountain gets two BCS teams. The secret society that runs the world would go crazy
You Ain't-Know Gaily Whacker
November 21st, 2011
4:25 pm
Many of you people are creepy. Larry just died and all you can do is spew your hate and venom at teams that are better than Georgia. It’s just a game, if you want to be a BCS champion win your games and stop whining. Just WIN YOUR GAMES.
Kelly
November 21st, 2011
4:26 pm
Snakes On A Plane: mildly humorous, but if that’s true, how does Georgia still own the all-time record over UF, begging the question, ‘If UF is so great, how, after two decades of domination, have they still not caught UGA for all-time wins?’
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
SEC commish
you just need to be banned period
You need to go to a hospital and get a brain installed.
The one you have is corrupt
Living in that double wide will do that to you.
Plus the aluminum foil antenna on the TV
bjohndawg
November 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
SEC Commish…if you cannot win your division in the SEC…You should not be in the MNC. Period. I dont care what league it is SEC…or league of distinguished gentlemen.
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
UGA does have a chance against LSU (and it will be LSU that faces UGA, not Bama)….
Right up until kickoff where the game will be over before it really starts. Most of you should take off those rose colored UGA glasses and learn more about an opponent before you speak. Most of you are referencing LSU as an offensively challenged team based on 1 game against Alabama. LSU played an ultra conservative game against Bama and laid on its defense, and it worked. Don’t base LSU’s offense on 1 game. UGA has nobody on offense that is scary to match up against except Crowell. Their defense has gotten fat off low quality competition. See you on 12/3, it should be entertaining for about a half!
Beast from the East
November 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
SEC Commisioner,
How would you feel if you were LSU and already beat Bama at their place and then had to play them again in the BCS title game. Say you lose a squeaker so Bama is crowned the champs. Would that be fair?
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:29 pm
beast
You can’t reason with that idiot. He is a bammer fan.
Beast from the East
November 21st, 2011
4:29 pm
DawginLex,
I know, but not all of them are crazy. Just the Updyke types.
bjohndawg
November 21st, 2011
4:31 pm
I want to see Boise State play Houston…I want anarchy.
Then maybe we can have a playoff and this BCS crap can go bye bye.
5IML
November 21st, 2011
4:31 pm
@Samuel
This blog is no place for reason and logic. Kindly see yourself to the door, sir. Just because UGA has only faced two currently ranked opponents (and lost to both) doesn’t mean there isn’t a scenario where they can play the Packers in the Super Bowl after beating LSU.
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Beast from the East
November 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
SEC Commisioner,
How would you feel if you were LSU and already beat Bama at their place and then had to play them again in the BCS title game. Say you lose a squeaker so Bama is crowned the champs. Would that be fair?
I want the two best teams in the country to play and folks, they are LSU and Alabama and the point has already been proven. That is the facts.
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Where were you losers hiding on the first Saturday in December of 2005 at say about 11 pm after we whipped the amazing LSU Tigers for the SEC title?
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
4:33 pm
5IML,
Good point sir, that pass rush UGA has should really cause problems for Aaron Rodgers, hahahahaha!!!
5IML
November 21st, 2011
4:33 pm
Beast,
It’s not BAMA’s fault that every non-SEC contender spit the bit. We are, in essense, the last man standing. (Notice that I’m taking the Iron Bowl win for granted.)
Kelly
November 21st, 2011
4:34 pm
Samuel: They did for Brantley.
bamaguy
November 21st, 2011
4:34 pm
Beast: Every big football school has its crazy “fans”, the vast majority of whom never darkened the door of the university that houses the football team they are so passionate about.
bjohndawg
November 21st, 2011
4:35 pm
And I would like to see Auburn beat Bama. Or LSU to lose two straight.So we can end that SEC all crap.
Not good for college football.
And I love the SEC….but it would harm the tradition known as the BCS.
Wait ,,,on second thought? Maybe not a bad idea. It will really upset the rest of the nation.
The south rises again.
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:35 pm
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Beast from the East
November 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
SEC Commisioner,
How would you feel if you were LSU and already beat Bama at their place and then had to play them again in the BCS title game. Say you lose a squeaker so Bama is crowned the champs. Would that be fair?
I want the two best teams in the country to play and folks, they are LSU and Alabama and the point has already been proven. That is the facts
*********************************************
In your corrupt delusional brain. The real facts would settle things on the field. Everything else is a popularity contest and a beauty contest.
In your world, the Yankees always go to the World Series.
Give it up. We all know you are a bama fan.
Resorting to the go make a sandwich, momma lines prove your low IQ.
If you really had to deal with “the big boys” like me in the workplace, I’d fire you.
Loser
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:36 pm
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
SEC commish
you just need to be banned period
You need to go to a hospital and get a brain installed.
The one you have is corrupt
Living in that double wide will do that to you.
Plus the aluminum foil antenna on the TV
See, Dawg in Lex,
YOU have been faced with the facts any you have ZERO argument. You are known to talk trash, but when you lose you cannot handle the truth. 9 in a row against the second weakest conference schedule does not build your resume, it puts you on the outsid looking in.
Go back to Bill’s Junkyard Blawg and talk that trash their where all of your brothers will pat you on the back and tell you are smart you are with that 5th grade education. Life is good here and I enjoy waking up to the sound of the Gulf of Mexico in the mornings here at the castle. For you like must be tough smelling mold and mildew in that basement.
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:36 pm
SEC commish
Dealing with the big boys?
If you had to deal with someone like me in the workplace, I would fire you.
Loser bama fan
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
“OUTSIDE”
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
The truth is I am right. Bama lost and should not be in any title discussion.
Loser
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
should have typed “outside”
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
DawginLex,
Are you really bringing up 05? Aside from the fact that it has absolutely no correlation to this season, LSU played 11 straight weeks with no bye due to the flip flopped schedule after that hurricane I won’t mention by name. It caught up to them in the GA Dome that night. They played flat and lethargic. UGA was the better team that night, not that season. You want proof? LSU went on to beat Miami 40-3. UGA lost it’s next game in the Sugar Bowl (played in ATL that year so it was a glorified home game) to West Virginia 38-35 after getting spanked to the tune of 28-0 to start the 1st half
Beast from the East
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
5IML,
I’m not debating that LSU and Bama are the 2 best teams. I agree…especially after I witnessed them both dismanlte my Gators. But I still don’t think any team should be allowed to play for the BCS title that did not win their conference. Just my opinion and it won;t change a thing.
DamntheButcher
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
Tell me how UGA can win 9 straight games and OK & OR can lose 2 games each during that streak and still be ahead of UGA in the polls? What happened to the logic it is when you lose?
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
We all know one thing, UGA will not be in the title game…1980…..whine some more….
Ted M
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
“The BCS NEVER works. At best, it lucks out.”
I agree Mark and I see it as obvious. How could anyone think otherwise?
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
If you had to deal with me in the workplace, I would fire you.
That is the big boy world.
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:39 pm
DamntheButcher
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
Tell me how UGA can win 9 straight games and OK & OR can lose 2 games each during that streak and still be ahead of UGA in the polls? What happened to the logic it is when you lose?
The answer to your question;
No one respects UGA and their wins!
VaGTFan
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
Not so fast, Mark! The Dawgs still must face the Yellow Jackets on Sat. If the Jackets beat’em at historic Grant Field, all of your scenarios about the Dawgs being in the BCS bowl is inconsequential. Save your scenarios until following the games played on Sat.
5IML
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
This has been quite entertaining, but it’s time for me to head home. I would log in from home but I have a life.
Thanks, Dawg fans.
RTR to you all.
Ted M
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
What if Arkansas crushes LSU then UGA crushes Arkansas?
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
So UGA should ask to change their schedule because the teams on it are not winning?
Bama “SEC commish” logic.
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:38 pm
If you had to deal with me in the workplace, I would fire you.
That is the big boy world.
That is why in the real world, I own the company and people like you work for me! That is just the plain truth of it.
@51ML
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
Can’t argue with you. Unlike most, I like the overall idea of the BCS. It is an attempt at pairing the two best teams at the end of the year. While it does rely on ratings and computers, it is not a flawless system, but then neither would any other system be, including a true play-off. What I don’t like about a play-off is, not only the often mentioned point of the regular system not having meaning, but also, a playoff system could actually crown an inferior team who gets hot at the right time. Also, it can’t be done without adding a bunch of games. Unlike basketball and baseball, it’s not really practical to play multiple football games. Maybe, the BCS system could be set up to play 1 against 4, and 2 against 3, and then a NC game, or maybe just do the bowls, with a plus one game at the end.
Mudcatjoe
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
How can you say that LSU could lose to UGA? The Dawgs will be lucky to score in that game! Big blowout coming up! I can’t understand all the respect the Dawgs get by playing such a weak schedule!!!
bjohndawg
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
Guys this is real fun. Lets do it again real soon.
Probably next week, when another 4 or 5 of the top ten teams lose.
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:41 pm
You don’t own squat. I would own you just like I do here low IQ boy.
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:41 pm
Ted M
November 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
What if Arkansas crushes LSU then UGA crushes Arkansas?
Arkansas has about a 10% chance of going to SECCG, so you can throw that scenario out the window.
SEC Commissioner
November 21st, 2011
4:42 pm
DawginLex
November 21st, 2011
4:41 pm
You don’t own squat. I would own you just like I do here low IQ boy.
LOL.
If you only knew, STILL Laughing at that one.
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
4:42 pm
where did my comment go?
P. Bull Terrier
November 21st, 2011
4:43 pm
USC (west) just jumped from nowhere into the Top 10 in the AP poll this week and Notre Dame finally cracked the Top 25 in the BCS rankings. I bet ABC/ESPN is on the phone with the BCS guys right now trying to figure out a way to rig the system to give us a Notre Dame vs. USC “National Championship” game.
DP
November 21st, 2011
4:43 pm
Typical pathetic Bradley pandering for Georgia. In 2007 Georgia lost 2 games including one by 3 touchdowns to Tennessee. In 2011 Alabama has lost 1 game to #1 LSU by 3 points in OT. LSU and Alabama have clearly been the 2 best teams in college football this year, crushing everybody they’ve played except each other.
LSU is getting an unfair deal having to travel all the way to Atlanta to beat down the Dawgs while Alabama rests, but in 2007 LSU got lucky getting into the BCS championship game with 2 losses. It’s too bad LSU can’t have the option of sitting out the SEC championship game and sending Alabama to administer the beatdown.