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
Rags
November 21st, 2011
8:28 pm
So, let me get this straight. LSU beat Alabama head to head. Assuming LSU wins out, then Alabama would NOT be a Division Champion, would NOT be a Conference Champion, gets to rest another week while LSU plays a tough Georgia team, and STILL gets another shot at LSU? In that scenario, LSU has to go 2-0 against Alabama to become national champions, but Alabama only has to go 1-1 against LSU to become national champtions. That just does not pass any “sniff test” I have ever heard of. I’m not a fan of either school, but that stinks.
Tim
November 21st, 2011
8:29 pm
Have a question GA lost to teams ranked in the top 10 and OK and OR lost to crap schools how do they not fall past GA?
Eisendawg
November 21st, 2011
8:35 pm
If the NC game is going to be LSU – BamBa, fine, but if so, Bama should have to beat them twice. I’m not saying that because I love LSU, or hate Bama, I just see that game like I did the year they were talking about a Ohio State – Michigan rematch. Hopefully, something will happen to set up a different match-up.
Dawgone
November 21st, 2011
8:36 pm
I think Bama and Lsu are probably the two best teams in the country right now and if they win out they should play each other for the BCS championship. But the problem I and most other Dawg fans have is the fact that in 2007 if the BCS felt Lsu was better than Georgia why didn’t they have them ranked ahead of Georgia to start with instead of waiting until the last week of the season and moving lsu up 3 spots, which put them ahead of Georgia and the only reason anybody could give for the move was that Georgia didnt win its conference. One of these teams is not going to win its conference and according to 2007 reasoning should not play in the BCS championship game.
bitter dope smok-in spoiled recruit
November 21st, 2011
8:44 pm
tree killers please———FIND A FIELD GOAL KICKER before acting like you got a pair——-ladies
Eisendawg
November 21st, 2011
8:46 pm
Agreed Dawgone. It will be interesting to see what happens if LSU falls to Arkansas.
Eisendawg
November 21st, 2011
8:50 pm
You know, all of these problems will be solved if the SEC will just go on and expand to include all the teams. Then we can just have a SEC championship for the NC and skip all the BCS stuff.
GTBob
November 21st, 2011
9:14 pm
Have a question GA lost to teams ranked in the top 10 and OK and OR lost to crap schools how do they not fall past GA?
Oregon destroyed the current #6 team in the BCS. Oklahoma destroyed the #11 team in the BCS. What has UGA done?
Michael
November 21st, 2011
9:19 pm
The difference between UGA in 2007 and Alabama this year is that Alabama is CLEARLY the 2nd best team in the nation, having only lost by 3 points to the #1 team. In 2007, UGA was a two loss team with a blow-out loss to an average TN team. Although UGA finished that season strong, they weren’t head and shoulders above the rest like ALA and LSU this year.
MY Dawg
November 21st, 2011
9:23 pm
It’s all bunch of B.S. if you are Georgia. How did LSU jump from #7 to
#2 and play for the N.C.? Les Miles gets on tv and says “This is a damn good football team”. The voters responded to his comment and awarded them the shot at the title. Georgia had 1 loss to Florida and went 13-1. Like I said it’s B.S. The media loves big personalities and noise makers. The good news is Ga has a noise maker in CTG. Put him in front of the camera on a regular basis, throw choke signs, and take care of loud mouths like Franklin. The defense has made the difference, period. Murry looked horrible against Kentucky. How many wounded ducks did he throw? I would like to see CMR put Mason in when Murry is not doing well. It worked for Walsh.
I own you
November 21st, 2011
9:32 pm
You know it would just be easier to declare Bama NCs now. Even though they lost to LSU they were the better team. Final score shouldn’t count. And they would be better than any team in college football even if the final score didn’t go their way. They would still be better. They are the best team in the sec west…the Lsu game was a fluke. A missed FG shouldn’t count as a loss. Alabama is really 11-0*. And they are best team in SEC even though they “technically” won’t play in SECC game. Matters not. Congrats to 2011 BCS and SEC champions, the undefeated* Bama tide. Yay.
DAWG
November 21st, 2011
9:34 pm
On any given Saturday the best of teams can be beat, ask Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon and the list goes on.
NFL
November 21st, 2011
9:40 pm
College football is a walking contradiction, I wonder what the BCS would have to say about the 2010 Green Bay Packers 10-6 season (complete with 3 losses to teams with losing records). It’s pointless to speculate about how good a team is based solely on ugly wins, pretty losses, and w/e else.
Brown Dog
November 21st, 2011
9:41 pm
I own you, that’s very generous. We accept. See you next year in Tuscaloosa.
Blackoutanyone?
November 21st, 2011
9:45 pm
Actually UGA would be better off to sit out the SEC Championship as well. For starters… it would save the program a humiliating loss. Richt can end things on a good note and get that extension. Plus win or lose in Atlanta, UGA isn’t going to a BCS bowl. That’s right NO SUGAR BOWL FOR THE BULLDOGS even if they shock the world in Atlanta. That’s because only two teams from a conference can currently get BCS bowl bids. There will be two SEC teams in the National Championship game. So I think this article should read….”Why Georgia would be better off not playing for the SEC title”.
Chillahill43
November 21st, 2011
9:47 pm
Just remember Boise rolled you doggie style in Atlanta at the “Georgia” dome. Even if you did by football gods stupidity beat somebody besides Auburn from the SEC Best- west. You would still be worse than a team from Idaho! And what would we still Know!! UGA the biggest bunch of beyatches
In College football. Crying about everything- beat BSU and USC and you could talk.. Y’all say Ala beat No one. Heck take a look at that schedule of yours.. Talk about calling the kettle black!!!!
Leg humpers unite. Loserville – clark county upper skool – goona lose to
GT go get your fire CMR shirts now
kanoa captain
November 21st, 2011
9:57 pm
Mark,
In 2007,LSU defeated the two teams that defeated Georgia,and was undefeated in regulation. That’s probably why LSU got the vote. The purpose of the BCS is to match the two best teams for the national championship,REGARDLESS of conference. This year,the top three (determined by a comprehensive vote,not by ESPN) happen to be in the SEC west,and if one of the two playing for the national championship didn’t win it’s division,it is no less deserving of a chance to compete than the Green Bay Packers were deserving of being in the playoffs last season. In addition,2001 Nebraska and 2003 Oklahoma played for the national title without winning their conferences,so why shouldn’t Alabama,LSU,or Arkansas?
@Blackout
November 21st, 2011
9:58 pm
You are certainly entitled to an opinion, but we worked too hard to get the East crown to just give up. All year I have been hearing how we were going to lose to Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, and we need to fire Richt, Bobo, McGarity…blah blah blah. So, I and most real Dawg fans, are just gonna decline the opportunity to sit it out.
Blackoutanyone?
November 21st, 2011
10:05 pm
Was just making light of this article. The SEC Championship game is a wonderful opportunity for a young team like UGA. Would be crazy to see the SEC Champion go to the Capital One bowl while two other SEC teams play for a National Championship. Roll Tide
Mama Says
November 21st, 2011
10:06 pm
Brown Dog
November 21st, 2011
9:41 pm
I own you, that’s very generous. We accept. See you next year in Tuscaloosa.
The new and improved schedules will be ready very soon, and do not count on playing in Tuscaloosa next year, it looks like it may be delayed with Missouri and A&M entering the picture.
DP
November 21st, 2011
10:06 pm
The person who posted that college sports with playoffs don’t render regular seasons meaningless. I think the college basketball regular season has been rendered pretty meaningless by the NCAA tournament. UConn was the national champion last season after going 9-9 in their conference during the regular season.
As for the claims that Georgia was the best team in the country in 2007 with a loss to South Carolina and a bad beating from an average Tennessee team, give me a break.
Blackoutanyone?
November 21st, 2011
10:12 pm
I stand corrected. http://newsok.com/article/3625392
Nonsense
November 21st, 2011
10:28 pm
“Back in 2007, Georgia was blocked from the BCS title game because it didn’t play for its conference championship.”
No. They were “blocked” because they weren’t number 1 and they weren’t number 2. Those are the only conditions required for playing in the BCSCG. If they wanted to play for a National Championship in 2007, then they shouldn’t have lost to both SC and UT.
War Dang Dawg
November 21st, 2011
10:35 pm
That analysis makes no sense. As nice as being crowned “national champion” is, it is a mythical title. An SEC Championship is an actual title recognized by a sanctioning body. No one disputes its legitimacy. I can’t imagine any SEC team not wanting a shot at the SEC Championship.
FLA DAWG
November 21st, 2011
10:46 pm
I think this is a moot point my friend.
Once LSU beats Ark and LSU beats my Dawgs they will be the undisputed, consensus No.1.
(I’d love to see an upset not just for my Dawgs but also to once again justify a playoff system)
objective observer
November 21st, 2011
10:55 pm
I understand the frustration of the Dawgs’ fans, but 2011 is a lot different than 2007. The BCS had to choose one team from the SEC back in 2007 and they took the SEC champions. That was LSU. This year it looks to shape up that 2 SEC teams will be in the BCSNG. So who else are they going to choose other than Alabama if both LSU and Alabama win out? While 9 wins in a row is impressive, they have lost to the only ranked teams they have played.
Paul in NH
November 21st, 2011
11:14 pm
timthebrave
November 21st, 2011
2:35 pm
Thank god baseball has a playoff system or the yankees would be in the world series every year
——-
It would be worse than that – if you use the same logic as the BCS this year it would be Yankees-Red Sox every year. The netowrks would be ecstatic though.
SEC Observer
November 21st, 2011
11:25 pm
@Michael at 9:19pm, you are spot on. Unfortunately many Dawg fans would never admit to that.
Samuel L. Jackson
November 21st, 2011
11:27 pm
Hey, anybody know how you stop a Bulldawg from pulling its pud??? Give up???
You paint his meat Orange & Blue, that way, he’ll only beat it once every 7 years!!!
Paul in NH
November 21st, 2011
11:32 pm
DawgFaceBlues
November 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
What gets in my craw is that teams like Ok State and Oklahoma and almost Stanford can lose to unranked teams and still be in top 10. UGA lost both of their games to 2 very good teams(with Lattimore).
—-
Almost Stanford? Is this like Almost Auburn in 2010 (losing to MSU, Clemson and Kentucky) or Almost Georgia in 2011 (losing to Vandy and Kentucky). Most people call “almost losses” wins.
What???
November 21st, 2011
11:45 pm
Blackoutanyone, you freaking moron, if UGA wins the SECGG, they WILL go to the sUGAr Bowl. There is a rule to allow 3 teams in for that reason if you bother to read.
Gladys
November 21st, 2011
11:47 pm
UGA=MEDIOCRITY. Dogs will get crushed by LSU, ALA, or ARK (hate to say it because Petrino’s a putz). The net result is UGA fans support this mediocrity while other schools win titles and then go through rebuilding years. 1980 was a LONG time ago folks. Time to get a 2011 reality check and see the SEC has passed you by.
What???
November 21st, 2011
11:48 pm
Blackoutanyone, thanks for acknowledging your mistake
rw
November 21st, 2011
11:48 pm
The better analogy is Ohio State-Michigan in 2006. Lots of people thought they were the two best teams in the country. Even after losing to Ohio State, Michigan only dropped to #3 and was ahead of Florida in the next to last poll. On the last weekend, USC (#2) lost, Michigan was idle, and Florida won the SEC title. Florida jumped Michigan to make the national title game. Of course, Florida dismantled Ohio State and USC easily beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
Don’t rule out Oklahoma State getting bumped up to #2 if they beat Oklahoma.
objective observer
November 22nd, 2011
12:16 am
Who has Georgia beat? Really!!!!!
Stewie
November 22nd, 2011
12:29 am
Enough with the whining about 2007 already! It was NOT because UGA didn’t go to the SECCG, it was because LSU had a better body of work.
Both teams had two losses, but LSU’s were both triple-overtime affairs, whereas UGA lost to South Carolina and then got whupped by Tennessee. LSU then beat the Vols in the CG, giving them one more victory than the Dogs over a common opponent that had easily beaten the Dogs. Get it? LSU DESERVED it more than UGA. Sorry, but that’s the way it was. Save the conspiracy theories for Crowell’s next drug test.
coach422002
November 22nd, 2011
1:34 am
Bama had better stats than LSU but lost the game that day.These are the 2 best teams in America.Yes GA fans you lost to Boise St and South Carolina. but you say what if? If a frog had a pocket he would carry a knife to scare the snakes away.If you were in Bama shoes you would want the same thing, but your not.Roll Tide and Black-Out again anytime you want to.I like your coach, but you as fans really stink.
P. Bull Terrier
November 22nd, 2011
1:48 am
The real complaint UGA fans have about the 2007 is the fact that the BCS rankings leading up to the end of the season are virtually meaningless. Georgia was ranked #4 going into the final week, behind #3 Ohio State. The teams ranked #1 & #2 lost in the final week. It seemed logical that Ohio St. would move up 2 spots to #1 and UGA would move up 2 spots to #2. What happened is that Ohio St. did move up to #1, but UGA actually dropped a spot to #5. Not only that, but they were passed in the poll by #6 Va Tech, #7 LSU, and #9 Oklahoma.
All of the explainations about this team lost to that team by 3 points on a grass field at night with a full moon, while the other team lost by 14 on a cloudy afternoon, don’t begin to address the problem of the BCS rankings being meaningless to the average fan. In fact, that is just the kind of argument the BCS system was supposed to address. Before we had the BCS the teams played their bowl game, then the media took a wild guess and decided who they wanted to rank #1 at the end of the season. Sometimes it worked, but often it didn’t.
In 2007 we were told that it didn’t matter where you were ranked going into the last week of the season. If you didn’t win your conference championship, you couldn’t play in the BCS Championship. This year we are told that the conference championship doesn’t matter.
When it comes right down to it, we don’t know if winning a conference championship will matter this year or not. Most of the voters in the human polls will be influenced by whatever the “experts” on ESPN are saying all week. If TV networks decide that a Houston vs. Boise State BCS Championship game will draw the most viewers, Alabama and LSU fans might both end up wondering how their teams got passed over in the final week rankings this year.
Amazing
November 22nd, 2011
3:19 am
UGA fans are amazing. Lucky to beat Vanderbilt, barely beat an anemic Florida team, sweated out a victory over Kentucky. Oh, there was the one convincing victory over powerhouse Auburn. Do you really think that the dogs will give LSU or Bama any kind of a competitive game. I’m guessing at least 28-3, and the 3 is if UGA gets a turnover in the opponents end of the field. Gonna be an embarrasing game for UGA, regardless of the opponent.
Nonsense
November 22nd, 2011
6:35 am
Tim
November 21st, 2011
8:29 pm
Have a question GA lost to teams ranked in the top 10 and OK and OR lost to crap schools how do they not fall past GA?
While quality of losses is an important factor to consider, quality of wins is also a significant part of the overall calculus. Georgia has no quality wins this year.
Brown Dog
November 22nd, 2011
6:40 am
If Alabama wins Saturday, it doesn’t matter what OSU or anyone else does. BCS: Two best teams. Not the two best conference champions. If they want to change the rules in the off-season, fine.
SEC's Redheaded Stepchild
November 22nd, 2011
6:48 am
It ain’t fair!!!
BCS = Bull Crap System
November 22nd, 2011
6:57 am
I hope it gets all screwed up
AU in ATL
November 22nd, 2011
7:03 am
Assuming that LSU and Bama win out (likely). As it stands right now, there would be a rematch. Yes, it would not be fair to LSU as they have to beat Bama twice and UGA and AR on the way to get there. Bama has AU and then rest. But on the other hand, if LSU wins out and Bama is voted/chosen whatever less than #2. Then who does LSU play for the MNC? What team could be argued that is better than Bama at this point. There’s no playoff. For the MNC, either play who the media/computers thinks is #1 and #2 or make a rule where only conf champs can play in the MNC. And pick the best 2 conf champs. The latter is closer to a playoff/wildcard a la NFL. I dont think either is right or wrong. But it would be nice if it were consistent.
Then again, the fact that we are all arguing (valid arguments for the most part) about it is what makes it fun. Unless you are an AU fan in 2004. That was not fun IMHO.
KR
November 22nd, 2011
7:37 am
Only the BCS could create the possibility of the following team having a shot at winning the Championship game:
Currently on probation
Not the best team in the conference (as proven on the field)
Not the best team in the division (as proven on the field)
If it is to be a rematch between LSU and bama, I won’t be watching.
Bama Fan#2
November 22nd, 2011
7:40 am
The only game that MATTERS right know is the Auburn game for Bama!!
danny
November 22nd, 2011
7:54 am
From everything i hear, even if we beat LSU they will say play for the NC. That would be the biggest joke I have ever seen. You would have 2 teams that didn’t win the conference playing for the NC. Alabama’s reward for losing their biggest game of the year, at home, is not having to risk another game with the SEC Championship and waltz into the NC game. What a system…….What a bunch of crap
crimson 1
November 22nd, 2011
8:02 am
Why do all the Georgia fan hate Alabama. Do it have anything to do with those black jerseys we made you all retire.
Whoooooweee
November 22nd, 2011
8:10 am
Ramma Jamma Yellow Hamma Crossed Eyed Hicks from Alabama.
“Bear Bryant woulda……..”
Tips for Alabama folk for the rest of America to take you seriously:
1) Pave a road every once in a while
2) Stop electing guys like George Wallace
3) Read a book
4) Stop spending 1/2 your free time debating the Tahd’s list of accolades, read another book.
5) Stop spending 1/2 your money at Wal-Mart on Bammy swag
6) Stop inventing National Championships. There has never been an official title won by any D1A team, only polls and pageants and myth.
Go Irish & Go Dawgs
and number 7)
November 22nd, 2011
8:18 am
Find some legit industry…..so those of you who can read don’t have to live in Georgia to earn a decent living.