Saturday, November 19, 2011

SEC Is Good, But This Good?

Even if you live under a rock on some other planet, you'd know that the SEC has won the last five BCS championships. But apparently that's still not good enough.

Now the SEC wants to hoard the national championship game entirely to itself, and have the game played on its turf to boot.

After the bloodletting of top-ranked teams this weekend, which got a head start on Friday when Oklahoma State lost at double-digit underdog Iowa State, you'll find three SEC West teams occupying the first three spots of the next BCS Standings.

Even if you don't like to see an LSU-Alabama rematch in the BCS title game in New Orleans, that seems all but inevitable as long as LSU beats Arkansas at home next week. Besides, what are your other choices?

Oklahoma State, believe it or not, might get a mulligan if the 174 coaches and Harris voters really don't want to see another soccer game. There are also Stanford and Virginia Tech, each with one loss. After that, it's either a 2-loss team or Houston or Boise State, so no chance.

The Guru will break down all the scenarios, with two weeks remaining in the college football regular season. Check it out in the morning at SB Nation.

For now, here's the projected BCS Standings:

1. LSU, 2. Alabama, 3. Arkansas, 4. Oklahoma State, 5. Stanford, 6. Virginia Tech, 7. Oklahoma, 8. Oregon, 9. Boise State, 10. Houston, 11. South Carolina, 12. Kansas State, 13. Michigan State, 14. Georgia, 15. Michigan.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I tweeted at you earlier and you responded. I have listened to you on Bo Mattingly's show in Arkansas the past few weeks, enjoy your work.

Anonymous said...

Just waiting for Arkansas to beat LSU, followed by Georgia, leaving Arkansas and Alabama as #1 and #2.

Chaos

Anonymous said...

any chance TCU can move up enough (to 16) if houston loses to tulsa this week? 3 spots didn't seem far until baylor beat OU today and chaos spread across the top 15. #16 looks a long way up for the #19 frogs...even after a win today and an all but certain win in 2 weeks.

Anonymous said...

The top 3 teams in the country? I don't know. Tonight on one of the later games the announcers took Oregon, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State losing to indicate that the Pac 12 and Big 12 are weaker divisions. The problem is they all lost conference games, so that just means they are more even conferences.

USC has SEC level talent, Oregon has one of the toughest systems to prepare for week to week, and Stanford has by far the best QB in college (he has essentially no wide receivers and is still doing really well). Oklahoma and Oklahoma State both have (or had) elite QB/WR combinations.

Thus far, LSU has beaten Oregon by taking advantage of a few tipped passes and fumble recoveries in the first game of the season (having months to prepare) and basically home field advantage, then beat an offensively challenged Alabama team.

Is the SEC the best conference? Yes, they care the most about football, accept "student" athletes solely based on football, and their fans/alumni contribute the most money. But do they have the top 3 teams in the country? I don't think so. That kind of dominance is a result a polling system which incorporates and perpetuates the perception that the SEC is the best conference.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I would minimize LSU's win over Oregon as much as you have in your post. I'm not an LSU fan, But remember that Oregon also had the same amount of time to prepare for that game. And I guess you could say that LSU played closer to home than did Oregon, but it wasn't exactly close-- the game was like 450 miles away from Baton Rouge-- it wasn't like the game was played in New Orleans. LSU beat them fair and square. And it wasn't even as close as you'd think by looking at only the score.

Anonymous said...

Like it or not, and contrary to the previous poster's opinion, the SEC is the best conference. How else do you explain the repeating national championships? And let's not forget the caliber of coaching. A conference with the likes of Saban, Spurrier and Petrino (I begrudgingly will include Miles, though I think he benefits more from the strength of Louisina's recruits than his coaching ability)is naturally going to be super-competitive. Add to that the strong tradition of southern football and you should easily understand why the SEC outperforms. So yes - the SEC really is 'this good'.

MB said...

Oklahoma State still in it... Go Dawgs (per ramblingpoke.com)

Anonymous said...

Nothing makes sense about a team that has gone 9-0 in the SEC and they still can't make it past 12. UGA lost to USC on the last fumble by Murray in wk 2. Since then, they've and are strong. And you still put USC ahead? Nothing right about this at all. Only one other team in the top 15 have gone either 11-0 or 9-0.

Anonymous said...

Also on the subject of Georgia, this guy also somehow made Michigan State jump over Georgia- based on what? Because they beat an Indiana team that has only won 1 game this year- winning 38-21 against the much heralded team- South Carolina State? Hahahaha.

Anonymous said...

You kow why UGA won the east? Because they didnt play Bama, Ark, or LSU. If they had USCe would have won the east.

Anonymous said...

So lets put Georgia #4 and have a Playoff with all SEC teams to win the NC. What a joke the SEC is not nearly this good. Yes do you have the best conference and the best 2 teams yes. But you have more free wins ie Georgia Southern, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Vandy etc. Come on Arkansas played one tough game and got killed by LSU. The pollsters give all SEC teams the benefit of the doubt because your top 2 teams are really good.

Anonymous said...

Guru - you have and continue to be the authority on the BCS. Thanks for the good work.

Question 1 - If Houston loses 1 will the voters drop them behind the Frogs and will TCU end up in the Top 16 of the BCS?

Question 2 - what happens if Ark beats LSU by 10+ is there a chance they jump to #1. If so I think they go to the SEC title game. If they are upset by Georgia do LSU and Alabama play for the title without either even playing for their conference title? This would be a fantasticly funny and rediculous way to crown a champion.

Anonymous said...

Why are there 2 loss teams ranked ahead of undefeated Houston? That is ridiculous.

The Guru said...

Questions 1 & 2 -

1. TCU doesn't need to jump Houston to get into a BCS bowl. It just needs to be in the top 16 and have Houston lose one of its remaining games. If Houston loses, it won't win the CUSA title and won't be AQ, just like Boise.

2. Arkansas can easily be No. 1 in the BCS Standings and not go to the SEC title game - if Alabama is No. 2. Per SEC's tiebreaker, 'Bama goes in that scenario. But that means Arkansas will still get to play for the BCS title.

Anonymous said...

The guy that says the SEC is not the best conference is not watching the same football as everyone else. Football is a team sport and a few of the players he singled out are good but that does not make a team. The SEC year in and year out have the best players fans and coaches. Not many teams outside the conference could come in week in and week out and play the schedule these teams play.Roll Tide Roll. One and two should play each other regardless if they have played in the regular season. This will not happen often it just so happens that it is happening this year.

Anonymous said...

This may be the year that an SEC team finally loses in the BCS Championship -- but only because it's playing another SEC team!!

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