AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSEC No. 1 but Big 12 closing fast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We certainly don’t know everything just three weeks into the season, but here is one man’s opinion on the relative strength of the Division I-A conferences:
1. SEC: This one’s easy. Five teams are ranked in the AP Top 10 for the first time in history: Georgia (3), Florida (4), LSU (6), Alabama (9), and Auburn (10). Alabama is better than we thought. Auburn might not be as good. Of course these rankings won’t stay this way because the teams in this league just beat each other up. What’s interesting is that both Georgia and LSU play the other four Top 10 teams. Alabama plays three (Georgia, LSU, Auburn). Auburn plays three (Georgia, LSU, Alabama), and Florida plays two (Georgia, LSU).
2. Big 12: This conference is gaining fast on the SEC. No. 2 Oklahoma (3-0) has blown away the competition but I’ve been very impressed with No. 5 Missouri with QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin. I had Missouri ranked ahead of Oklahoma in the pre-season and I’ll stick by that. The jury is still out on No. 7 Texas and No. 11 Texas Tech. Nebraska (3-0) isn’t a really good team right now but it is just a matter of time under Bo Pelini. There are bunch of really good quarterbacks in this league (Daniel, OU’s Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy of Texas, Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell). That is always a sign of strength.
3. Big Ten: Despite Ohio State’s thumping at Southern Cal and Michigan’s numerous problems, I still have to put the Big Ten in the No. 3 spot because Wisconsin is a solid team that went on the road and beat Fresno State (13-10) last Saturday. Despite what happened at the Coliseum, Ohio State is good enough to go 11-1 and win the Big Ten. No. 16 Penn State (3-0) appears better than I thought but we won’t know for sure until the Nittany Lions get into the conference schedule. Penn State has had more cupcakes (Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, Syracuse) than a four-year old at a birthday party. Illinois (2-1) barely got by Louisiana-Lafayette and may not be as good as I thought.
4. ACC: I know, I know. After the first two weekends ACC bashing was all in vogue. But look at the quality non-conference teams the league has played (South Carolina, East Carolina, Alabama, Southern Cal, Ole Miss, Florida, California). Look at what’s happened since Clemson’s embarrassing loss to Alabama. North Carolina (2-0) went on the road and was impressive in beating Rutgers. Maryland, which lost to Middle Tennessee the week before, beat California, a team many thought was the second best in the Pac-10. Georgia Tech is better than expected. Virginia Tech is starting to figure some things out. Wake Forest had a good non-conference win against Ole Miss. Clemson is still good enough to go 11-1. Miami played Florida tough for three quarters at Gainesville. It’s early, but it appears Florida State is better. Duke (2-1) is obviously better under David Cutcliffe. The ACC doesn’t have any great teams but from top to bottom it may be the most balanced league next to the SEC.
5. Mountain West: BYU is good (59-0 over UCLA). Utah (3-0) is good, winning at Michigan in the opener. TCU (3-0) is good, beating Stanford 31-14 over the weekend. Now that Fresno State is out of the BCS picture, you have to figure that one of these three MWC teams or East Carolina is going to get an at-large bid. Air Force is 3-0 after beating Houston (31-28) in a rainstorm last Saturday. UNLV (2-1) went on the road and beat Arizona State 23-20 in overtime. I was very tempted to put the MWC into the four-hole and it could still get there.
6. Pac-10: Southern Cal (2-0) is the best team in the country. Oregon (3-0) is not bad but the Ducks just lost quarterback Justin Roper (knee) for 2-4 weeks. But after that it’s a long stretch of bad road. UCLA got embarrassed by BYU (59-0). Arizona State loses at home to UNLV. Cal gets beat on the road at Maryland. Stanford loses to TCU. Arizona loses to New Mexico (36-28). Oregon State (1-2), Washington (0-3), and Washington State (0-3) are just bad teams.
7. Big East: Based on what’s I’ve seen to date, South Florida (3-0) is the best team in this league and West Virginia (1-1) simply isn’t as good as it was a year ago. Rutgers has been a huge disappointment, getting ripped in two straight home games. Steve Kragthorpe at Louisville (1-1) is still in a rebuilding job. Pittsburgh was supposed to take a step forward this year but lost to Bowling Green (27-17) in its opener. Cincinnati (1-1) just lost quarterback Dustin Grutza for an extended period of time. Syracuse (0-3) may not win a game this season and will soon be looking for a new head coach.
8. Conference USA: East Carolina (3-0) is legitimate BCS contender. Tulsa (2-0) will score a lot of points. Central Florida (1-1) took South Florida to overtime. But after that there’s not much. Rice (2-1) moves the ball but was dominated in the second half by Vanderbilt (38-21). Memphis (0-3) is struggling as is UAB (0-3). East Carolina vs. Tulsa in the conference championship game will be pretty good stuff.
9. WAC: Fresno State will win this league but the jury is still out on a bunch of teams. Boise State is 2-0 but we won’t know about the Broncos until after they play at Oregon on Saturday. Louisiana Tech (1-1) has beaten Mississippi State and lost to Kansas (29-0) and is getting better under Derek Dooley. Hawaii (1-2) is not nearly as good without June Jones and Colt Brennan. San Jose State (2-1) beat San Diego State but it looks like everybody’s going to beat San Diego State this season.
10. Sun Belt: People tend to automatically rate this league 11th. But it’s time to take a second look. There are some quality wins in this league. Middle Tennessee beat Maryland (24-14) at home. Arkansas State beat Texas A&M (18-14) on the road. And Troy (2-0) may again be the class of the league and has beaten Middle Tennessee State (31-17) and Alcorn State (65-0). Saturday the Trojans go to Ohio State and will play at LSU on Nov. 15. Florida Atlantic is 1-2 but the losses were on the road at Texas (52-10) and Michigan State (17-0). The Owls could actually win at Minnesota on Saturday.
11. Mid-American: Sorry, MAC fans, but the best wins you have are Bowling Green over Pittsburgh (27-17) and Akron over Syracuse (42-28). Ohio (0-3) scared the heck out of Ohio State. The Fighting David Lettermans of Ball State (3-0) look like the best team in the league along with Central Michigan (2-1)
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Comments
By Dan
September 16, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
SEC and Big 12 are locks as the top 2. The other conferences are a tossup. The SEC will just beat each other up. Ohio St. will probably go 11-1, but wouldn’t be in the top 4 or 5 in the SEC. They will make it to a BCS bowl, and that is a shame. How did the ACC do against those non-conference games you mentioned? 2-5? Roll Tide.
By Bama overrated
September 16, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
I think the voters have it wrong on Alabama. They’re more overrated right now than Clemson was at the beginning of the season. Clemson, as we have seen the past 3 weeks is average at best. Bama managed only one offensive TD against Tulane?? That’s ok, Bama redeemed themselves by putting up 41 against the new powerhouse in Kentucky. Bama’s true colors will begin to show once they hit conference play; especially against Georgia and LSU. I see them also dropping another game to either Tennessee or Auburn…two teams that have found ways to beat Bama over the years. I think too many voters have been stricken with the same dilusion Bama fans have had for the past 10 years that they’re still an elite team in college football. Right now, only 3 of those five SEC teams in the top ten deserve to be there.
By tampa dawgs
September 16, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
i think 1 and 2 are dead on and the polls reflect that. the rest is kind of a toss up. Big 10 has osu, but who else this year? Pac 10, usc and no other real contenders. ACC is more balanced, but very weak conference. Big east? outside of USF, no one. the real question is how long will the SEC stay at #1, since UGA, lsu, al, fl, and auburn will all have to play some form of each other this year. a couple of those teams are going to loose at least 1 game. some 2 (since UGA will beat them all).
By Another Ed
September 16, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Hey Bama overrated
You might be right that the Tide could be ranked too high. Only time will tell. That is the problem with a system that uses opinion to decide who the best teams are. Folks watch a certain game, see a team do well or poorly, then rank them? The college games are great. The college voting system is not so great.
I don’t know if we can say the SEC is the best conference. What is definite is the SEC is the toughest conference, and about that I do not think there is much doubt.
This weekend will start to show a lot of teams for who they are. Can Auburn’s fantastic D hold down LSU, and can Auburn score more than 3 against them?
Can GA improve against an ASU team that was probably looking ahead?
Will Vandy continue their dream season or will Ole Miss start the Vandy slide?
What happens in Arkansas? With so many close calls, is this when the Hogs put it all together or is ‘Bama ready to show they will win the games they should win?
The Fla-Tenn game is interesting to watch. If FLA does what I expect, then this could be the beginning of the end for Fulmer, yet he seems to always pull one out when least expected.
Like I said, the games are great, the rankings are garbage.
By Shawn B
September 16, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
How can Georgia WIN an SEC ROAD game and still fall in the polls. The writers and coaches need to get their heads out of their rears.
By BigDaddy
September 16, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
This is an SEC-centric blog and I am an SEC guy, but the poster who said that OSU was the only team in the Big 10 is dead wrong. Wisconsin and Penn State are very strong. Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois are also decent. The Big 10 will not be dominated by OSU this year.
And Alabama is of course overrated. That will become obvious in October as it always does…ho hum.
By BigDaddy
September 16, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
This is an SEC-centric blog and I am an SEC guy, but the poster who said that OSU was the only team in the Big 10 is dead wrong. Wisconsin and Penn State are very strong. Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois are also decent. The Big 10 will not be dominated by OSU this year.
And Alabama is of course overrated. That will become obvious in October as it always does…ho hum.
By steve
September 16, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Shawn B:Becuase they played like crap.They where lucky to win.Good teams win ugly games.The rankings don’t matter to much right now.As long as UGA wins every week things will take care of themselves…GO DAWGS!!!!
By Jack Mehoff
September 16, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
I suppose if UGA wins all 12 games and the SECCG, they will be 13th in the polls at the end of the season. Nobody seems to take it in consideration that So. Car always plays UGA as if it’s their Bowl game every year. Thay may play like garbage before and after the UGA game, but they always play UGA tough. Hats off to the So. Car. defense. Although they stayed on the field forever, they never gave up, and only showed signs of getting tired in the last of the 3rd qtr. Even when UGA only had to get one or two first downs with time running out and no time outs remaining for the Gamecocks, the defense still put them in position to tie the game with less than 2 minutes remaining. I suppose none of the media takes any of actual football facts in consideration when they vote every week. They just look at the score, consider the opponent, and drop UGA accordingly….The poll system and the BCS are a joke.
By Got 12?
September 16, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
I’m pretty sure championships aren’t awarded based on polls in September. So, to all those complaining about Bama and the SEC being overrated and UGa dropping in the poles, just zip it. Apart from marketing, polls don’t really matter right now. Let’s all win our games then revisit this discussion.
RTR!!!
By kevin
September 16, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Look i not in alabama but u can’t be overrated if u in top 25…anyhow…SEC is correct won 2 natl championship in football n basketball is right Big12 is there n the big10 um lets not forget northwestern also….As it go’s Georgia is 3rd cause of play against south Car. Gamecocks..we best arizona state bad we be at No2 again monday…..n look if u all hate me typin touch
By reebok
September 16, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
When you actually break the conferences down this way, you realize that there is one great conference (SEC, obviously), one really good one (Big 12), and that everybody else is playing for scraps. And I’m an ACC guy.
By John
September 16, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
Tony,
Can you explain to me why Auburn is ranked in the top ten?
They’ve scored three points against major college competition, and their three wins are against teams who have combined for two wins against the Sun Belt and two wins against I-AA teams.
By bamafan
September 16, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Yes Bama is overrated because they have not played a real good team yet. Clemson was a p*** cat instead of a real tiger and Bama finally plays a good team in Georgia in 2 weeks!! The only team I have watched that is very very good is Florida. The SEC is still the best conference over all with talent and great coaches and the best fans in the world!! ROLL TIDE AND GO DAWGS!!
By JB
September 16, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
UGA winning big in Arizona will not automatically bring the Dawgs back to number 2. The pollsters want the Dawgs at 8-10 and will not quit till we are there. They are counting on us losing soon and dropping us to 10-12. just watch. They hate us. Why ? Who knows.
By Shawn B
September 16, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Tell Tommy Tuberville and Auburn how the polls don’t matter. 13-0 and not in the national title game. Now that UGA is third, they have to rely on USC or Oklahoma to lose sometime this year to have any shot at the National Title game. I wish the NCAA would do the right thing and come up with a playoff system. How awesome would it be to have 4 or 8 of the top teams going at it in December and early January. And if you had 4 or 8 teams involved then the top of the polls wouldn’t matter as much since the 9th and 10th teams whining wouldn’t be that big of a deal since they would probably have 2 losses. Most every year teams with only 1 loss would be awarded with a playoff berth.
By Spike
September 16, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
To illustrate how goofy this is, Auburn wins 3-2 over MSU and is still in the top 10? UGA, although they played ugly on the road, beats the “best defense in the SEC’ (according to Granny Holtz) and drops.
By George G.
September 16, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
By Micah
September 16, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
The Big 12 is extremely strong this year and could overtake the SEC. This could be a big weekend for the Big 12 if two of its weaker teams, Colorado and Baylor, can beat FSU and UConn, respectively.
Look out SEC.
By the way, the Mountain West should be ranked higher because the rest of the conferences STINK after the top two or three teams.
By Atlanta Gator
September 16, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Tony——I understand that you like to write material that appeals to the UGA and other SEC fans who dominate the AJC’s readership, but it is way too early to crown any conference as 2008’s best or any single team as the inevitable BCS champion. Too much football to play, and the conference schedules have only just started … there will be plenty of upsets, surprises, and teams that gradually emerge as better than expected. That’s why they play the games, rather than letting the pollsters pick.
How about some real analysis for tomorrow’s column/blog, big fella?
By pipepimp
September 16, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Why do all you dog fans keep on crying? The Tide will spank that a** for you in a couple of weeks, and then you’ll know that they are for real!!!
By Atlanta Gator
September 16, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
bamafan——It’s always nice when a fan from another SEC school says something nice about a rival SEC team. That having been said, the Gators have their problems, too … it would be nice if Florida could play a running game that didn’t involve QB Tim Tebow accounting for something like half of the team’s rushing yardage. There’s still time, but it will require patience, better O-line play from the Gators and the emergence of one or two Gator tailbacks who can carry the load and make big plays happen.
By Certified Football Expert
September 16, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
SOUTHERN CAL is not the best team in the country. They beat 0-2 VIRGINIA and 1-1 OHIO STATE
WAY TO EARLY TO LABEL USC THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY. I HOPE TROY UPSETS OHIO STATE TO SHOW THAT SOUTHERN CAL STILL HAS’NT PLAYED A TEAM WORTH A buckeye. UNLV,BYU,MARYLAND and even PURDUE revealed how weak the PAC 10 is.
By Tucker
September 16, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
The SEC needs to make the SEC Championship Game an even bigger event to the point it rivals the BCS Championship Game for national attention. There should be a big time basketball tournament played in the host city (presumably Atlanta) on the same weekend. There should be a parade. There should be significant payouts to the participating teams. Make it look more like a bowl game.
By buckeye buster
September 16, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
OHIO STATE IS ACTUALLY 2-1, SORRY THEY BEAT POWERHOUSES YOUNGSTOWN STATE and OHIO U bobbycats
By Bo
September 16, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
Atlanta Gator:
Tony opened this blog by stating that we’re “just three weeks into the season”.
He also stated that USC is the best team in the country. There was no crowning of a champion or predictions of inevitability in his column.
There’s plenty of analysis in his blog. Take time to understand his point, and avoid reading something into it that wasn’t written.
By Atlanta Gator
September 16, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Bo——I’m a big fan of Tony Barnhart, but his disclaimer doesn’t cut it. It’s a question of priorities and emphasis. These types of columns and blog topics should be reserved until the last third of the season when there is concrete evidence to support the discussion and when the “who’s best?” topics have a real bearing on the selection of the BCS pairings and other top-tier bowl teams. Right now, these types of topics are an exercise in mental masturbation, without enough facts to put forth a sustainable guess.
BTW, by “analysis,” I mean an emphasis on X’s and O’s, on pending game match-ups, and on emerging trends, not “horse race” discussions about that smell like the media’s political campaign coverage. Tony is a better college football columnist than that.
Moreover, stating that “Southern Cal is the best team in the country” is an assertion that is incredibly short on empirical evidence. After USC has beaten UVa (a 3rd-tier ACC team this year) and a vastly over-rated Ohio State (a title contender fabricated by ESPN), the Trojans should have a big asterisk after their number one poll rankings. Sadly, it appears that Ohio State may be the best team on USC’s 2008 schedule. However, if by “best team in the country” Tony means the current top-5 team that is most likely to finish the season undefeated, well, I suppose that might qualify as “analysis.” If that’s what Tony really means, then he should say so … .
Well, that’s my opinion for what it’s worth.
By Bo
September 16, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Atlanta Gator:
I understand your points and mostly agree with them. Early season polls are very poor indicators of team strength. I hope to see a real NCAA/football playoff someday.
Take care.
By mcdawg
September 16, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
don’t forget Kansas-i was extremely impressed by their QB even in a losing effort to USF—Miami and FSU better watch out b/c USF is a rising program
By Hacksaw
September 16, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Mark it down, the Vols beat the Gators Saturday.
Florida will get a dose of Hardesty & Foster all day long.
It will be old time, smash mouth power football & the Gator D will fold up like the French Army
By Doug
September 16, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Who cares at this point in the season? Based on history, the only things certain at this point in the season are:
Thank all of you. For some of us, all of this makes for great comedic entertainment, even if we have seen it before!
By Huh?
September 16, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Doug thumps his chest and writes that “based on history” reality will expose the SEC as the season progresses. I would like to know what history Doug is talking about or, in the alternative, what drug he is smoking. The SEC FINISHED with 5 top 15 teams last year, more than any other league, and went 7-2 in its bowl games. So Doug, what history are you talking about Mr. Know It All? It looks like the only thing reality is exposing is your ignorance.
By Shane
September 16, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Im sick of USC(Ur Conference SUX) Play in the SEC every week and you wont have enough able bodies to play a bowl game If you even make it that far! Cant score with your helmet knocked backwards! What a joke!
By Alabama Jack
September 16, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Re:U GA and the polls. Why is UGA not liked? To know you is to hate you, dawg fans.
By Bullet meet dead horse
September 16, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Who cares about this. The only thing that matters is if your team wins. If you are cheering for your arch-nemesis so your conference has bragging rights you are an a*-hat.
By paul lee
September 16, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
I am a Bama fan and i am surprised we are rated 9th. We are not there yet but starting next year you people who dont think we will be back are, to spell it as Mr. Intelligent,”Bama overrated” would, “dilusional”. Better get it while you can clowns. Your time is about to be up. LOL.
By huh
September 16, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
re: re: UGA and the polls. You almost lost to South Carolina which lost to Vandy the previous week. A win is a win, but if you continue to play like that you will lose to 4 or 5 games. If you play like that against USC ( I am not a fan) you will get beat worse than OSU did on Saturday. I think they will bounce back with lessons learned, but look at reality and recognize that you are lucky you are at 3. The 3 behind you looked much better than you as well. Auburn 3-2 wtf is that.Good luck with LSU.
By IM4BAMA
September 16, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
I really do think Troy will go into Ohio State and beat the Buckeyes too. Troy could also be recognized as a “anywhere, anybody and anytime” team.
Ohio state got the heart ripped out of them, they are questiong themselves and the Trojans will captialize on that.
Great weekend coming for SEC football, can’t wait for Saturday.
The Tide will roll big, the Gators will chomp, another defensive battle with the two Tigers.
Dawgs, please whip ASU and shut the PAC-10 fans up and then come home undefeated, so the Tide can knock dawg fans back to reality.
By paul lee
September 16, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
PS- Big Daddy is a barner i am sure.
By Jim
September 16, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Bama is definitely overrated. Heck they shouldn’t be in the SEC. Who cares that they basically were the foundation for the league and in the worst of times still won a SEC championship. They were only 10-2 with a coach that had never been a head coach (and will likely never be one again). Even in the first year of a new coach with less than SEC talent they lost in overtime to UGA, had LSU on the ropes with 3 minutes, lost by 7 at auburn and killed UT. They are definitely overated they won’t win another game this season. UGA will kill them just like they put away USC, au will blow’em away just like they did MSU and UT will make them suffer just like they did UCLA.
Tony-
As always a good blog.
By huh
September 16, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Gator. You can look at a team, even if they play patsies, and see that they play at a high level. USC looked like it had the best team (talent, team and coaches) in the land on Saturday because of the execution. Ohio State is still a decent team, better than Miami….
By What the
September 16, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Alabama is overrated and Of course they are back again.. yeah whatever.Let’s see how they do against Arky. Auburn has a good defense but can’t score points. The offense is pathetic. Nobody knows what LSU will do against a good SEC opponent. Florida and Georgia are decent teams just not great. Georgia went up against a good defense in SC. I do not see one SEC team that sticks out as being head and shoulders above the others. Southern Cal and Oklahoma are the two best teams in the nation right now and that is based on who they have played so far. The SEC always beats themselves to death with conference play. I think the SEC is the best in talent over anyone. But as long as you have USC in the pac 10.. they will always be in a title hunt. That conference is too weak.
By saint nick
September 16, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
There is only 1 SEC team overated, AUBURN. Putting 3 points on State that lost to LA tech. Bama will destroy Arkansas.BAMA is a top 15 team. Learn to live with because this team is gonna get on a ROLL and it’s gonna take a mighty effort from Moreno to run against MOUNT CODY and that front seven. Offense has not reached its potential YET!!!! The iron bowl and west crown will reside at the CAPSTONE!!!!!!!I will take a loss to GA and play in the dome in DEC any year!!!!! People saying Saban is gonna leave, this man loves it at Bama, has given over a million to the first generation scholarship fund (not available to ANY athlete), what does he have to do?????????I know the rest of the SEC doesn’t want Saban at Bama, because you KNOW what is coming, a relapse of the 70’s
By IM4BAMA
September 16, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Jim
Your exactly the kind of idiot UGA fan that I’m talking about. “No offense to the one’s present in reality”
We will see who’s overated come 9/27. I’ll be on this blog the next day and I will be serving humble pie for you. So have a good excuse ready.
UGA will lose three, possibly four games and come in 3rd in the SEC East. UF is going to destroy them.
By athensdawg
September 16, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Dawgs will fall again if the gators beat the vols.
I will not be watching that game. For me, it is like watching the Iranians fight the Russians. Who do you cheer for? That is one game that I would like to see end in a tie every year.
UGA fans need to grow up. Until we beat someone in the top 25, we will go backwards while the teams around us play quality opponents.
We have bigger issues to worry about…like how we can’t get a first down on third and short with less than 2 minutes to go in the ball game.
By Steven C
September 16, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Bamar IS just as BAD as we thought. Western was playing its 2nd string qb against these guys. Puhhhhhhhh-leeze. Does the press have to jump on this bandwagon every year…only to jump off again with the other rats when the Crimpson Tahd gets exposed?! SKC Duluth, Ga.
By Steven C
September 16, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
“By Jim
September 16, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Bama is definitely overrated. Heck they shouldn’t be in the SEC. Who cares that they basically were the foundation for the league and in the worst of times still won a SEC championship. “
Are you on crack??? Foundation of the league. Pre and post Bahr, Bamar is average at best. I love it when 30 year olds (or less) lend us their VAST knowledge of Southern Football…. LOL! SKC Duluth, Ga
By UGA Overrated
September 16, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
I guess the UGA Fans are excited about how USC gave them a gift on Saturday. Since UGA is #1 in the SEC, they shouldn’t lose to the 6th, 7th or even 10th best team in the SEC. If Bama does win in Athens, I guess your EXCUSE can be we didn’t play well. The same crap UGA fans have been saying all week. We can’t win in Jacksonville because it a neutral field. Florida is like 17-3 against UGA. Whewwwwwwwwww!!!!!
Don’t let the SEC’s best team down by losing to Arizona State!
By timthebrave
September 16, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Tony, Do you think you can crown USC as the best team out there? They have played 0 good teams on the road. Looking at their schedule they play 2 decent teams at home and 0 top 25 teams on road. Every top SEC team beats Ohio state by 30 on neutral sites so I am not impressed yet. Beating VA by 50 is no big deal. That team is terrible. USC may be good but we won’t find out until their bowl game where they can beat Missouri by 30 and be crowned the best team ever. THE BCS is a joke and I prefer not talking about it. I would be more impressed if they played top SEC teams every week and went 10-2 and won SEC championship than going 12-0 in pac 10. JMO
By FootballGuy
September 16, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
Yawn. I read the same article 2 weeks ago in ESPN, FoxSports, SI, USAToday…..
By Price
September 16, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
SEC and Big 12 look good. by the way, Clemson will go 10-2. One more loss to Wake Forest
By Hey IM4BAMA
September 16, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I’m pretty sure that Jim’s post is what we call SARCASM.
“UGA will kill them just like they put away USC, au will blow’em away just like they did MSU and UT will make them suffer just like they did UCLA.”
I mean, did you even read his post before you responded?
By #1bamafan
September 16, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
woof woof - blah blah blah in a couple of week syou meeley mouth dawg fans will be sent to the corner to go lick yourself…count on it!
By newrandyt
September 16, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
No question that my Vols stunk up the field at UCLA, but remember that they had what was probably one of the poorest coaching exhibitions in NCAA history. If they had not abandoned the run for some unbelievably stupid reason, then we would not have been having this conversation. There is some talent there if the coaches have awakened from whatever drug stupor they were on.
Just a thought.
By GT
September 16, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Tony do you know if coaches lobby these rankings. I got to think a great recruiter like Alabama is burning the phones up with somebody. You get a nice guy like Wake Forest in this world of thieves and you could have a great team that never breaks the top ten because of the pressure put on the voters.
By gg
September 16, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Tony, Question: What’s with the notion lately that a team from a BCS conference is somehow elevated above other so-called non-BCS teams? Supposedly knowledgeable sportswriters even refer to it as an accomplishment to beat a “BCS team.” There are plenty of teams from BCS-eligible conferences that belong in the bottom half of D1, and a number of teams from non-BCS conferences that are among the best in the country. That’s real, and I’m a Georgia fan!
By Wow!
September 16, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/notebook?page=notebook/onthemark0915
Tony- you just straight up copied this story. Well played. The AJC is such garbage that it is laughable. Hack
By Rattler
September 16, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
There is no football outside of the SEC. I am the one non-GA fan who is not impressed with the USC Trojans. Beating OSU was like playing against the local high school. Ask UF..I’m still the only non-Auburn fan that was/still is upset over Auburn going undefeated in the SEC and not playing for the BCS. Are you serious?? Let me know when USC and OkU play teams on par with the SEC on a weekly basis and maybe, just maybe I’ll be impressed. The SEC is the only place that you can not predict every Saturday.
By PACWIN
September 16, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Shane/Rattler
USC plays their conference games like every other team does. They also schedule tougher OOC games than most other schools including UGA and the other SEC programs.
Virginia was 9-4 last season and Played in the Gator Bowl 1/1/08, OSH was 11-2 and played for a national championship.
USC is 10 and 2 against Top 10 Teams the past 5 years. They are 3-0 against the SEC (Auburn was rated #6 when USC beat them, and Arkansas (twice) 2005-06 the razorbacks went 10-4 in 2006).
USC has lost 6 times by a total of 20 points the past 5 years (never by more than 7, most by 3 or less; the average loss is by 3.3 points.
2 of the losses came against teams rated in the top 5, 1 of those was to Texas in the NC; the Trojans only loss that year.
The USC Trojans have won 11 or more games the past 6 seasons and have 6 BCS appearances, both NCAA FBS (1-A) records.
You can keep whining about the conference all you want. The point I’m making is USC wins against whoever they play in whatever conference they come from.
By Dan is an sec groupie
September 16, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
the sec will just beat each other up….
Do other conf teams play each other?
Duct tape in Ala= chrome!
By War Eagle
September 16, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Last year UGA made final #2 ranking by 17 upsets in top 10 last 5=6 weeks. The dawgs did have improvement from their last defeat to Sugar Bowl. The upsets want be as progressive as last year, the SEC will only advance with 11-1 or even 12-0 season to play Oklahoma or Souther Cal, who are both better than any SEC team today…..SEC Ranks: 1. Florida, 2. UGA,3. LSU, 4. Auburn, 5. Alabama. Auburn has had the most difficult schedule after 3 games…
By War Eagle
September 16, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
saint nick BS
By Travis
September 17, 2008 12:48 AM | Link to this
By Jonathan
September 17, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
Everyone can badmouth the SEC and Alabama all you want because you are only jealous. I am a Crimson Tide fan and i love good football. The SEC is where not only the best players reside, but also the best teams. You want to scream Southern Cal??? Oh please!!! They beat up on a team that just about any team from the SEC would put a beatdown on. Oh wait, they already have in the past 2 championship games! THE Ohio State University SUCKS A*!! They are pathetic and who in the world didn’t think USC wouldn’t win that game convincingly. As for the rest of you BIG 12 fans, gimme a break. Oklahoma wouldn’t survive 6 weeks in the SEC!!! I must say i am realistic about my tide. They may lose a few this year because we are so very young in alot of key positions, but the talent is there and when everything finally comes together the tide will be ruling college football once again and everything will be right in the universe. This ain’t your daddy’s alabama, but its close and you can bet your sweet a* the Bear is smiling from above. ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!
By Travis
September 17, 2008 6:32 AM | Link to this
Travis
By Travis
September 17, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this
Tony— i was wondering if you can see what the ratings were for uga vs usc and vt vs gt. Since both games were on at the sametime, I wwas wanting a comparison for who in the atl area watched uga and who watched gt. It would be interesting to see if the uga game or gt game have more viewers and what the difference was in the interest between the sec and acc games.
By NYJacket
September 17, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this
Tony, List the games and results for the SEC against other BCS conference schools so far this year. Yes, Yes, I know Alabama crushed Clemson and Fla finally put away Miami. Now get beyond the cup cakes and list other SEC wins against BCS.
UCLA crushed Tenn and USC destroyed Ohio State. Got any like that yet from the SEC?
By ............................................BuLLdawg
September 18, 2008 3:08 AM | Link to this
.
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They don’t play Defense in the Big XII, and they don’t play anyone.
The SEC has only lost 3 games to Football Bowl Subdivision teams this season and is atop all Conferences in every conceivable measurement of which conference is the best. The Big 10 has lost 6 games to Football Bowl Subdivision teams, twice as bad as The SEC. And, the PAC-10 is just God Awful at 9 wins and 10 Losses against Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
The ACC is 6-8 against the Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Good Heavens. Where are the Tech nerds telling us that the ACC is just almost as good as The SEC ?
The Big East is 5-9.
The Big XII has Lost 4. Of course, the Big XII Missouri still has to play Buffalo whatever that is, after having already played Southeast Missouri State and Nevada.
Nebraska has already played San Jose State, New Mexico State and Western Michigan.
Colorado has already played Eastern Washington and Colorado State.
Iowa State has already played South Dakota State, Kent State and now this week faces Las Vegas.
Kansas has already played Florida International, Louisiana Tech, and Lost to South Florida before now facing off against powerful Sam Houston State.
Kansas State has played North Texas, Montana State, and Lost to Louisville, before now this week taking on Louisiana Lafayette.
Oklahoma has played Cincinnati, Chattanooga and Washington who between them have won 0 games and now faces Texas Christian University who Lost 5 Games in the Mountain West last year. Oh, yeah, that’s the Number 2 team in the nation; they look real good. God Almighty. Where is their 9-4 Steve Spurrier South Carolina opponent ? Their Dennis Erickson Number 24 USA Today Coaches’ Poll Arizona State on the road opponent ?
There is not 1 Opponent Oklahoma has played who has Won a Football Game all season long.
Oklahoma State has played Washington State who has not had a winning record in 5 consecutive seasons now this year, Houston State, Missouri State, and now this week faces Troy.
Texas Tech has played Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU, and now this week faces off against perennial power Massachusetts.
Texas has played Florida Atlantic and UTEP before this week taking on mighty Rice.
Baylor Bears Lost to Weak Forest, and then played Northwestern State School and hapless not had a winning season 5 years in a row Washington State. See a trend here yet Now, they take on Connecticut State.
And, Texas Agriculture and Mining has taken on Arkansas State, New Mexico, this week faces hapless Miami of Florida before next week taking on Army.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
September 18, 2008 3:21 AM | Link to this
If you found 1 football game that the Big XII has played all season long by any 1 of their “teams” please let me know. I missed it.
I’ve never seen such a mishmash of nobodies in all my life the Big XII has played.
And, this is the conference deemed to be (adjust your glasses now please) just almost as good as The SEC, not quite, but almost.
Look, the Big XII has all these teams not considered in the Top 60 Football teams this season :
Iowa State.
Kansas State.
Colorado.
Oklahoma State.
Texas Agriculture and Mining.
Baylor Bears.
That’s half the “conference.” And, who have any Big XII teams played yet this season ?
Go ahead and please tell me 1 football game 1 Big XII team has played ? Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Tony Barnhart of the AJ-C tells us today that the Big XII is almost not quite but almost as good as The SEC.
The Big XII is 42-44 in Bowl Games. That’s a Losing Record in Bowl Games the Big XII in fact has.
Nebraska was blown out in the BCS National Championship Game. LSU beat Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game. Oklahoma was blown out in the BCS National Championship Game. The Big XII has a Losing Record in the BCS National Championship Game, while The SEC is undefeated at 4-0 for the Most BCS National Championships.
The Big XII is 6-8 in BCS Bowl Games, All-Time, a Losing Record as well. The Big 10 at 8-9 in BCS Bowl Games is slightly better than the Big XII.
The SEC has Far and Away the Best Record in BCS Bowl Games at 11-4. Did I mention the ACC is 1-9.
I’m sorry but I am just not impressed with the Big XII. Nobody is.
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By ............................................BuLLdawg
September 18, 2008 3:29 AM | Link to this
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By NYJacket
September 17, 2008 6:57 AM
Tony, List the games and results for the SEC against other BCS conference schools so far this year. Yes, Yes, I know Alabama crushed Clemson and Fla finally put away Miami. Now get beyond the cup cakes and list other SEC wins against BCS.
.
.
Kentucky stomped Louisville.
Florida stomped Miami and Hawaii.
South Carolina stomped North Carolina State.
Georgia beat South Carolina who is going to be 9-4 this season.
Alabama stomped Clemson.
LSU stomped North Texas, or is North Texas just a big opponent for Kansas State and not for LSU ?
Ole Miss, clearly the worst team in The SEC, had Wake Forest the only ranked ACC team, beat.
Vanderbilt ranked No. 26 in the AP Poll before this weekend’s games, beat South Carolina who is going 9-4 this season and Vandy may play in their 1st Bowl Game in 26 years.
Who did The SEC beat ?
There you have it.
The best Non-Conference Record in America.
Now, who in the hell did the Big XII beat ? Bet you can’t find an answer to that, because they have not played anyone yet.
Every 1 of these games I list for The SEC was a ranked opponent for The SEC.
This weekend we have :
No. 4 Florida taking on the vols.
No. 3 UGA taking on No. 24 Coaches’ Poll Arizona State.
No. 26 AP Poll Vanderbilt going to Ole Miss who nearly beat the only ACC ranked team Wake Forest.
No. 10 Auburn taking on No. 6 LSU.
No. 9 Alabama taking on undfeated Arkansas.
Georgia Tech taking on last place so far this season, Mississippi State who you probably cannot even beat.
Meanwhile the ACC is the worst conference in college football, followed closely by the PAC-10, Big 10 and Big XII.
By Jack Coll
September 19, 2008 3:41 AM | Link to this
Tony,
If you were really Mr. SEC football, you would know better than pre-announce the re-emergence of bammer. They win a few games and leap from out of the top 25 to top 10 and really what have they done? Tulane held them to 38 yards in a half and at the line of scrimmage played them off their feet. Clemson lost 4 OL’s from last season and is obviously overrated and they whupped up on WKU. This is what gets you elevated 16+ spots in the polls? I will never for the life of me understand why people like you want to elevate bammer to elite status so desperately. When bammer lines up their skinny frosh against SEC men that have been in their respective programs for years do you really think they are going to dominate? Do you really think that they will suddenly just swat AU away at a place where they have yet to beat AU with freshmen? What a load.
If you really think what you wrote here…you are really Mr. Knows Nothing About the SEC. BTW AU beats LSU this weekend and Arky will give bammer all it wants and then some.
By Jack Coll
September 19, 2008 3:51 AM | Link to this
Tony,
If you were really Mr. SEC football, you would know better than pre-announce the re-emergence of bammer. They win a few games and leap from out of the top 25 to top 10 and really what have they done? Tulane held them to 38 yards in a half and at the line of scrimmage played them off their feet. Clemson lost 4 OL’s from last season and is obviously overrated and they whupped up on WKU. This is what gets you elevated 16+ spots in the polls? I will never for the life of me understand why people like you want to elevate bammer to elite status so desperately. When bammer lines up their skinny frosh against SEC men that have been in their respective programs for years do you really think they are going to dominate? Do you really think that they will suddenly just swat AU away at a place where they have yet to beat AU with freshmen? What a load.
If you really think what you wrote here…you are really Mr. Knows Nothing About the SEC. BTW AU beats LSU this weekend and Arky will give bammer all it wants and then some.