Mr. College Football

By Bamafan

October 7, 2008 5:10 AM | Link to this

Tony, High scoring brings the crowds to the game, but defense wins championships. Look at Alabama past and see who had the best defenses in the SEC history!! The 92 defense that Bama had to me was the best in the history of college ball sense 1970!! Bear Bryant and Gene Stallings believed in defense,run the ball and defense!! The Big 12 has the best qb’s in college football and I have watched Missouri,Texas,and the sooners play this year and Missouri has the best offense. The winner of the Big 12 will be favored to win the national championship!! Bama is killing right now with its turnovers and giving up big plays on defense!! Bama should had blown out Kentucky in the first half, but let them back in the ball game and just barely won the game!! GO DAWGS THIS WEEKEND AND GO VANDY!!

By alabamadawg

October 7, 2008 5:21 AM | Link to this

Very interesting…thanks, now where do the dawgs rank???

By Roswell Ed

October 7, 2008 5:53 AM | Link to this

Interesting, defense? Thats why Auburn will beat the overated bulldogs. Unless ofcourse the blind master if gimmicks can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Richt is a joke, the longer he hangs around the more he gets exposed for a fraud of a coach. His lack of disipline is turning them into the “U” of old. Cant control them off the field, cant control them on the field, tells them to go out and get unsportsmanlike penalties.

Gee, wonder what he will be for Halloween, he cant dress up as a joke, he already is one.

WDE

By Roswell Ed

October 7, 2008 5:53 AM | Link to this

Interesting, defense? Thats why Auburn will beat the overated bulldogs. Unless ofcourse the blind master if gimmicks can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Richt is a joke, the longer he hangs around the more he gets exposed for a fraud of a coach. His lack of disipline is turning them into the “U” of old. Cant control them off the field, cant control them on the field, tells them to go out and get unsportsmanlike penalties.

Gee, wonder what he will be for Halloween, he cant dress up as a joke, he already is one.

WDE

By Roswell Ed

October 7, 2008 5:53 AM | Link to this

Interesting, defense? Thats why Auburn will beat the overated bulldogs. Unless ofcourse the blind master if gimmicks can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Richt is a joke, the longer he hangs around the more he gets exposed for a fraud of a coach. His lack of disipline is turning them into the “U” of old. Cant control them off the field, cant control them on the field, tells them to go out and get unsportsmanlike penalties.

Gee, wonder what he will be for Halloween, he cant dress up as a joke, he already is one.

WDE

By Roswell Ed

October 7, 2008 5:53 AM | Link to this

Interesting, defense? Thats why Auburn will beat the overated bulldogs. Unless ofcourse the blind master if gimmicks can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Richt is a joke, the longer he hangs around the more he gets exposed for a fraud of a coach. His lack of disipline is turning them into the “U” of old. Cant control them off the field, cant control them on the field, tells them to go out and get unsportsmanlike penalties.

Gee, wonder what he will be for Halloween, he cant dress up as a joke, he already is one.

WDE

By Elmo

October 7, 2008 5:55 AM | Link to this

Tony - Nick took the day off and let Gene Stallings coach the Team……..

By swimdawg68

October 7, 2008 6:26 AM | Link to this

Hey Roswell Ed, the joke of a coach is “Crybaby” Tommy. He hires this hotshot OC and his offense looks terrible. The play calling in the Vandy game was AWFUL. AuBARN could have won that game if they would have stuck with their running game. Their big back had over 100 yds. in the first half and hardly touched the ball in the second, what’s up with that? Now “Crybaby” Tommy says they are going back to a more conventional offense. The dumbass couldn’t figure that out during the Vandy game?

We have kicked AuBARN’s but the last two years and that will continue. Roswell Ed is dilusional. Hey, you guys lost to VANDY, please spare us the AuBARN BS.

By Rick

October 7, 2008 6:39 AM | Link to this

What is interesting is Roswell Ed accuses Coach Mark Richt and UGA as the “U” of old and his head coach Tuberville was the D-Coordinator of those very same teams.

Another point given, Roswell ED says Coach Richt is a fraud of a Coach. And yet Tuberville fired his O-Coordinator who produced not a good, but “Great” offense and an undefeated season.

And what is amazing, Roswell Ed is not intelligent enough to only post his comments once. Ed must be an informed Auburn fan.

By spike

October 7, 2008 6:59 AM | Link to this

Roswell Ed.. Ican’t believe I just saw you claim UGA is overrated? Perhaps, but what does that make Auburn? Loser. Go put your toilet paper away for next year.

By GaDawg

October 7, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this

Ed is an IDIOT!nuff said. GO DAGWS!

By Bamafan

October 7, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this

Roswell Ed, Get in the wrestling business as the crazy manager of the bad guy. Get a trashy looking street woman and she could be pull the hair of the good guy and you could try to kick the good guy in the private area. But the good guy would beat the crap out of you and your w******* and the crowd would love it!! I am still laughing that Vandy beat the cow college!!

By lakerat

October 7, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this

Tony -

You need to get a better stat proofreader - last week you had Auburn at 4-0 in two different articles, and today you have UGA trailing Bama at the half 31-3. We expect better than this from “Mr. College Football”.

And, while I am a major UGA fan and contributor, the Dawgs have been WAY OVEERRATED this year, unfortunately! Pat Dye was finally right - the Dawgs were not “man enough” to handle the Tide, and I wonder if they will be a “man enough” to handle anyone else on the rest of their schedule.

By Carolina Jacket

October 7, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this

He’s BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK.

By GaDawg

October 7, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this

Is Ed posting as lakerat now, that blog is not from a DAWG fan, what a bunch of morons. The DAWGS are not overated, they were man enough to almost come back in the bama game,so what’s your point again? GO DAWGS

By lakerat

October 7, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

I am not Roswell Ed, and if I am not a Dawg fan then please have the Hartmann Fund refund all my contributions over the years. And, my point is 31-0, then when it got to be 31-17 AL took it off cruise control and ran it out to 41-17. So, they were NOT man enough to even come close to AL on our home field. And, as mentioned previously, I wonder if they will be man enough to beat anyone else on the schedule - beating two Div 1AA schools, barely beating a pretty bad SC team and a very bad and overrated AZ State team gives everyone pause to wonder if they can beat any of the remaining teams on the schedule whose overall records are approx. 23 - 8! No more patsies from here on out!

By Mikey in the SAV

October 7, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

Ed, I don’t see how Auburn can beat UGA- Don’t you actually have to score to do so ?

By Eric

October 7, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

The bottom half of the SEC may be slightly better than the bottom half of the Big 12, but what you are missing is that the top half of the Big 12 is much better than that of the SEC.

The examples you sight of the lower teams giving the upper tier teams shows that those in the top arn’t that tough.

Miss State plays Auburn to a 3-2 game and LSU to a 34-24 game, but in between those two they got beat up 38-7 by Georgia Tech.

Arkansas hangs with Florida, but it was a week after they got blown off the field by Texas 52-10.

Tennessee throws a scare into Auburn and the next week make a lower tier MAC school look like an “SEC defense” by rolling up 225 yards of offense in beating Northern Illinois 13-9. Not to mention that they lost to the number 7 or 8 team in the Pac 10.

Kentucky made Middle Tennessee State look only slightly better than Alabama a few weeks earlier.

With maybe the exception of Alabama, this league is deep, but doesn’t provide much punch at the top. In that regard, its like a the ACC+. The premier league in the land is out in the Plains States.

By PSU

October 7, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

What I find interesting is how in the SEC, when a historical bottom feeder (Vandy) starts winning, it’s because the conference as a whole is strong. Yet, in any other conference, this would be definitive proof that the whole conference is weak. Give me a break Tony. You put teams like Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn, South Carolina and even the cinderella team, Vandy in a game up north or out west, chances are they’re going to get whipped. I don’t buy in to the whole SEC aura crap. The fact that Alabama should have lost to Kentucky does not mean Kentucky is a good team…it means Alabama bought into its own hype. Sure, they, like Auburn have a good defense, but if you can’t score, you can’t win. A team like Oklahoma or Penn State may not put 50 points on an SEC team, but they wouldn’t need to. And you don’t have to apologize to this Penn State fan for not giving PSU any credit IF they go undefeated. They’re used to it. Voters like you kept them from the title in 1968, 1969, 1973, and 1994. Penn State doesn’t need your approval. They’ve proven themselves in the last 3 bowl games. Ask Tennessee how they enjoyed their THIRD STRAIGHT BOWL LOSS to the Lions. By the way, has Florida gotten over their loss to Michigan? The SEC is like any other conference….one great team, a few good teams, and everyone else doing their best to knock the king off the mountain. We’ll see how the SEC does in their bowl games this year. And just for your information…start listening to your peers…they know Penn State is NOT Ohio State…and many would love to see JoePa get one more chance to win another National Championship. Penn State vs Oklahoma….Penn State vs Alabama….it doesn’t get better than that.

By SEC Not So Hot In '08

October 7, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

I think the SEC is a more balanced conference, but I agree with Eric on alot of things too. I don’t think the SEC is as strong at the top this year as it has been the past couple of years. There are a handful of good teams but hardly any great teams. Alabama looks great right now, but I still say their youth bites them in the butt at some point. It almost did against Kentucky. I thought my Dawgs would be great this year but looking at the rest of the schedule its hard to see fewer than two more losses without smoking crack. I’m not making excuses but the injury situation has been absurd this year. Florida is good but not great. LSU is good but not great and really hasn’t been tested yet in my opinion. Auburn is mediocre. Tennessee is just plain bad.

I think the run of BCS titles for the SEC ends this year, as does getting two teams in to BCS bowls. There’s just too much youth and inexperience around the league. Nobody is going to run through this league without getting banged up, including Alabama. We’ll come back with a vengence in ‘09.

By Spanky

October 7, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Tony, are you serious? “SEC beats itself up, other conferences aren’t strong when top teams lose”. That’s getting pretty tired. Just admit that Auburn stinks this year. That Florida really doesn’t have that defense you’re so fond of touting. That a 14-7 win over SC might be because there are two not so good offenses on the field.

Really, we don’t know which conference is better, because neither has played squat in the OOC schedule. But for my money, I’ll take my chances on the Big 12 right now. OU and Texas are strong on both sides of the ball. Don’t forget that the defensive stats get a little murky when you’re putting up 50 pts/game and the opposing team starts to throw the ball on your third team defense early. Missouri beating Illinois - even giving up a bushel full of points - is a better out of conference win than any SEC team can boast.

By athensdawg

October 7, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

Tony-

If there is one thing you should know by now, style matters more than substance.

Style has lead to certain teams being included in the BCS championship game only to be smacked around by their opponents. The journalists justify this decision and then,after the smackdown write about how the other team is a dominating force - only to cover their butts for making a bad choice.

I appreciate your sticking up for the SEC and your alma mater. While it does make some people mad, your loyaly to your team and your conference is a rare thing in journalism these days. People who don’t like that can simply choose not to read your column.

However, we live in an age in which we are battered on every side by media frontrunners. They all say one conference is great until it starts losing, then they hop on the next bandwagon.

I read an article by one of your collegues on another website that pronounced Ohio State “back” in the national championship race…because they won the game after the USC smackdown. After that article, I obviously took that guy off of my readling list.

Just like the increase of MLB baseball teams has lead to an overall decline in the quality of pitching, the increase in media has lead to a huge decline in the quality of journalism as a whole. The fans complain, but then they flock like lemmings to see what ESPN, ABC and CBS have to say….it is a silly cycle…we will start the whole thing up again when the BCS standings come out.

I have pretty much stopped reading the papers, and listening to tv pregame commentary…its all a bunch of mindless drivel intended to whip up the frenzied lemmings so they will watch more of it and buy what is advertized.

case in point: uga fans complain about how espn and gameday is “biased” against georgia….did you see them boycott gameday when they were here? heck no! its so silly.

UGA beats Alabama, and they start to get some respect. we all forget that its not about what is written in the paper…its about what happens on the field.

By m

October 7, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Tony, you sec homers crack me up. You vote 5 sec teams into the top 10 and say that proves that the sec is the best. That is total bullshiiiite. Comparative scores….auburn 3-2 over miss st …. lsu over miss st 34-24 … Tech 38-7 over miss st. Your sec teams need to play in confernce ONLY…because they get exposed when they play outside the conference. To use a big 12 saying….you sec fools are all hat and no cattle.

By Jason Cyrus Ohanian

October 7, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

First off, I have been saying for years that there should be a Big 12 vs. SEC tourney of sorts every year. This is coming from someone who went to Texas and Georgia so I have heard both sides of the argument for years. The other problem is neither league really has a big win out of conference so it is hard to say who is the best. Both leagues scheduled very easy out of conference with Texas Tech and LSU being the worst offenders. The bottom half of the SEC has had some bad losses as well such as Arkie who also needed last minute comebacks against some awful teams, Miss St. to Georgia Tech, Auburn, Tn almost losing to Northern Illinois, etc. Even the good teams like Alabama have struggled against Tulane, Georgia struggled against Arizona St., Florida struggled against Miami, etc. Also, the offenses are so good in the big 12 that the defenses are on the field more and due to all the blowouts, there backups are in earlier. It is like when UGA played Georgia Southern and pitched a shutout until the backups gave up 21 and it skewed their defensive stats. All told I would say the top of the big 12 is better, and the bottom of the SEC is better, but that the middle is about the same and the conferences are even. Anyway, God bless y’all.

By Spanky

October 7, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

SEC not so hot, don’t worry. With the expansion to 10 BCS bowl slots, and a limit of two per conference, the SEC is all but guaranteed a 2nd bowl participant, along with the Big 12. Assuming BYU or Utah makes the party, the Big 10 and Pac 10 will fight it out for the last slot.

By GeoffDawg

October 7, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

Dress up as a joke for Halloween? I don’t think CMR is interested in looking like Roswell Ed’s johnson.

By GeoffDawg

October 7, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

Georgia struggled against AZ State? Which game were you watching Jason? They had 4 yards rushing.

By ck

October 7, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

You have to be kidding me. SEC exposed outside of conference play? Lets see….Georgia beat the pi$$ out of Az State, last year it was OK State. LSU beat the pi$$ out of OSU in the “big game”. Florida did the same the year before. Hell, I would put Vandy up against any team in the country right now, bet the house and take the spread.

By GTYJ

October 7, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

Defense? I guess that is why MSU, teh powerhouse that hung with LSU and held Auburn to 3, got the score named on them against GT?

By Elvis

October 7, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

IMO, the SEC was given too much currency too early this year. With apologies to GaDawg and any other fellow Dawgs, UGA tops that list. UGA is a good team that should finish @9-3 maybe 8-4. Georgia is like a lot of the SEC: dynamic skill players with young with thin O and D lines which is where games are won. Outside of Bama and MAYBE LSU I don’t think the top of the SEC could stay on the field with the top 4 in the Big 12. If you look at the bottom of the SEC we put out there…Arkansas and Miss State that are awful and tenn that lost to UCLA that was blown out in the Pac 10.

Apologists can keep insisting different but the SEC is a strong #2 this year.

By 47straight

October 7, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Tony, so the crux of your argument below is that the SEC is somehow better since Mississippi State and Tennessee are better than Texas A&M and Iowa State.

Ha, you definitely need a vacation from mediocre football. Come on down to the Cotton Bowl this weekend for the Game of the Year.

“Bottom line: The difference in the leagues is defense and how tough it is to win on the road. I don’t think anybody in the Big 12 is afraid to play at Iowa State or Texas A&M, the bottom two teams in that conference. Going to Starkville or Knoxville is a different story.”

By SC Rules!!!

October 7, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

OK, SEC fans: So the BIG 12 has some of the best teams in the country (right now) and they do have soem very good teams, but for the most part they do not have great teams. OU will get run in the Bowl game per Stoops (steps in it) as usuall, Texas could run thetable but for one thing (person) Colt the dolt in a big game, TT has a lights out “O” but no real “D” and Mizzou (???) we’ll see. I still think that when Jan rolls around it is going to be SEC vs. USC in the BCS game. Offensively USC can run with any BIG 12 team and Defensively we can play with any SEC team, our “O” is much better than SEC sorry. So for all who jumped ship when you thought we were through or who NEVER give us any credit no matter who we beat, well we’ll see, and when Jan comes a calling and y’all come out of the tunnel in Miami to see us standing there waiting DON’T wet yourselves! (it won’t look good) USC Trojans NC ‘08!!! Fight On!!

By AJC Equality

October 7, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

The SEC has shown itself to be nothing but supremely overrated this year. And since the posterchild of the SEC, UGA, has shown itself to be no better than Georgia Tech, it’s time to start treating the two teams equally. No, I don’w want to know “my dogs”, but if I have to see that headline week in and week out, then where’s the headline about “knowing the jackets”?

By NYJacket

October 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

SEC blah, blah, blah. Perception of tough conference perpetuated by sports writers.

To bad we don’t have the old bowl system where bowl committees could select the teams they wanted to match up.

Then at least we found out at the end of the year who was better than who.

Now, we have pre-determined bowl match up’s contracted for years with little regard for matching two teams capable of beating each other.

I think this system is worse than the old system. What is really needed is a playoff.

Evidence is the Georgia vs Hawaii game last year.

If Georgia had played a top team from the Big 12, Pac 10, or Big 10 maybe we would have known more about how good they really were.

The fact of the matter is that with the scholarship limits in todays game there is parity in college football.

A play off is really needed to decide it on the field. We certainly have enough bowl games to work a playoff system.

I don’t understand the networks or the college presidents. A playoff in college football would generate tremendous excitement, TV advertisement, and local resturant, lodging, and entertainment revenue.

I guess change is hard.

By Fort Worth Dawg

October 7, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Every year it’s the same thing. The SEC gets high rankings at the beginning and then everyone gets into the meatgrinder schedule and all teams have several losses and lots of injured players. Then ESPN turns on the SEC “I thought they were good but now I see that they are overrated.” Then come bowl time the SEC cleans clocks in the major bowls (except for Tennessee who almost always manages to choke) and generally has a 75%+ bowl winning record against better competition and then ESPN says (quickly and quietly) “gee I guess I was wrong.” Then the SEC recruits all the top players and the whole thing starts over again next year.

By GeoffDawg

October 7, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Few people are more myopic than college football fans. In a few weeks after the top of the Big 12 has sorted out a bit, the landscape will have the SEC on top again. Think big picture here.

By Elvis

October 7, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

NYJacket…

Do you realize that in the same post you called for both a playoff and a return to the way bowls USED to be selected?

Last year the Rose Bowl CHOSE Illinois instead of UGA. I think we all would have rather seen UGA vs. USC, that is except USC. They wanted no part of the Dawgs.

By GeoffDawg

October 7, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Good point Fort Worth Dawg. It’s a vicious cycle. Every year, tech wins a few games by playing over their heads and will start to obnoxiously trash talk all over the blogs. Then they’ll lose to Georgia and crawl back into their nerd dens for another off season.

By m

October 7, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

Vandy will probably have more success with uga and florida than they have with dook and wake. Mark it down. You sec suckups can’t see the forest for the trees. Sec is the most overrated conference, as usual.

By JacketSteve

October 7, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

First, I agree that the bottom of the Big 12 is bad, but there are some SEC teams that were WAY overrated at the start of the season. Auburn, top 10? Give me a break. They don’t even deserve to be ranked right now. They beat Miss St 3-2. Ga Tech beat them 38-7. Auburn hasn’t beaten anybody. They barely beat Tenn, which we all know is horrible. If UGA doesn’t beat Tenn by 15+ then they shouldn’t be in the top 10. LSU is not the team they were last year and will show it as soon as they play someone.

Every year SEC fans talk about how tough South Carolina is. They stink. Just b/c Spurrier is the coach doesn’t mean they’re good. Is that 10 point win over Wofford supposed to scare me? And don’t try to tell me Kentucky is good because they played Bama close. Although, that 6 point win of Mid Tenn St could change my mind.

The SEC is a great conference, but I just don’t think they’re as good as all the ESPN hype. I’d love to see Oklahoma/Bama, Missouri/UGA, Texas/LSU & Texas Tech/Florida. With the emergence of Wake, Ga Tech & UNC and if FSU & Miami get back to glory, hopefully the ACC will someday be in this conversation.

By reality check

October 7, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Truth be known, and the SEC is certainly one of the better conferences in college football, but there is simply too much hype for the conference.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU are top-tier programs right now. Vanderbilt is having a great season thus far. But then that’s about it.

To start with, Auburn and Tennessee are very average football teams this year —that’s simply the truth. Ole Miss, South Carolina, Kentucky? No better than the middle of the road teams in any other conference. Mississippi State and Arkansas are horrible programs right now.

The SEC is one of the better conferences, but not worthy of the hype that always comes with the SEC.

By Ricky Bobby

October 7, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

The Big 12 is better than the SEC this year…just get over it. The Big 12 fields more complete teams top to bottom than does the SEC. The Big 12 teams play good to great defense across the board from ISU to Oklahoma and Texas. The difference is that the Big 12 teams compliment that defense with great offense, lead by the best set of 12 QBs in one conference in the nation. SEC fans are so used to being number one that they are getting defensive. SEC fan…don’t mistake bad offense for good defense. No one in their right mind believes that the SEC has a truly balanced team outside of LSU and maybe Georgia. Alabama can’t throw consistently. Florida’s coach refuses to use real running backs. Tennessee is held back by the Great Pumpkin. Ole Miss is using Texas’ backup QB to win games. Only in the SEC could someone mistake a 3-2 game as featuring great defense and forget that it had two pathetic offenses. SEC fan, from top to bottom this is not your year. Most years it’s the SEC, but 2008 is the Big 12’s year. Go Big 12!

By Ricky Bobby

October 7, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

The Big 12 is better than the SEC this year…just get over it. The Big 12 fields more complete teams top to bottom than does the SEC. The Big 12 teams play good to great defense across the board from ISU to Oklahoma and Texas. The difference is that the Big 12 teams compliment that defense with great offense, lead by the best set of 12 QBs in one conference in the nation. SEC fans are so used to being number one that they are getting defensive. SEC fan…don’t mistake bad offense for good defense. No one in their right mind believes that the SEC has a truly balanced team outside of LSU and maybe Georgia. Alabama can’t throw consistently. Florida’s coach refuses to use real running backs. Tennessee is held back by Phillip “The Great Pumpkin” Fulmer. Ole Miss is using Texas’ backup QB to win games. Only in the SEC could someone mistake a 3-2 game as featuring great defense and forget that it had two pathetic offenses. SEC fan, from top to bottom this is not your year. Most years it’s the SEC, but 2008 is the Big 12’s year. Go Big 12!

By george

October 7, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

swimdawg- calling tubbs a crybaby. It always cracks me up when you and the rest of the idiotic dawg nation accuse other coaches of being cry babies. If I am not correct it was Richt and the rest of the UGA idiots who b*** about not getting to the national championship without even getting to their own conference championship game. Hell he b*** and moaned more than tubbs did in 04 when the tigers went undefeated. But I am sure just like the AJC wrote last year you think the pups got screwed worse last year than the tigers did in 04 right? Richt and the entire dawg nation whine more than any other program in the entire country!!!

By wreck76

October 7, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Which conferences teams have the most players in the NFL? The ACC. The talent has been there but the coaching not so much. Now that some improvements are being made (Paul Johnson, Butch Davis to name a couple) expect the ACC to be up there with the SEC and Big 12 for years to come. Seriously though, if Auburn and Ga Tech were to play at a neutral site tomorrow who really thinks Auburn would be favored? Nobody who has a brain and has watched the Tigers pitiful offense this year. Yet they are still in the top 25. I bet Barnhart had em like that….

By Kendawg

October 7, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Soon the Big 12 teams will start playing each other and they will have losses just like the SEC teams who have already started playing each other and have incurred some losses. Let’s wait awhile before we start comparing conferences. I guess everybody has forgotten how Oklahoma got smoked the last two years when they played in bowls against out of conference teams. They look good during the regular season playing against the likes of Texas A&M and Iowa State. Then they have to play in a bowl and reality sets in. Some of my fellow Dawg fans have already written off the season as a three or four loss season. Have a little faith. Give the O-line a chance to jell. How many teams have a QB like Stafford, a TB like Moreno, and a WR like Green? Not many, possibly no other team, possibly USC. Don’t give up simply beacause we played one bad game. Last year we played a bad game against Tennessee and managed to turn it around.

By micah

October 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

Top to bottom, the Big 12 is the stronger conference this year. Our bottom teams have faired very well in games this year. Our top teams are dominating their competition. The Big 12 is doing it with a mix of offense AND defense. No one can say that the SEC teams aren’t struggling with the offensive production. Outside of Georgia and LSU, you can’t name one “top” SEC team that is a real offensive threat. As usual, the SEC gets all the preseason love without any real proof…see Auburn staying in the top ten with a 3-2 win. Florida can’t run the ball with its gimic offense. Spurrier can’t get any players. Alabama’s QB is too inconsistent as an upper classman and won’t take them to a title this year. SEC fan should just relax and realize that sometimes you aren’t the best. As a matter of fact, tune into ABC at 11 this weekend and watch how two Top 5 Big 12 teams do business without using a bunch of kids from the precious cradle of high school football…aka the south. 2008 is a Big 12 year and the rest of you are just living in it!

By RAMBLE ON!!!

October 7, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

How about players in the NFL?

VANDERBILT IS IN FIRST PLACE, REAL TOUGH CONF., PLEASE

Tony you are a homer, admit it!!! The SEC does not have 5 of the top 10 teams in the country. They don’t have 5 of the best 20 teams in the country.

SEC=OVER-RATED The press the SEC gets is the same as the press Obama gets, Bias!!!

Tony, you now work in a profession that no one can or should trust.

By b---rad

October 7, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

haha. uga has an oppurtunity of a lifetime. they could possibly lose out the rest of the season, which would make me a happy jacket.. I really dont see where uga has any room to talk crap about any other team in the nation. They are the let down of the season, Ranked that high and go 31 nothing at half time? Im sorry but no team in the top 30 should ever be down like that, much less the top team in the nation. You guys are a joke, just like your dog died, so will your season, along with all the hype.

By m

October 7, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

I’m such a badar$e that everything I type is already in bold!! Thank god and Grayhound that my wife can’t find the bus station because she’d leave me in a second. Did I mention that I’m not very impressed with the SEC. I’m also in luv with Barry O’bama. He sounds just like Dwayne “the Rock” johnson and I love me to smell what the rock is cooking in his shorts!!!!

By m

October 7, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

I’m such a badar$e that everything I type is already in bold!! Thank god and Grayhound that my wife can’t find the bus station because she’d leave me in a second. Did I mention that I’m not very impressed with the SEC. I’m also in luv with Barry O’bama. He sounds just like Dwayne “the Rock” johnson and I love me to smell what the rock is cooking in his shorts!!!!

By Carolina Jacket

October 7, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

NYJacket is right. The old bowl system was much better than the present one and it was always fun to watch the committee members visit the top schools and then decide on who would play whom. Or, why not a playoff?

By PMC

October 7, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

come on Tony, the SEC plays good defense. We know this. They also have by and large issues at QB.

Florida’s defense is nothing to write home about. Georgia’s is suspect. etc etc.

The Big 12 right now is stronger because thier offenses are better than those in the SEC and they are getting much much better QB play.

By murfdawg

October 7, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

HYPE—That is the new game of the 21st century. You have to have a lot of hype to have the opportunity to play for the Mythical National Championship. Anyone remember 2004? As much as it pains me to give Auburn credit for being a great team and deserving a shot at the MNC, they did not start off the season being hyped and it cost them. All the SEC fans should rally around Tony and give him more info about how great each SEC team is. The rest of the country is not going to listen to Geoffdawg and Athensdawg (regardles of how smart they are) Tony is a homer and he is our homer. Let’s help him.

That being said, if the top six teams from the Big 12 and the top six teams from the SEC played, it would end up three and three. Wait until DEC 7 and look at the top teams from each conference and make your claim for superiority then.

Today the top SEC teams, in my humble opinion, are LSU,BAMA,UGA,FLA,VANDY and KY.Ask me again in december.

By Ramble On

October 7, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

M don’t forget to be ready for ma to pick you up Sat.

We don’t want to be late for our parade in the Village!!

The ACC rules. All the rest of the conferences are the ACC’s bi@t

By LOL @ Tech Fans

October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

LOL @ Tech fans puffing their chests out and talking crap about the SEC, a conference that has completely owned them throughout their unremarkable history. Amazing what a couple of wins over Mississippi State and Duke do for some people’s confidence. These clowns are unbelievable.

SEC overrated? Georgia overrated? Maybe if you didn’t get bent over by your in-state rival each and every everlovin’ year that perception might change eh Jacket fans? Its not like this situation is completely beyond your team’s control. Quit crying like babies about media bias and get it done on the field. All this big mouth trash talking is simply laughable. We’ve heard it all before. Tech fans are always popping off at the mouth in September, October, most of November, and then they go silent for a few months. Can one of you explain that for me?

By Beat Us

October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

You can say all the bad things you want about the SEC. Until someone beats them for the NC noones gonna listen. If they get there they win. Easily at that. Point Blank.

By Alphar

October 7, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

SEC has 5 coaches with NC crown, how many Big12 has?

By jason

October 7, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I think at this time the SEC and Big 12 are even. Defenses win championships, but what is the most important position on the field? QB, and the Big 12 is loaded. If you line the SEC up against the Big 12 in games; the SEC would win some and lose some. If Okie was to play LSU or UA; Okie would probably win, but other than that it would be a toss up. The SEC west is by far superior to the east this year.

By CalBearsRBacj

October 7, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Hey Roswell ED,

The only joke around here is you and the education that Auburn offers well below average students…..

AWBARN is the real joke!

By Mikey in the SAV

October 7, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

SEC is the big daddy. Everyone else is myopic.

By Kojak

October 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Alabama did not lead UGA 31-3 at halftime…It was 31-0.

By Ben

October 7, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand why we have to nitpick the differences in the conference. It’s obvious the offensive statistics in the Big 12 are inflated because of bad defenses. However, the exact opposite is true in the SEC where the defensive statistics are inflated by bad offenses. Tennessee, So. Carolina, Auburn and Miss State ain’t scaring anybody with their offense just like Nebraska, Kansas State, A&M or Iowa State ain’t scaring anybody with their defense. There’s no question that SEC defenses would be able to stop Big 12 offenses, and there’s no question SEC offenses would be able to score more on Big 12 defenses, but there’s no evidence to say that the scales would tip more than 50/50 in either direction.

The SEC has already started knocking each other off, wait a few weeks and the Big 12 will too. In the next 3 weeks we’ll see Texas-Oklahoma, Oklahoma STate@Mizzou, Mizzou@Texas, Texas Tech@Kansas, Oklahoma State@Texas. In a nutshell, the Big 12’s schedule is back heavy, the SEC’s is spread out. You can’t say one week the SEC is better, then the next the Big 12 is better, it don’t work that way. Wait until the Big 12 teams are tested then we’ll see.

By jabster

October 7, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

The SEC has some really good teams—at least 5 and maybe 8 (Bama, LSU, UGA, Florida, Vandy, maybe UK, SC, and Ole Miss), but for most of them it’s too early to tell. It’s NOT too early to tell that some of them are overrated (coughAuburncough).

UGA has potential, but they need to step up and prove that the Bama game was a brain phart. Otherwise, it’s another 8-4 and “bloomin’ onions or weedeaters falling from the sky” again. You could say the same about Bama, who looked great against UGA but so-so against UK (who, again, may or may not be a good team). Still too much football to be played. As an aside, this whole “which conference is better” issue wouldn’t be so much of an issue if the SEC would quit pigging out on cupcakes for OOC games at the beginning of the season. Hat tip to the Vols for scheduling tough OOC games.

Big 12 are who they always are—about 4-5 good teams—some of whom, like UTX and OU, are very good—and a bunch of scrubs. The really only putrid team in the SEC is Arkansas. Even UT, Missy State, and Auburn have game, albeit not a great one. I think that any of these three could easily beat anyone in the bottom third of the Big 12, and give anyone in the middle third a good game if not win outright.

I’m not saying that the SEC is good top-to-bottom—they’re not—but they definitely have a more talented middle third than the Big 12.

It doesn’t take much for a conference to have “seven dwarfs” and still pretend to be tough because of one or two teams. The ACC skated on this back in the mid-90s when FSU joined and the rest of the conference was a mess.

Then O’Leary turned Tech around, UNC and UVA started contending again, Clemson came back, etc. in the late 90s and the ACC was beating everything in sight (unless you were Duke or Wake), until the early-mid-00s when several teams went into the toilet (most notably NCSU and UNC).

The midsection is what really makes or breaks a conference. The SEC usually has it, the Big 12 never does, and the ACC will have it back in a year or two.

By MountainDawg

October 7, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

SEC is the best football conference most years, and this year is no different. Bama & LSU are tops (for now), but don’t count out the Dawgs or UF. SEC has 8-9 potential Bowl teams & the most athletic talent of any conference in the NCAA. Dawgs still have good chance of winning the East, but execution & eliminating foolish mistakes (penalties, missed tackles, etc.) is crucial or they could lose 3-4 games. The UT game Saturday will be very telling for the Dawgs.

By Bamafan

October 7, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Not that it matters now, but uh Tony, the UGA/Alabama halftime score was 31-0 not 31-3.

By Bamafan

October 7, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Not that it matters now, but uh Tony, wasn’t the UGA/Alabama halftime score 31-0 not 31-3?

By RAMBLE ON!!!

October 7, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

ACC RULES!!!!

Just look at our record!!!

Tech RULES!!!

Just look at our record!!!

Forget the fact that the bowls always match a #2 or #3 ACC team up with a #5 or #6 SEC team and the SEC team wins. I’m telling you the ACC is the best.

Dont bother me with the facts, my mind is made up!

By SEC

October 7, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

A lot of this talk is trash. Let the teams work it out on the field. The SEC is the best conference. When the dust settles, let’s compare apples to apples. A lot of these teams look good when they are not playing ranked teams. Look at LSU, Bama, UGA, and Florida, they all beat themselves up over the course of a season. Then some of them will still have to play in the SEC Championship game!

When the SEC wins the Championship game again, then I guess we could be the best conference?? Or just second place…

By Buck

October 7, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

HOMER!!!!

By Old Gold

October 7, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Tony, nothing to do with the subject at hand, just a quick congrats for a great updated “Southern Fried Football.” Bought my copy at the UGA/Bama game (in fact bought two additional books for my two boys for Christmas), finished it last week, and heartily recommend it to any Southern college football fan. Great job!

By GaDawg

October 7, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Let me get this straight after beating the powerhouse Duke, who is not even ranked, the Yecksters are plaking Garnet-Web? is that even a team? you should be very proud of yourselves, while your at it why don’t you play the flag football team at the local 7-11? you can’t even consider yourselves over rated because your not even rated, and you want to smack talk the SEC? what a bunch of MORONS!

By whistlebritches

October 7, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Ramble on the ACC is terrible. They are a notch above the Big East and the Pac-10. I’m the biggest SEC fan there is, but the top 4 teams in the Big 12 would beat the SEC in most games. The SEC is better top to bottom, but no one can say that any of the SEC teams are better than the big 12 right now. I’m an Auburn fan, they’re terrible. Our defense would have to score 3 touchdowns to have a chance at a Big 12 win. UGA is overrated but will got 12-1

By steve

October 7, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

dear roswell ed, When did (ofcourse) become one word? Lot of intelligence at auburn. We are proud to lead the country in penalties, (of course) that is better than auburn leading in anything. You go CMR.

By mcdawg

October 7, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

usually i don’t get into the who is better conference thing until it matters at the end of the year BUT (and this is about SEC/Big 12)…both OSU and Wisc are SLLOOOWWW-i felt like i was watching two teams in slow motion-i think PSU will run the table at this point-an undefeated PSU will play in the BCS championship

By Well....

October 7, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Who has UGA played? Alabama and that was a total embarrassment. The words out coached, out hustled and overrated come to mind. With all do respect, I my not sold on Bama yet after last week performance. The UGA team still lacks any kind of discipline. CMR learned from a great coach and is a great coach but unfortunately, he has yet to learn how to control his players.

By Matt

October 7, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Tony, are you really so stupid as to believe that a national traditional powerhouse like Penn State wouldn’t play in the NC game if matched up against an SEC team? You’ve been in the south too long, dude. The rest of the nation isn’t going to hold Penn State accountable for OSU’s performance — you’re just wishfully thinking. It’s gonna be Penn St v. Oklahoma, unless an SEC team goes undefeated.

By Carson

October 7, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Good Story, I am an Okla. State Alum, huge Big 12 fan. I believe that this is the first year that an argument can be made that the Big 12 is as good as the SEC, I will not say better. Currently, I believe the teams in the top half of Big 12 are a little better than the top half of the SEC. I also believe that the teams in the bottom half of the SEC are a little better than the bottom half of the Big 12. I will say that the Big 12 South is the best division in college football. This is more difficult to say with A&M in its current state, but Baylor is a decent football team.

In so far as SEC defenses being so good, is that not in part a reflection of how bad the offense is in the SEC? Conversely, in so far as Big 12 defenses being so bad, is that not in part a reflection of how good the offense is in the Big 12?

Being an OSU fan, I really hate to say this, but if OU keeps playing like they are right now, I would pick them over any SEC team on a neutral field and give you 10 points. Well, maybe just 5 points if Alabama plays like it did against Georgia.

By Music City Bowl Invitation Committee

October 7, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Tony, you are the world’s biggest homer. If you lived in Wichita no one would praise the Big XII more. Get outside your provincial world. Oklahoma could beat LSU. Texas could beat Alabama. Missouri could beat Georgia and Kansas could beat anyone else in the SEC. Same with Texas Tech. Come to think of it, maybe Miss. State and Tex. A&M would be a good game.

By blue

October 7, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Wreck 76; wrong on the ACC having more players in NFL. I actually heard the numbers about four weeks ago on Colin Cowherd’s show on ESPN radio. And I am NOT and SEC guy at all. SEC has more players in NFL than all conferences, ACC is #2, Big 10 is #3. Don’t throw stats out there that sound good.

By Good Grief Folks

October 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Take your meds and breath through your nose. Why don’t we wait till the end of the season to decide who is the best conference? Missouri has played one decent team and gave up 40, Texas has beaten one decent team in Colorado, Oklahoma hasn’t beaten anyone, Texas Tech hasn’t beaten anyone, Oklahoma State hasn’t beaten anyone. They may be good teams, but let’s wait and see how the season shakes out. Until then, the SEC has won more MNC’s than any other conference including the last 2, and the ONLY teams in the league who have never won a MNC are Kentucky, SC, and Vandy, the SEC has played in and won more bowls than any other conference, the SEC has a winning record verses every conference (most by a very wide margin), and the league dominates NFL rosters.

So until it’s proven otherwise by the resume of a complete 2008 season, the SEC reigns supreme.

By Rob

October 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Who won the most bowl games last year? That’s what I thought! All you Techies have to look forward to is another bowl game on a blue field! LOL!

By hold em

October 7, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Good Grief Folks, by your statement, you have proven how little you know about college football, please don’t post again

By Jeff

October 7, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Your fourth best team in the Big 12 (Texas Tech) would be the best team in the SEC. The Big 12 has at least 4 teams that would win the SEC and the SEC does not have a team that could finish any higher than 5th in the Big 12. Accordingly, the Big 12 is a much stronger conference.

By Real

October 7, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

I live in ACC/SEC country, but unfortunately Tony I believe your geographic bias is clouding your judgement on this one. I don’t believe anybody can objectively say the SEC is clearly stronger than the Big 12 right now. The Big 12 may not be clearly stronger, but is at least right up there with the SEC right now.

The SEC has 2 - 3 bad teams (Arkansas, Miss St, UT). Miss. State playing Auburn 3-2 isn’t a reflection on how good MSU is, rather a reflection on how good Auburn is not due to their weak offense. MSU is 1-4, lost to La Tech, & got blown out by Ga Tech. You lose all credibility in this argument by not considering them a bad team. Those teams, along w/ Kansas St. & Baylor are right on the level with or better than MSU & Arkansas. Tennessee is no better Nebraska.

By Spanky

October 7, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

Who won the most bowl games last year? Who played the most pansies in bowl games last year? Same answer.

By adam

October 7, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

What happens when a mediocre team with an above average d plays another mediocre team with above average d? a 3-2 barn burner.

You also fail to mention Tennessee’s loss to a bad bad UCLA team and Louisiana Tech beating Miss St. SEC teams beating up on SEC teams shows me nothing when i question the strenght of the entire conference.

By Erik

October 7, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

“Your fourth best team in the Big 12 (Texas Tech) would be the best team in the SEC.”

Texas Tech? TEXAS TECH? Are you f-ing serious? That run and shoot circus offense with zero running game and a non-existent D would be the best team in the SEC??? That, sir, may very well be the most ridiculous statement I have ever read on an AJC blog… and believe me, there are dozens of them daily.

And no team in the SEC could finish higher than 5th in the Big 12? 100% pure insanity. The Big 12 may very well be the best conference this year. But saying neither LSU, Florida, Georgia, nor Alabama could finish in the top five of the Big 12? I’m speechless.

OU runs wild in that Big 12 and then what happens in the BCS game they go to? They get drilled every time.

By GeoffDawg

October 7, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

Jeff, you blithering idiot. Did you drool on the keyboard as you typed that drivel? Texas Tech would beat any team in the conference that produced the last two NCs? Give me a break.

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Anyone who doesn’t know that the SEC is the best conference in college football is absolutely crazy. The SEC proves it every year during bowl season which, unfortunately, is the only gauge we have to go on without a playoff system. Until we get one, these arguments will live very strong lives and people in or from one region will vote for the one closest to their heart. That’s all their is to it. What has OU done in bowl games lately? How many really tough games will osu and USC play this year? Or Texas? If you really look at the schedules of all these teams and leave your heart out of it, would you still say that an undefeated Big-12, Big-10, ACC, or Pac-10 team is better than a 1 or 2 loss SEC team? I know that this is supposed to be an SEC vs. Big-12 discussion, but you might as well throw the rest in there too because NOBODY comes close to the SEC. Most people realize this but there will always be haters of the best and that’s exactly what the SEC is! GO DAWGS and GO SEC!

By RAMBLE ON!!!

October 7, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

whistlebritches, that wasn’t me, just a fleabag I slapped around to much.

By Jeff

October 7, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

Good Grief Folks is one of those people who said Oklahoma was overrated before they played TCU and also said, “wait until they play someone for real, like TCU!” Now, since Oklahoma dismantled TCU, this person thinks TCU is no good. You SEC fans are insufferable sometimes. Who freakin cares which conference is the best?! They don’t hand out national championship awards based on who has the best conference. The BCS Championship is a team trophy. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the BCS Championship game contained “0” (zero) SEC teams.

But if I must, I shall digress into this pointless debate. Plain and simple, the SEC has looked very pedestrian outside its own conference this year, with the exception of a few games. SEC teams win games in and out of conference by generally the same margins of victory. The top of the Big 12 have routed all their opponents, and the top of the SEC have struggled in certain games. And this was before all the SEC vs. SEC games began.

An SEC team wins this week, they’re billed as “great.” They lose next week, and the team that beats them is billed as “great.” I remember everyone talking about how good Houston Nutt is because Ole Miss beat Florida in Florida. But this is the guy Pig fans couldn’t wait to be rid of. If the SEC fans think they are a better conference because the “bottom” teams are better than the “bottom” teams of the Big 12, fine. I won’t argue. I’d rather my team be the best of any conference rather than play in a league with good, not great, “top” teams and decent “bottom” teams.

Further, Tennessee is horrible. Send Okla., Tex., Mizzou, T-Tech into Knoxville, and none of them would be running scared. Same goes for Miss. St. in Starkville. And Pigs in Fayetteville. And Ole Miss in Oxford. And, yes, AT AUBURN. I can promise you those games are no different than going to Waco, Manhattan, College Station, Ames. Maybe they don’t look so tough because the Big 12 heavyweights are that good… But it still really, really, really, really, really, really doesn’t matter. So go ahead, SEC fan, wear your badge of conference honor. So what. Who cares?

By hold em

October 7, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

Voice of reason, The SEC would have to play a competive out of conference schedule to be considered the best conference in the country. The SEC plays the easiest teams outside of the SEC. Even the past 2 NC’s, all you did was beat Ohio State twice, that isn’t saying much

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

hold em, if SEC teams played nothing but top ten teams as their out of conference schedule, could you imagine how hard that would be? Think about it for a second. I don’t know who you pull for but imagine your team playing an SEC regular season of Georgia, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt, etc. and in between playing USC, Texas, and Oklahoma. That’s what it sounds like you expect. I would like for you to state who your team is and post their schedule and let me know how it looks vs. Georgia’s or any SEC team’s for that matter and then we’ll talk about out of conference matchups in more detail. I doubt you’ll find your team’s schedule loaded with top 20 opponents every week. Nobody does. In fact, I’ll bet your team’s schedule doesn’t hold a candle to UGA’s.

By BoomerSooner

October 7, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

I am sick of the weak schedule talk. Take the two best Big XII teams(Oklahoma and Missouri) and the two best SEC teams(LSU and Alabama) and look at the win-loss records of their out of confrence opponents. Oklahoma(10-12)Missouri(10-11)LSU(7-12)Alabama(10-11). The Big XII has played a tougher schedule if you look at the two top teams in their respected confrence. We will find out who has the best confrence Jan. 8th. It will be Big XII Champ and SEC Champ in the Orange bowl. By the way USC will not be in the Orange Bowl. Just enjoy the Rose Parade.

By Erik

October 7, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

Per your comments about opposing stadiums… I was at the Colorado/WVA game three weeks ago and only Vandy is a softer atmosphere in the entire SEC than Boulder. Playing in most SEC stadiums is far more intimidating than all but one or two Big 12 stadiums.

But I do agree, who cares who says what conference is better? I go by championships. And lately the SEC has looked pretty damn good when it matters most.

As for this statement: “Plain and simple, the SEC has looked very pedestrian outside its own conference this year, with the exception of a few games. SEC teams win games in and out of conference by generally the same margins of victory. The top of the Big 12 have routed all their opponents, and the top of the SEC have struggled in certain games.”

That’s just crazy. Speaking of the top teams in each conference: Alabama rolled Clemson (bowl team, on the road); UGA thoroughly beat CMU and Arizona State (both bowl teams, one on the road); Florida rolled Hawaii (bowl team) and Miami; and SC destroyed NCSU (obviously not a bowl team). LSU has played a pretty weak schedule, admittedly.

Meanwhile, as for the top of the Big 12 “routing” their opponents: Oklahoma has killed Chattanooga, Cincy, Washington and beat TCU pretty well (two bowl teams, both at home); Mizzou beat Illinois by 10 (hardly a rout) SEMSU and Buffalo; Texas Tech has beaten EWU, Umass, Nevada, K State and SMU (five complete also-rans); and Texas has beaten the likes of FAU, UTEP, Rice and Arkansas (need I say more?).

The Mizzou win over Illinois was nice but they won by 10. And Oklahoma’s win over TCU was very solid. But TCU isn’t even a BCS team. Please explain to me how all of those Big 12 wins have been more impressive than the SEC wins. I’m not saying the SEC is without question better than the Big 12. But, at worst, there’s a debate for who is better. Both can make an argument.

By BoomerSooner

October 7, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

Amen Jeff

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

hold em, in fact UGA has scheduled ASU, Colorado, and Oklahoma State into their out of conference schedule the past couple of years. And we took care of all of them in seasons that we didn’t even win the SEC. ASU was a top 10 team at the end of last season. When we scheduled Colorado, they were a formidable opponent. As was Oklahoma State. Sorry to harp too much about UGA because this is an SEC issue but Being a UGA fan, their schedules stand out more than the rest. Other SEC teams play some good teams out of conference too, so when you say “The SEC plays the easiest teams outside of the SEC” I’d like for you to back that up by showing me who your team plays. Thanks.

By hold em

October 7, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

voice of reason, I went to TN, but i have family who played for OU. So to hear idiots like you talk about how much better the SEC is stupid. You know nothing of the Big 12 and i will leave it at that. I went to TN so i have alot of pride for the school, but to belong in a conference with people like you is truly embarrassing.

By yandizzle

October 7, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Until the some other conference wins the BCS Trophy in Jan the sec is the best confernece hands down for the last two yrs.Champion typically means #1….name another conference that has more in the BCS era. Ill admit that the Big 12 has great qb play right now but thats come against what teams? oh yeah mainly no bodies. I expect great numbers when you play FCS schools and weak opponets… Granted that yes we did play Ohio state in the last two years why wasnt one of your teams there? was it loosing to colorado(the same that got blown out by UT)or was it a lack of Defense? either way your squads didnt take care of business

By Erik

October 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Boomer Sooner:

Looking at W-L records of opponents is hardly a good indicator since there are so many 1-AA teams or non-BCS teams.

Instead, when you wanna talk about why the top of the Big 12 has looked so good thus far, let’s talk about strength of schedule, or lack there-of.

Strength of schedule straight from Sagarin: Oklahoma: 89 Mizzou: 96 Texas Tech: 119 Texas: 89

Alabama: 37 LSU: 118 (lone exception) Georgia: 22 Florida: 47

Not even close.

By GeoffDawg

October 7, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

For someone who doesn’t care Jeff, you spend a lot of time defending your nonsensical ramblings.

By Hmmmmm......

October 7, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

From ESPN:

SEC: Pointless The Southern spin on low-scoring SEC football has been that it’s attributable to all those fast, ferocious defensive players in the league. That’s only a partial explanation, failing to fully cover the fact that more than half the conference ranks in the bottom 50 nationally in total offense.

The following are not attributable to great SEC defense:

Tennessee’s 13 points against Northern Illinois. Auburn’s 27 points against a Southern Mississippi team that subsequently gave up more to Marshall and UTEP, respectively. Arkansas’ zero first-quarter points on the season — including against Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe. Mississippi State’s 14 against Louisiana Tech and seven against Georgia Tech. South Carolina’s 23 points against a Wofford team giving up an average of 27 points per game to FCS competition.

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

That’s exactly what I thought. OU will play maybe three games that will challenge them this year. Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma State. The rest of the conference sucks and would not hold up in the SEC. Not even close. F off IDIOT! You know I’m right. Hope you get your a* handed to you by Boise again this year. Another team UGA dismantled a couple of years ago.

By Chris

October 7, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

For all the posters here blasting Mizzou’s D. Over the next couple weeks you’ll get to know MU pretty good when we play Okie St. and Texas on nat. TV. I’m pretty confident your opinions will be drastically different. Just keep an eye on William Moore. I think you just might like what you are going to see! It also cracks me up all the critics (on here) who say we have no D based on one game?? The first game of the year against a very good Illini team (on a neutral field) with a big play offense. I’m still looking for that SEC squad who scheduled anyone out of conference as good as Illinois (on a neutral field) to start the year??

The only part of Barnharts piece that was accurate (IMO) is that it will be the Big XII and SEC in the NC this year. But the logic that in some way the SEC defense’s are better than the Big XII’s just doesn’t stick when you have teams like Georgia getting thrashed by that “offensive juggernaut” Alabama. While Bama is a good team with a staut D. To give up 31 to them on your home field at the half clearly shows you do not have a dominant D. The fact that UF gave up 31 at home and lost to Ole Miss??? …clearly shows you are not a dominating defense. Tenn giving up 27 and losing to UCLA shows you are clearly not a good team. Miss St getting spanked by Tech, shows you are not a good team. And I haven’t even started on Auburn who couldn’t score against a H.S. squad.

Again, the SEC is good. I would never say the conference is not. And it deserves praise for how its played the last 5 years or so. But it ain’t better than the Big XII this year and I’ll gladly put MU, OU or UT up against any SEC squad this year with full confidence we would win going away.

By NYJacket

October 7, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

Elvis,

Yes, I do realize that I stated a return to the old system would be better than what we have. But, I also said that a playoff system would be best.

What we have know is ridiculous.

By hold em

October 7, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

Voice of reason, You f’ing dork, you are a UGA fan, how pathetic. How many NC’s and conference championhsips have you had in the past 30 years?

By TrueCrimson

October 7, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this

Tony,

I’ll give you this much — you really know how to gin up a ruckus!

This is probably a good time to stir this pot. The SEC is already a couple of weeks into the process of matching their top teams against one another. The Big 12 starts the process this weekend.

We’ll have a lot better idea of where everyone stands after the dust settles on the next two weeks of football.

We will not get the final results until December and January. I suspect that the SEC will hold their own when all is said and done.

By Are you Kidding?

October 7, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

OK, I have read quite a few SEC defending posts here that say “the SEC has won the last two BCS titles, so that means the SEC is superior. Actually, the SEC didn’t win any titles; I believe that FL won one title and LSU won one title…I don’t think the SEC sent an all-star team to those games, so it is not a “conference” win. In reality, I think they won those titles primarily because they got to play the always over-rated Buckeyes from the annually over-rated Big Ten. Who knows if they would have won if they had to play a real team with real athletes instead of the OSU jug-butts?

By van brocklin

October 7, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Oklahoma is way over rated, I hope Texas STOMPS THE SOONERS.

By yandizzle

October 7, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

I would LOVE to see OU against a top sec team….oh wait ive seen it before LSU right, but why stop there does USC bring back memories, K-STATE, WEST-Virginia. Im a die heart GATOR FAN and i live in sooner country.I will say that Mizzu looks good but they got beat twice by OU and the second time handily. so until they can beat them i dont say they are ready yet. Like i said its really easy to put up numbers against a team with one or two athletes, but like Florida, LSU, and USC have shown over the last few yrs what happens when you try line up with a team full of top notch athletes and your team is not ready to play because they think that they are the best.Its still pretty earily in the season so we will see who is legit in november. Top big 12 team has been embarrased for the last 4yrs in games that havent even been close. So until whoever the top big 12 team wins in the big game…..SEC is KING

By yandizzle

October 7, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

SEC has 5 bcs NC and big 12 has 1 feel free to correct if im wrong

By Joel in ATL

October 7, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

Tony, I’ve been telling people that the Big 12 is top heavy. The SEC is… ALL HEAVY. Points, points and more points, sell seats and that’s what fans want to see. Yeah Right not this fan. I want to see DEFENSE. If a team puts up 42 points ina SEC game there had better be a special team and defensive TD somewhere is there. A high scoring game in the SEC gets more respect from because of the defense than it would in the Big 12. But in the defense of the Big 12, the Pac 10 (despite me not ahve the numbers) has to have the worst defenses all time!! Give me defense, forget selling the seats out, that’s why the created Arena Football.

By Halsey

October 7, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

Every year there are people who say the SEC is down and some conference is better. Last year it was supposedly the Pac-10 ahead of the SEC at this point in the season. The SEC has been undeniably the best by the end of the season, however. I once enjoyed these debates, but now they are becoming a broken record. The SEC has been the first or second best conference every year for a while now. Time will tell if they are better then the Big 12 this year.

By Tech Fan in UGA Country

October 7, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this

Tony, Maybe, just maybe, the SEC was over-hyped and over ranked at the beginning of the season and the rankings carried over while the teams were all playing nobodies like Ga Southern, Central Michigan, La. Monroe, Appalachian St, and North Texas. Your statement that South Carolina (4-2) played Georgia to a 14-7 game when the Bulldogs were ranked No. 2 means nothing. What is showed was NOT how good USC was, but that UGA was obviously not a legit #2. How Auburn can keep their rating is the more confusing. They can beat Miss St by more than a 3 - 2 score. Being a Tech fan, I would love to think that Miss State is the great team you would like us to believe (it played LSU to 34 - 24 score when LSU was ranked in the top 5), I think they are just another lousy team. And Vandy ranked #13? Come on. All I can say is that I would rather be playing anyone in the SEC than I would Oklahoma, Texas, or Missouri. The SEC earned its reputation on LSU, Fl, UGA, and Tenn, not Ole Miss, Miss St, SC, and Vandy. I am not saying the SEC isn’t better than the PAC 10 or ACC, but right now, with the quarterbacks in the Big 12, I have to give them the nod.

By m...i...z...

October 7, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this

not saying that the big 12 is better than the SEC, but you should take a look at how Missouri has faired against SEC foes recently…

Last year Missouri went down to Ole Miss and beat up on the Rebels in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score indicated (I was there). Granted, Ole Miss wasn’t that good and is better now with Houston Nutt. Then at the end of the season in the Cotton Bowl Mizzou absolutely demolished an Arkansas team with McFadden and Jones that had just knocked off eventual National Champions LSU.

By Mack

October 7, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this

Oklahoma is the flagship team of the Big 12, and last year they manhandled MissOU—twice.

What’s it say about the Big 12 when its top team is 1 for 5 in its last 5 bowl games? Hell, 2 years ago OU lost to a WAC team in the Fiesta. A WAC team. Way to represent the Big 12, Sooner-loser.

Anyone know CPR? Cause someone’s choking. Again.

By m...i...z...

October 7, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

As for Mizzou not being able to beat Oklahoma, I think we were just poorly coached in Norman and underprepared in the Big 12 championship game, which was practically another home game for them last year. This year when the shoe is on the other foot and the Big 12 championship game is in Kansas City we will see how it plays out.

I hope we get to play another (hopefully better than arkansas was last year) SEC team in a bowl game this year, I would love to see a Missouri vs, Georgia matchup.

By m...i...z...

October 7, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

also a valid point from pat forde on espn.com…

“The Southern spin on low-scoring SEC football has been that it’s attributable to all those fast, ferocious defensive players in the league. That’s only a partial explanation, failing to fully cover the fact that more than half the conference ranks in the bottom 50 nationally in total offense. The following are not attributable to great SEC defense:

Tennessee’s 13 points against Northern Illinois. Auburn’s 27 points against a Southern Mississippi team that subsequently gave up more to Marshall and UTEP, respectively. Arkansas’ zero first-quarter points on the season — including against Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe. Mississippi State’s 14 against Louisiana Tech and seven against Georgia Tech. South Carolina’s 23 points against a Wofford team giving up an average of 27 points per game to FCS competition.”

By Iknowzilch

October 7, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this

Great analysis Tony. I am a Big 12 guy. I agree that top to bottom the SEC is stronger. I think the B ig 12 South is tougher than the SEC East or West. I am not so certain the top 3 teams in both leagues are not pretty close.

By SC Rules!!!

October 7, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

boomsooner: you better hope “if” y’all make it to Miami that we’re not waiting for y’all to come out of the tunnel cause the a$$ woopin’ we put on y’all in ‘05 will look like a practice scrimmage after we’re done with ya in Jan! Stoops steps in it every year come bowl time!!

Shane#1, hey there pard!! How ya doin’??? I know y’all will right things and get fat on Phil!! He’s gone after this year, I can’t see any way they keep him. It will be interesting to see who they hire, will they try and get Cutcliff back or will they go young??? Maybe they can ask Al Davis for a coaching recommendation!!!! (LOL) Lizard, Bungle & Broken wagon (OU) fans: “Have a take and DON’T suck”!!! Thanks for the vine, I am OUT!! Fight On!!

By John

October 7, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

so 6 good to great teams in the big 12 (OU, MU, UT, TT, OSU, KU) is not better than a whole conference full of above average to good teams that beat up on each other? something doesn’t sound right there. once the SEC actually learns how to play offense then i’ll give them some credit because defense actually isn’t everything now-a-days. More teams in the Big 12 actually have an offense and a defense then the SEC has a defense and an offense. the Big 12 is America’s most superior conference.

By Iknowzilch

October 7, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

Tony you are the best at college football along with Herbstreet. I am a huge Big 12 and Sooner fan. I agree the SEC is stronger top to bottom than the Big 12. I do think the Big 12 South is tougher than the SEC East or West. I also don’t think there is much of a difference. iI also don’t think there is much difference between the top 3 schools in either conference.

By Matt

October 7, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

Tony, I think it’s more likely the SEC’s offenses just aren’t as good as the big 12’s. Consider SEC schools’ performance in NC play.

Tennessee 13 points against Northern Illinois; Auburn 27 points against a Southern Mississippi team that subsequently gave up more to Marshall and UTEP, respectively; Arkansas zero first-quarter points on the season — including against Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe; Mississippi State 14 against Louisiana Tech and 7 against Georgia Tech; South Carolina 23 points against Wofford.

By SAW

October 7, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

…….31-0……. …..GAME OVER….

By addicted

October 7, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this

I am sorry Mark. Normally you are pretty good ,but the SEC is not even close to being as good as the Big 12 (they might beat them top to bottom, but thats extremely subjective. Top Half? Big 12 for sure).

SEC teams (and especially defenses) have not been doing well out of conference at all. Fact is, the SEC has great defenses, but only good offenses.

The Big 12 has fantastic offenses, and good defenses.

Read Matt’s post for SEC OOC performance.

Although, Alabama is really good, their score against Kentucky doesn’t mean much, because that was definitely an effect of the high after the GA game.

By bama12 titles

October 7, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this

SEC went 7-2 in bowl games last year and set the record with 9 bowl teams. Big 12 went something like 3-3 or 3-4 and as usual their standard bearer OU lost a bcs bowl for something like the 5th or 6th straight time. End of story on the debate.

As far as scheduling a gentleman pointed out that according to the Sagarin ratings the top 4 SEC teams have all had tough schedules while the top 4 Big 12 teams have had some of the easiest schedules in the nation. This is from an unbiased source.

Lastly, any idiot can see that the bigtime SEC programs have already played a lot of top caliber matchups between their heavyweights such as Bama-UGA to name just one while none of the top big 12 teams have played each other or anyone else worthy of note. This is a fact that will soon change and then the big 12 teams will also start losing as they knock each other off. End of story. SEC is still number 1 until proven otherwise in the bowl games. Incidentally, if you look it up the SEC has thoroughly dominated the bowl season, especially over the last few years while the big 12 has been mediocre to average at best. This is a fact and you can’t change a fact.

By next#13

October 7, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

1 last time THuga fans, 31-0 at the HALF!!! IT TOOK 1HALF OF FOOTBALL TO GET’ER DONE IN YOUR BACKYARD!!!Even though they continued to fight hard in the second half with the aid of atypical lousy s.e.c. officiating,it was over in 1HALF!!! Deal with it,Learn from it,understand….OVERRATED!!! GETOVER YOURSELVES YOU AIN’T ALL THAT!!!!!!!!!

By ROBBOB

October 7, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

next#13 KY showed yall aint all that either. you beat UGA get over yourself and move on. you neee to worry which game you will drop, most likely it will be two.

By Mike T.

October 7, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this

1HALF!!! Deal with it,Learn from it,understand

I don’t think any Georgia fan will argue that fact.It’s you Georgia haters that wanna keep on about it. Hey we lost that game! Move on.I think everyones gonna taste the L side of the ledger this year.After watching Bama against Kentucky last SAT ITS a matter of time for them.

By YellaFella

October 7, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

Why is it no one is mentioning the mighty ACC? I mean the north avenue knats just kicked in the teeth of that powerhouse of Duke but yet they are still unranked. This must be a conspiracy because surely the ACC is the grandest? Right?

By Mike T.

October 7, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this

Although, Alabama is really good, their score against Kentucky doesn’t mean much, because that was definitely an effect of the high after the GA game.

Boy and they act like Georgia fans make all the excuses.

By Mike T.

October 7, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this

I mean the north avenue knats just kicked in the teeth of that powerhouse of Duke but yet they are still unranked.

With that high school offense you might wanna check the AAAA top ten rankings.

By murfdawg

October 7, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this

poor pitiful BAMA fans. They haven’t had anything to be obnoxious about in NINE YEARS. There was one good year they were 10-2, but they were in jail. Now they have won a game and they think they are back. It is a long season pachyderms, so chill out. I wish an Auburn fan would yell 6-0 at you everytime you yell 31-0 at UGA fans. I hope we(UGA) don’t play you again this year. Because once a year is enough of your venomous bull droppings.

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this

OH! Now everyone says that os-who is overrated! Did anyone tell that to the pollsters beforehand? I didn’t know that Florida and LSU hand picked their opponents. My apologies! You idiots make me laugh so f-ing hard. Bring that weak a$$ big-12 BS to the big game and we’ll see. Trust me. You don’t want any of this BITC@! The little 12 sucks! So does the little 10 and so does the pac-who? Get with the program people. If it’s not SEC, it’s not football! Put together a competitive conference, then we’ll talk rationally. Until you field more than six competitive teams, STFU!

By CommunistAJC

October 7, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this

CalBearsRBacj, It’s funny that you categorize every Auburn grad as an idiot. I’m probably making 3 times as much as you are and all I have is a crappy Aubarn education. Iz guess Iz not as smart as use, huh. Go sell stupid somewhere else moron. Take your crap back to the west coast with all the rest of your burned out fudge-packing friends. Leave real football to the conference that can ACTUALLY win national titles.

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this

YellaFella, well said. I can’t believe that after beating a national powerhouse like Duke that gt gets no respect. Why, this is preposterous! Who in the hell do these pollsters think they are? I shall call my people and demand a full investigation as to how such a thing could happen.

By CommunistAJC

October 7, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this

murfdawg, Here you go!

BAMA, REMEMBER: 6-0 6-0 6-0!!! HERE’S TO ANOTHER S-I-X YEARS OF BEATING YOU TRAILER TRASH BEAR BRYANT WORSHIPING HILLBILLIES! By the way, I live in Chicago so I guess you can’t really call me trailer trash can you? Suck on that goat-f&ckers!!!!!!

By voice of reason

October 7, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Most of you dumb f*** cry during bowl season. Most of us SEC fans love it! Get real people. If you haven’t noticed, the SEC has pretty much ruled football the past several years. Oklahoma fans, keep believing that you’re great. We love it that you’re that ignorant. USC fans, you do the same. You don’t play anyone until…well you don’t. You had a chance until you let the Rose Bowl committee dodge UGA last year and choose that powerhouse Illinois. If it’s not SEC, it’s not football!

By Papa

October 7, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this

Tony, didn’t bother with all the yahoos and critiques among the bloggers … just curious; weren’t you (or your copy editor/headline writer?) taught the difference between comparative and superlative? Many teams, yes, but TWO conferences. Which is better of the two - not best.

By Dr Frasier Crane

October 7, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this

While I can’t admit that I spend hours in front of a screen that displays images of mind numbing nonsense, I will admit that I, too, succumb to the pleasures of the average football game. My brother Myles and I, as well as our accomplished girlfriends gather on a weekly basis to cheer (no pun intended) on our football toting heroes and to wish them well after a demoralizing victory over the sad sacks that are their opponents.

Roz, are you ready?

By blaine

October 7, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this

Tony you and your SEC buddy Tim Brando are the biggest homers in the country. Neither one of you will ever admit the “Mighty SEC” might not be the best conference in a given year. You have zero cred. I think your confusing the SEC’s great defense with the fact the all play horrible on offense!

By Josh

October 8, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this

As a lifelong OU fan, I have to agree with Tony. From top to bottom I give the edge to the SEC, and you can’t mark down a conference just because they beat up on each other. It’s fun to argue about, but the truth is that the conference superiority argument won’t really get settled until the bowl season rolls around…and perhaps not even then. Until then, I give the edge to the SEC as the conference that has produced the past two national champions. Unfortunately, we don’t have a playoff system that would allow us to see the Big XII and SEC pound on each other on the field more often as opposed to the current message board and media battles.

By murfdawg

October 8, 2008 12:51 AM | Link to this

communistAJC

Thank you! And here is a WDE for you.

By big 12 fan

October 8, 2008 1:31 AM | Link to this

sure defense looks strong against a weak offense. You know over half the sec conf ranks in the bottom 50 nationally in total offense. Tenn 13pts vs northern Illinois. Auburn 27 pts vs southern miss, a team that gave up more to marshall and utep, Arkansas zero 1st quarter pts this year,including against western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe, Miss State 14 vs Louisiana Tech and 7pt against Georgia Tech, South Carolina 23pts against a Wofford team giving up an average of 27pts per game to FCS competition? Maybe some of the Big 12’s defense look so weak is that their off are that strong? I know that Missouri teams scores everytime they get the ball, and it usually only take about 1 to 2 minutes to do it, so when you can score that often and that quickly, guess what, your defense spends a whole lotta time on the feild. Im just saying some of those early non conf games for the sec, the big 12 could have put up like 70pts against, so yes the sec is the conf with the strong defense

By brad p

October 8, 2008 1:35 AM | Link to this

Nonsense. Absolute nonsense. Barnhart has shown why the SEC is so overrated. Homer’s and flamers like him vote in the rankings. Barnhart should be more professiona and a little smarter. This ancient argument that the SEC “beats each other up” is a lame EXCUSE that can easily be used in EVERY conference! This other argument that the defenses are so great is a fallacy. Simply put, the offenses are so terrible that it makes the defense look good. Here’s the PROOF:

Tennessee (5th in total defense) -UCLA 111th in total offense -UAB 49th in total offense -Florida 47th in total offense -Auburn 104th in total offense -Northern Illinois 75th in total offense

South Carolina (6th in total defense) -NC State 116th in total offense -Vanderbilt 114th in total offense -Georgia 30th in total offense -Wofford 4th (before you go getting all excited C** fans, it’s 4th in the FCS) in total offense -UAB 49th in total offense -Ole Miss 52nd in total offense

Auburn (7th in total defense) -LA-Monroe 100th in total offense -Southern Miss 17th in total offense -Mississipi St. 103rd in total offense -LSU 28th in total offense -Tennessee 97th in total offense -Vanderbilt 114th in total offense

Kentucky (12th in total defense) -Louisville 22nd in total offense -Norfolk St. 94th in the FCS (lol) in total offense -Middle Tennessee 79th in total offense -Western Kentucky 116th (projected) in total offense -Alabama 57th in total offense

LSU (14th in total defense) -Appalachian St. 2nd (FCS) in total offense -Troy 21st in total offense -North Texas 80th in total offense -Auburn 104th in total offense -Miss. St. 103rd in total offense

Alabama (16th in total defense) -Clemson 50th in total offense -Tulane 41st in total offense -Western Kentucky 116th (projected) in total offense -Arkansas 73rd in total offense -Georgia 30th in total offense -Kentucky 82nd in total offense

Florida (19th in total defense) -Hawaii 97th in total offense -Miami 106th in total offense -Tennessee 97th in total offense -Ole Miss 52nd in total offense -Arkansas 73rd in total defense

Stunning, isn’t it? The SEC continues to be overrated and inflated by voting members of the media. This is why we need a playoff system.

By brad p

October 8, 2008 1:37 AM | Link to this

Nonsense. Pure unadulterated nonsense. Barnhart should be more professional and not such a flamer and a homer. This overused EXCUSE that the SEC “beats each other up” could be used in EVERY conference. It is a circular argument that holds no water. The FACT is that these SEC teams look terrible on the field not because the other teams simple, chaotic, unimpressive defenses are so great, it’s that the offenses are really so bad that only an SEC team can win by scoring 3 points in a game! Tennessee (5th in total defense) -UCLA 111th in total offense -UAB 49th in total offense -Florida 47th in total offense -Auburn 104th in total offense -Northern Illinois 75th in total offense

South Carolina (6th in total defense) -NC State 116th in total offense -Vanderbilt 114th in total offense -Georgia 30th in total offense -Wofford 4th (before you go getting all excited C** fans, it’s 4th in the FCS) in total offense -UAB 49th in total offense -Ole Miss 52nd in total offense

Auburn (7th in total defense) -LA-Monroe 100th in total offense -Southern Miss 17th in total offense -Mississipi St. 103rd in total offense -LSU 28th in total offense -Tennessee 97th in total offense -Vanderbilt 114th in total offense

Kentucky (12th in total defense) -Louisville 22nd in total offense -Norfolk St. 94th in the FCS (lol) in total offense -Middle Tennessee 79th in total offense -Western Kentucky 116th (projected) in total offense -Alabama 57th in total offense

LSU (14th in total defense) -Appalachian St. 2nd (FCS) in total offense -Troy 21st in total offense -North Texas 80th in total offense -Auburn 104th in total offense -Miss. St. 103rd in total offense

Alabama (16th in total defense) -Clemson 50th in total offense -Tulane 41st in total offense -Western Kentucky 116th (projected) in total offense -Arkansas 73rd in total offense -Georgia 30th in total offense -Kentucky 82nd in total offense

Florida (19th in total defense) -Hawaii 97th in total offense -Miami 106th in total offense -Tennessee 97th in total offense -Ole Miss 52nd in total offense -Arkansas 73rd in total defense

These numbers tell all the story you need. Barnhart’s story is a fairy tale.

By TrueCrimson

October 8, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

brad p,

Your numbers don’t mean diddly squat. The only numbers that count are the Win/Loss numbers at the end of the season.

We shall see who “lives happily ever after”.

By 78Lion

October 8, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

Tony,

If you believe that the writers will keep an undefeated Joe Paterno coached team from the BCS Championship game in his last year, you are mistaken.

By Sautee Dawg

October 8, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

Jacket Steve Tony Barnhardt

Steve that SC team your referring to has a winning record and beat a good team last week. Wait till your season is over and then examine your overrated schedule. Who does Tech plya this week? Powerhouse i guess. You can play that numbers game all you want with AUB-Miss ST and Tech-Miss st. but only game so far against ranked team VT, You got beat.

Tony know your busy and mistakes can happen, but score at halftime of UGA -BAMA was 31-0 not 31-3. Not picking on you just remember it well!!

By EMMA

October 8, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK KUUUUUUUU The Big 12 BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop playin.

By Frank

October 8, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

Nice analysis, but neither offense or defense determine a season but injuries in college football. If the offense powerhouses stay healthy in the beat up world of both the SEC and BIG 12, the BIG 12 win out if they keep from injuries. If injuries hit, it is easier to keep a good defense going with some injuries than a good offense so SEC will win out. But team for team right now, BIG 12 is it but a lot of year is ahead and defenses survive better in injury time than offenses.

By David

October 8, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

I have to give a slight edge to the SEC on this one but it does not take away from the fact the the SEC IS HIGHLY OVERRATED. A top B12 team would likely beat the top SEC teams but down here in the little SEC bubble we live in, nothing is better than SEC football.

The truth is, SEC teams cannot handle a good B10 defense (except for OSU of course) and probably cannot score enough points to keep up with Oklahoma. The SEC plays notoriously soft football and each of its teams has troubles against tough, hard hitting teams.

One exception this year seems to be Alabama which is playing great on both sides of the ball and is probably the only chance the SEC has of getting to the BCS Championship.

By Sooner James

October 8, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

There are very strong defenses in the SEC. They are good. No questioning that. My problem is the inherent assumption that the top SEC teams are really great. Look, last year Colorado beat OU….and it was seen as an indictment against OU. Never mind that Colorado has played good football, and that the Big 12 North has finally showed a pulse again. This year, Ole Miss beats Florida…and it’s seen as an endorsement of how strong the SEC is. That is the definition of slanted logic. Never mind that Ole Miss goes on to lose the following game, just ignore that. In my opinion, it’s nearly a dead heat between the 2 conferences this year. Nobody really wants to hear more about how great the SEC is. The rest of the country respects you (please, PLEASE stop the idiotic SEC chants in games, you people sound ridiculous), but we tire of hearing these nonsensical arguments.

By Mark

October 8, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Sooner James:

THIS

Well put my friend.

SEC exceptionalism is a myth but we understand how you can be so excited because you won a couple of NCs.

By murfdawg

October 8, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

look at the bowl games last year. SEC was 7-2, Big 12 5-3. Mo beat ARK, BAMA beat COLO.

SEC offense 26.6pts/game Big 12 offense 32.8 pts/game

SEC defense 22.7 pts/game Big 12 defense 28 pts/game

What does all this mean? I don’t know. But the SEC can come up with offense when it goes out of conference. Big 12 comes up with offense everywhere. Basically the two conferences play different styles, bothe are successful and either one could beat the Pac10 or the Big10(11) all day everyday.

By gahorn

October 8, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

The top half of the SEC has come down to meet the bottom half of the SEC. In other words, the top teams are not as good as normal and the bottom half are a little better. The Big 12 top teams are ALOT better than normal and they added a couple of mid level teams that have improved alot.

By Mouse

October 8, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Big XII top teams are so so much better the SEC top teams “THIS” year. SEC teams have no offense thats why there so called awesome defense look better than they are. Look at last year Arkansas absoulutely ran all over LSU last year I mean they couldn’t stop them. Mizzou shut Arkansas down, total domination. Big XII > SEC “THIS” year No question

By Mr. Football

October 8, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

The Big 12 has always been one of the top conferences, since its inception. Further, go back and look at the history of its member institutions and you’ll find that in the modern era (since 1950), no other conference’s membership can boast as many National Champions or Heisman Trophy Winners as the Big 12 member institutions. The SEC runs a close second.

By Jaron Hicks

October 8, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

wow clearly big 12 is better sec deffense looks so good bc there deffense is so bad scores like 3-2 and 10-7 come on a 2a school could put more points against an sec deffense

By Atlanta Mike

October 8, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Do you actually watch the games, or do you just watch the polls?

Auburn is no longer a top-ten team because they are not one of the top-ten teams in the country.

The SEC is very deep, but the conference does not feature the very elite of college football. The fact that Vandy, Kentucky, and Ole Miss are competitive against the top teams in the SEC is testament to this. NOT proof that the SEC is great.

As to “which conference is better?” Who cares?

The SEC is stronger than the Big XII at the bottom. The Big XII is stronger at the top.

By Vandy?ha ha

October 8, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

You know you’re in trouble when you’re pimping Vanderbilt and Starkeville.

Nice quote logic unquote, HOMERS!!!

By hhhhmmmm

October 8, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

This discussion leads nowhere since SEC teams don’t like to play teams outside the conference. When SEC teams start playing Big 12, Big 10, Pac 10, teams, we’ll get an idea of how the SEC matches up on the field with other conferences. Right now it’s just a guess. And the fact that SEC teams beat up on each other isn’t a good bench mark on how they’d match up with teams from other conferences.

By Herschel

October 8, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

Do any of you so called fan watch bowl games?? SEC rules every year.

By hhhhmmmm

October 8, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

The SEC has done best in the bowls the past few years, but that doesn’t hold up too far back. And since Bowls have their own inherant problems, the SEC really can’t say how it competes nationally unless SEC teams decide its okay to venture out and play teams from different conferences. GA did it this year with AZ State. It would be nice to see other schools put teams like OU, USC, OSU, Texas, IL, Oregon, etc on the regular schedule and see how the SEC does. Every other conference does it. Why not the SEC?

By SoonernVolved

October 8, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Tony, everyone is entitled to their opinion however I beg to differ with you. You make your case about the SEC being better due to the league’s reputation for defense.

Your claim is that the Big XII putting up these great numbers and points show that the conference as a whole does not play defense, yet overlook something.

If this is true, (from your POV), then how do we knwo that the SEC defenses are not just feasting on subpar offensive units?

Currently, the highest rated offensive team in the SEC is LSU (#28 in total offense), followed by UGA, (#30 ) and then Florida, (#47). Also, let’s not overlook the fact that while the SEC did start their conference slate sooner than other conferences, their teams still have played against “lower tier” OOC teams and did not exactly light up the scoreboard.

Kentucky struggling with MTSU, Miss State losing on the road to La-Tech, South Carolina struggling with Div 1aa Wofford, Miss State getting blasted by Ga-Tech.

Both conferences are great, but what places the Big XII at #1 right now is the sheer depth of quality/great QB play, (something the SEC lacks right now outside of Stafford and Tebow).

If the Big XII and the SEC had a conference tourney this year matching up all 12 teams on a neutral site I could easily see the Big XII winning 7 of the games with the other 5 being toss-ups at best currently.

By W . Simmons

October 9, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

This is my first time on here and I can already see that Roswell ed is probably the biggest moron posting comments on here and doesn’t know squat about UGA or college football. UGA won’t look so over-rated when we beat the national champions from the past two years in back-to-back games!!!! Go Dawgs… Sic’em…woof..woof.woof

By Miles

October 10, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this

This is the best article I’ve seen in the last six months regarding conference comparison…great job Mr. Barnhart…dead on!

By Robby

October 11, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

I don’t see how anyone can say the Big12 is better than the SEC! Since the creation of the BCS, the SEC has won 4 championships and still continues to dominate out of conference opponents. Not only have they dominated in the championship games but they also had the most bowl victories in last years bowl games.

They consistently have the best defenses and more ranked teams than any other conference. And the only reason they drop in rankings is because they have to play each other during conference play. I give the Big12 a round of applause for their efforts. Their teams are getting better but still lack the talent to beat a good SEC team. Big12 will always lack an offense than can produce points off an SEC defense.

As for today’s game between UT and OU, great game and sure to be a classic. Looking forward to Mizzou’s game tonight against Okla St. Should be a good test for Mizzou to see if they really deserve to be in the top 5 unlike OU who didn’t live up to the hype. After all is said and done, SEC will face Big12 in the national championship and we’ll see that the SEC is better. ROLLLLLL TIDE!

By jhpoke

October 16, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

You didn’t even mention Zac Robinson @ OSU. He actually had better numbers than Tim Tebow Heisman winner. He just played for a team with no defense. The defense is getting better and that is why Okie-state is in the top 10. If they would have had anyone giving them votes at the beginning of the season they would be in the top 5.

By Krisco Phist

October 20, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

I would say that the past few years the SEC has been the best conference without question, but like all champions they eventually get knocked off by the up and coming “new” kid in town.

This year that Kid is the Big 12. I’m sick and tired of the argument that the SEC’s defenses are amazing and they would shut down the big 12. That’s a bunch of malarkey. The defenses are good because the offenses are not very good. Plain and simple.

I also noted a quote stating that “High Scoring football doesn’t equate to quality football”. The same can be said that “Low scoring football doesn’t equate to quality defenses.” If Big 12 Team played Auburn, Ark & Miss ST they would have great defenses as well.

It’s also funny when the SEC fans claim that any team at the bottom of the conference can go out and dominate teams from other conferences. That’s a bunch of BS, the OOC records for the SEC are not sparkling at all and are riddled with some embarassing loses as well.

I also find it amusing that a crappy team like Miss St or Ark try to make themselves look better by saying “we’re superior because we play in the SEC”

ARK: 52-10 loss to TX MISS ST: 38-7 loss to GA TECH

You’re bottom of the conference looks as pathetic as the bottom of any conference. End of argument.

SEC is good this year, but far from great.

By Riley

October 20, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

i think ur right, the sec has great defenses and lately florida has gotten a better defense (in my opinion florida is goin to beat georgia this year because the only reason florida lost is because of defensive problems)

By Johnn

November 10, 2008 3:47 AM | Link to this

BLAH,BLAH,BLAH…Big 12 -vs- SEC?? OFFENSE VS DEFENSE… “SEC sucks, they don’t play anybody with a good offense so how can you say they have better defenses?”, “BIG 12 are heavy hitters, they play with and against nuclear offenses…so they have to defend against them too!!” Alabama had to win against a sorry old LSU in overtime…boy is Texas Tech gonna slaughter them!!!!!

By Rick

December 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

The writers premise raises a number of questions. The top two are, does the big 12 have such high output offenses because their offenses are strong or is it because their defenses are weak. Also does the sec have such good defensive numbers because their defenses are so good or because their offenses are weaker. To figure this out you must look at OOC games. The numbers show that while the sec defensive numbers look good OOC their offensive numbers do not pick up that much against weaker OOC teams. While at the same time the big 12’s offensive numbers remain high in OOC games and their defensive numbers are dramaticly better in OOC games. This seems to support the premise that ther big 12 offensive numbers are based on superior offenses while the sec defensive numbers are based more on weaker offenses.

By Eric Grider

January 2, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this

Great to finally see someone who actually knows football and writes about it too. I agree/disagree with some of your statements and I know your statements were made before the ending of the season. I will agree that the SEC is “usually” the best conference, from top to bottom, every year. BUT, the Big 12 is the best conference, top to bottom, this year. That Iowa team you talked about, well they just beat the crap out of South Carolina, Vanderbilt went 1-6 in their last seven games, beat Kentucky, and won a bowl game over a team from the very, very weak ACC. Nebraska has as good a team as Mississippi and Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma State are as good as LSU, Georgia, and better than Tennessee and Auburn. THIS YEAR. That is what I am arguing, this year the Big 12 is the best conference. I don’t know why Alabama and Texas are not playing each other in a bowl game!!! Now let’s talk about those defenses. First, I agree the SEC has some outstanding defensive teams. But non of those teams showed that defense against Florida and the defenses look a lot better when the offenses aren’t that great. Outside of Florida their really isn’t an offensive powerhouse in the SEC. Texas’ defense is hugely underrated and they play against the overpowering offenses in the Big 12. Auburn 3 Miss State 2. Come on, that is horrible. I like defense too but that shows how bad the offenses are in the mid, lower half of the SEC. Usually Arkansas, LSU, Miss State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Auburn are strong. I hear the argument about Vandy every time they hold someone close, “Vanderbilt has a good team”, no they don’t. I lived in Nashville for four years, I like and root for the Commodores but they don’t have a “good” program. Now let’s talk about the SEC’s top half. Florida, good but don’t deserve to play for the BCS title after losing to Ole Miss, heck USC and Penn State have as much right to be there as they do. Georgia, once again hugely over-rated, Alabama, also great but showed how they can’t keep up with the scoring against an offensive team (Florida). That’s it.
Big 12, Oklahoma and Texas, probably should be allowed to play for the BCS title game against each other. If it wasn’t for the business of the game these days and the fact that just about every analyst helps carry the SEC into the title game every year, they would be playing each other agian. Texas Tech, great team, better than an LSU or Georgia team this year. Oklahoma State and Missouri, better than the mid-top half of the SEC. Kansas and Nebraska, good as South Carolina and Ole Miss, better than Auburn, Vandy, Tennessee. Baylor, Iowa State, Colorado, Texas A&M, Kansas State. As good as Arkansas, Mississippi State (who beat Vandy and Miss State is horrible) Tennessee, and Auburn. This is this year. Some years ago, about five or six, the SEC top to bottom (outside of Vandy) was without a doubt the best conference. Not this year. Plus Kansas State, Colorado, and Texas A&M won’t be down for long.
I hear what you are saying but I still believe that Colt McCoy should have won the Heisman Trophy and the only reason he didn’t is because Tim Tebow was built up by every analyst in the world and received some of the votes McCoy should have received. And I truly believe that Texas is the best team in the country.