MEDIA PICKS
BUCK BELUE, 680 the Fan
Who will win the SEC? This one has the look of a shootout. Auburn's run game is dynamic, with Tre Mason and Nick Marshall. Nick also delivers big plays in the passing game, with (Sammie) Coates and (Ricardo) Louis downfield. Missouri's offense is balanced and disciplined, with a trio of 6-foot, 5-inch playmakers on the edge. One big difference: Missouri starts 18 upperclassmen. They are experienced and mature. I like Missouri in a close one.
Should they get to play for the national championship? Looks like the SEC champ will get shut out of the BCS title game. Fair? No. Obviously, the past seven years have shown the strength of the SEC. The path to the SEC title was rugged and dangerous. Not exactly the same challenge in the ACC and Big Ten. I can't wait for the playoff system to kick in next season, so we decide a true champion on the field. We've been waiting a 100 years for that.
TODD BLACKLEDGE, ESPN
Who will win the SEC? Missouri. They are a much better team than people think and are flying into Atlanta somewhat under the radar. I think Auburn is every bit as good as Mizzou, maybe even better, but I think recovering from such an emotional and meaningful win over Alabama and getting refocused on Missouri will be challenging.
Should they get to play for the national championship? The only way that the winner of the SEC Championship game should play in the national championship game is if either Florida State or Ohio State loses in their respective league championship games. Even though I believe that the SEC is the toughest league in college football, finishing a season undefeated in any major conference is incredibly difficult and should be properly recognized and, in the case of the BCS, properly rewarded.
TOMMY BOWDEN, Fox Sports South
Who will win the SEC? Auburn. Missouri's defense (52nd in the nation in total defense) is not as good as Alabama's. Therefore Auburn will be able to move the ball and score points. Both offenses run the ball well. But I think Auburn's offense has a little more trickery, deceit, and deception, which makes it difficult to prepare for in one week.
Should they get to play for the national championship? If Ohio State wins impressively, they're in. I would only put the SEC winner in if Ohio State wins ugly and Auburn wins pretty. Then, I would put Auburn in the national championship game. Since Missouri's most impressive wins were over a four-loss Georgia and Texas A&M team and they lack an "Alabama" type win, I would not jump Missouri over Ohio State.
CARL DUKES, 92.9 the Game
Who will win the SEC? Auburn. The Tigers have the No. 1 rushing offense in the country and ran the football convincingly on Alabama, the No. 1 rush defense. They will do the same in the SEC Championship (game) against Missouri. Plus with the "Divine Intervention" going on at Auburn the last few weeks, I'm hard pressed to go against Gus Malzahn, who is my coach of the year in college football.
Should they get to play for the national championship? One of the most storied seasons in the history of college football comes to a close with Auburn doing the improbable after not winning a game in the SEC last year. They will win the national championship.
BRAD EDWARDS, ESPN
Who will win the SEC? Until last weekend, Missouri's season was more impressive than Auburn's. Mizzou may just be the better team. All the talk about whether Auburn should play for the national title has to be a motivating factor. Plus, Missouri has defensive personnel capable of getting into the backfield and disrupting the timing of Auburn's offense.
Should they get to play for the national championship?: I prefer "the eye test" to comparing resumes, and I don't see either Missouri or Auburn as better than Ohio State. I view the teams as similar, and that's not enough for me to justify ranking the one-loss SEC champion over the undefeated Buckeyes. If I had no doubt that Mizzou and Auburn were better football teams than OSU, I'd be fine with the SEC winner moving on to Pasadena at Ohio State's expense.
PAUL FINEBAUM, ESPN
Who will win the SEC? Auburn. Forget rationale, I would pick Auburn right now if they were playing the Denver Broncos. They are America's team — a team of destiny. Auburn 31-27.
Should they get to play for the national championship? I think Auburn — with a win — should play for the BCS. Ohio State has had a nice run, but would not beat any of the SEC schools (Auburn, Alabama or Missouri) in front of them. They have played a soft schedule in a league with very few quality teams.
IVAN MAISEL, ESPN
Who will win the SEC? Auburn. I think Missouri has a defensive front that can challenge the Auburn ground game. I think the Tigers' big receivers can be as open downfield as Amari Cooper was against the Auburn secondary. Missouri is under the radar this week, just as they have operated all season. But pick against Auburn? After the last two games? I'm not that dumb.
Should they get to play for the national championship? The Auburn-Missouri winner should go to the BCS Championship game only if Florida State or Ohio State loses. History tells us that no undefeated team from an AQ conference has been leapfrogged by a one-loss team. Auburn should have beaten LSU. Missouri shouldn't have collapsed in the fourth quarter against South Carolina. As Bill Parcells says: You are what your record says you are.
BRAD NESSLER, ESPN
Who will win the SEC? Auburn. I think Missouri's size and physicality at wide receiver will give Auburn some problems. And having their leader, James Franklin, back at quarterback gives them the added running threat. Their defensive front is fast and active, but if they don't play their gaps properly, Auburn can turn a short gain into a home run in a hurry.
Should they get to play for the national championship? I have to disagree with Jay Jacobs' belief about a one-loss SEC team having priority in the national championship game over anyone who's undefeated. Just because of the tremendous success of the SEC in the last decade, it's not their "birth right" to play every year for the title.
CHUCK OLIVER, 680AM
Who will win the SEC? Auburn. There is plenty of "tangible" here, specifically the way Nick Marshall is the absolute perfect quarterback for the running element of Gus Malzahn's offense — Auburn runs the ball 70 percent of the time, so Marshall missing receivers at times is forgivable. Then there's the nebulous: they simply believe, and confidence/belief/faith is a huge element in sports.
Should they get to play for the national championship? We'll assume FSU wins Saturday (apologies, coach Cutcliffe — you've always been nice to be, but it is what it is). If Ohio State loses, this is easy: Florida State vs. SEC champion. If Ohio State wins, it'll be the Buckeyes in Pasadena. Any bump Auburn or Missouri would get from beating a top 5 team won't close the gap that already exists, as well as whatever nudge Ohio State gets from beating Michigan State.
JESSE PALMER,
ESPN analyst
Who will win the SEC? Auburn, because of their ability to run the football using multiple personnel groupings, formations and presentations. QB Nick Marshall's speed is unique for the position, and it will be the difference on Saturday.
Should they get to play for the national championship? If Auburn is the winner, they deserve a shot in the BCS National Championship Game based on subjectivity (I believe they're better than Ohio State on the field) and their resume (having beaten to two Top 5 teams in consecutive weeks). To be the man, you've got to beat the man, and they KO'd Muhammad Ali (Alabama). If Missouri wins, they shouldn't leapfrog Ohio State because their resume isn't as strong as Auburn's.
BOB RATHBUN, Fox Sports South Who will win the SEC? Auburn by the slightest of margins —Destiny's Darlings— but don't sleep on Mizzou. I don't think they'll be caught up in the emotion of the atmosphere. This will be a great game, mainly for the fact that no one dreamed this matchup possible three months ago.
Should they get to play for the national championship?: It's probably going to take an Ohio State loss, but even if the Buckeyes beat Michigan State, I say a one-loss SEC team should be in the game. I've seen what a meat-grinder this league is first-hand, and there is no way OSU would run the table if they played similar competition. Auburn has been penalized in the polls because they started at ground-zero. But they beat Alabama. Can anyone else say that?
CELEBRITY PICKS
CHASE COFFMAN of the Falcons (former Missouri player)
Who will win the SEC? I just hope that it's a good game. Everybody is already writing Missouri off. Folks are saying that they don't belong, but there is no reason to doubt them now. Just like any game, they have to be able to handle the highs and lows. Both teams are probably going to be making plays offensively and defensively. They have to just keep chugging away at what they do well.
Should they get to play for the national championship? I would love for Missouri to have the opportunity to jump an undefeated team, if both of those two teams stay undefeated. If Michigan States beats Ohio State, if that happens, then the winner of the SEC should get in. If not, I think I agree with it being the two undefeated teams.
JASON DUFNER, PGA Tour player (Auburn grad)
Who will win the SEC? It's always good to be the team with the most momentum at the end of the season, and Auburn is really on a roll right now. Missouri has had an excellent season in 2013, and they have a nice team with a top-tier defense. That said, I think Auburn, with its ball-control offense, will take care of business on Saturday.
Should they get to play for the national championship? Obviously I want Auburn to play for a national title, but I don't think we know yet whether the BCS system will allow that, even with a win in the SEC Championship (game). What I do know is that a win over Alabama, and an SEC championship win, this team can compete to win a national title.
JOSH HARRIS of the Falcons (former Auburn player)
Who will win the SEC? Auburn, all the way. I don't see them losing this game with as much magic as they've made this happen this entire season. This turnaround they've have, I just don't think anything is going to stop my Tigers.
Should they get to play for the national championship? I think so. I'm obviously a little biased having come from Auburn and the SEC. I would stand by that if Missouri were to go on as well. The strength of scheduling in the SEC is impressive. To only have one loss, I definitely think they should get the nod to go to the championship game over an undefeated team from, I don't want to say a lesser conference, but a less-competitive conference.
PETER MALNATI, PGA Tour player (Missouri grad)
Who will win the SEC? Missouri. It's probably going to be one of those nerve-racking games that will be close the whole way. Both teams run the ball well. Missouri does give up big plays from time to time. I see a couple of big plays for Auburn, but I think Missouri for the most part will contain that running game. Still, I'm going to say, Missouri 27-21.
Should they get to play for the national championship? I think the SEC champion, and Alabama, probably deserve to be ranked ahead of Ohio State. Florida State and Ohio State are very similar. But Florida State has been dominant in all of its wins. But Ohio State has had a few close calls. They have found a way to win, but haven't been impressive. I don't feel like they belong in the game. I do feel like whoever wins the SEC championship deserves a spot in the championship game.
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