So who was the biggest winner this week in college football? It would be hard to argue against Texas, coming off a dominating performance against the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Indeed, anytime a team beats the top-ranked team, it is cause for celebration. But the Florida Gators pulled of an impressive show of their own.
The Gators jumped seven spots in the AP rankings and are now sitting fifth. One team, if they both keep winning, will be their opponent for the SEC championship. Thus, to play for the national championship, the Gators will likely need two teams in front of them to falter.
Yes, it is true the Gators are ranked seventh in the coaches' poll, but that is not going to matter in the long run. Texas Tech is ahead of them, but will lose. It took a miracle to beat Nebraska. USC will be largely rendered irrelevant in the BCS standings because of strength of schedule.
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Plus, Oklahoma will not play for the national championship without winning their conference, especially if the team they keep out is the SEC Champion. So, essentially, Florida ranks fourth. Beating Alabama moves them up to at least third.
So what are the two other teams left? Texas and Penn State. Admittedly, looking at these teams schedules, it is looking pretty good for both of these teams if they win out.
On paper, Texas has the tougher schedule. And there will be letdown after Oklahoma. This is bad news, especially with Missouri (next week), Texas Tech and Kansas still on the schedule. If they get through all that, they deserve to be in Miami in January.
However, the money is against them running the table. Thus, it looks at this point like the national championship will be between the SEC champion and Penn State.
Alabama will not be in the SEC championship game, simply because they have not been tested. Yes, they have played two teams that were top 10 teams, but what have those teams done since? Both Clemson and Auburn were overrated in the top 10 and have nosedived since.
Therefore, the SEC championship game will be a rematch between LSU and Florida. Until LSU proves otherwise, my money is with Florida.
It certainly looks like another Big 10/SEC title game, with Penn State and Florida being the representatives. Given the way the offenses are clicking, it could be a very entertaining, high scoring shootout.
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about 1 month ago
alabama won against clemson and georgia --- not auburn. so it has been tested -- i think.
from about 1 month ago
Indeed, I forgot about the Gerogia game. Good point. If Alabama does get through, I'd love to see that SEC championship game. I'd prefer Auburn/UF than an LSU rematch, simply for the excitement value.
about 1 month ago
no matter who the SEC champion is, the SEC will win its 3rd straight National Championship Title. The SEC is simply a powerhouse that has very little opposition, the closest conferance to come close to them is the Big 10 and the Pac 10, simply because both conferences have at least 1 or 2 powerhouse teams. But compared to the speed of the SEC, no other conference even comes close. it will be Alabama-vs-Florida in the Sec Championship, Florida will win a shootout, and go on to play either Texas, or Penn State. the hardest opposition that Texas has is Mizzou, i believe Texas will win out and go on to play in the best National title game since they played USC back in "05, with a different outcome.
Florida wins a high scoring game, 41-35.
from about 1 month ago
Your VERY wrong, John.
Let me first start out by writing that I've been an huge SEC/UF fan for 20 years, and have watched almost every college football game on the tube(or flatscreen now), since. As much as I want to agree with you(and to an extent I do, because I also have UF beating TX in the NATL CHAMP) your opinion on conference strength and rating is just wrong......
The BIG-10 is just plain bad, PENN ST and WISC are the only good teams and thats it, but its hardly in 2nd place.
Id personally rank both the SEC and BIG-12 tied for #1.
The BIG 12 is loaded with senior QBs which make them about equal...have you watched them?
Daniels, McCoy, Bradford, and actually the kid from BAYLOR is leading the conference, hes a stud.
The SEC has dominant defenses, and that cant be argued, but we as SEC fans have to understand they own the QB position in the BIG-12. Texas, OKLA, and MIZZOU could hang with BAMA, UF, and UGA=beyond the top 3 SEC mostly wins out.
Bottomline, the BIG-12 is either tied or a close second, not the BIG-10 or any other conference.
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