Ugh, Stewart, not you too. Please tell me you're not drinking the "LSU is so great" Kool-Aid. I mean, do you HONESTLY think LSU is the number one team in the country right now? They barely escape UF on a questionable 4th down spot, lose to KY (who got housed by UF), and barely beat Auburn on a miracle and a prayer.

As crazy as this is going to sound, I'm ready to say that UF is the best team in the country RIGHT NOW. (And this is coming from an OSU fan...so my fingers are burning as I'm typing this.) I know that Tim Tebow is going to die at some point if they keep abusing him like this, but WOW is their offense looking good.

I personally hope Kansas and BC and OSU all win out so that there can be all sorts of controvery about the BCS system and how an SEC team should STILL be in the NC game.

You've got to wonder whether you really want Mandel backing your team. He's just been so off this season. Regardless, Buckeye fans should prefer to play against LSU in the title game, should they win out. If the Bucks play in that game against anyone other than the SEC champ, there will be no end to the whining and moaning coming from the Southern portion of these United States. Better to take on the best they can produce, in an unfair home advantage for what should be a neutral title game, and shut up the naysayers once and for all. It's the best shot the rest of the country has at silencing the incessant blabber that never seems to stop spilling from South of that mason-dixon line.

I'm totally willing to give the LSU players full credit for pulling off a tough play under the most stressful of circumstances, but, man, that was the worst bit of "coaching" in modern college football history.

Seriously, LSU fans, good luck trying to win much of anything with Les Miles at the helm. His luck is going to run out, probably sooner rather than later.

Stewart, a final thought for you: your new No. 1 team lost to KENTUCKY, an all-time one-hit wonder enjoying a freak season of prosperity (and, it's worth noting, a team that has lost TWICE before we're even in November). I'm no fan of Ohio State (I used to live about eight miles from Michigan Stadium), but I still don't quite understand your refusal to give the Buckeyes any credit. That blowout loss against Florida? That was LAST year, bro.

But, hey, whatever: do your part to keep that self-perpetuating myth of SEC "superiority" alive. Maybe they'll mention you at the awards banquet.

Ohio State will lose Nov. 17th- quote me on that. However, I do believe the SEC and their fans are COMPLETELY WRONG in saying Ohio State doesn't deserve the number one ranking. Did anyone watch the Steve Spurrier interview where he said Ohio State was overrated?Basically he said Vanderbilt should be ranked ahead of them. I don't care if you're playing powder puff teams, to put up those kind of numbers on defense is simply impressive. OSU will go toe-to-toe with any team in the SEC.

Oh yeah, and Stewart, I hope you were watching when Michigan stuffed Illinois' 'mobile quarterback and spread offense', then managed to win comfortably without Mike Hart.

Maybe you should just take next week off on your predictions, buddy. No offense.

Losing a wild game in 3 overtimes on the road after a barely missed 50+ yard FG. LSU gets blamed for what some people think is an SEC bias. I don't think anything I can say would change any minds, but I will ask what LSU has to do to finally get some much earned respect?

Some people are screaming for respect for Ohio State, but they couldn't pull away from a one win team at home!!

They only way to stop it would be a playoff system, and that's not coming anytime soon.

Guys guys...you are so upset that Mandal is giving the SEC credit for their talent and rankings. Look at the top 25 for the past few weeks they have had 7 teams ranked. What other conference comes even close? The Big Ten rankings are terrible take a look at them...if you dare. Yes LSU, FL, SC and KY are all doing great. Not to mention AL, oooh AL, GA, Auburn and AK. The SEC is where it's at. Big Ten may have had it in the past...but folks the SEC has been tough and ranked!!! If the SEC commissioner would get off that fluff he is sitting on and take a stance for the conference he is suppose to be representing we may eventually get credit where credit is due!

The fact that the superior LSU defense just gave up 24 pts to the 70th rated scoring offense in the country (and 99th in total offense) must be a complete aberation. Those stats must have been accumulated in garbage time, oh wait, Auburn led for most of the game with one of the worst offenses in the nation. Their offensive line is more swiss cheese than USC's injury prone line (not to mention Brandon Cox wouldn't start at Stanford). LSU's opponents are now averaging almost 31 pts per game in the last three games.

Nick Saban must be salivating right now. I'm guessing they'll be celebrating Nick Saban's latest dismantling of a highly ranked team next Saturday night. If Rich Brooks can do it and Tommy Tuberville can almost do it, Nick "The Second Coming" Saban should be able to hang half a hundred on them.

And Notre Dame's jerseys looked like something a duck pucked up...

Why's everyone ripping on my predictions? 6-2 this week, 42-22 overall in this, the most unpredictable season in the history of the sport. I may be no Nostradamus ... but I'll certainly take that.

Dustin,

Ohio State was up 24-0 against MSU (overall record 5-3), and then gift-wrapped two defensive touchdowns. I wouldn't exactly say that was one of the team's better moments, but if you can spot a team 14 points and hold their offense to 3 points for the entire game, you're doing okay. I'm not saying they're #1, but really who is?

As far as LSU getting respect... their season is playing out similar to OSU's 2002 season with so many lucky breaks (I wonder why Tommy Tuberville didn't bother to challenge that incredibly generous spot that let LSU get a first down instead of 4th and 1). They won't get respect until they get to the title game (just like OSU), especially the way this season is going.

Jeremy, great post, I agree with every word, especially the part about how this allegedly wonderful LSU defense -- destined, according to some, to be inducted en masse into the College Football Hall of Fame -- sure seems to give up a fair amount of points.

(One quick note, though: the Alabama-LSU game is Nov. 3)

And Brandon Cox could probably start at Stanford. Just not at quarterback -- he wouldn't be listed on a six-deep chart at that position.

Hmm, at this point, the tOSU fan ripping of the LSU win, the coaching (by one with roots in their conference) and now even Stew outnumbers respondents pointing out the obverse about 4-1. Aren't the ad nauseum cries from Columbus and their fans around the country getting a bit old?

Maybe the "paper tiger" bloggers will show up so you can have something to react to . . but for now . . Sheesh.

Les and Gary have made some decisions that I would question, too. But the Tigers, with Early Doucet back answered criticisms today about not being able to "go downfield" with the forward pass. They even won without Glen Dorsey at the end, which freed up Auburn's defensive line to allow the temporary go ahead touchdown with a drive. Not really sure why you would question the win (albeit maybe the decision) or LSU's potential to be there in January.

By the way . . . not the first time LSU has done this. Under Cholly Mac, Bert Jones beat Ole Miss with a touchdown pass with ONE second left.

Sorry tOSU fans. I saw no "paper tiger" on that field today. I saw a real one.

Stewart, how could you leave Temple out of the "feel good story" section? They won their third in a row (for the first time in 17 years), despite losing their starting quarterback and THREE onside kicks, against conference unbeaten Miami of Ohio.

I meant Auburn's offensive line in prior post and not defensive . . my mistake.

Stewart,

Interesting that you didn't mention the absolutely stupid call by Tuberville to kick it short to LSU, giving them the ball at their own 42 with 3 minutes left. That has to be one of the dumbest calls I have ever seen. Given the way this game ended, how can you not try to give LSU an extra 20 yards to gain to get into FG range?

Look beyond the scoreboard you simpletons! Ohio State dominated the 15th ranked offense in the nation!

While I didn't comment on your picks, your picks are about as predictable as Iowa's offense. Most of the upsets are the trendy upsets and you have yet to predict even a weird upset that happened. The best you've done is pick Florida to beat Kentucky, Illinois to beat Penn State, and USF to beat Auburn. Pretty much what every other talking head predicted. You've missed the big ones like Kentucky-Louisville, Oregon-Michigan, Michigan-Penn State, Kentucky-Arkansas, Florida State-Alabama, GT-Clemson, VT-Clemson, Illinois-Wisconsin, Cincinnati-Rutgers, Kentucky-LSU, Virginia-UConn, Cal-UCLA...

And you're 4-4 in your upset specials mainly because of calls like USF over Auburn which had been in just about every preseason mag. ESPN was talking about it two weeks beforehand.

Maybe I'm just bitter because I've picked Illinois to win 5 times in my pool and they've won 2 of those games. Although it was great sitting in the north end zone of Kinnick watching a freshman pick off a pass that was thrown directly to him. I'd just like to know why after rumbling to 141 yds against Illinois (limiting the offensive touches for Illinois and making sure the Hawkeye defense was well rested), why would you abandon the run against Purdue which gives up 135 yds per game and has a potentially explosive offense?

Granted, SEC games are entertaining, but that's no indication of the quality of their teams.

Man, the SEC sure produces a lot of art critics.

My bad, dukester, I guess that's why I have LSU-Alabama highlighted on my pools Week 10 list of games as a must pick.

Do you have any idea how many ranked teams LSU has played this season? Virginia Tech, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, and not Auburn. Five...FIVE.

I dare someone to name another team in this country that has played more ranked teams this year than that. And so far they are 4-1.

The SEC is by far the toughest conference because it's the most even. The "bottom" of the SEC has really played up this year with the likes of Kentucky and South Carolina. Even Vanderbilt isn't a slouch team. I would venture to say Vanderbilt is a lot better than most of the teams tOSU has played so far this year.

You also have to look at how PHYSICAL the last three games have been for LSU. Many people said the LSU vs Florida game was the hardest hitting game they had ever seen. Kentucky was out for blood after the Bluegrass Miracle embarrassment and the Auburn game is always tough.

Not to mention our defense faced two of the top offenses in the country two weeks in a row. Who else has done that?

With as much parity as there has been in college football this year all this talk about LSU not proving themselves is unwarranted. They have played the toughest schedule in the country and survived thus far.

As an LSU fan with a sense of perspective, let me give you some insight on this team. They aren't as good as their #4 ranking indicates, but neither is Ohio State at #1.

Ohio State has played nothing but cream puffs the whole season and beating Michigan State isn't something to celebrate. If your Notre Dame, yes, but not Ohio State. Your suppossed to expect that. Play some credible non-conference games like you did against Texas and then we'll talk. LSU, in my eyes, has not been the sh*t everyone made them out to be, but name me one team that has been this season. If we stacked the schedules side by side, LSU has more victories over top teams then all others ranked in the top 5.

Should LSU be 5-3 instead of 7-1. Probably, but a W is a W. Quality W's at that. I like Ohio State in the national title game, but not for their dominance so far. Beating cream puffs does not warrant you an automatic bid.

The reason why lsu is getting the credit for being a top team is the schedule they have completed. They are 4-1 against top 17 teams. Who has OSU played besides Youngstown state and Washington? Do they even play anyone ranked? Ohh and some reasons why the SEC is the best confrence, 1. the recruiting classes that play here. 7 of the top 10 classes. 2. elete coaches, 4 coaches have won national championships, with another on the way. 3. The hardest stadiums to play in, week in, week out. Tigers all the way in NO. And stop whinning about the home feild advantage in the superdome. No one says anything about USC in the Rose bowl or Miami in the orange, or if it were to happen ASU in the fiesta. OUT

This is going to be one of those seasons where it's obvious that the BCS doesn't work. Not because of potential controversy about who belongs in the title game, but because whoever ends up winning that game (even an undefeated Ohio State), NO ONE will really feel confident that the champion is anywhere near being the best team. Think about it - at the end of the season if LSU wins the championship game, would you really feel that they were the best? What if it's Oklahoma? Or Boston College? I really can't think of any scenario where the title game winner would be considered valid. Only a playoff would remedy that in a season like this, because a champion in that case would have at least had to beat 2, 3, or 4 other contending teams in a row during the post-season, and then we could all feel a little better about the validity of our national champion, even if they had a questionable regular season.

I think LSU is an excellent team, but sometimes it just depends on what you choose to focus on. For example, one could describe LSU as:

* 1:10 away from being 0-3 in their last 3 games;
* A team whose defense gave up an 82 yard drive with 5 minutes left against Auburn;
* A team whose defense gave up 3 scoring drives to Kentucky late in the game;
* A team who might not be described as the #1 team on the field in it's last three games.

Some people may praise LSU's "toughness" as a team and the "clutch plays" from Flynn, others wonder what LSU is doing down in the 4th quarter at home. And their lack of mental toughness and clutch plays by their defense made each of these recent games seem like the winner would be whoever had the ball last.

Like I said, LSU is a great team. But they're beatable. Jumping them over OSU is garbage.

So like I said it depends on what you want to focus on and how you want to frame your argument. Except for Les Miles. You've got to be insane to think that Les Miles made the right call. That's not a gamble. Gabling implies taking a risk to get a return. Stupidity involves taking a much bigger risk for the exact same return. Or challenging a call late in the game to push Kentucky back 7 yards, as if 7 yards is worth a time-out.

I think he's a genius for building LSU up the way he has, but that doesn't mean you have to search for some hidden genius on an obviously idiotic call he made. His poor gametime choices might really come back to haunt LSU sometime this season, including in their probable national title game.

Of course LSU is beatable. Everyone is beatable.

Say what you will, say Florida is perhaps the best team in the country, but LSU beat them fair and square. That's all that matters. You may say that LSU needed 5 fourth down conversions, but really does that matter?

Auburn beat Florida in the Swamp, obviously Auburn isn't a slouch team either now. So what if Auburn came in and played LSU close. This is expected in the SEC!

If you are going to say LSU isn't as good as they are made out to be, tell me who is. Every team is beatable. Florida has been beaten twice.

Sure if LSU and Florida have to play again, I'm sure most of you would take Florida. But the same thing happened to LSU back in 2003. They won a close game against a BETTER Georgia team, then came back and BEAT them in the SEC CG when everyone said they would lose.

LSU CAN beat Florida again or whoever they play. There isn't a team in the country that they couldn't beat.

Jury is still out on tOSU, they can talk once they get some quality wins. Call LSU what you will but when teams like Oklahoma, USC, and Cal have lost to unranked teams at least LSU lost to a top 10 team. And they are having to come back against teams who are RIVALS and ranked. Big deal, they have a huge target on their back this year and they have played tough.

Well, Stewart, LSU might be, as you've suggested, one of the more "complete" teams we'll see this season. But I'm also reminded of the words of Howard Schnellenberger upon Miami's winning the Orange bowl over a highly vaunted and previously undefeated Nebraska team. After the game, Schnellenberger cynically quipped [in so many words], "I guess this makes us the greatest team in college football history." When I try to apply some kind of 'historical' perspective to the current LSU squad, I am, in some ways, but only occasionally, reminded of the Pitt Panthers team that won the [undisputed] 1976 'national championship'... except that LSU doesn't have a Tony Dorsett at tailback, a Matt Cavanaugh at QB, an Elliot Walker at FB, a Gordon Jones at WR, and a whole host of defensive players that could stop a ranked opponent cold and [nearly] scoreless. (Then #1, Pitt defeated #4 Georgia in the 'championship' game 27-3.) I agree that LSU and FU are pretty good teams, but, no, they are not GREAT teams vis-a-vis college football history. This year we might be seeing competition of historic proportion, but, sadly, we have not yet seen a TEAM of historic stature.

Dear Stewart,

Wow, that call by Les Miles at the end of the game sure was ballsy. Personally, I would have punted. After all, that's the safe choice.

Sincerely,
Phillip Fulmer

LSU is obviously overrated and does not deserve the top spot, that should go to Ohio State, who are overrated as well. Every team IS overrated this season, LOL, and all these upsets are great for college football IMO.

If Michigan beat Ohio State doesn't that mean Ga. Southern who just beat Appalachian State deserve to be #1 or Wofford which beat them earlier, heh heh? Crazy, crazy season this year. Expect all the big boys to lose again including Ohio State next week!

For all you people who say that Ohio State is overrated because of its schedule: if BC wins on Thursday against VT, which, anyone would agree, would be a tougher opponent than any that OSU has had to face so far, should they be bumped up to #1? Discuss.

Yes this has been the weirdest year in a long time. But if LSU wins out and then makes it through the SEC title game. We will see if the big 10 or the big east champion or the pac 10 champion can beat them. Say want you want but there is a reason that an SEC team does not go undefeated very often Just like the big 12 rarely has an udefeated champion. The conferences are tough and play physical football. So come January we will see who is left standing and go from there.

Dougmatic:

Great question.

Personally, I would have no problem with BC as "human poll Number One" if they beat VT. I haven't scoped out the computer rankings in the BCS breakdown (which is what I usually go with) but sure have no problem in them as first in human polls at that point if they beat VT.

I would think tOSU would have a pretty good claim to those human poll rankings, though, if they get past PSU and Michigan. My sense is that those (and by the way Illinois yesterday) were pretty good barometers of how good they really are.

We sure need a rational playoff system.

(LSU/WA Husky fan here).

If the SEC is so good, why can they win any games against teams from a major conference? They couldn't even beat the Big Ten last year in head to head bowl games (2-1). So much for being superior. I call it being overrated. Stewy is STEWpid for believing the hype. Just wait until bowl season. SEC will be put into their rightful place. Couldn't even beat cal, usf, or WV. OVERRATED!!!!

Red Dog,

I'm up late for other reasons, but will take the time to respond to your post.

The first mistake you make is indicated by your plaintive missive query as to why, if the SEC is so good, they "lose" to a "major conference." If you want to hate on the SEC, ok . . but last time I checked, the SEC is a "major conference."

The second mistake (made, by the way, by a myriad of other bloggers) is to throw up those bowl games between the Big Ten (Big Eleven? Please either learn to count or rename your conference) last year. Please check the rankings you so love from human polls about those teams. You played lower ranked SEC teams and won. Like rankings? They worked for you.

Except that one . . . the loss. If memory serves, that was for the national championship. If memory further serves, you lost.

Bad tactical error with that one.

The third mistake you make is to consider Stew "stewpid for believing the hype." Actually, if you check it out, Stew is one who goes against the grain and makes his own decisions. Sometimes those favor the teams I root for and sometimes they don't . . but he is much less than a puppet of hype which is why I am here.

Finally, you wish for the SEC to be in it's "rightful" place at the end of the season. So do I. I think they will be, and you will be eating crow. We would need a playoff to verify . . but let's talk in January or February about that . . ok?

Finally . . I can't believe I got caught in this stupid "my conference is better than yours" debate . . . . .

I need to sleep.

Sas

Sasquatch, we both know the rankings are based mostly on human opinions! As Stew shows us every week, human error is extremely flawed! Stop trying to justify how the SEC lost a head to head battle with the lowly Big Ten! Handle your business if your so good! And I swear I'll have compassion on you when LSU goes down for the second time before the season is over.

Red Dog,

I wasn't justifying anything about conferences. I was responding to your argument that the Big (fill in the blank until numbers matter with your conference) is a "major conference" with the simple point that you lost the national championship game to a team from the conference that you clearly despise.

I don't think conferences matter, unlike you. I also don't think human polls matter much, apparently you agree.

Barring a playoff . . let's talk in February, ok?

Things will be perfectly clear to you by then.

Michigan may very well be undefeated in Big Ten play come Ohio State but they are still only the third or fourth best team in the Big Ten. Ohio State is going to run over this team. The only team that can keep Ohio State from running the table is Penn State, the league's second best team.

I think the LSU touchdown to win the game was karma for the cheap shot on Dorsey. I hope he is okay from that illegal chop block. This is from an Ohio State fan.

Chris states that he doesn't care if a team is playing a "powderpuff" schedule, and Netizen reminds us that Mich St had a highly rated offense (forget the fact that it was against powderpuffs). It's time we all started being ctitical of teams which try to build reputations against powderpuffs, and cynical of any statistics compiled against powderpuffs.
The fact is that if you play four very good teams, win two but lose two in close games, you will likely be ranked lower than an undefeated school who played no very good teams (see Ohio St). The trend is now to play weak non-conf schools and with a few conf wins get a bowl bid. Tell me the fans aren't the big losers. But some of you prefer to argue that running up a big score on a weakling is the same as a close win against a quality opponent. When we rank a team like Hawaii high we have lost all the meanings of the words champion and sportsman.

I want to know why no one is saying anything about the CHEAP shot Auburn pulled on Glen Dorsey. You have so little faith in your offense that you have to take out the best defensive lineman out there just to have a chance to win. And where was the call? The official was looking right at the players. This happens every year against Tuberville. LSU did give up 24 points, but 7 were given to them on the fumble and the ball at the 3. LSU gave up two 80+ yard drives, over 60 minutes. The defense must be the worst in the country. Come on. Finally, UF vs Kentucky was up and down the field, great offenses, but yet LSU gives up, what, 51 points to both, IN REGULATION, over two games. Seems like everyone uses part of the story to make their arguement, but when you look at the entire picture, LSU has proven more over the season than anyone else. No one can truely lay claim to the absolute best team in the country, so I would bet on the team that has proven the most. Oh, and to those of you who think BC should be number one, remember Notre Dame?

Hey Mandel you sound way too biased. Now you are officially on the bandwagon of all-SEC-teams-should-be-ranked-between-1-and-12. You are hailing Les Miles for taking blind gambles which could have so easily fired back. Listen, LSU DID NOT play a good game! Kindly change your glasses or contacts, or may be you need one.

I am an SEC fan. I believe that LSU and Florida are SOME of the top teams in the nation. But there are some other good teams…no great teams…so what’s the landscape look like thus far:

LSU is a one-loss team who just beat Auburn by 6 in the last second of the game. But they also lost to Kentucky by 6 points which lost to Florida yesterday by 7 who lost to LSU by 4 and Auburn by 3 (in the last minute of the game. Chances are Florida and LSU will face each other in the SEC Title game. What happens if Florida best LSU in the rematch? Should LSU and Florida be eliminated from NC consideration? No, because they are probably in the top three to four teams in the nation and would beat OSU, USC or any other team at this point in the season.

OSU has a legit argument. They are undefeated, but the Buckeyes still have Michigan Wisconsin, Illinois and Penn State to play. While undefeated, they have still been unimpressive to date.

Southern Cal’s loss to Stanford, while embarrassing, only proves you must bring your game every week or you can loose to any other team on any given day. Should this eliminate them from NC consideration? No but it shows that they are living on name recognition. They have had too many close calls this year and they still have to play ASU, Cal and UCLA….

Oregon, Arizona State…time will tell as they play out the rest of their respective schedules.

Oklahoma? Stoop’s Sooners are very good one-loss team. But they still have to play their schedule and win the Big 12 Conference Championship. There is still a chance they can loose a game.

BC and VaTech? They play each other next week. We will see who emerges. But the question is, is a team from the ACC worthy of a shot in the title game. The ACC is perhaps the weakest major conference this year.

This has been the best college football season in many years. As for who deserves to be in the NC game nobody knows. The fans of the two teams selected (polls…see regional bias) will be elated. The fans from those who are not "selected" will be disappointed. And the argument will continue. The only true measure...and it was not mentioned in any of the postings today was that the only way an NC is earned and not given is to play it out on the field. WE DESPERATELY NEED TO HAVE A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF!

BTW...OSU fans, loosing Ted Guinn in the first few seconds of last year’s NC game or having all those days off between the Michigan game and the NC game is hooey! A championship game is a championship game. If you don’t come to play you deserve to lose. Florida was the much better team last year and they would have beaten you 10 out of 10 times!

This years’ version of the Gators are a very young team, playing in a very tough conference, with a majority of its players being sophomores or freshman. They have lost too incredible close games by a total of 7 points to two very good teams! The future looks bright! They have had the top recruiting class the last two years. They have the best QB in the country! They have one of the smartest and most innovative Head Coaches in the country. While the Gators won't be in the NC game this year, ( even though they would have an excellent chance of beating any of the top five teams in the country) my guess is that they will be there the next two title games. Tebow is clearly the best college football player in the country this year and he should win the Heisman Trophy this year. No question! And, should he win the trophy this year, he will be the odds on favorite of winning (if he stays healthy and completes his eligibility) the Heisman the next two years! Especially if the Gators are in the NC title game. Teabow is the type of player who could win three consecutive Heismans. Can you imagine, one individual winning three consecutive

I being a huge OSU fan, don't understand everyone's urge to argue about conferences. We should be rallying against the AD and Presidents who put us in this situation every year due to a lack of playoff.

Fan spewing crap to other fans about conference strength and "experts" like Stew showing an obvious bias against OSU is all pointless. I won't lose any sleep over it. Look at last year --

Last year Michigan fans were up in arms about being snubbed for the BCS title game, then promptly dropped a turd at the Rose Bowl, and OSU started to believe how good everyone said they were and were completely unprepared for a surgin Florida team. Michigan proved the voters were smart for not putting them in the title game and Florida proved the writers were wrong for giving them no chance to win.

As for blaming OSU for playing a weak schedule, yes THIS YEAR their non-conference schedule is weak. The last two years they played Texas, and over the next 10 years it includes home and home vs USC, Miami, Va Tech, Cal, and Oklahoma, which are hardly weak. Sure we also play YSU again and Ohio and Toledo and a few others, but this year's non-conference schedule was less planned than any over a 20 year span!

What will be the excuse next year when OSU, (who loses almost no one to graduation this year) comes back next year and beats USC at home? I am sure you all will come up with something!!!!

If you truly are a fan of college football, you've got to love 2007. The Big East is playing ball, and the teams that are winning weren't getting any press 2-3 years ago. The SEC is lost amid the crop circles. No team is a safe bet to win or lose on any given Saturday. In the PAC-10, Stanford upsets USC, and the Bruins beat Cal. In the Big 12, Mizzou is taking on all comers, and teams from the 'K' state are spoiling parties. In the Big 10, Michigan has risen from the grave; teams from the 'I' states are raising a ruckus, and Ohio State... Well, lets all hope that the inevitable riot by their fans results in less than 100 arrests. You want a goal, OSU fans? Work that total down to zero. Learn to celebrate or commiserate lawfully.

Stew and SEC fans,

There you go again talking about your "superior" conference. This is not to Stew more but again, do not use the poll to base your conference as superior. You want to say LSU has many quality wins and they play top ranked teams and discredit OSU as the #1 team in the nation. You can't just base your basis on part of the poll information and not the whole. This is Bush-like research and supporting argument...

Again, I have stated that SEC is a strong conference but like all the upsets, teams in your conference are losing out to mid-low tier teams in the conference (this is happening in every conference.) Vandy? Again, the stats are stacked like Big Ten teams when they play creampuffs. But since SEC started with many teams in the polls, they represent quality win right away when they are not. Do I need to meantion Tennessee (definite pretender and they are ranked this week in #21.. Give me a break).. Do not use the basis of argument to down play Big Ten. Right now, I believe Michigan could be all the mid-tier teams in the SEC and even some of the elite. Is it because the team is better or not? Any team could lose this season no matter how stacked it is. Heck, UB could have beaten Syracuse but shot themselves in the foot yesterday...

That is why games are played on the field and circumstances at that team could dictate the Div 1AA win over a Top 5 team to down out of team (after a tough loss) come beat the #1 team in the nation in triple overtime.

Up to this point, all the polls and voters keep predicting and gotten it wrong. OSU has been winning (I do not believe I would back OSU) and quality wins from SEC elites do not give them the reason to jump over OSU. Again, the conference is going through the same issues like other conference. But taking the poll out of the standings, you will see the teams from the SEC is doing exactly the same thing as other conference.

What I do predict is both Florida and LSU will both lose out 1 more game. I checked both schedule and their team being inconsistent like Florida last year might render winning out the remaining games but I do not see it happening. Both are inconsistent in the plays (not as bad for Florida) and heck, you never know!

I do want to mention that Michigan is playing their best (with all odds) and I would not be surprised OSU could lose to them in Nov. I know I am being bold but I think Michigan is the better team right now than OSU in the conference. Again, a defeat helps team regroup and grow. What I saw in the Illnois game just affirm what I thought the past 6 weeks. They are legit and they continue to roll over the Big Ten. Either case, the Big Ten is not a creampuff conference as most people think. I will hear the SEC fans say I am on crack or whatever. But LSU would lose 2 games in the Big Ten easily. Florida, they would 2-3 beacause they can't play in cold weather (not only history confirms it but look at where Florida plays). The style might be great in Florida for UF but it would not work in the cold Midwest. (Note, all the bowl games do not deal with this element and that speaks in itself on speed for the SEC).

Whoever keeps bringing up last year is out of your mind about SEC superiority with FLorida on OSU. BTW, they play 1 less game/week before the bowl and they lost Ginnn in the first play! To replace Ginn in the BCS game was hard especially at the game. So to saw Florida blowout shows superiority is BS. Michigan loss to USC is combination of no play, the SEC BS politics to rally Florida into the BSC when everyone CLEARLY STATED Michigan was #2 prior the SEC championship, etc. and a pissed off USC losing to UCLA. I have said the same thing this year like last year. Games are all about circumstances. USC only romped Michigan because they got their butt exposed to a lowly UCLA team. Heck they didn't even get a TD! Again, UCLA did not do well last year and look this year (they are the engima)... Michigan was BSed out of the BCS game when they shoudl have been there against OSU. BTW, I respect Lloyd Carr for being a respectable man and not politicize compare to Urban Meyer. He shows no class (Yes, he should root for his team, etc. but this is not the like the election.... I bet if Michigan did the same thing, the poll would be totally DIFFERENT for the BCS last year). The team was never the same after that. Either case that is the past..

At the end,

1) OSU
2) BC
3) LSU (I would move them up)
4) Oklahoma
5) Arizona Sstate
6) West Virginia
7) Oregon
8) USC
9) Florida
10) Kansas
11) Virginia Tech
12) Missouri
13) Virginia
14) South Carolina
15) Kentucky
16) Hawaii
17) Georgia
18) Michigan ( I do believe they are a quality team right now and heck all these mid tier teams are losing out)
19) Texas
20) South Flrida
21)Penn State
22) Alabama (again, another team in the poll prior to LSU game that shows "quality win for the LSU team"
23) Auburn
24) Connecticut
25) UCLA

SOS,


Are you on crack? Penn State the second best team in the Big Ten? Michigan beat them when everyone stated Michigan will get embarrassed. The same thing with Illnois... They are the second best team in the conference I would not be suprise if they beat OSU and be the best team in the conference. That might make it look like a weak conference for the Big Ten but it ain't. They are at par with the SEC in my view (mid tiers and some elite schools) and I would not be surprised to see the Big ten schools win a lot of the bowl games like the Big East did last year

86GOPGator,

Florida beats OSU 10 of 10? You kidding me.. I think they would have lost 8 of 10 times last year... SEC got all the breaks and just winning the national championship makes them gurarantee a win 10 of 10 if Ginn was there..

See, you try to be rational and then give your opinion... Using your opinion to be justify by being rational on all arguments only confirm about the SEC fans out there. They only want to piece meal the information for their arguments. This is not from Big (whatever) conference or Pac-10.

It is always the SEC fans. It is like intelligence just drop once you pass the Mason-Dixon line or something. I am not being rude but your logics do not make any sense and trying act all rational and putting your opinions makes yourself look even more embarassing... Just shut up and let the games play out. Once the whole conference has 2 losses and demand that they should be in the BCS is going to show that SEC are getting preferences after Auburn got snubbed....

Ohio St has an explicit goal of playing in-state schools such as Akron, Youngstown & Kent St to raise revenue for those schools. So yes I blame them for playing a weak non-conf schedule. Schedules may be made up 20 years ago but no one thought those three schools would be quality competition 20 years ago.
Playing a quality school takes something out of a team. TCU gets up in successive years for victories against OK, Texas Tech and a strong first half against Texas. But in each case TCU lost the following week. Fresno St got up for a great game against USC, but lost the following week. Boise St traditionally ranks 65th in recruitment and almost always plays schooled ranked even worse. They avoid the next week curse now by playing no quality teams during the season but want to be crowned because they got up for one big game in the bowls. A glance at Utah's schedule this season confirms the fact that BCS schools will play mid-majors.
If Ohio St magnamimously wants to raise money for small schools then let them. However real champions try to find quality competition, not raise money for the little guys. We can praise OSU for their charity work somewhere else than the polls.

I can't believe you "experts" keep saying that the SEC is the best conference, and I hate the argument made by some that it's easier to get to the BCS title game by playing in "weaker" conferences such as the Big Ten or Pac 10 than it is in the SEC. I don't think any team in the SEC is any better than "pretty good". Certainly none is a great team, and to be considered No. 1 in the country. The top few teams are all pretty much the same, as is evidenced by how they keep knocking eachother off week after week. Teams like USC, Michigan, and Ohio State STAND OUT in their conferences year by year, and some years completely dominate it. Is that because their conferences are weak or because they are that great? The answer may be both. But if a team can't even stand out in it's own conference, as is the case in the SEC this year, it has no place in the national title game.

Stewart, I finally got around to reading your blog and all of the whiners (not winners) crying about whose conference is the best. They base their thoughts on current rankings at the time of their illustrious team beating of another illustrious team. They also use the current statistical strength of their defense or offense to show how high they should be ranked. The only part that matters is that they win games. Twenty years from now only the final records and scores will be looked at by most of the population and the wrongs and rights that actually occurred during the games will mainly be forgotten.

So folks grow up and watch the games, enjoy them and realize that your life shouldn't revolve around sports, placing athletes above scientists, and get this country back to the understanding that the only way for this country to remain strong is to educate your children, teach them morals, and pray to God in hope that He listens and answers. Yes, I am a fan of a college football team, but if they lose and don't make the National Championship game, I know that tomorrow I will still have to work and help make this country strong.

Charles,


Isn't that the same thing for the SEC? Remember Auburn paid the UB Bulls to play at their field last year! What for? To pay the UB Bulls millions so Auburn could bash them! The irony was #2 team last year was neck and neck with the worse team in the league (I am an UB Bulls fan) and only started to dominate in the late 3rd quarter and 4th...

Again, do not use the argument against OSU for quality wins when the SEC teams do exactly the same. Check out the OOC games for the SEC... They do the same thing..

Again, that just show the bias and lack of accountability to critque one conference and not the other.. You just made yourself look like a fool stating that

Alright folks, great teams find ways to win. LSU found a way to win last night. True, they did loose to Kentucky. However, great teams will have a meltdown every now and then, e.g. Southern Cal. True, Les Miles does make me nervous at times with his play calling. However, the man has proved over his career that he is a winner. Just look at his overall record for reference. Regarding the national championship game to be held in New Orleans, I am thinking its going to end up being LSU vs. Ohio State. Possibly could end up being LSU vs. Boston College, but I doubt it.

JoltinJoe - I stopped believing in Goddess when She let Florida win the title game last year.

Isn't it great how Notre Dame's season is going? I love it ! For the past several years, NBC Sports has just loved Notre Dame. Well, I'm wondering how that flame is burning now. Sorry folks, I just despise Notre Dame. I'm not too crazy about Southern Cal either. It just done my little old heart good when it was announced over the public address in LSU's Tiger Stadium that Stanford had won at Southern Cal. Regarding last night's LSU win over Auburn. Great teams do find ways to win. GO TIGERS !

For d - Can't you see a difference between Auburn playing one game against UB and Ohio St playing the three patsies I named? Wouldn't it be exciting for all of us if Fla, Miami and FSU put Fla Atlantic, FIU and UCF on their schedules? Texas, A&M & Tx Tech could all schedule North Texas, Houston & UT El Paso in the same season. Excitement, exitement!
As an OSU fan what brought you more excitement - OSU splitting a series with Texas or rolling over Kent, Youngstown & Akron?
In boxing fighters are criticized for scheduling weak opponents. Can you think of a sport other than college football in which we praise a team for beating up on weaklings?
Someone at Utah scheduled UCLA, Or St and Louisville this season. Can we agree that this person was a champion in the real sense of the word before those games were played? Can we agree that whoever thought OSU should play Youngstown, Akron & Kent St this season lacked those qualities?

D,

Name one win that Ohio State has had this year against a top-25 opponent (remember, Purdue is no longer ranked). And if you are going to make fun of intelligence levels south of the Mason-Dixon line, try to follow up with a better sentence than this: "I am not being rude but your logics do not make any sense and trying act all rational and putting your opinions makes yourself look even more embarassing . . ." It defeats your point.

Three things:

1) Cut out all of that 'STEWpid' stuff. He's not stupid. He really doesn't show an appreciable bias for or against this or that team--and when he makes a mistake he's the first to admit it and offer correction.
2) I think we all need to agree with what I read on one of these blog posts last night: It's wrong for sportswriters to call teams (or their defenses or offenses) "frauds" when those teams weren't the parties making 'fraudulent' statements: it was the sportswriters (and Lou Holtz, et al.)
3) This weekend drove me crazy: Team L beat Team A and Team F beat Team K. Last week Team K beat Team L. Before thatTeam L beat TEam F and Team A beat Team F. If all other things were held equal, how could you decide relative rankings for these teams?

This one for the BCS doubters... you must be a USC fan... it works only when you win it. As far as the system itself.... the whole season is a BCS playoff. It is designed to work. It used to be excellent a few years ago until they gave biased human experts more say. The computers are unbiased and make factual comparisons, not emotional ones. No regional bias....that's something most AP writers can't put up with. And, I wouldn't call an AP NC trophy legit unless it agreed with the BCS system.

Feel Good Story #4: The Temple Owls have a three-game winning streak.

James,

Actually you validate my whole point. Your whole argument is based on polls.. Did you not read? Again, the whole conceptual idea that the poll is the basis for OSU as being #1 is overrated but the same poll to based all those quality wins for the SEC? See, that is what I have been stating with all the SEC fans. You can't take the lumps of the polls not favoring your team because they ALL LOST! This is the same BS rational for UF compare to UMich last year (and arguments). Remember SEC has more quality wins because they play in a "tough conference". The same poll that started out many SEC teams in the Top 25 and came in and out based on "superior teams" but do not play caliber teams except themselves (The same arguments to the Big Ten this year). Again, you want to compare 1 BCS as the basis on conference strength and forget that whole Big Ten did beat the same SEC conference last year in the bowl games overall. So one team does not equate the whole conference. Again, your arguments are swayed based your own viewpoint and making it sound like it is factual one thing and forgetting the others (Do not go there about the Big ten played the weaker team because SEC did not win many bowl games to like the BIG East last year and if the conference is so strong, your mid tiers should man handled the Big Ten... IT DID NOT... So stop the whining on that). That is why I stated the People below the Mason-Dixon do not know how to debate something. They are narrow viewed and bias about the SEC and wants to stay the course like Bush (which most of them in the south are... Proven by voting polls, etc.)


So you stated your point is validated but in actually, you PROVED MY POINT. So take the poll as is and stop arguing about OSU? BTW, I am Buffalo Bulls and UMich fan (considering I do not like OSU) but I am sick of the SEC fans could piecemeal their point and neglect that you are using the exact same poll to base your arguments and FORGET THAT OSU is #1 on the poll. Grow up and get over it! Only reason why SEC fans could get away is the media truly belives the SEC is a powerhouse (which every week shows it is not... One or two teams are solid and you got middle tiers and the below tiers. This is like all CONFERENCES!) Then SEC fans will go on to attack with my cheering like... Michigan who lost to D1 AA or Buffalo Bulls is the doormat, etc. You would attack the person's fan support but can't stop to argue the fact of the POLL...

Again.. I repeat and read it out loud...
Lastly, James. Read your SEC fans arguments. They act all rational and at the end comes to argue that SEC is the best based on THEIR OPINIONS and not seeing that the polls agree with you to a point and does not to the fullest as you guys are arguing... So it comes back to piecemealing your arguments. To be honest, I do not believe OSU is that great but neither is the SEC teams that everyone is proclaiming. So stop refuting my arguments which comes back to prove my point.

For Charles,

The arguments are bit self-defeating in the fact that conference and powerhouse teams do that. Not just Ohio State. Auburn did that with the Bulls lat year and they replace with another doormat team (so to speak). I would concur about Ohio State in that they should make those long term agreements but that basis does not refute that SEC teams play D 1AA teams for their OOC as well. Not just Ohio State. The SEC teams play their regional doormat teams as well very year. The difference is the perception that SEC is the superior conference and their conference games give them more weight than other conference. That is the issue. I rather have the Big conference duke it out during the season. The reality is the only big inter-school conferences are played the lower tier schools (Duke, Northwestern, Mississippi, etc.) They do not really indicate anything about the strength of the conference. Nor does it distinguish within the conference the elite schools if they do upset the team... You see where all this comes back to...

Also, what happens when you get a school like Ball State almost upsetting a team like Nebraska (good or bad), etc. It is easy to blame the OSU for schedule that was made a while back.. If Youngstown State beat Florida just say and OSU beats them in a normal rivalry... You would not hear anyone complaining about how weak the schedule might be for OSU. The polls and strength of conference is relative and to state that they are weak and SEC is better is comparing and basing on relative and subjective views of conference, OOC strength game, and media.... Remember this media was the same that stated the Big East was gone after Miami, BC, and Virginia Tech left.. And what happened there? Legitimate or not on the individual teams, the Big East is a good and strong conference (I did not say the best)... It is just how to determine when you polls, computers, and everything that is based on numbers that mean crap when game time plays. This whole year has been the proof!

I do not understand how you think LSU had a "lucky hope and a prayer win". If they had not made the touchdown they would have made a easy field goal. I guess that would have made it a more legit win. No other team in america has won more BIG GAMES than LSU PERIOD. I am of course a LSU fan and will admit that they do not blow teams out but they win.

Then if wins count BryanB, you should accept that OSU is #1. Until OSU loses, LSU will always be #2 or lower than OSU....

Secondly, the issue is not that LSU could have won with the field goal but to gamble to throw...

1) By sack - you could run out of time and the game is over
2) By interception - the ball control is over and the game
3) Incompletion - which I have seen recievers bobble and not have possession and run out of the clock..

That was why Stewart was surprised and one of the commentor stated it was prayer and luck that Flynn threw a perfect pass (who looks good at times and looks horrible at times)....

I don't think as many SEC fans are saying that OSU doesn't deserve to be number one as y'all think. What they ARE saying is that OSU has an easier road to the title game than does LSU, UF, or even OU. I think every LSU fan I know is extremely jealous of OSU's schedule. I personally think OSU can have the benefit of the doubt and stick to the number one spot, as they have made it through a season without losing a game. I've said it before, OSU appears to be a very talented team who just happened to get the long straw in scheduling this year.

As for the luck of LSU? Well, I think there is a certain amount of luck involved in all football games. Sometimes, you have to have a great defender slip to get that overtime win, or have a pass bobbled (poor brandon lafell) right into the hands of one of the members of your secondary to get that needed interception. I've heard Les Miles called the grisgris man, and I'm totally cool with that. It's worked well this season, minus UK, a team that only lost to an awesome Florida team by one touchdown...one. They also played a pretty sloppy game (ala LSU the week before) and still stayed very much in the hunt for that win.

I think it will be very interesting to see how this season ultimately plays out. Too many people are counting their eggs before they hatch on these boards. OSU still have to play Michigan, and I wouldn't count out the Big Blue. Those guys are playing like condemned men...nothing to lose...and I personally would be terrified about having to face them in a true gutcheck game for that team, and OSU has to play them at home.

For d - You said previously that I made myself out to be a fool. But I was not the one claiming that Ohio St could not have known 20 years ago that Youngstown, Kent and Akron would be weaklings this season. I am not the one claiming that Florida losing its best defensive player last season does not matter, but losing Ginn would have made all the difference for Ohio St in the NC. I am not the one claiming we should disregard the final score of the Mich St/OSU game in deciding if it was a close contest that could have gone either way. I am not the one claiming how much class Big Ten fans have in one breath while I cry about Michigan being robbed last year and OSU having a long layoff in the next breath. I am not the one trying to claim that OSU facing Purdue & Mich St amounts to the same hurdle as LSU facing Va Tech, Kent, Fla, S. Car & Auburn. I will claim that any of those five schools are (probably) as good or better than Purdue or Mich St. I am not the one saying how wise the pollsters are regarding OSU in one breath and how biased they are for the SEC in the next breath.
If you read my posts you will see no claim that the SEC, Pac 10 or any conf does a great job of scheduling quality non-conf opponents. I think they all suck, but especially the Big Ten this year. You will see me praise USC for their schedules as I think they are consistently trying to schedule quality opponents. You will see me saying that a school that plays four very good teams and loses close games to two of them could be better than a school that played an OSU schedule. I think the typical non-conf scheduling should make us all nauseous, but you say OSU couldn't help it. In another post it is stated that I should climb the Appalachians for all the sense I make. But if the non-conf scheduling gets any worse I won't want to watch the games anyway. But you enjoy those thrilling OSU victories if you can.

I think most of you have missed the point. There is no #1 team. Not now and not ever. There are entirely too many variables and chance outcomes. It can always be argued one way or the other. The argument is the point, it keeps you interested. To try to win the argument is futile because it can not be accomplished. There will always be someone who has a different opinion.

If there was a play off system there would still not be an undisputed #1 ever. Someone would argue that if such and such had been healthy, if this call had gone our way, if that ball had bounced 3 inches to the left instead of the right, etc. The randomness of chance outcomes always leaves the opening for wondering what if, and this is what keeps us all interested in the contests. Even more importantly, this is the same reason we have such poor sportsmanship from fans and teams. This rabid obession with having the rest of the country proclaim you the winner.

College football IMO is about the best thing ever, but I know that accepting the outcome with the agreed upon rules on a game by game basis is the only way to enjoy any of it. Sometimes my team gets the good breaks and sometimes it doesn't. Being proclaimed National Champions or Conference Champion is a nice perk but its pretty meaningless next to enjoying the games.

At the end of the day, I guess I just don't care if the rest of the country thinks OSU, USC, LSU or even Notre Dame is the "real" national champion.

Last point. If you want to know who the real winners are look around. It's ABC, CBS, ESPN, SI, etc. Everyone that keeps the argument spinning for your entertainment dollar every week. I'm really reminded of that Tool song where the kid is explaining to Tool that they've turned in to sell outs. Then Maynard points out the real truth. We are all sell outs from the start. We're all part of the machine. It's all part of the show so keep buying records LOL.

Well... keep arguing about whose is #1 and enjoy :).

btw GEAUX TIGERS !!!!!!!!!

SEC games are entertaining, no doubt, so the media and the coaches fawn over SEC teams and rank them highly. Have you heard of grade inflation?

Then when one of them emerges they get to say, "See? We beat 8 ranked opponents! Aren't we great?" What a weak, specious argument.

On average, SEC teams have records of 5-3. On average, they're 2 games above .500. Yep, SEC teams "rank" alright.

Beating all the unranked teams you play is not such an unusual accomplishment, even this year. The following teams in BCS conferences have all done it so far. (I'm using Sagarin's current top 30 as the reference.)

ACC--Boston College, Va Tech, Clemson,Maryland
BEast-USF, West Va, Connecticut
BTen-Ohio St, Purdue
Big12-Kans, Missouri, Kans St, Texas, Tex Tech
Pac10-Ariz St, Oregon, Oregon St, Washington
SEC--LSU, Fla, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Vandy

There are some very good teams on this list, and some teams no one has much regard for. I mean, look at 2-5 Washington, winner of the two games played against unranked foes, but a loser against all five ranked teams they played.

Any top ten team should spank all unranked teams they play by several touchdowns, but we don't learn very much about them when they do because lots of teams beat all their unranked opponents.

Talk about the perfect storm for criticism for tOSU this year. First they get spanked in the National Championship Game (to a SEC team), play a home and home return game with Washington (first game was in Columbus in '03, with Washington ranked 16 at the time) that's mediocore at best, and the ENTIRE conference as a whole is on a downturn.

I'm wondering if any of the above varibles were different would be having this conversation. If the Buckeyes had beaten Florida, if instead of Washington it played Texas (last two years) or Southern Cal (next two years), or if Penn State or Michigan had only one loss or was undefeated.

As I said, the perfect storm for criticism.

"Say what you want about this year’s Big Ten"

You mean things like MULTIPLE losses to D1-AA teams? A loss to Duke? Blowout out of conference losses?

Big 10's second best team (Michigan) lost to a I-AA opponent. In fact, the Big 10 has had two teams lose to I-AA teams(NDSU isn't even a full-fledged I-AA, they are still transitioning from Div II).

If you put any of this year's Big 10 teams in this year's SEC, none of them would make it thru with less than 3 losses. Ohio State might be a top 10 team, but their schedule is a joke. The best team they have played all season is a mediocre Washington team. The best team they will play is Michigan, who is just mediocre.

If it came down to choosing an undefeated OSU team or a 1 loss SEC team, I would go with the 1 loss SEC team (unless OSU absolutely embarasses the rest of its opponents). Fortunately, I think OSU will lose at least one game and that decision won't have to be made. In the end I think no major conference team will finish undefeated. Hopefully an SEC team (either LSU or Florida) makes the title game and has a chance to prove that the SEC is definitely the class of college footboll.

"I personally hope Kansas and BC and OSU all win out so that there can be all sorts of controvery about the BCS system and how an SEC team should STILL be in the NC game."

There are a half dozen SEC teams better than either of those three teams. I give KU and BC credit for being undefeated in pretty decent conferences (although they've yet to play the best teams in their conferences.) I give OSU props for winning the games they have played, but do you really think that if they played an SEC schedule that they would not have multiple losses?

"LSU defense just gave up 24 pts to the 70th rated scoring offense in the country"

That is a misleading fact. I am no AU fan, but you have to realize that the current team is quite different from the S. Florida/MSU teams. Since then, they have established a running game and Cox has improved exponentially.

Lots of good teams out there, but you're all overlooking one. Oregon was missing its top 3 receivers and #2 running back - still had 662 yards, 39 first downs, 55 points. See ya next week, SC.

Wow, three posts in a row that just help prove the point above that many (please note that I'm not saying "all") SEC fans just cannot seem to grasp the differing concepts of "opinion" and "fact."

Spouting out utter nonsense such as "If you put any of this year's Big 10 teams in this year's SEC, none of them would make it thru with less than 3 losses" is just a waste of everyone's time. It's a completely meaningless bit of fluff, supported by not a single fact or piece of evidence. It's an "argument" wherein you could insert "Conference X" for Big Ten and "Conference Y" for SEC and come up with the exact same result: a meaningless bit of uninformed propoganda, based on nothing but the writer's ability to manipulate a keyboard.

C'mon, SEC fans, you're going to have to do better than that if you want to convince any rational-thinking person that your one-loss pet team deserves a shot at a national title, or that a conference where every other team has at least two losses before November is "deep" instead of just "mediocre" and "over-rated." Because, in case you haven't noticed, there's a lot of people out there who aren't buying what you and your blind friends in the media are selling.

Can someone please explain to me how Michigan is ranked? PLEASE???? Did I miss the 1-AA loss? The blowout to Oregon? Am I missing something? The media loves the SEC? Are you serious? Just listen to these fools on TV talk about Michigan and no one can ever call another team overrated ever again.

This week's ranking are actually pretty good. However, Michigan's presence sticks out like a sore thumb. Any of those three SEC teams behind them would likely beat them by three TDs. As would Rutgers, Boise State and Wake Forest.

I give UVA credit for their undefeated league record, but they also lost to Wyoming. I don't think they'd have the same record in the SEC, PAC 10, or Big 12.

For Netizen - Actually if 4 - 4 is a .500 record then 5 - 3 is only one game above .500, not two. You say that makes the SEC "rank". But your math is even funnier. Each Big Ten team plays another Big Ten team 8 times. On average each team will be 4 - 4. Even if every Big Ten team won its three non-conf games the final average would be 7 - 4. The best that the average Big Ten team could hope for is 1.5 games above .500. So isn't your argument a bit silly? Anytime a team plays a conference member the conference comes out of the match 1 - 1, barring a tie. You Big Ten people will go to any lengths to downgrade the SEC.

"C'mon, SEC fans, you're going to have to do better than that if you want to convince any rational-thinking person that your one-loss pet team deserves a shot at a national title, or that a conference where every other team has at least two losses before November is "deep" instead of just "mediocre" and "over-rated.""

Did you not watch any bowls last season??? Do you really think the SEC is overrated or was overrated then? Did I miss out on the blowout national championship? What about the blowout Sugar Bowl? The other SEVEN teams also had pretty respectable performances.

It's hard to say the SEC is definitively better than the PAC 10 or Big 12. However, it's not hard to say it's better than the Big 10. The Big 10 has TWO losses to 1-AA teams. They've also lost to Duke. 'Nuff said. I like some Big 10 teams but this year your league is clearly struggling.

Can someone please explain to me how Michigan is ranked? PLEASE???? Did I miss the 1-AA loss? The blowout to Oregon? Am I missing something?

Can someone please explain to me how South Carolina is ranked? Did I miss the VANDERBILT loss? The easy win for LSU? The inspiring six-point win over that tough 2-5 North Carolina team? Those fantastic wins over always-dangerous South Carolina State and Louisiana-Lafayette? Am I missing something?

I wouldn't rank South Carolina as high as they are either. However, although Vandy is an SEC doormat, they'd probably be middle of the road in conferences like the ACC.

Despite the fact that South Carolina is overrated, the fact remains: they did not lose at home to a 1-AA team.

Losing to 1-AA should be an automatic disqualification from receiving Top 25 votes.

Netizen you are stupid. If the SEC averages a record of 5-3 that means that 12 TEAMS are over 500. who else can say that. And as a kid from chicago who attends LSU i know that the big ten is not the gauntlet the SEC is. They are good, but don't have the rivalry and pressure of the SEC. OSU doesnt go to indiana or minnesota and worry about losing or having a tight game. The SEC on the other hand, any team can beat another. Not because they are better but simply because of the rivarly between every team in the conference. OSU would lose to auburn, kentucky, SC, bama, and then be destroyed by LSU and Tebow(not florida).

So UMisoverated, Arkansas must have the best defense in the nation as they held Auburn to 9 pts just last week?

Looking at today's NFL games, you'd think from ONE GAME that the Titans might have the best defense ever to walk on the football field.

I guess my point is not to make too much from one game. Unless, of course, it is an unforgivable loss to a lower division.

Unless, of course, it is an unforgivable loss to a lower division.

Or an unforgivable loss to Vanderbilt. At home. Without scoring a touchdown.

Hypothetical matchup:

Vandy vs. App. State


I'd take Vandy by 28.

No, my point is that Auburn just scored their third highest point total of the year with their 1st being 55 against New Mexico State of the 4-4 record and 2nd being 35 against Vandy of a 4-3 record. They were held under 24 pts by Florida, USF, Kansas State, Arkansas, and Mississippi State.

But, of course, this was a completely different Auburn team from the team that has been playing for the last month and a half and should therefore run rough shod over Ole Miss, Tennessee Tech, Georgia, and Alabama.

I'm trying to look at the whole schedule and I'm really trying to figure out how if LSU's defense is the best in the country (and therefore deserving of a number 1 ranking) they've given up an average of 31 pts over the last 3 games, gave up 24 pts to a team that was held to 9 pts by Arkansas the previous week, and still list the Auburn game as an aberration for LSU and therefore meaningless because it was only one game.

Can we apply that same logic to USC, Oklahoma, Missouri, USF, and a number of other one loss teams that have had scares or losses?

Of course, I think any discussion about who should be ranked where at this point in this season is completely meaningless because way too many teams have read their press clippings and can't seem to concentrate from one game to the next. Just let them play it out on the field between conference champions and be done with the coaches, computers, and uninformed masses (Harris pollsters) subjectively deciding who is no. 1 and no. 2.

The only team I would have a moment's pause...even two moments...about Oregon playing right now is LSU. They're the real deal, especially with the big receiver back. Title game: Oregon vs. LSU.

Netizen is not stupid as was suggested and I don't think calling him stupid adds anything. As I read him he is just an avid Big Ten fan who is stretching to maintain the illusion that OSU and the Big Ten are on a par with other conferences. I do wish that he would have walked up to Tressel in the final few minutes of the Mich St game and said "Coach, don't worry, we're killing them statistically." I think Tressel would have asked how he was set free without his supervisors.

Is anyone else tired hearing non stop how great the SEC is. If you look at the games between the PAC 10 and the SEC since 2000, the Pac 10 has a winning record, but nobody ever points that out. There are lots of very tough teams in PAC 10 (and 3 in top 10 now, until start beating each other) and every week is a challenge just like the SEC. In spite of Les Miles miopic world and Eastern based media, let's not forget that Cal which is now losing in the PAC 10 soundly beat Tennessee and Oregon absolutely blew Michigan (which now looks like very good team) out of the Big House. Oregon went out of their way to hold the score down in the 4th quarter.

Another week, another set of polls, another example of outrageous SEC bias.

It just never ends. It's one thing to argue here with delusional SEC fans who are convinced that mediocrity should somehow be construed as "depth," but it's another thing entirely to try to argue with the media's ridiculous love affair with the SEC.

Here's some fun facts from this week's Associated Bias poll:

1. the top one-loss team is from the SEC.

2. the top two-loss team is from the SEC. And is ranked NINTH.

3. the only three-loss team that is ranked is from the SEC. But of course. I mean, there's no way we should leave Auburn out, right? Despite the fact that they've been lost THREE times before November is even here? Clearly, we should REWARD losing to South Florida and Mississippi State at home.

4. and, of course, every SEC fan's favorite statistic: seven SEC teams are ranked in the top 25. As we all know, it's impossible to actually have a conversation with an SEC fan without that person mentioning how many of their teams are ranked. I believe it might actually be some sort of law.

I'm ready to give up. It's just the same thing, over and over, week after week, and it's been going on now for at least 20 years. For any fan of the game, this relentless rewarding of teams that keep LOSING is, at best, disturbing, and, at worst, actually sickening.

Stewart, I have no idea if you actually read this deep into your comments, but, if you do, please consider setting down your official SEC/Media Kool-Aid and not automatically rewarding the SEC just for having the loudest and most arrogant fans.

Mediocrity is not the same thing as depth. Losing should not be rewarded.

For TheDukester - When the computer rankings gained prominence one of the Gurus admitted that in his scheme that a team that had lost by one point to each of the top ten teams would be ranked 11th. That may have changed with all of them. But a team that loses two close games to highly ranked teams and wins some other big games may be better than any undefeated team.
You and others seem to want rules. You lose to a IAA team and you're out. You lose to Stanford or Vandy and you're no good. You beat a team and you should not be ranked lower than that team. Two losses is worse than one loss. You lose by three points to the #1 team you should get another chance at them.
Evaluating a team is not that easy. When you set up rules the thinking ends and ranking the teams requires a great deal of thinking.
I would love to bet even money with anyone who thinks OSU or BC could survive the LSU schedule thus far and remain unbeaten. I would love to bet even money with anyone who thinks BC is a better team than Fla, USC or LSU. Florida was favored over Kentucky this past weekend and I believe that people who make the odds would not be favoring BC or OSU over those three.

The Dukester: you are absolutely right. LOSING SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED. Like that ESPN anchor said yesterday- the bottom line is Ohio State is winning their games, and in this season that is enough.

Just let the SEC do their whining- that's what they're good at. The rest of the nation just isn't as great as they are, and never will be. Hell, they're all still mad they lost the war.

My Conference is better... . neener neener boo-boo....

Geesh, whine and whimper why don't we. Thank you Stephanie for being so articulate and polite in your argument.

I still hold firm to the belief that games against different divisions should be held prior to the season. Tune-up games. Not counting towards the rankings. Every school should be required to play one out of conference game during the regular season that is chosen at random. Make it fair to all. Leave the rest of the games in conference. That would alleviate some of the whining... for about 5 minutes...

To my dear sweet Buckeyes--- Thank Goodness you won... but DON'T YOU EVER GIFT WRAP 14 POINTS TO A TEAM AGAIN!!! hugs and kisses... Buckeyehoney.

"LSU defense just gave up 24 pts to the 70th rated scoring offense in the country.... they've given up an average of 31 pts over the last 3 games"

LSU's defense essentially gave up 17 points to Auburn, since one of the touchdowns was set up by a fumble recovery. And they gave up 23 points to Kentucky in regulation. Including points in 3 OT's is misleading just to make your point. On that basis, LSU's defense has given up 21 points per game the last 3 weeks. However, I do agree that LSU's defense, although very good, has been overrated this year. Their first four games - when they racked up their No. 1 ranking - came against weak offensive teams.

All of these "my conference is better than your conference" comments are ridiculous. So, is pointing to a single games to make a point. Auburn is a good case in point. Folks are pointing to their losses to Miss St and South Florida. But, Auburn was (-4) and (-5) on turnovers, which was the difference in those games. Auburn would beat Miss St 9 out of 10 times and they would beat USF 6 out of 10 if they played again. But, turnovers are part of football and those losses go in the books. But, don't point to a single loss as indicative of a team's overall strength. Do you think Stanford would have beat USC without all the turnovers?

The best way to settle all of this is a playoff system. I haven't really seen it in this blog, but it's about time to start talking about how it will work (because it will one day come to pass).

My playoff system:

Eight teams play in the Rose, Sugar, Cotton, and Orange based on their seedings. The 4 winning teams play a 2-game playoff for the national title.

The 8 teams: Champions of the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big 10, PAC 10, SEC. The remaining two seeds would be at large based on the next two highest ranked teams in the BCS. In any given year, this could be a highly ranked team from the SEC, Big 10, etc. who just didn't win their conference. From the independents, it could be Notre Dame (though not anytime soon). Or in some years it might be an undefeated BYU or Boise State.

This system would: 1. Eliminate the recent overrepresentation of a particular West Coast team that has been dominating a conference that was weak up until the last couple of years. 2. Prevent really good teams from being knocked out of national title contention because they lose a game or two in their tough conference 3. Hopefully, encourage teams to schedule really strong non-conference opponents since you don't have to go undefeated to get into the playoffs. 4. Allow the non-major conference schools to be in the race when the produce a really good team (i.e. Boise State from last year).

To the SEC people saying that any Big Ten team would lose at least 3 games in the SEC.. how do you think your teams would do playing outside in 40 degree weather? Would Florida's gimmicky offense be able to move the ball with Harvin's fingers frozen straight, or Tebow trying to run with hypothermia? Would Glen Dorsey be such a monster sucking wind that makes his snot freeze? Could Matt Flynn throw that fade in 40mph wind gusts? I contend that most Big Ten teams could beat most SEC teams if the games were played up north, but the only time these teams play each other is either in perfect weather in September, or in de-facto home games for the SEC in warm weather or domes.

For Edward - You are forgetting in your system that Notre Dame requires different rules for the bowl games. Notre Dame would never approve of your system. In your system the mid-majors would face the same criteria as everyone else. Remember those schools threatened to sue the BCS if being in the top 12 wasn't good enough.

To all those people complaining about the SEC having a 5-3 average ranking you DO realize that it's impossible for everyone to go undefeated in a conference right?

And that when you have a STRONG conference then that means that your odds of losing to one another increase. This is what happens with South Carolina and Kentucky. Kentucky is the real deal. They beat LSU and hung with Florida down for down. Two weeks in a row.

South Carolina BEAT Florida. Vanderbilt lost to Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia. Not slouch teams. Excuse them for losing to teams better than them. Doesn't mean they are "bad".

Imagine a conference with LSU, Florida Southern Cal, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma, etc (all at their hypothetical bests) with histories of playing tough rivalry games. All top teams. What do you think their conference records would look like? Chances are some really good teams would end up with 2 or 3 loses even though they could easily go undefeated or 1 loss in a weaker conference.

Ladies and gentlemen the SEC is a much weaker form of this. Don't let losing histories (Kentucky and South Carolina) or records (Florida and Kentucky) or close games (LSU against FL, UK, and AU in three consecutive weeks) fool you. SEC football is the real deal.

Stewart,

I beg you in your next column, if your reading this, to please put to rest the notion of an SEC bias. LSU and Auburn both played respectable non-conference games in Virgina Tech and USF. LSU killed VA Tech which is currently ranked ninth, but the Big 10 fans attribute this as a fluke. I don't understand why people get so up in arms over the SEC. The PAC-10 is just as strong as the SEC this year in many respects, but compared to these two the Big 10 doesn't stand a chance. How many teams are ranked in the Big 10 compared to the SEC and PAC-10? The arguement doesn't carry weight if your saying the SEC is not strong. If you want to argue the PAC-10 is just as strong, you will not hear an arguement from me. But what I can't stand is the old school Big 10 still clinging to tradition of the yester year. Until Ohio State beats Penn State or beats Michigan, I don't want to hear anything else than thankful prayers.

Could Ohio State make it through an SEC or PAC-10 schedule unscathed? I doubt it. Minimum two losses. Washington hasn't been respectable in years. The dominant Ohio State defense hasn't conquered anyone that presents the diverse offense a Florida, LSU, Oregon, Kentucky, Cal, USC, or Arizona State brings to the table. I'll even venture to say Alabama, South Carolina, and UCLA would present more of a challenge to Ohio State then the donuts its played so far.

Bring some perspective and then argue. I'm tired of hearing the Big 10 talk about greatness. Its over. The Pac-10 and SEC have taken over the reigns. Prove yourself and then talk.

"Could Matt Flynn throw that fade in 40mph wind gusts?"

Brian, you DO realize that we get hurricane force winds here in the South right????

I didn't think so...

UMisoverrated,

You are such a hypocrite in the sense that you would excuse Auburn University as being a different team now and not Michigan...

See, this is the same SEC fan's basis of BS... You can't make any excuse for other conference but you do not hold SEC in the same basis. You kidding me..

Michigan is a totally different team that beat a well-coached and former Florida Gator team that Urban Meyer inherited. So to go to that point just keeps piling on and supprt my argument..

Stop being a sore loser and whiner of your conference and let the game play. If non-SEC team makes it to the BCS and beat SEC team represented, I expect all your blogs of apologies (which I doubt) and more BSes and excuses that SEC would have won the game..

Charles,
I did not mention you in particular as a fool. I made the SEC fans as a whole as fools for their reasons and comparisons... Look.. This whole better conference came from guess who? SEC and the media.. No one else bring it out more than the SEC fans... It is like pride for them or something... But like all hype, it do not show except in polls... Then it holds no weight... So I did not point you out alone and you are the one that brought that up...


BTW, check all my blogs.. Not like most SEC fans who just want to post and say crap, I do not hide myself from you.. I am not saying you Charlese but your peers of the SEC does nothing but childish to not listen and think... I mean think of the double standard conversation being brought up. I write as is and back it with things SHOWING ON THE FIELD.



Lastly, someone brought up if other conference team was in the SEC, would they go undefeated? No one doubted the toughness of the conference and like the SEC elites... They would not necessarily go undefeated either... So your argument seems bias to think that SEC teams are all high quality team compare to other conferences. Get over your own created and delusional hype... If LSU was in the Pac-10, they would lose out twice in my view. Defense that is not as highly ranked and proclaimed it is (check Auburn, Kentucky, Florida). Even if they did have defense, they lack the offense which is why they just beat Auburn... Pac-10 is all about the west coast offense and I doubt LSU would not have any blemish. Neither would Florida... So the whole argument of SEC being better just fails to validate except the media's bias view and hyping of the SEC teams.

I used to be a big SEC fan in the 90s with Spurrier in Florida. But after all the traditions and hype, I see why I am no longer a fan. Too much politics and BS to make things better than needed. Just shut up and play on the field and win... That is all.. Heck, there are several undefeated teams and none of them are from the SEC. Until there are no undefeated teams (especially from the big conferences), SEC has no argument. And if you want one, then tell your lame AD in those schools to schedule other conference and not compete with crappy.. I mean crappy doormat schools (BTW, the MAC was consider the doormat league but this year they are better than the lowly second tier conferences in the SouthEast... And Big Ten teams played them all the time... Div 1AA teams and UL Lafayette.. Whoa.. And they lost to a MAC school if my recollection is correct). Again, I want the SEC to put their money where their mouth is... No more whining and show it on the field. No politics... Then when the dust settles, we could clearly see what will happen.

Hey Matthew. You really have no idea what you are talking about. Ohio State is hoping like hell right now that they meet a PAC-10, Big 12, or Big East opponent if they were to make it to the National Title game again. I actually hope they do make it so that the winner of the Florida-LSU rematch in the SEC Championship can smash those pansies once and for all! Last year's title game was no aberration, and there's plenty more where that came from! Get ya some! Go Gators!

That they survived the Florida/Kentucky/Auburn gauntlet without a single blemish is a testament to both their players’ talents and Miles’ seemingly absolute confidence in those players.

Without a single blemish?
How about the loss to Kentucky?

"Being number one is all about surviving week by week. You don't have to be the best team in the country, but you better be the best team in the stadium." Lou Holtz said that last night.

There's a reason we call the major conferences "BCS conferences". If a team goes undefeated, and there are not more than two undefeated teams, that team should play in the last game of the year. The SEC's top 5 teams should be in the top 20 of the country... but unless three of the four remaining unbeatens lose (I'm not counting Hawaii), we won't see the SEC in New Orleans. I'm OK with that. The regular season IS the playoffs... if you lose, you're all but out.

I'll be the first one to say that BC is nowhere near as good as LSU or Oklahoma if they lose Thursday night, but I don't see how anyone could say that right now.

Jonathan ,

A hurricane would benefit the Big Ten and they have played through hurricanes in their league play.. So using that arguments is silly because the weather conditions ruins the SEC teams' stats...

Check how the passing yards just go down the drain... Which btw benefits a Big Ten school in general (as well as speed factor is rendered miniscule with no traction and rain)

"If LSU was in the Pac-10, they would lose out twice in my view."

That's possible. I don't really see anyone on here saying the the PAC 10 sucks. In my personal opinion it is not as tough week after week. But things like Stanford's win over USC show that the PAC 10 is a solid top to bottom conference. Can you say the same of the Big 10? ACC? Big Least?

Gents (and Ladies if you're out there),
I'm a Tulane grad (watch for Forte to go hi in NFL draft) and an SEC fan, but OSU is no 1 until someone knocks them off (they didn't plan for the Big Ten to be relatively weak this year). Having said that, the Big Ten is relatively weak, for many of the reasons already cited. Only real way to measure right now is conference current won-loss record against out of conference teams, to wit:
SEC 30-4, .882 win percentage
Big Ten 32-8, .800
Big Twelve 36-11, .766
ACC 31-11, etc.
Big East 30-11
PAC Ten 21-8

SEC the clear leader, Big Ten #2, everyone else with the same view of the lead dog on the sled. Until the head to head matchups at end of season in bowls/BCS and maybe a future national championship playoff,that's what you've got. And if OSU steps up at the end of the season (as they failed to do against Florida last year, regardless of who was injured or not), then make 'em no 1. Until then, LSU has played some very tough traditional rivals and done well; they deserve to be close and in the hunt, and they are. See ya at the end of the season (and for what it is worth, GEAUX TIGERS!)
Stewart

d - There is much you say that I cannot dispute. There is no place for the name calling that goes on and other comments remind me of when I was in high school. But I do not see any of the fans as fools although some comments and maybe some of my own seem foolish.
I agree that no school is likely to get through the Pac 10 (or the SEC) undefeated. I am not sure that LSU would lose twice in the PAC 10, but hopefully that is just a difference of intelligent opinion. I do think USC makes itself look weaker than it really is by traditionally scheduling some good non-conf opponents. After a diet of Nebraska, Arkansas and Notre Dame (they were a bit more dangerous last year) it does not surprise me that they did not have enough left to handle Oreg St and UCLA.
I am an SEC fan who felt that an undefeated Auburn deserved to be left out of the mix a few years back because of a weak non-conf schedule. In my posts I have lobbied for voters to mark down teams that schedule powderpuffs as a non-conf menu. I poke fun at OSU fans who say schedules are made 20 years in advance and OSU could not have known that Youngstown, Kent St and Akron would be weaklings this year.
We are still in mid-season. I am hopeful that the next four games will help us decide if OSU really is an elite team, but victories like yesterday over Mich St will not do it. I am hopeful BC erases much of my doubt. But mostly I am hopeful that short of a playoff we agree that if you play an Ohio St type non-conf schedule that doubts will be raised about your credibility. There are now four non-conf games for most teams and I would like BCS schools to use at least two of them to schedule worthy, if not elite, competition. I would like the mid-majors to follow Utah's example this year. I know the worry is that playing three BCS teams leaves a mid-major with less energy to take on their conf schedule, but if they all do it then it is fairer. In the meantime a school with a schedule like Hawaii would get no consideration.
It did seem that you were saying in a previous post that my comments made me out to be a fool. Perhaps I overreacted. I would hope that at least some of my goals are ones you can support.

Can anyone tell me where exactly the Mason-Dixon line is, or should we just continue to say that if you are below it (which means South, let's use our words now) you are somehow not as smart as those above it (that would mean North, ok).
LSU is the highest quality team in the country this year based on opponents played (not beaten). If you can honestly challenge that statement then please show some real evidence to debunk it.
No LSU is not a pretty team, and yes they could easily have 3 losses right now, but they don't and if OSU or BC played LSU right now, I would wager any and all money I could find that LSU would find a way to win, just as they have this season against REAL football teams that actually put up a legit fight. PEACE OUT conference love fest, GEAUX TIGERS!

stewart (not Mandel), nice stats, but it would be nice if you removed the wins against 1AA schools of which the SEC has 7 and the Big Ten has 5 (keep the loses though) while the Pac 10 only has 2. I would list the other 3 conferences, but I will admit, it takes along time to look up all of those. Not to mention the SEC is 3-4 against BCS conferences, Big Ten is 5-4, and the Pac 10 is 5-3.

HEY OSU FANS YOUR NOT PLAYING THE TITLE GAME YET.....SO DON'T OVER LOAD YOUR .....MOUTH ....OH BY THE WAY WHO WON THE TITLE GAME MMMMMMMMMMM

LAST YEAR MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Nice post, Charles. Good points.

IF THE BIG 10 IS #1 ....... WHY DO THEY GO SOUTH TO GET THE PLAYERS mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

D,

I think you missed my point. A BIG 1(1)0 fan said something about "could matt flynn make those passes in 40 mph gusts?" saying basically that weather conditions in the South would put us at a major disadvantage to teams in the North.

He was basically saying that we don't have wind in LA...

Which we OBVIOUSLY do.

bgault are you kidding. LSU is the best team in the country. They play a brutal schedule and are still managing to gut wins out. Ohio St, BC, and Kansas would crumble against Su's schedule. And didnt LSU beat Florida?

Uh, Charles and j, where did you go to school?

Charles:

3-3 is also .500, so isn't a team that's 5-3 two games over .500? Wouldn't that team have to lose two games to return to .500?

j:

Do you understand averages? Because a 12-team conference has an average 5-3 record does not mean that each of the 12 has a 5-3 record.

My point, apparently too subtle for you, is that there are more metrics than rankings by which to measure the relative strength of a conference. If you don't like that one pick another? By almost any measure besides rankings the beloved SEC's presumed dominance disappears.

If Ohio State is the same team as last year, we can be sure the Big Ten will clean the SEC's clock in the bowl games.. just like last year.

Capital One Bowl
Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 14
Orlando, Fl. Jan. 1

Outback Bowl
Penn State 20, Tennessee 10
Tampa, Florida Jan. 1

What? The SEC teams are different? The the results will be different, because the Big Ten teams are different, also.

OSU's defense will shut down every team in the country, and their offense is better than the last OSU team that won the title. Keep talking trash about them, Stewart, while your teams lose.

Gavin,

I know you REALLY like OSU, but do you really believe that their defense could stop Florida, Oregon, or even now that Doucet is back, LSU.

I believe that you are so smitten with OSU that your brain stopped making the decisions long ago.

GEAUX TIGERS

Jeremy - I think the SEC is 5-5 against BCS schools. Aub, GA, Ken, LSU & SC all have victories over BCS schools. No conference is impressive in my opinion, but what is sad is that 12 SEC schools have played only a total of 10 BCS schools to date. At least they have beaten some quality opponents, such as Va Tech, Ok St, Kans St & Louisville. The Big Ten can boast of two victories over Syracuse, four over Notre Dame, and a victory over Pitt, Wash & Wash St. There is absolutely no sign of a quality victory anywhere. The Big Ten has lost to the only two good opponents they have played, Missouri and Oregon, and have losses to Duke and Iowa St. I would think every Big Ten fan would be a bit sickened to realize that all eleven Big Ten schools have only played two quality non-conf opponents to date.

For Netizen - In major league baseball a team that is 4 - 4 is one game back of a 5 - 3 team. But maybe it is also correct to say that a 5 - 3 team is 2 games over .500. The average Big Ten team is also 5 - 3 now so I don't get your point. You said that 5 - 3 was 'rank'. At least the SEC has several quality wins to boost them over .500. The Big Ten has none. I just think it is a mistake to look solely at the numbers. Kansas is undefeated but they do not play three of the best teams from the Big 12 South. If another Big 12 North team goes 7 - 1 but had to play one of those top three South teams I don't see that as a strong case that Kansas is better.
With so few games to consider records can be most deceiving. Boise St ranks 65th in recruitment traditionally but almost always plays schools ranked worse. Before the bowls last year they had defeated one decent school that typically ranked higher in recruitment than they do and wanted people to believe that they were a more deserving candidate for the NC game than Florida. Based on that I do not feel that the OSU win over Wash was a quality win. Wash did beat Boise St but Boise St has only played three quality opponents in the past three years and lost two of those games.

Charles- you have to realize that recruiting isn't what it's all about. I see ex-walkons starting in the NFL, D II players in the NFL and all kinds of 1 and 2 star high school athletes in the NFL. In the end, it is how you use your talent, because talent and a quarter will only get you a peice of gum from the gumball machine

Stewart.
This is to you and all of the other Buckeye haters out there. You people are ridiculous. You all just LOVED Purdue until the Buckeyes totally anilaited them. Then, of course, they became a NOBODY, just like all the other teams that tOSU has played to date. You are ALL hipocrites. You bragged up Purdue as the one to "get them". When that didn't happen, let's see, it was Michigan State next. Ohio State played awesome football for 59 minutes. Michigan state had 1 frickin' minute of good defense, and that's what you HAD to write about. How the Buckeyes let down and blah blah blah. You make me sick. They overcame that 1 minute of "GLORY" that Michigan State had. You used to write and say that's what makes a team great, when they can overcome the hurdles and step it up. NOT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUCKEYES. That's what makes you a hipocrite. Well Stewart, they did overcome that 1 minute of fame that Michigan State had. Too bad those 14 points will go against an offense that is almost PERFECT this year. Did you read that?? ALMOST PERFECT. That is all that matters to the fans of the best damn team in the land. We don't need sportswriters like you. We will overcome the problems that presented itself in the last game. THAT IS WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEAM. You have lost your creditablity with alot of the Buckeye fans this year. Maybe even some that aren't. You need to read your mail and take it seriously.
I used to really take to heart alot of the things you wrote about, because I thought you were fair. How about trying to be a little bit more unbiased when you hold a position like you do. You and someone out there named Charles are in the same class. Both of you are so blinded by your hate for the buckeyes that you can't see what is enevitable. They are very good this year. Maybe the Wolverines WILL be the best team OSU plays this year. CAN they beat Ohio State? Who knows. SO WHAT!! You can't take away from them all that they have done in the last 20+ regular season games. My late father always said that even a blind hog will find an accorn if it roots long enough. Michigan hasn't found the accorn for a few years now, and Michigan hasn't shown anything this year that says they will find it this November either. The once respected Big House has become a place to let AA teams come to practice. Who have they played?? At least the HORSESHOE has maintained a sense of pride. You COULD write about the defense of the Buckeyes on home turf. Give them credit for what they have accomplished so far. Rating FSU #2 was just one of the insane and totally uncharteristic things you have done this year. AND TIM TEBOE, oh my God, you got to be kidding. It makes me nauscious the way you are playing him up this year. On any GIVEN DAY, any team out there can upset the " #1 "team. You wouldn't have given a rats ass last year if it was Florida or whoever beat the Buckeyes, just so someone did. The Buckeyes were the only ones NOT making excuses for what happened. WEll, listen all you Buckeye haters. THAT WAS LAST YEAR. Quit living in the past. Obviously the Buckeyes have. tOSU team is not the same team. NEITHER IS FLORIDA OR ANY OF THE OTHER OVERRATED SEC TEAMS. Stewart, No one but you told the buckeyes that they weren't supposed to be good this year and are rebuilding . I'm glad they don't listen to people like you. It's real obvious Stewart, the Buckeyes are never gonna get a break when it comes to you. They will have to prove themselves in spite of hipocrites like you. I know you will never post this because it wouldn't serve your purpose and wouldn't be in your best interests. That's OK, because I've vented now and feel much better. See you in January.

Stewart.
This is to you and all of the other Buckeye haters out there. You people are ridiculous. You all just LOVED Purdue until the Buckeyes totally anilaited them. Then, of course, they became a NOBODY, just like all the other teams that tOSU has played to date. You are ALL hipocrites. You bragged up Purdue as the one to "get them". When that didn't happen, let's see, it was Michigan State next. Ohio State played awesome football for 59 minutes. Michigan state had 1 frickin' minute of good defense, and that's what you HAD to write about. How the Buckeyes let down and blah blah blah. You make me sick. They overcame that 1 minute of "GLORY" that Michigan State had. You used to write and say that's what makes a team great, when they can overcome the hurdles and step it up. NOT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUCKEYES. That's what makes you a hipocrite. Well Stewart, they did overcome that 1 minute of fame that Michigan State had. Too bad those 14 points will go against an offense that is almost PERFECT this year. Did you read that?? ALMOST PERFECT. That is all that matters to the fans of the best damn team in the land. We don't need sportswriters like you. We will overcome the problems that presented itself in the last game. THAT IS WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEAM. You have lost your creditablity with alot of the Buckeye fans this year. Maybe even some that aren't. You need to read your mail and take it seriously.
I used to really take to heart alot of the things you wrote about, because I thought you were fair. How about trying to be a little bit more unbiased when you hold a position like you do. You and someone out there named Charles are in the same class. Both of you are so blinded by your hate for the buckeyes that you can't see what is enevitable. They are very good this year. Maybe the Wolverines WILL be the best team OSU plays this year. CAN they beat Ohio State? Who knows. SO WHAT!! You can't take away from them all that they have done in the last 20+ regular season games. My late father always said that even a blind hog will find an accorn if it roots long enough. Michigan hasn't found the accorn for a few years now, and Michigan hasn't shown anything this year that says they will find it this November either. The once respected Big House has become a place to let AA teams come to practice. Who have they played?? At least the HORSESHOE has maintained a sense of pride. You COULD write about the defense of the Buckeyes on home turf. Give them credit for what they have accomplished so far. Rating FSU #2 was just one of the insane and totally uncharteristic things you have done this year. AND TIM TEBOE, oh my God, you got to be kidding. It makes me nauscious the way you are playing him up this year. On any GIVEN DAY, any team out there can upset the " #1 "team. You wouldn't have given a rats ass last year if it was Florida or whoever beat the Buckeyes, just so someone did. The Buckeyes were the only ones NOT making excuses for what happened. WEll, listen all you Buckeye haters. THAT WAS LAST YEAR. Quit living in the past. Obviously the Buckeyes have. tOSU team is not the same team. NEITHER IS FLORIDA OR ANY OF THE OTHER OVERRATED SEC TEAMS. Stewart, No one but you told the buckeyes that they weren't supposed to be good this year and are rebuilding . I'm glad they don't listen to people like you. It's real obvious Stewart, the Buckeyes are never gonna get a break when it comes to you. They will have to prove themselves in spite of hipocrites like you. I know you will never post this because it wouldn't serve your purpose and wouldn't be in your best interests. That's OK, because I've vented now and feel much better. See you in January.

"If Ohio State is the same team as last year, we can be sure the Big Ten will clean the SEC's clock in the bowl games.. just like last year.

Capital One Bowl
Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 14
Orlando, Fl. Jan. 1

Outback Bowl
Penn State 20, Tennessee 10
Tampa, Florida Jan. 1"


Wow. 17-14. What an a$$ kicking! You're right. The Big 10 is dominant.

The SEC doesn't need any help when it comes to bragging on them. They do such a fine job on their own. What do yoy expect when you have a big mouth like Urban Myers that has his NOSE in everyone's business. Wish he'd take care of his own business before he starts runnings everyone else's. Anyone that kept up with last year knows what I'm talking about. Wish the guy WOULD go to Michigan. Would love to kick his ass there. The SEC sucks this year. Just another example of an overated group of people trying to bully people into thinking they are more that they are. We all know boys, so give it up. Florida has lost 2. Stewie would eat up a Big 10 team that has lost two. What gives?? Not a little biased, are we stewie??

"Les Miles is the Ronald Reagan of college football"

http://cajunboyinthecity.blogspot.com/2007/10/les-miles-is-ronald-reagan-of-college.html

To the guy who said "what does LSU have to do to get some respect?" How about NOT LOSE!!!

"Wish the guy WOULD go to Michigan. Would love to kick his ass there."

Sounds a little bitter. I guess I'd be bitter if UF had SMOKED my team in the Championship too.

"To the guy who said "what does LSU have to do to get some respect?" How about NOT LOSE!!!"

Yeah, losing to UK is almost as bad as losing to 1-AA opposition and Stanford. A loss to the team with the best QB in the country is definitely embarrassing.

why are all of you guys so consumed with hate against LSU..... we are 4-1 versus ranked teams... last week all five of those opponenets were ranked in the top 12 of the BCS play...what other team can say that...we have a great defense, sure we gave up a few points in the last couple of weeks, but i know no team would want to willingly face that defense over another, Les Miles may be crazy, we may be a genius, but through 33 games he only has 5 losses....my God what more must LSU do to prove to you guys that we are legit...OSU is good, BC hasnt played anyone, Oklahoma is good, and we beat Florida, stop hating and give LSU its props.

Disclosure: I am a huge LSU fan. I bleed purple and gold and I even pee gold.

But... as painful as this may be to me, I have to admit that Les Miles is at best an average coach. I was never impressed with his play calling, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he was following a hard act. These last few games have had me hoping he would go back to Michigan but unfortunately they have started winning again. He takes strange chances and runs low percentage plays at the wrong times. We often are left in long yardage situations that pressure Flynn.

The reality is we have big offensive weapons that are not being used properly. Why was not Doucet involved earlier? Who's teaching our young receivers to catch? What's up with this crazy RB committee? Why doesn't he let Perriloux throw the ball more than once a month? This is the guy we're grooming to be the next star and he's part of the RB club???

Maybe Les needs a little more time to figure it out or maybe (probably) he knows something we don't. But being a good coach involves more than designing a few trick plays and relying solely on our players' talents. It's great that we only got one loss in this stretch but we could very easily have had 3 losses and out of the top 25. I think better coaching would have had us undefeated where we deserve to be.

But what else would you expect from a big-10 man?

hey matthew I think you guys had a chance to shut up the "southern portion of these United States" last year when you got thrashed by UF. LSU, UF, U South Carolina, UK, Auburn, Alabama gets there they'll do the same to you, in NOLA, or in Ohio, doesn't matter. And I think we've been hearing the blabber from the northern part of these United States since the beginning of football.