With the rush to parity in the SEC one wonders how the league's chances at a spot in the BCS title game might be impacted.
Surely not much if Auburn or LSU run the table. The first BCS standings came out last night with the top six going Oklahoma, Oregon, Boise, Auburn, TCU, LSU.
Clearly Florida is not what it used to be, and that's just not because the Gators were beaten by Mississippi State. That's because the Gators have not transitioned to life without Tim Tebow and are struggling on offense. Having watched Alabama for a full game I'm thinking the Tide can be had again this regular season. Auburn and LSU seem the most likely candidates. Auburn will be tough on anyone's defense, and LSU seems to have an ability to play up or down to an opponent. For what it's worth, Alabama plays in Baton Rouge.
South Carolina was thought to have the Golden Ticket in the East following its win over Alabama then laid an egg in Lexington. Kentucky has talented athletes but they all play defense, and the Gamecocks had no business losing a big lead over there - except that they lost Marcus Lattimore during the game, which speaks to my theory that South Carolina has two great players - RB Lattimore and WR Alshon Jeffery, and if either of those goes down for an extended period there are problems.
The is sudden vulnerability of the hierarchy is timed with a surge by Auburn and Arkansas, though I was of the opinion that the SEC offense should consider a fine for Arkansas if it allowed 70 points in a league game on national TV.
The offenses at Auburn and Arkansas are very, very good. The defenses are not, and that's why Ole Miss has a puncher's chance in both games in the coming weeks. I am of the opinion that all the offense the Rebels showed did not go down in flames in Tuscaloosa and that Ole Miss will move and score against Arkansas this week and Auburn next. We'll soon see.
At any rate, it makes for interesting BCS discussion right now. Boise State is third. Lawyers get ready. We may have courtroom football coming soon.
There were some calls that seemed questionable, but there always does when we play Bama. Is that actually the case or have we become much more 'aware' of every flag thrown against us when we play the Red Herd?