Official SEC Football Thread 2011

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by Smokin Gator

Congrats to LSU... I am looking forward to seeing the rematch and I could care less who wins. I think it will be a great game to watch as an SEC fan though.

Except I Hope BAMA Wins The Rematch! Did I Hear Danielson Say If BAMA Wins This One, BAMA & LSU Should Be Declared Co-Champs Since LSU Won The Reg. Season & They Would Be 1-1 Against Each Other???

[OLS]

Originally Posted by longknocker

Did I Hear Danielson Say If BAMA Wins This One, BAMA & LSU Should Be Declared Co-Champs Since LSU Won The Reg. Season & They Would Be 1-1 Against Each Other???

I tend to agree. The first game was basically a push. I have little doubt that game two will be
so as well. I obviously would not want to see it split, because of the factor of the PLACE that
bama lost, but OT losses are not a good way to get a fair LOSS, and hardly a great way to take
a fair WIN. I am not sure how else you could play overtime that would be timely or fair, but
I feel like LSU and bama are very obviously the two best teams in the USA. I can't see any way,
outside of repeated battles until one team can't field 22 players anymore, that you can call
one the ultimate champion of 2011. But a 1-1 split, without a third game, or a "most first downs"
or "best fans" or letting an actual elephant square off against a Tiger in a steel cage match,
is not a good ending, in my opinion. Thank god we will beat bama twice.

[OLS]

And don't get me wrong, all of you know, I do not think bama DESERVES to be in that game, they lost at home
to the number one team in the country at that time. But the other teams that had a shining moment, a chance
at greatness, all proved to be fallible, not up to the task. Hell, I would have rathered see Houston Cougars in the
champ game because they had beaten everyone they had faced, and then they lost to my alma mater.
Go Eagles Go!! Fine job...FINE job!

Me thinking LSU and alabama are the two best teams in the country leaves ample room however to feel
that they should not be allowed into that game, but it is clear that they WILL BE, so I understand and
accept it. It is not unfair at all given the data. I just wish some other teams would have shown some
spine and played ball, lol.

[E.J.]

Originally Posted by OLS

It is not unfair at all given the data. I just wish some other teams would have shown some
spine and played ball, lol.

Tale of the tape Alabama vs Oklahoma State

Conference Champion No - Yes

Wins vs Ranked Opponents 4 - 4

Wins vs Top 10 0 - 2

Both have a loss, both in OT, one at home, one on the road. One lost to a great team, the other to a mediocre team. I will not go into the circumstances prior to the OSU loss. Though I do believe it had baring.


In the current BCS top 25 - OSU has beat Missouri(25), Texas(22), Baylor(17), Kansas State(11) and Oklahoma(10).

In the current BCS top 25 - Alabama has beat Arkansas(8) and Penn State(21)


Alabama had a shot, at home, to beat the opponent we are discussing and lost. The game was fair, they just didn't get the job done. Give someone else a shot.

Conference ratings -

http://realtimerpi.com/football/ncaaf_conf_Men.html

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagar...terstitialskip





Again, no dog in this hunt, just putting out what I believe to be "fair." All this talk about the best 2 teams in the country is crap. That is assumption, games are not won and lost, by who people think are the best, they are won and lost on the field. Alabama had their shot at this LSU team(who I personally don't think can be beat by anyone we are talking about), so give the team that earned their shot a try.


IMO, best game would be USC vs LSU.....

[Powers]

Originally Posted by E.J.

Alabama had their shot at this LSU team(who I personally don't think can be beat by anyone we are talking about), so give the team that earned their shot a try.

This always makes me smile. For the past 5 years we've had vocal non-SEC fans say the SEC team in the title game is overrated. Hell, I remember ESPN saying the '06 Ohio State offense was one of the best ever and Florida held 'em to 82 yards of TOTAL offense. Both Bama and LSU would do the same thing to any of this year's teams

One of the reasons I want a playoff system is to prove yet again, as if the past 5 years haven't, that the SEC dominates

[OLS]

Originally Posted by Powers

This always makes me smile. For the past 5 years we've had vocal non-SEC fans say the SEC team in the title game is overrated. Hell, I remember ESPN saying the '06 Ohio State offense was one of the best ever and Florida held 'em to 82 yards of TOTAL offense. Both Bama and LSU would do the same thing to any of this year's teams

One of the reasons I want a playoff system is to prove yet again, as if the past 5 years haven't, that the SEC dominates

I think you misread that one, I think he is saying that it doesn't matter, because in his mind, none of the other
teams we are talking about seem capable of beating LSU, anyway. I think most people agree that SEC football is the
peak of power and balance in football today. They don't like it much, but it has indeed been made clear of late.

[Powers]

Congrats LSU.

Ready to watch the rematch

[OLS]

haha, USC, huh? That would be good, no doubt. The only facet of your analysis that I do not necessarily think
holds MUCH water is the wins versus top ten teams. IT IS A TELLING STAT, but in reality it shouldn't weigh
too highly, simply because of the difficulty in scheduling. You can't expect all viable teams to be able to successfully
schedule super-competition, or to be able to plan far enough in advance to get it done in practical terms. That said,
you need to play good teams to have a shot at the respect you need to be in that one game that REALLY matters.

That's where I think your top 25 stat shines. THAT is a reasonable stat to hold up as viable for more teams.
You don't see a lot of GA Southerns and McNeese St.'s and Sisters of the Poor on OK St's resume. (I do not have
their schedule available, maybe they do) I agree, I think it is not only more fair but more interesting to give another
team a shot at LSU. If bama had not been AT HOME when they lost, I would likely be a little more convinced. I am
on record as thinking OT losses and wins are a toss up, I think you get it done in regulation if you want to be taken
seriously, but AT HOME and under SUCH conditions of being the favorite.,,not good.

[OLS]

Let me tell you ANOTHER reason why I think OK state is going to get into the slot in New Orleans.
I think the voters have been grudgingly swallowing a rematch given all the attrition taking place
all over the field of battle before them. They have been holding their breath hoping a team would
rise to the challenge and give them a viable and believable resume with which to avoid the REAL
controversy nationwide that would ensue were they to vote in a rematch A., and B. a inter-conference
rematch, and C. a SEC INTER-CONFERENCE REMATCH. I am not saying they want to avoid controversy
at all costs, but I would bet that they hear the drums beating for the abolition of the system they have set up.
It never ends, every year you have furious fans. Not what you are looking for in a system that's designed
to create a concensus No.1. I say they JUMP at the chance to bump bama out of the title game.
------edit----------
Ehhh, JUMP at the chance to vote bama out is a real stretch. COVER SHOULD they vote bama out is more like it.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by OLS

Let me tell you ANOTHER reason why I think OK state is going to get into the slot in New Orleans.
I think the voters have been grudgingly swallowing a rematch given all the attrition taking place
all over the field of battle before them. They have been holding their breath hoping a team would
rise to the challenge and give them a viable and believable resume with which to avoid the REAL
controversy nationwide that would ensue were they to vote in a rematch A., and B. a inter-conference
rematch, and C. a SEC INTER-CONFERENCE REMATCH. I am not saying they want to avoid controversy
at all costs, but I would bet that they hear the drums beating for the abolition of the system they have set up.
It never ends, every year you have furious fans. Not what you are looking for in a system that's designed
to create a concensus No.1. I say they JUMP at the chance to bump bama out of the title game.
------edit----------
Ehhh, JUMP at the chance to vote bama out is a real stretch. COVER SHOULD they vote bama out is more like it.

It's Possible, Brad. 50-50 Chance?

[OLS]

I'd say you have 80% bama - 20 % Oklahoma State. It should come down to how the voters want to be seen.
Do they want to be seen as realistic consumers of football or as accountants and arbiters of fairness across
the national spectrum. Most fans of brutal, power football that want to see the pure game played at the
highest level see it as a no-brainer...bama is in. There are other fans that see the SEC as a bunch of cheating
football programs with loudmouth, arrogant fans. Who do the voters play to?

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by OLS

I'd say you have 80% bama - 20 % Oklahoma State. It should come down to how the voters want to be seen.
Do they want to be seen as realistic consumers of football or as accountants and arbiters of fairness across
the national spectrum. Most fans of brutal, power football that want to see the pure game played at the
highest level see it as a no-brainer...bama is in. There are other fans that see the SEC as a bunch of cheating
football programs with loudmouth, arrogant fans. Who do the voters play to?

Should Be Interesting. Guess We'll Have To Wait 'Til Tonite To Find Out.

[E.J.]

Originally Posted by OLS

I'd say you have 80% bama - 20 % Oklahoma State. It should come down to how the voters want to be seen.
Do they want to be seen as realistic consumers of football or as accountants and arbiters of fairness across
the national spectrum. Most fans of brutal, power football that want to see the pure game played at the
highest level see it as a no-brainer...bama is in. There are other fans that see the SEC as a bunch of cheating
football programs with loudmouth, arrogant fans. Who do the voters play to?

That is so insulting and the exact arrogance you recognize..... You assume if people do not agree with you, they don't know the game.....

[OLS]

Huh? I just provided MY estimate in addition to Greg's. I do not mean to infer that his is incorrect, not at all.
I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. I gave my reasoning and my analysis. Never once
did I even intimate that I was right and someone else was wrong. In fact, i don't even have a problem with
being WRONG here. I do not want bama in that game, but I am in a minority, especially here. Me wanting them
out and giving reasons why I think they should be out will in fact likely LEAD to me being wrong in this case.

[OLS]

EJ, who do you think is better than Alabama and LSU? You talk about not having a dog in the hunt,
but you clearly stated in your analysis that all this talk about them being the two best teams in the USA is crap.
With no SEC bias from me outside the fact that I pull for LSU, I think it is fairly clear that the two best teams
in the USA are bama and LSU. You are right in saying "that's why they play the games" because there has been nothing
but top dogs falling all season long. But I am not sure what you are thinking. You call my statements arrogant, but
to me it seems that your reasoning is that I think I know it all, or that I think that LSU and bama are the best there are.
Is it going to take LSU ripping OK state apart to prove to you that they are dominant? Because as you know, bama is not
going to be allowed to play OK state or USC or Stanford for the Nat. Champ. It's LSU and somebody. But if you put LSU
and bama head to head for it all, you are going to see two great teams once again basically tie. What I guess you want,
and I find reasonable, is both "top teams" playing a non-SEC powerhouse in two bowls and removing their organs. Basically two
national championship games. I AM a SEC fan, no doubt, but that's not why I think the way I do. I have looked
EVERYWHERE for a team that I thought could go for 60 minutes with either one of the two SEC dominators and
come out on top, and I do not think such a team exists. Again, I would hate to see LSU-bama in the end. It's not fair
to LSU or the rest of the NCAA. But GET a dog in the hunt, WHO do you think can beat either one?

And USC is not eligible, not from what I think but for what they got caught doing, so let's not go there...no hypotheticals.

[E.J.]

Originally Posted by OLS

EJ, who do you think is better than Alabama and LSU? You talk about not having a dog in the hunt,
but you clearly stated in your analysis that all this talk about them being the two best teams in the USA is crap.
With no SEC bias from me outside the fact that I pull for LSU, I think it is fairly clear that the two best teams
in the USA are bama and LSU. You are right in saying "that's why they play the games" because there has been nothing
but top dogs falling all season long. But I am not sure what you are thinking. You call my statements arrogant, but
to me it seems that your reasoning is that I think I know it all, or that I think that LSU and bama are the best there are.
Is it going to take LSU ripping OK state apart to prove to you that they are dominant? Because as you know, bama is not
going to be allowed to play OK state or USC or Stanford for the Nat. Champ. It's LSU and somebody. But if you put LSU
and bama head to head for it all, you are going to see two great teams once again basically tie. What I guess you want,
and I find reasonable, is both "top teams" playing a non-SEC powerhouse in two bowls and removing their organs. Basically two
national championship games. I AM a SEC fan, no doubt, but that's not why I think the way I do. I have looked
EVERYWHERE for a team that I thought could go for 60 minutes with either one of the two SEC dominators and
come out on top, and I do not think such a team exists. Again, I would hate to see LSU-bama in the end. It's not fair
to LSU or the rest of the NCAA. But GET a dog in the hunt, WHO do you think can beat either one?

And USC is not eligible, not from what I think but for what they got caught doing, so let's not go there...no hypotheticals.

Alabama is a great team, there is no doubt about that. But I cannot honestly say that I think Alabama is better than Oklahoma State, nor can I say that I think that Oklahoma State is better than Alabama. Hell, I couldn't say it about USC over either of them either(if they could play).... Hell, I didn't think OSU would go blow the pants off OU last night....it is why we play these games.

I don't bring in the PAC12 because Stanford didn't win it and Oregon already lost to LSU... I will also not bring into the discussion 2 loss teams, if everyone was 2 loss, but 'Bama....a rematch would be okay.

Things I do know. I know Alabama had their shot, at home, and lost...and IMO, with other deserving teams(I think OSU is one), they should not get a do-over. The regular season is the playoff we have in football.

Again, I think LSU is the cream of the crop and I don't think anyone will beat them....but they have to play the game and someone else should be given the chance.


Am late to go herf.....but have more thoughts.....

[E.J.]

Brad, to me that read "If the voters want a real football game, looking at this with their eyes wide open, it is a no brainer, LSU vs Alabama. If the voters want to appease fans of other conferences, squinting into thinking there is a team as good as either Alabama or LSU. Maybe giving some backlash to the "SEC, SEC, SEC" group think, then maybe they'll vote someone else gets in."

Apparently I am reading into the comments way too much, I apologize.

[OLS]

YOU are arrogant sir!!! You know how I know?? I agree with everything you say, lol.
I want to see LSU-OK St. in the Champ. and Alabama vs Boise/Stanford in some other bowl.
At the risk of acting like I am teaching people football/BCS, I will say that I know this because
in the end, it's all about the money. Fox would step in and say "Hold it, you give us LSU and Bama
in two DIFFERENT games and I will show you two blockbuster ratings creators. Without that, ehh,
who knows what people will watch." What you want to do with the results (co-champs etc) is up to you.
FOLLOW THE MONEY this time around, boys..

[E.J.]

Originally Posted by OLS

YOU are arrogant sir!!! You know how I know?? I agree with everything you say, lol.

My Man.....

[E.J.]

I hate Craig James, but he's right.....