Before we get into our second try at picking the SEC games (last week: 5-1, missing only the LSU-Kentucky epic), let’s rant for a minute.
Actually, I’m going to rant for a lot longer than a minute when it comes to the Harris Poll, which would be better off if it were useless and not an ingredient in determining who plays for a national championship.
Too many of the 114 voters on that poll are former coaches who don’t keep up with the sport’s latest trends and have their heads stuck so far in the sand it’s a wonder they can find the oxygen to cobble together a top 25 every week.
Case in point: Former Colorado coach Eddie Crowder, who was quoted this week as saying he couldn’t name one player on South Florida’s team, which as of tonight is ranked No. 2 in the first Bowl Championship Series poll.
Crowder compounded that staggering admission with another which shows why he should never be allowed to cast another vote. He said if it came down to voting between one-loss LSU or unbeaten South Florida, he would vote for LSU, based on the fact its program had been around a lot longer.
You can make the case (and I would accept it) that LSU is better based on the fact it plays a tougher schedule in a tougher league. You could make the case (and again, I would accept it) that LSU has more talent.
But to simply vote based on who’s been around longer? It’s no wonder the deck is stacked against any upstart in these polls with idiocy like Crowder’s possibly determining who plays for a national title. And clowns like this are determining in part who gets that $17 million BCS windfall for playing in the national championship game.
Look, I’m all for human insight as much as the next guy. But to take this thing a step further, when you base the season’s first half on raw logic, you have to wonder why South Florida isn’t ranked No. 1 across the board ahead of Ohio State.
The Bulls have won at Auburn, beaten West Virginia (at home) and drubbed a Central Florida team which nearly beat Texas 64-12. Ohio State, meanwhile, has played an embarrassing schedule consisting of Akron, Youngstown State and Kent State.
What’s more, the Buckeyes play in the grossly mediocre Big Ten Conference, a amalgam of teams recognized as relevant only by ESPN. Does anyone really think Ohio State would be unbeaten if it played an SEC, Pac 10 or Big East schedule?
The computers have it right, ranking South Florida No. 1 almost across the board. But the human element is setting the sport up for another December train wreck—no matter how things shake out.
OK, my rant is done. Now on to this week’s SEC picks:
Tennessee at Alabama—One thing I can say with confidence is that last year’s 16-13 score between these teams may be a halftime score. Both teams have good offenses and marginal defenses, so it’s going to take 30 for someone to win it. I like the way the Volunteers have played the last two weeks, especially to start games, which shows they’re ready to play. My guess is Tennessee’s best is a little better than the Crimson Tide’s, even accounting for homefield advantage. Tennessee 30, Alabama 24.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina—The only chance the Commodores have here is that the Gamecocks are looking ahead to next week’s East Division showdown with the Vols in Knoxville. Vanderbilt suffered the kind of come-from-ahead loss which can snuff out a season last week against Georgia and now has quarterback issues. Not what you need going to Columbia to face South Carolina’s tough defense. South Carolina 24, Vanderbilt 10.
Mississippi State at West Virginia—The timing couldn’t be worse for the Bulldogs. After investing a lot of energy and playing pretty well in their loss against Tennessee, they make the long trip to Morgantown to face a top 10 team which has had two weeks to rest. Mississippi State’s power running game had better play a lot of keepaway to keep the likes of Pat White and Steve Slaton off the field. Even then, it probably won’t matter. West Virginia 35, Mississippi State 17.
Florida at Kentucky—Give the Wildcats’ defense their due. I didn’t think they could stand up to LSU’s physical running game and they did. Of course, Les Miles’ strangely conservative playcalling didn’t hurt. And where was Ryan Perrilloux during the second half and OT? But it was a great win for Kentucky and well worth the $50,000 in fines they had to pay the SEC for its fans storming the field. That won’t be a problem this week. It’s hard to see the Wildcats being at that same emotional pitch again, especially against a team which had last week off. Florida 35, Kentucky 28.
Arkansas at Mississippi—Toughest game of the week to call in the SEC. Who knows what the Razorbacks’ mood will be after that 9-7 loss last week to Auburn? Will they still play hard at 0-3 in the SEC or will they tank, knowing the best they can do is a second-tier bowl for their lame-duck coach? Mississippi is still playing hard, as witnessed by their effort against Alabama. I’d love to pick the Rebels, but man, I just can’t get past the thought of their horrid defense vs. Darren McFadden. Arkansas 31, Mississippi 28.
Auburn at LSU—At least Miles shouldered the blame for the loss at Kentucky. That partially makes up for him blowing off the post-game handshake with Kentucky’s Rich Brooks. I’m guessing he won’t blow off this week’s handshake with Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville. This should be an old-style SEC slugfest, full of three-yard runs, fierce collisions and earthquake-type noise in Death Valley. I don’t like the Tigers’ run-first, pass-only-when-necessary offense in that environment. LSU 20, Auburn 7.