NCAA Recap: The Power is in the SEC

With Tim Tebow recovering from a concussion he suffered in Florida’s game against Kentucky, and the #1 ranked Gators taking a week off, the SEC had every reason to not be the featured conference this week.

Not possible is the statement that best describes the SEC on Saturday. LSU traveled to Georgia to take on the Bulldogs and lo and behold, they won straight up as 3 ½ point underdogs. The Alabama Crimson tied traveled to Kentucky and covered a -16 spread by thumping the Wildcats 38 to 20 and Auburn, on the road for the first time in 2009, lived up to the burgeoning hype by securing another victory, upsetting Tennessee 26 to 22 as 2 ½ point underdogs.

The SEC showed once again this past Saturday that they are the best college football conference in the United States.

Most Impressive Victory – - LSU

The Fighting Tigers had no business going into Georgia and beating the Bulldogs, most teams do not, but not only did they beat Georgia, and the football odds, LSU also gave a glimpse to what the Florida Gators could expect this Saturday. Quarterback Jordon Jefferson wasn’t nearly as sharp against Georgia as he had been against some of LSU’s other foes, but it was fantastic learning experience for the young man.

LSU outlasted Georgia 20 to 13, holding an offense that was averaging close to 30 points to less than 15 and racking up 368 total yards to Georgia’s 264. Florida will not have a walkover game this Saturday against these Fighting Tigers.

Honorable Mention – - USC

The USC Trojans either proved that Cal was overrated from the beginning of the season or that they should never have lost to the Washington Huskies. At between 4 ½ to 5 ½ point favorites, the Trojans did anything but squeak by the Golden Bears when trouncing them 30 to 3. USC might have an advantage in getting into the BCS Championship game if Texas, Florida and LSU were to lose. Oklahoma, the one loss team that almost every year fiends themselves in the BCS Championship game, already has two losses this year.

Honorable Mention – - Miami

The Hurricanes entered their own stadium against the Oklahoma Sooners as 7 ½ point underdogs. They came out of it with a 21 to 20 victory. How did Miami do it? By not playing against Sam Bradford for one thing but also by buckling down and putting the terrible loss to Virginia Tech behind them. It was the 4 th ranked team in a row that the Hurricanes have had to face. Now, they get a reprieve versus ranked teams until their final regular season game of the year against the South Florida Bulls.

Honorable Mention – - Auburn

The Auburn Tigers were supposed to lose to Tennessee in Knoxville as 2 ½ point underdogs. Not only did they not lose but they, like LSU, showed that there is more to the SEC than Florida. Alabama thought they were going to have the state all to themselves. Not so Crimson Tide fans, the Tigers are back and seemingly better than ever.

Look Out For – - Oregon

Yes, the Ducks of LeGarrette Blount fame are suddenly looking more impressive than any team in the Pac 10. They have a single loss on their schedule, to the Top 5 ranked Boise State Broncos, that is looking better and better. Also, it happened in the first week of the season. The Ducks have a four game stretch where they play at UCLA and at Washington, face USC at home, and then go on the road to take on Stanford. If they win all four, then the Pac 10 Championship should be theirs as Arizona State, Arizona and Oregon State won’t put up much of a fight.

Falling Fast – - Michigan

The Wolverines’ biggest win of the year was still against an overrated Notre Dame team that hasn’t covered the spread since Week 1. Now, after the loss to Michigan State in overtime, 26 to 20, the Wolverines are once again out of the Top 25. Hey, Coach Rich Rodriguez isn’t a miracle worker. Expect two more losses on Michigan’s schedule, to Iowa and then to Ohio State in the final game of the season. They may not play on New Year’s Day, but they will get into a bowl game with 3 losses.

They won’t win the Big Ten in 2009 but Wolverine fans should still keep their heads up. 2009 is much better than 2008!