Cook: Things getting interesting in SEC
Things have suddenly changed in the Southeastern Conference.
The Florida Gators are likely out of the race in the East and the Auburn Tigers are back in the race in the West. Maybe we have buried Tennessee a little too early. And then there is the strange case of the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are sitting alone on top of the East looking down on the Vols and the Gators.
Well, it should make the next few weeks interesting.
LSU’s rally to beat Florida last Saturday night in Tiger Stadium was exciting, but who was that stranger masquerading as Les Miles? Whoever he was, he had a lot of Steve Spurrier and Tommy Tuberville in him, running fake punts and going for it on fourth down five times and making it all five times. That was incredible.
For the conference, it was best that LSU won since it keeps an SEC team as a frontrunner for a spot in the BCS title game, even though there are still tough tests ahead for the Tigers and they did show some vulnerability against Florida. The narrow loss to LSU was also strong proof that the Gators really haven’t packed it in after the loss to Auburn.
The thing to watch now is how the Gators react to consecutive losses, a first under Urban Meyer. They get a week off this week to get their heads straight. Meyer was pretty bold after the loss that he still has designs on his team playing in the SEC Championship Game. If they run the table, that’s exactly what will happen.
It is the rest of the conference action that is so interesting. Auburn’s revival has Tiger fans thinking SEC title as well. They figure that if they run the table, it will be Auburn playing in Atlanta. They’re right, and for the first time this season they have a strong reason to believe they can do just that. Since Auburn and LSU both beat Florida, that is the game they use as a measuring stick. Auburn beat the Gators by three at Florida while LSU won by four in Baton Rouge.
Using that as the guide, Auburn does have a shot at beating the nation’s No. 1 team. Of course, they both also played Mississippi State. Auburn lost to the Bulldogs by five at Auburn while LSU beat the Bullies by 45 at Starkville. If you use that game as your measuring stick, Auburn will be in big trouble. What this shows, though, is that comparing scores gets you nowhere.
South Carolina is an interesting team. If the Gamecocks run the table then they will be in Atlanta. But if they lose to Florida – oh well, you get the picture. Following this zany conference over the next month and a half should be fun.
When the Associated Press poll came out this week there were seven SEC teams listed, the most of any conference in the country. Between LSU at No. 1 and Tennessee at No. 25, there were South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Auburn and Georgia. Alabama and Mississippi both were listed as others receiving votes…
After being benched for one start, Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox is back as the favored quarterback for the Tigers. It’s not generally known, but he is the winningest starting quarterback in the SEC. Cox is 22-7 as a starter. Erik Ainge is second at 20-8 and Kentucky’s Andre Woodson is third at 16-15…
A couple of SEC players are moving up career lists. Darren McFadden of Arkansas now has 3,539 rushing yards and needs only 26 yards to tie Alabama’s Shaun Alexander for 10th place. Vanderbilt’s Earl Bennett is now third in career receptions with 202 catches for 2,521 yards. With two more catches he will tie Terrence Edwards of Georgia for second and six more ties him with Craig Yeast of Kentucky for the No. 1 spot…
And finally, SEC teams have scored 22 non-offensive touchdowns this season. Mississippi State leads the way with four.
The Crystal Ball was 6-2 again last week and is now 40-11 on the season, a .784 winning percentage. For this week, the Crystal Ball believes Alabama will beat Ole Miss; South Carolina will knock off North Carolina; Georgia will beat Vanderbilt; Tennessee will beat Mississippi State; Auburn will win at Arkansas and LSU will hand Kentucky its second consecutive defeat.
