NKC wrote:Highlander... I think you need to watch more college football. Boise State beat Georgia in Athens last year, but Georgia was not the runner up in the SEC. Georgia was at best the number 4 SEC team behind LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. The SEC has won the last seven national championships, it currently has 5 of the top 10 BCS teams, and as a conference went 6-3 in bowls last year (one of those loses was against another SEC team).
After following SEC football closely for one year I think there are two things that sets the league apart. First, the top teams in the SEC are generally much better than the top teams in any other league. Second, the successful teams in the SEC place a great deal of emphasis on defense. This year is no different. Look at the top four teams in the BCS from the Big 12 and SEC. Match them up and the SEC team would be favored in each game.
I too was a Big 12 fan once and I also said things like "the SEC is overrated" or "SEC football is boring" but the truth is they are better than every other conference, and it isn't that close. If KSU ends up playing Alabama for the National Championship you will see why.
I watch enough college football. Georgia was a one loss SEC team last year that went to the SEC championship game. It doesn't get any more runner up than that. Arkansas had two losses and beat an OK but not great KSU team in a bowl....Arkansas just wasn't that good.
Saying that what sets the SEC apart is that they are better is part of the same circular argument that has been propogated in the sports world for the last several years. They may be better, we don't know, and if they are, they aren't that much better. In fact, I'd say the SEC defenses are all pretty vulnerable to good passing teams with an offensive line that can protect a decent QB. That's why Kellen Moore had little problem making Georgia's defense look pretty mediocre. Even with James Franklin at QB, a QB with modest throwing abilities, an inaccurate arm and a beat up offensive line, Mizzou had little problem moving the ball against one of the best defenses in the SEC on their own turf on Saturday. Florida just isn't that good - and they beat LSU who basically played Alabama to a draw for 39 minutes. It's a good league no doubt but this idea that they are far better than any other conference has become a college football myth that is self perpetuating - like two SEC teams making the NC game. I hope KSU does play Alabama. I think Alabama fans might be in for a shock when the expected blowout does not materialize.