While the rest of the top BCS teams went down, the SEC stood firm. As we head into the last weekend of the regular season, let’s take a look at where we stand.
1. LW-1 #1 LSU 11-0 (7-0) (defeated Ole Miss 52-3): Nothing new here as LSU completely pounded the Rebels. The Tigers have to win against Arkansas this week in order to clinch their spot in the SEC title game. The Hogs can put up some points and this will be a true test for the nations #1 team. THIS WEEK: 11/25 vs. #6 Arkansas
2. LW-2 #3 Alabama 10-1 (6-1) (defeated Georgia Southern 45-21): Another example of a top SEC team beating down a patsy before a huge season finale. The Tide is still alive in the SEC West race if LSU loses to Arkansas and if they take care of business in the Iron Bowl. The BCS Championship is still within grasp as long as they beat Auburn. THIS WEEK 11/26 @ #24 Auburn
3. LW-4 #6 Arkansas 10-1 (6-1) (defeated Mississippi State 44-17): The Hogs looked crisp and dominant on offense as they handled the Bulldogs. They didn’t have the look of a team that was looking ahead to the showdown at LSU. While the Razorbacks can score on just about anybody in that Bobby Petrino offense, they haven’t faced the Tigers in Death Valley just yet. Their BCS title hopes hang in the balance on Friday. THIS WEEK: 11/25 @ #1 LSU
4. LW-3 #14 Georgia 9-2 (7-1) (defeated Kentucky 19-10): I’m not sure if this score is more indicative of Georgia’s uninspired play or Kentucky’s inspired play. The Dawgs were favored by 31 at home in a game that would clinch their spot in the SEC title game if they won. They played flat, sloppy and had the home crowd booing them as Kentucky gave them all they wanted. They won the honor of playing LSU, Alabama or Arkansas for the SEC title and it’s going to be ugly, whomever they face. THIS WEEK: 11/25 @ Georgia Tech
5. LW-5 #12 South Carolina 9-2 (6-2) (defeated Citadel 41-20): This was a strange season for the Gamecocks. Stephen Garcia was kicked off the team and Marcus Lattimore was lost for the season due to injury, yet they were still in it for the SEC East crown until Georgia closed the books on those hopes yesterday. South Carolina should have a nice bowl game to look forward to despite all the bad luck. THIS WEEK: 11/26 vs. #7 Clemson
6. LW- 9 #24 Auburn 7-4 (4-3) (defeated Samford 35-16): No doubt this has been a disappointing season for the defending national champs, but honestly what did the expect after they lost a game changer like Cam Newton? The Tigers will still go to a decent bowl game but they could salvage this season and get an even bigger bowl game by defeating Alabama. Besides, wouldn’t they love to spoil their arch-enemies BCS title hopes? THIS WEEK: 11/26 @ #3 Alabama
7. LW- 8 Florida 6-5 (3-5) (defeated Furman 54-32): Dont’ let the lopsided score fool you; this was a game. Furman was up on the Gators in the Swamp 22-7 in the first quarter. Florida stormed back to win, but Will Muschamp would have been fired on the spot if he would have lost to Furman at home. The only reason Florida is this high is that the two teams ahead of them lost this week. These are not your Gators of the previous decade.THIS WEEK: 11/26 vs. #25 Florida State
8. LW-7 Mississippi State 5-6 (1-6) (lost to Arkansas 44-17): The only thing left the Bulldogs have to play for is a bowl game and they should get that by stomping Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. For a team everybody talked about at the beginning of the season, MSU sure was a bust. THIS WEEK: 11/26 vs. Ole Miss
9. LW- 6 Vanderbilt 5-6 (2-6) (lost to Tennessee 27-21): The Commodores missed out on clinching a bowl by a home cooking call in Knoxville yesterday in overtime. The refs reviewed a catch that should not have been reviewed and reversed a call in favor of the Volunteers and robbed Vandy in front of 90,000 people. The SEC already chastised the refs for the botched call but that doesn’t give Vandy the win and there is no safe bet that they will defeat Wake Forest in the final game of the season to go bowling. THIS WEEK: 11/26 @ Wake Forest
10. LW- 10 Tennessee 5-6 (1-6) (defeated Vanderbilt 27-21): I just described to you what happened versus Vanderbilt. UT really lucked out in that game and now get to play Kentucky on the road for the final game of the season. Pride and the longest winning streak in the country is on the line in Lexington. THIS WEEK: 11/26 @Kentucky
11. LW-11 Kentucky 4-6 (1-6) (lost to #14 Georgia 19-10): The Cats played their hearts out on the defensive side of the ball against a very good Georgia offense but could not get things done on the offensive side of things. It’s going to be senior day in the Commonwealth and what better way to send Danny Trevathan and Winston Guy to the NFL by defeating the Volunteers, something that none of the current players on UK’s team has seen in their lifetime. It’s the only was to save this sad season. THIS WEEK: 11/26 vs. Tennessee
12. LW-12 Ole Miss 2-9 (0-7) (lost to LSU 52-3): Is this nightmare over yet for the Rebels? Just one more game and then you they can concentrate on basketball season. Oh wait, they at basketball suck too. Never mind. Not a good year to be a Rebels sports fans. THIS WEEK: 11/26 @ Mississippi State