Let the Playoff for the SEC West Begin
Posted on October 18, 2010 by Jacob Bunn
Sometimes I am confused about whether we are talking about the SEC West or the NFC West. The competition in the toughest division in college football sometimes feels like it should be played on another level.
Nevertheless, the race for the SEC western division crown is underway. Auburn vs. Arkansas last Saturday was a thrilling game that saw more than one hundred points put on the scoreboard at Jordan-Hare Stadium. That game now seems like a tune-up, though, for Auburn’s coming tests.
You can slice the pie any way you want, and it still comes down to a round robin. This week, LSU plays at Auburn. On November 6th, Alabama plays at LSU. And on November 26th, perhaps the greatest Iron Bowl will take place in Tuscaloosa. So, you may want to grab your favorite beverage and recline because this is about to get interesting.
College football’s most electrifying player, Cam Newton, seems to take the game into his hands each week. He is undoubtedly the biggest reason why the Auburn Tigers are undefeated and ranked fourth in the BCS.
Auburn has certainly become the story in the SEC the last couple of weeks. With wins against South Carolina, Clemson, at Kentucky, at Mississippi State, and Arkansas, the Tigers have put themselves in a position to make this a historic season. To do that, though, the defense must improve. If anyone should know about defense, it is certainly Gene Chizik. He was defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2004, when they went undefeated, and at Texas in 2005, when the Longhorns won the BCS Championship. Strong defense was a hallmark of both of those teams. But, Auburn has given up 34 and 43 points respectively in the last two games. And for Auburn to win a championship, they will eventually need to make a crucial defensive stand.
In Tuscaloosa, things are still not back to normal. After losing to South Carolina by two touchdowns, Alabama responded by beating Ole Miss in an offensively unimpressive 23-10 game. The lack of utilization of the two outstanding running backs and the passing inefficiencies have some of the Crimson Tide faithful scratching their heads. Nick Saban, though, is one of the best adjusters in the game, so don’t give up on the Tide just yet. Plus, most national experts agree that Alabama is in the best position of any one loss team.
I am sure last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram, will also have a large impact on Alabama’s performance in the coming weeks also. Hampered with a knee injury at the beginning of the year, he is primed for a breakout game. There will be no repeat as Heisman winner, but he is still very capable of putting up large numbers and helping the Tide get another championship.
Possibly the most forgotten about team in this three-ring circus, though, is LSU. They may have the group of players that is most capable of winning a championship. A major test for LSU will be this weekend in Auburn. With the number one defense in the league, they will attempt to stop the SEC’s best offense and Cam Newton. If they do, then watch out. Virtually all that will remain is a game at home against Alabama. It is a very distinct possibility that LSU could go 12-0 in the regular season, win the SEC Championship game, and sneak into that BCS Championship contest.
LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson briefly entered the Heisman discussion earlier in the season. He is a defensive player who can impact a game for sure. But, perhaps he is most dangerous in the return game on special teams. Look for him to be a game changer as LSU plays at Auburn and Alabama at home.
An undefeated SEC team will, in all likelihood, jump a TCU, Boise State, or Utah. And, if the undefeated teams continue to fall, a one loss SEC team could also leap a BCS non-qualifier to get into the big game. One thing that will hurt the SEC’s chances, though, is the fact the western division champion will have to play an eastern division winner that will have at least two losses. The last couple of years, because of the quality of the opponent, the SEC Championship has provided a boost to its winner to get to the national championship. It simply will not have the same effect this year. Let’s be honest, Mississippi State could win the SEC East this year.
It would be an incredible understatement to say that the pressure is on, but there is no better way to put it. If you want a spot in Atlanta and possibly Glendale, you must do one thing: win.
Contact Jacob Bunn at Jacob@bunnsports.com
