Odds don’t favor SEC teams for BCS

[dirty]

By Tony Barnhart | Tuesday, September 12, 2006, 11:01 AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I know it’s early. I know the college football season is very, very long. But if I’m Auburn or any other SEC team I’m just a tad nervous right now. Not much. Just a little.
Two years ago Auburn did the unthinkable by going undefeated in the regular season, winning the SEC championship game and then getting shut out of the BCS championship, which was decided by Southern Cal and Oklahoma. After the Sooners got waxed at the Orange Bowl, the SEC and the Tigers cried foul. SEC commissioner Mike Slive was a gentleman through it all but, behind the scenes, vowed it wouldn’t happen again to another one of his teams.
But have you looked closely at the polls? The BCS standings are still a month away but if you take the AP and Coaches polls and total the points, here is what you’d have.
1….Ohio State……….3185 2…Southern Cal……..2917 3…Notre Dame………2895 4….Auburn…………..2816 5….W. Virginia……….2673
In 2004 Southern Cal and Oklahoma began the season ranked 1-2 and never lost. Auburn played its way up to No. 3 but could never crack the top two.
Here is what should make the Tigers and the rest of the SEC nervous.
After beating No. 2 Texas last Saturday, Ohio State will stay No. 1 for the rest of the season if the Buckeyes don’t lose. If Ohio State doesn’t lose at Iowa on Sept. 30, I think the Buckeyes are looking at 12-0.
Southern Cal and Notre Dame meet on Nov. 25 in Los Angeles. If both are undefeated when that game is played, the pollsters just might decide that the No. 2 spot should go to the winner. The computer polls could override it, but I kind of doubt it.
That means Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Florida or any undefeated SEC team could have a very tough time playing its way into the Top 2 if Southern Cal or Notre Dame do not lose. Florida would have the best chance of jumping over one of those teams into No. 2 because they play a ridiculously hard schedule. In fact, if the Gators go 13-0 and don’t get in with that schedule, the BCS just might blow up.
Like I said, it’s early. None of this will probably happen. But if it does, just remember that old Tony warned you. And I can promise you that the SEC Commissioner, who just so happens to be the BCS Coordinator this season, will not be a happy camper.
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