Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist
Our Selection Committee Theme of the Week is Quality Losses. One might think that, by having the most quality teams, the SEC would, by definition, have more quality losses. But not according to the "analysts" -- that word is used very loosely -- who have taken it upon themselves to arbitrate such things. For instance: Notre Dame goes on the road to play the No. 2 team. Alabama goes on the road to play the No. 3 team. In the final minute, Alabama and Notre Dame trail their opponents. On the next-to-last play, Alabama commits a penalty and has to throw into the end zone for a chance to win. On its next-to-last play, Notre Dame commits a penalty and has to throw into the end zone for a chance to win. Alabama's pass is intercepted. Notre Dame's pass is intercepted. The home team hangs on, in both cases.
Now, you might think that such similar games would both be Quality Losses. But you would be wrong, wrong, wrong according to the analysts. Notre Dame suffered a Quality Loss and it will help them with the Selection Committee. Alabama, with a similar finish on the road, also against a Top 5 team, suffered, the analysts tell us, a Bad Loss that hurt them with the Committee. Starting to get the picture? Enjoy your juice boxes, America.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE POWER RANKINGS
RANKLWTEAM
1
2
Ole Miss Rebels
Record: 6-0 (3-0)
What's the fun of a power poll if you can't spread the love around among the Mississippi schools? This us a huge honor for Ole Miss, which better not let it distract them from LSU.
2
1
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 6-0 (3-0)
The Bulldogs had an open date last week. But are we sure it was a Quality Open Week?
3
4
Alabama Crimson Tide
Record: 5-1 (3-1)
What a happy, boring week in Tuscaloosa. Now the question is whether the Crimson Tide can do it on the road.
4
3
Auburn Tigers
Record: 5-1 (2-1)
Back in August, a lot of people thought Auburn-South Carolina would be an SEC Championship preview. The Tigers still have a chance, but the only way they'll see Steve Spurrier in The Georgia Done us if he needs an indoor driving range.
5
5
LSU Tigers
Record: 6-2 (2-2)
As with the three-toed sloth, Les Miles' movements can be hard to detect. But I think he is starting to gain on people.
6
8[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524111.gif" >Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 6-1 (4-1)
I said when an East team beat a West team, I would move them up and the a Bulldogs did it in convincing fashion. Even with this ranking, their shot at an SEC title is strong.
7
6
Texas A&M Aggies
Record: 5-3 (2-3)
One more quarter in Tuscaloosa last week and they would have had to identify the Aggies by dental records and DNA.
8
7
Arkansas Razorbacks
Record: 3-4 (0-4)
OK. it is time for Arkansas to win an SEC game (not thus week, they play UAB) or risk demotion to the East.
9
12
Missouri Tigers
Record: 5-2 (2-1)
Aside from Georgia on top and Vanderbilt on bottom, the rest of the East is an utterly interchangeable mash of unsavory ingredients, like a bowl of chipmunk chili.
10
9
Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 5-2 (2-2)
Why do SEC Basketball Media Days and the collapse of ?Kentucky football always happen in the same week? Coincidence? I think not.
11
11
Tennessee Volunteers
Record: 3-4 (0-3)
Elvis could show up at Graceland in a string bikini on a spaceship on Saturday and the entire state of Tennessee would say "Keep it down, I'm waitin' on Kiffin!"
12
13[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524118.gif" South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 4-3 (2-3)
Beat Furman. Move up. The East in a nutshell.
13
10[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524110.gif" >Florida Gators
Record: 3-3 (2-2)
Remember how Florida used to look a few years ago? Then take a look at them now. Unrecognizable. The Renee Zellwegger of college football.
14
14
Vanderbilt Commodores
Record: 2-5 (0-4)
I'm not advocating trading Vanderbilt to the Mountain West Conference in exchange for Hawaii. But I am not against it, either.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1696079#sthash.Pw4RfhjO.dpuf
TideSports.com Columnist
Our Selection Committee Theme of the Week is Quality Losses. One might think that, by having the most quality teams, the SEC would, by definition, have more quality losses. But not according to the "analysts" -- that word is used very loosely -- who have taken it upon themselves to arbitrate such things. For instance: Notre Dame goes on the road to play the No. 2 team. Alabama goes on the road to play the No. 3 team. In the final minute, Alabama and Notre Dame trail their opponents. On the next-to-last play, Alabama commits a penalty and has to throw into the end zone for a chance to win. On its next-to-last play, Notre Dame commits a penalty and has to throw into the end zone for a chance to win. Alabama's pass is intercepted. Notre Dame's pass is intercepted. The home team hangs on, in both cases.
Now, you might think that such similar games would both be Quality Losses. But you would be wrong, wrong, wrong according to the analysts. Notre Dame suffered a Quality Loss and it will help them with the Selection Committee. Alabama, with a similar finish on the road, also against a Top 5 team, suffered, the analysts tell us, a Bad Loss that hurt them with the Committee. Starting to get the picture? Enjoy your juice boxes, America.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE POWER RANKINGS
RANKLWTEAM
1
2
Record: 6-0 (3-0)
What's the fun of a power poll if you can't spread the love around among the Mississippi schools? This us a huge honor for Ole Miss, which better not let it distract them from LSU.
2
1
Record: 6-0 (3-0)
The Bulldogs had an open date last week. But are we sure it was a Quality Open Week?
3
4
Record: 5-1 (3-1)
What a happy, boring week in Tuscaloosa. Now the question is whether the Crimson Tide can do it on the road.
4
3
Record: 5-1 (2-1)
Back in August, a lot of people thought Auburn-South Carolina would be an SEC Championship preview. The Tigers still have a chance, but the only way they'll see Steve Spurrier in The Georgia Done us if he needs an indoor driving range.
5
5
Record: 6-2 (2-2)
As with the three-toed sloth, Les Miles' movements can be hard to detect. But I think he is starting to gain on people.
6
8[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524111.gif" >Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 6-1 (4-1)
I said when an East team beat a West team, I would move them up and the a Bulldogs did it in convincing fashion. Even with this ranking, their shot at an SEC title is strong.
7
6
Record: 5-3 (2-3)
One more quarter in Tuscaloosa last week and they would have had to identify the Aggies by dental records and DNA.
8
7
Record: 3-4 (0-4)
OK. it is time for Arkansas to win an SEC game (not thus week, they play UAB) or risk demotion to the East.
9
12
Record: 5-2 (2-1)
Aside from Georgia on top and Vanderbilt on bottom, the rest of the East is an utterly interchangeable mash of unsavory ingredients, like a bowl of chipmunk chili.
10
9
Record: 5-2 (2-2)
Why do SEC Basketball Media Days and the collapse of ?Kentucky football always happen in the same week? Coincidence? I think not.
11
11
Record: 3-4 (0-3)
Elvis could show up at Graceland in a string bikini on a spaceship on Saturday and the entire state of Tennessee would say "Keep it down, I'm waitin' on Kiffin!"
12
13[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524118.gif" South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 4-3 (2-3)
Beat Furman. Move up. The East in a nutshell.
13
10[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524110.gif" >Florida Gators
Record: 3-3 (2-2)
Remember how Florida used to look a few years ago? Then take a look at them now. Unrecognizable. The Renee Zellwegger of college football.
14
14
Record: 2-5 (0-4)
I'm not advocating trading Vanderbilt to the Mountain West Conference in exchange for Hawaii. But I am not against it, either.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1696079#sthash.Pw4RfhjO.dpuf
