By the way, with all the NC talk, I feel compelled to mention that we survived the greatest potential danger for this season -- the possibility of an undefeated Big 12 or SEC team not playing for the national title. People are overreacting to what happened last year -- the odds of having only one or fewer one-loss teams (excluding USC) aren't very good. In fact, it was only four years ago that USC, Oklahoma and Auburn all ran the table. As it was, until USC lost, you had the possibility of the Trojans, the Big 12 winner (OU/Mizzou) and the SEC winner (Florida/Georgia/LSU) all going undefeated. While the Big 12 and SEC teams would obviously deserve a spot in the game over a team from the weak Pac 10, you know USC would have taken a spot simply based on ESPN hype, and left someone on the outside looking in. Now, that possibility doesn't exist. Yes, USC could still get in over another one-loss team, and it'd be bull**** -- but at least at that point, the one-loss team could look at their own resume and find something it could've done better. Now, the destiny is completely in the hands of the true dominant teams.
Just good timing. The Gators have a rotating schedule where they get certain teams from the western division during certain years. We just happened to have a returning Heisman winner on the year that we have Arkansas as our western division opponent. According to the rotating schedule, we won't have Alabama again until 2010, and no Auburn until 2011. Assuming the rotating schedule stays in place, I could tell you who we would play each year until the end of time. Our big windows for NCs are this year and next year (if Tebow comes back) schedule-wise.
I'm pretty excited for the game against Ole Miss tomorrow (never thought I'd be pumped up for Ole Miss) because I can't wait to see if our D and run game continues to be for real or if the first few weeks were an aberration. The scary, scary thing about this D, if it continues to make strides, is that they are really young. We have ZERO seniors starting on defense. The only player that would potentially go to the NFL next season is MLB Brandon Spikes (which I do expect him to go).
I don't follow this stuff all that closely, but from what I've read, if Tebow comes back next year, your Gators might be so good it won't matter who you play.
Still a LOT of football left to be played....USC will still have a chance, whether we like it or not. As always, better to lose early than late. Also, right about now I'm sure that they are hoping that Ohio St. runs the table and wins the Big 10. The bottom line- I agree that USC won't have the best schedule compared to SEC and Big 12 teams. What's worse for Trojan fans is that the team won't have any more compelling big win opportunities the rest of the year. Repeat- the REST of the year. Notre Dame sucks, Zona St. already has two losses, NO ONE else in the Pac 10 is ranked. Ouch. So, whether USC rights the ship or not, is one of the best two teams or not, this fact alone will haunt them the rest of the season. The Pac 10 being down will probably be the nail in their coffin. But....there is still lots of football to be played! Looking forward to seeing how Bama-UGA affects the SEC race, and also wanting to see if TCU poses any threat to OU again.
Bumping this one more time. Duke 31, Virginia 3. USC belongs at the absolute bottom of the one-loss pack.
Well, the Gators self destruct (5 fumbles, 3 lost, all of which led to Ole Miss scores, and had their game-tying XP blocked) against an SEC West division team like basically every year. I guess it's time to start cheering for other teams to lose... Let's go TCU... Let's go Bama...
They are looking good so far. Still so much left on their schedule...LSU, Auburn, SECCG, and of course, any of the unexpected landmines along the way. The SEC is just so damn loaded this year.
I think it depends on what you mean. Florida and Georgia both look very overrated today, and Auburn's had 3-2 and 14-12 wins over Mississippi State and Tennessee. I think the SEC is loaded in terms of being a very deep league, but I don't think they have the number of elite, top of the line teams that they usually have. I see Alabama, and that's pretty much it. LSU is borderline, but I don't think they have the playmakers offensively right now.