SEC vs. Pac-10: The Final Count

*Thanks again to The Big Lead for picking up this post, we sure got those SEC fans agitated.

The Pac-10 vs. SEC debate has been going on all season. It started before the season, actually, when LSU coach Les Miles verbally slapped the Pac-10 on SEC media day. I’m here to finally put that debate to rest by staging games between the equal teams of each conference. Since there are 2 more teams in the SEC, two games have multiple SEC teams. The outcome of these games is who I think would win if the game was played on a neutral field in Nebraska.

LSU vs. Oregon
This could very well be the real National Championship game if both teams win out and get a little help. Both teams have lost 1 game and could be undefeated. Oregon’s only lose came when they fumbled the ball out of the back of the endzone in the last few seconds. LSU lost on the road at Kentucky and snuck out a win last night over Auburn on a gutsy call. Oregon has a ton of speed and I don’t think LSU can defend the spread.
Winner: Oregon

Florida vs. Arizona State
Arizona State has been a surprise this year under the weasel Dennis Erikson. Florida has lost twice, but both were close, hard-fought games. Tim Tebow is a Heisman favorite and, like Oregon, they have a ton of speed. Arizona State has yet to be tested, their closed game a 3-pt. win at Washington State.
Winner: Florida

Alabama vs. USC
I still can’t believe that USC lost to Stanford. That has to be the upset of the year so far. The devil Nick Saban has Alabama over-performing. They lost to a bad Florida State team and a heartbreaker to Georgia. USC has not been its dominating self of the last 3 years, but they are still good enough to beat Alabama.
Winner: USC

South Carolina, Georgia vs. UCLA
This is the matchup of teams we can’t figure out and they can’t figure out themselves. UCLA loses to Utah by 30 but beats a underachieving California team. South Carolina beats Kentucky but loses to Vanderbilt. Georgia clips Alabama in OT, but loses to a Tennessee team that Alabama destroyed this weekend. I believe that South Carolina is still a year away and Georgia hasn’t proven itself yet. UCLA’s lose to Utah was the exception, not the rule.
Winner: UCLA

Auburn, Kentucky vs. California
As I mentioned earlier I think Cal has underachieved. They should have won at Oregon State two weeks ago and that hangover cost them against UCLA. Kentucky has been a huge surprise, but I still don’t think there a Top 15 caliber team, maybe its just because its Kentucky. Auburn almost beat LSU and South Florida. There lose to Mississippi State was slightly worse than Cal’s to Oregon State. Auburn has played some teams tough and Kentucky beat LSU, so I give them the nod.
Winner: Auburn, Kentucky

Tennessee vs. Oregon State
Oregon State beat Cal, although that may have had more to do with Cal then the Beavers. Tennessee got destroyed by Alabama and are perennial underachievers. I’m gonna use the old logic of Oregon State beat Cal, Cal beat Tennessee, so Oregon State will beat Tennessee.
Winner: Oregon State

Arkansas vs. Arizona
This is another interesting matchup. Arkansas is not any where near the team they were last year although they have two great running backs. Arizona almost beat USC and then lost to Stanford. This may be a tossup game, but Stoops is gonna get fired and Arizona can’t stop McFadden.
Winner: Arkansas

Vanderbilt vs. Stanford
This is the matchup of the spoilers. Stanford pulled off the biggest upset of the season, knocking off USC in the Coliseum. Vanderbilt beat South Carolina on Saturday to knock the Game Cocks out of the NC hunt. Stanford’s win over USC and Jim Harbaugh’s coaching give the Cardinal the edge.
Winner: Stanford

Mississippi vs. Washington, Mississippi State vs. Washington State
The Mississippi’s vs. the Washington’s. The bottom-feeders of their respective conferences. The two biggest wins for these 4 teams are Mississippi State over Auburn and Washington over Boise State. I’m gonna call for a split on these two games.
Winner: Mississippi, Washington State

After tallying up the score it’s the Pac-10 6-4. As you can see it’s a close race, but the Pac-10 is the better conference this season. Don’t be surprised if the National Championship winner comes from the Pac-10.