Sunset Vette

LSU played Tulane and won 42-0. It sounds like it wasn’t much more than a scrimmage for LSU, but at least they were not caught looking at the upcoming battle with Alabama for first place in the SEC West. LSU has quite a stretch run coming up with games at Alabama, at Ole Miss, and hosting Arkansas. Win all three and they play a rematch with Florida for the SEC title. Lose one of the three and they still have an opportunity to go to a major bowl game. Lose two of the three and they still will be bowling but not a top-tier game. The season is all in their hands.

Florida clinched the SEC East title based on their victory over Georgia and the South Carolina loss to Tennessee. Florida’s biggest challenges remaining on their schedule are probably South Carolina and a very unpredictable Florida State team. Alabama was off this week.

Ole Miss and Auburn played one of the most exciting 3rd quarters I’ve ever watched. There were long touchdown runs, long pass completions, and a blocked extra point returned for two points. Auburn got the win, which could put them back into the top 25. They might replace Ole Miss who could easily drop out. They are probably one of the biggest disappointments in the SEC this year. After finishing so strong last year (and defeating a good Texas Tech team in the Cotton Bowl) they had high expectations this year. Now they’re sitting in fourth place in the SEC West.

Meanwhile Texas seems to be hitting on all cylinders as they scored 41 against ranked but out-matched Oklahoma State last night. With only the defense playing it would have been a tie game (14-14). With the offense chipping in a few points it was hardly a contest. I turned off the game in the 3rd quarter. Will Texas move up? It’s hard to say. Florida looked like the champion team from last year as they dismantled Georgia. Tebow set the SEC record for rushing touchdowns. (With a * by the record as he played four years to Hershal Walker’s three.)

USC was on the receiving end of their worst loss in the Pete Carroll era. It was 24-17 at halftime and even if the Ducks had not scored again the final would have been 24-20. As it stands they cruised to a 42-20 final score. USC could drop out of the top ten, and Oregon should move up. Oregon now controls their own destiny in the Pac 10 but probably can’t make up enough ground on the teams in front of them to qualify for the BCS Championship.

BCS busters TCU and Boise State (who owns a victory over Oregon) both shellacked their opponents this week. TCU beat patsy #1 41-0 and Boise State beak patsy #2 45-7. Do the opponents matter? Not this week, because neither was ranked. TCU has the better shot at hitting a big bowl because they still have some ranked opponents on their schedule. Boise State doesn’t.

They cynic in me from the beginning of the season predicts LSU will lose two of their remaining four games to finish at 9-3 and will play in a good but not top-tier bowl game. They haven’t shown enough growth over the season to make me think otherwise. The hopeful fan in me sees them running the table, beating Florida in a grudge match SEC title game, and taking down Texas for their 3rd national title.

Yeah, that’s not going to happen. But it’s still fun to think about.