Team Speed Kills - SEC Football Saturday: Georgia Edges Florida in Cocktail Party; South Carolina, Auburn Win BigSports are just better in the SEChttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52580/tsk_fav.png2013-11-03T13:04:30-05:00http://www.teamspeedkills.com/rss/stream/48208252013-11-03T13:04:30-05:002013-11-03T13:04:30-05:00Top 25 Polls, Week 10: AP Poll > Coaches Poll
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<figcaption>David Manning-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There's not much to see here when it comes to the SEC -- just some modest improvement in the rankings -- but there's plenty to talk about when it comes to FSU vs. Oregon and UCF vs. Louisville -- which was sort of decided by a game. We thought</p> <p>This stood to be a good week in the polls for a few of the SEC teams -- not because any of the games with ranked teams were a surprise, but because they weren't. Combine that with losses by teams like MIami, and you have the potential for upward movement.</p>
<p>We will start, as is our custom, with the AP poll. Why? Because i like to show what rational human beings do before going onto the coaches poll.</p>
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<table class="sortable" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#EDF1F3">
<th align="center">Rank</th> <th align="center">Team</th> <th align="center">Record</th> <th align="center">Votes</th> <th align="center">Previous</th>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">Alabama (52)</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1,491</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">Oregon (2)</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1,418</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">3</td>
<td align="center">Florida State (6)</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1,409</td>
<td align="center">3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">4</td>
<td align="center">Ohio State</td>
<td align="center">9-0</td>
<td align="center">1,315</td>
<td align="center">4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">5</td>
<td align="center">Baylor</td>
<td align="center">7-0</td>
<td align="center">1,234</td>
<td align="center">5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">6</td>
<td align="center">Stanford</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">1,214</td>
<td align="center">6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">7</td>
<td align="center">Auburn</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">1,082</td>
<td align="center">8</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">8</td>
<td align="center">Clemson</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">1,059</td>
<td align="center">9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">9</td>
<td align="center">Missouri</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">956</td>
<td align="center">10</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">10</td>
<td align="center">LSU</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">863</td>
<td align="center">11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">11</td>
<td align="center">Texas A&M</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">861</td>
<td align="center">12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">12</td>
<td align="center">Oklahoma</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">816</td>
<td align="center">13</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">13</td>
<td align="center">South Carolina</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">769</td>
<td align="center">14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">14</td>
<td align="center">Miami (FL)</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">737</td>
<td align="center">7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">15</td>
<td align="center">Oklahoma State</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">662</td>
<td align="center">18</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">16</td>
<td align="center">UCLA</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">515</td>
<td align="center">17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">17</td>
<td align="center">Fresno State</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">493</td>
<td align="center">16</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">18</td>
<td align="center">Michigan State</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">478</td>
<td align="center">24</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">19</td>
<td align="center">UCF</td>
<td align="center">6-1</td>
<td align="center">472</td>
<td align="center">19</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">20</td>
<td align="center">Louisville</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">385</td>
<td align="center">20</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">21</td>
<td align="center">Wisconsin</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">342</td>
<td align="center">22</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">22</td>
<td align="center">Northern Illinois</td>
<td align="center">9-0</td>
<td align="center">322</td>
<td align="center">21</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">23</td>
<td align="center">Arizona State</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">197</td>
<td align="center">25</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">24</td>
<td align="center">Notre Dame</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">164</td>
<td align="center">NR</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">25</td>
<td align="center">Texas Tech</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">102</td>
<td align="center">15</td>
</tr>
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<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table"><tbody><tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">Others Receiving Votes: Texas 34, Georgia 32, Brigham Young 28, Mississippi 17, Houston 9, Minnesota 7, Michigan 6, Washington 6, Ball State 4, Duke 1</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
<p>Florida State steals some first-place votes here from Alabama and Oregon, which would be important if the coaches and Harris polls follow suit. (We'll talk in a moment about the coaches, but the Harris poll is still not out yet, so we have to read tea leaves.) Remember, the BCS standings aren't a straight-up averaging of the positions. The human component is based on <i>how many points you get</i> from the human voters, so anything that gives the Seminoles more points vis a vis Oregon helps in the No. 2 vs. No. 3 race. However, Oregon still has most of its chances to impress the humans and the computers ahead of it, so the edge in the race for the second spot in the BCS title game goes to the Ducks until they lose.</p>
<p>As for the SEC, we're back to four teams in the Top 10 thanks to Miami dropping out and bumping LSU back into the rankings. That sets up Alabama-LSU as a Top 10 matchup, which restores a little of the luster that the game could lose given that the Bayou Bengals are a third wheel in the SEC West race. Texas A&M and South Carolina also move a little bit closer as the Hurricanes fall seven spots for losing by about what everyone expected them to lose by.</p>
<p>Notre Dame is your only new entry here, which means that Georgia and Ole Miss are still on the outside looking in. And Georgia is behind Texas, because, WHEEE SHINY OBJECTS AND WE ALL LOVE MACK BROWN FOR NO REAL REASON! Florida, in a move that should surprise no one, drops completely out of the list of teams receiving votes.</p>
<p>Now, the coaches. Put on your not-thinking caps if you really want to understand them.</p>
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<table class="sortable" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#EDF1F3">
<th align="center">RANK</th> <th align="center">TEAM</th> <th align="center">RECORD</th> <th align="center">POINTS</th> <th align="center">FIRST PLACE VOTES</th> <th align="center">PREVIOUS RANK</th> <th align="center">CHANGE</th> <th align="center">HI/LOW</th>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">Alabama<br>Crimson Tide</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1540</td>
<td align="center">54</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">1/1</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">Oregon<br>Ducks</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1475</td>
<td align="center">5</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">2/3</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">3</td>
<td align="center">Florida State<br>Seminoles</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1436</td>
<td align="center">3</td>
<td align="center">3</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">3/12</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">4</td>
<td align="center">Ohio State<br>Buckeyes</td>
<td align="center">9-0</td>
<td align="center">1369</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">4</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">2/4</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">5</td>
<td align="center">Baylor<br>Bears</td>
<td align="center">7-0</td>
<td align="center">1299</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">5</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">5/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">6</td>
<td align="center">Stanford<br>Cardinal</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">1222</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">7</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">4/13</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">7</td>
<td align="center">Clemson<br>Tigers</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">1121</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">8</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">4/10</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">8</td>
<td align="center">Oklahoma<br>Sooners</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">971</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">9</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">8/18</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">9</td>
<td align="center">Missouri<br>Tigers</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">961</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">10</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">7/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">10</td>
<td align="center">Auburn<br>Tigers</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">959</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">11</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">10/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">11</td>
<td align="center">Oklahoma State<br>Cowboys</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">864</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">12</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">11/20</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">12</td>
<td align="center">LSU<br>Tigers</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">835</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">13</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">6/13</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">13</td>
<td align="center">Texas A&M<br>Aggies</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">800</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">14</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">6/15</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">14</td>
<td align="center">Miami<br>Hurricanes</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">747</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">6</td>
<td align="center">-8</td>
<td align="center">6/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">15</td>
<td align="center">South Carolina<br>Gamecocks</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">722</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">16</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">6/20</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">16</td>
<td align="center">Louisville<br>Cardinals</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">569</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">17</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">6/17</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">17</td>
<td align="center">Fresno State<br>Bulldogs</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">567</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">18</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">17/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">18</td>
<td align="center">UCLA<br>Bruins</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">494</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">19</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">10/21</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">19</td>
<td align="center">Michigan State<br>Spartans</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">446</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">24</td>
<td align="center">5</td>
<td align="center">19/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">20</td>
<td align="center">Northern Illinois<br>Huskies</td>
<td align="center">9-0</td>
<td align="center">409</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">20</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">20/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">21</td>
<td align="center">Central Florida<br>Knights</td>
<td align="center">6-1</td>
<td align="center">340</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">22</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">21/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">22</td>
<td align="center">Wisconsin<br>Badgers</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">333</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">23</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">18/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">23</td>
<td align="center">Texas Tech<br>Red Raiders</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">217</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">15</td>
<td align="center">-8</td>
<td align="center">9/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">24</td>
<td align="center">Arizona State<br>Sun Devils</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">130</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">NR</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">23/NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">25</td>
<td align="center">Notre Dame<br>Fighting Irish</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">108</td>
<td align="center">0</td>
<td align="center">25</td>
<td align="center"></td>
<td align="center">11/NR</td>
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<p>Here, the Seminoles pick up three first-place votes -- they had none last week -- and take a net of one from the Ducks. Brad Edwards reportedly told ESPN last night that Florida State could pass Oregon again in this week's BCS standings. I'm generally inclined to listen to Edwards more than other BCS gurus, and after seeing these numbers, I'm really inclined to agree with him. But, overall, the year-end rankings should favor the Ducks more.</p>
<p>LSU is still stuck just outside the Top 10 here. I'm not going to complain too much about Oklahoma State staying ahead of them, because the Cowboys did beat a Texas Tech team that is ranked, even if it shouldn't be, while LSU had a bye. But the Oklahoma ranking strikes me as a bit curious. They beat Texas Tech by less than Oklahoma State, beat Notre Dame by 14 and lost by 16 to Texas. I'm not sure I see that as No. 8-worthy. Texas A&M and South Carolina inch up, with the Miami fall just short enough to keep the Gamecocks from moving up two places. But they're back in the Top 15.</p>
<p>And Louisville remains five spots ahead of Central Florida, for no discernible reason. It makes no sense. The strength of schedule is probably in UCF's favor, especially since their road non-conference win against a BCS AQ team came against a team not named "Kentucky." Their home loss is to South Carolina by three. Louisville's home loss is also by three -- <i><b>but it's against UCF</b></i>. And for that, Louisville is not just <i>ahead</i> of Central Florida, but it's clear by five full spots. We're no longer talking here about whether or not the coaches or sports information directors are watching games other than their own, we're talking about whether they're even aware of what's going on this year in college football. Fortunately, UCF's place in the BCS will be determined entirely by whether it wins its conference, which is unlikely to be a matter of the polls. But when it comes to other teams that depend on an informed coaches poll electorate, they should all be worried.</p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/3/5061444/college-football-rankings-oregon-florida-st-ucf-louisvilleBrandon Larrabee2013-11-03T01:59:27-04:002013-11-03T01:59:27-04:00Topics for Discussion: Bama-LSU, Cocktail Party
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<figcaption>Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Also open for debate: Who would be the best opponent for the Tide if they make it through the season undefeated?</p> <p><b>IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL GAME OF THE CENTURY OF THE WEEK.</b> Yep, Alabama and LSU play this weekend, in one of the few significant games of Saturday. (Outside of the Tide-Tigers match-up, the best games this week are on Thursday.) So, who've you got? And does it take anything away from this year's edition to know that it's not a de facto SEC West title game, but just the last chance for the Bayou Bengals to keep their long-shot division hopes alive?</p>
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<a href="http://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5059434/georgia-23-florida-20-bulldogs-escape">
<h2>Georgia 23, Florida 20</h2>
<img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22324741/20130101_jel_bb1_171.0_standard_709.0.jpg"></a> <span>Georgia wins a sloppy and slightly weird game to keep itself alive in the SEC East</span>
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<p><b>Is Georgia all better now?</b> The Dawgs looked pretty impressive jumping out to a 23-3 halftime lead against Florida, but then watched as most of that advantage eroded away in the second half. Was the first half a better indication of what the Bulldogs can do, or does the inability of yet another SEC East contender to slam the door shut concern you? And what do you think of the looming showdown between the Dawgs and Auburn, which could decide whether UGA remains in the SEC East race or not?</p>
<p><b>How hot is Will Muschamp's seat?</b> There's already a vocal segment of the Florida fan base that is willing to let Muschamp go despite the fact that he inherited something of a mess from Urban Meyer. The case against him is pretty clear: The offense is a disaster, the Vanderbilt game is a virtual must-win for bowl eligibility and the hopes to win the SEC East this season are long gone. So should Will Muschamp be fired this year, or even face a make-or-break season in 2014? More importantly, will either of those happen?</p>
<p><b>Should Mike Davis be in the Heisman discussion?</b> I hesitate to even bring this up, because there's a hint of homerism here, but some objective-esque people have floated the idea, so let's deal with it. Davis leads the SEC with 1,058 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 166 carries, an average of 6.4 yards a carry. He has seven 100-yard games, with the only exceptions being the games against Vanderbilt and Missouri. Davis also has 326 receiving yards on 29 catches. Maybe Davis shouldn't be the frontrunner for the award, but does he at least warrant an invitation to the ceremony?</p>
<p><b>Which opponent would you like Alabama to face?</b> Let's go ahead and assume for the purposes of this exercise that Alabama goes undefeated and heads to the BCS National Championship Game. Would you rather see the Tide take on Oregon, with its blazing fast offense and underrated defense; Florida State, which is beginning to look like the old Florida State; Baylor, with it's point-a-minute philosophy; or Ohio State, in a reprise of the old Meyer-vs.-Saban battles in Atlanta? Or am I missing someone?</p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/3/5060308/sec-schedule-results-week-10Brandon Larrabee2013-11-02T23:27:34-04:002013-11-02T23:27:34-04:00Missouri 31, Tennessee 3: The Next Step
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<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers stuff the Volunteers and take one more step toward a berth in the SEC Championship Game</p> <p>Missouri didn't really need style points when it played Tennessee on Saturday. At this point, all the Tigers have to do is continue to win, and they'll be in the SEC Championship Game. Even another loss somewhere along the way won't be fatal to the Tigers' hopes of winning an SEC East title, but win-and-in should still be the key principle for Mizzou from here on out.</p>
<p>But the Tigers went out and dominated anyway, which might be just what the team needed to convince itself that the loss last Saturday is not the end of the season. The game wasn't flawless -- <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158628/maty-mauk">Maty Mauk</a>, for example, completed fewer than half his passes -- but it was pretty close. The defense held Tennessee to two third- and fourth-down conversions on 15 tries. The running game churned out 6.3 yards per carry. While the Volunteers quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/208003/joshua-dobbs">Joshua Dobbs</a> showed flashes of promise, he also showed at times that he's a freshman quarterback thrown into the SEC before he's really ready for it.</p>
<p>Missouri has one more tune-up game next week,at Kentucky before the year-end games against the SEC West that could pose the most serious challenge. There's nothing in Saturday's game that should cause anyone to think more or less of Missouri as it faces that year-end gauntlet. They did what they needed to, nothing more, and continuing to do that will lead to them clinching the SEC East sooner or later.</p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5060010/missouri-tigers-vs-tennessee-volunteers-final-scoreBrandon Larrabee2013-11-02T21:52:02-04:002013-11-02T21:52:02-04:00Auburn 35, Arkansas 17: Bizarro Football
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<figcaption>Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There were some moments when it seemed like the head coaches of these two teams had switched places. But that was about as close to surprise as you could get</p> <p>There wasn't ever a moment when this game was truly in doubt. When Arkansas kicked a field goal early in the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-3, they got as close as they were going to get all night long. Auburn poured on 21 unanswered points from there, and basically coasted to a win. And most of us were pretty confident that something like that was going to happen.</p>
<p>But this game was about the psychodrama of the whole thing, and the most intriguing example of that came in the third quarter. That was when Arkansas ran a trick play out of the "swinging gate" we heard so much about this week -- because Auburn had supposedly left it off some of the game tapes sent to Arkansas. After that play, Auburn linebacker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131879/anthony-swain">Anthony Swain</a> walked back toward his position, apparently looking at the sideline, stood in the end zone -- and then mysteriously crumpled to the ground, grabbing his knee.</p>
<p>Of course, that would be after Gus Malzahn had suggested at SEC Media Days that he thought there should be a crackdown on fake injuries. So we had Bret Bielema on the field complaining about a possibly fake injury by Gus Malzahn's team shortly after having run a play out of a formation that was supposedly Malzahn's specialty. For a few brief seconds, everything was Bizarro World.</p>
<p>The game, itself, though -- that was pretty normal. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131875/tre-mason">Tre Mason</a> ran for 168 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries. Auburn gained just 20 more yards than Arkansas, but actually gained 6.7 yards a snap to the Hogs' 4.7 yard a snap. That's not to say that Auburn didn't have some subpar drives in the game -- they did -- but the total offense numbers in this one can be a bit deceiving if you don't add any context.</p>
<p>The greater significance here is that Auburn, as long as it gets past the game at Tennessee next week, will then have the ability to shape both SEC division races over its final two contests. A win against Georgia would all but end the Dawgs' chance at an SEC East title, and a one-loss Auburn would then play Alabama for the SEC West. Those games might not have quite as much pyschodrama as this one, but they'll more than make up for it with the real-world counterpart.</p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5059730/auburn-tigers-vs-arkansas-razorbacks-final-scoreBrandon Larrabee2013-11-02T19:36:12-04:002013-11-02T19:36:12-04:00Georgia 23, Florida 20: Bulldogs Escape
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<p>It wasn't pretty and it took forever, but Georgia won its third consecutive Cocktail Party.</p> <p>In a marathon game stalled by numerous penalties, reviews, and timeouts, Georgia narrowly held on to defeat Florida 23-20.</p>
<p>At the beginning, it looked like Georgia might win the game in a blowout. The Bulldogs' first two drives went for a combined 152 yards on ten combined plays for a pair of touchdowns. Todd Gurley did most of the work on the drive, looking completely healed from his high ankle sprain, with 44 yards and a TD run on the first and a 73-yard TD catch on the second. That work actually tired out Gurley, who hadn't played in a while thanks to that injury. He looked tired and even went into the locker room briefly before coming back out. Gurley never was quite the same after, and UGA wouldn't score another touchdown the rest of the way.</p>
<p>Florida had some chances early, but missed a field goal and turned it over on downs in the first half. The latter came with about a minute to go in the half, and Georgia used the field position gain to get a quick field goal and go up 23-3 at the half. Florida swung the momentum when Georgia's Arthur Lynch dropped a swing pass that turned out to be a lateral. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/111919/leon-orr">Leon Orr</a> picked it up and returned it to the UGA 14. Two plays later, Florida scored. Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Florida picked up another touchdown and got the two-point conversion to cut the margin to 23-20.</p>
<p>Georgia would turn it over on downs on the subsequent possession, setting up the Gators at the Georgia 39. Or, it would have, except Florida's Neiron Ball foolishly took his helmet off after the play to celebrate, knocking the team back 15 yards. A huge sack six plays into the drive backed Florida up too far for a field goal, forcing a punt. Georgia took over with 8:17 to go, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78599/aaron-murray">Aaron Murray</a> and Gurley gutted out a drive that would eat up the rest of the clock. Florida looked like it had stopped UGA on third down with just over a minute to go to force a fourth down attempt or a field goal, but UF's Darious Cummings got called for a blatantly obvious hands to the face personal foul that allowed Murray to kneel out the clock.</p>
<p>For Georgia, it was a statement win to take its third straight in the series and stay in the SEC East race. Florida came up short at the end, but it was still a big game for the Gators. They could have given up down 20 at the half, but they kept fighting and nearly pulled off the upset. The spotlight now turns to Columbia, Missouri, where Tennessee could seriously put UGA back in the division race in a big way.</p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5059434/georgia-23-florida-20-bulldogs-escapeDavid Wunderlich2013-11-02T16:25:54-04:002013-11-02T16:25:54-04:00South Carolina 34, Mississippi St. 16: Not Pretty
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>It was an ugly win for South Carolina, and a loss that could mean ugly things for Mississippi State</p> <p>This was not one of the crisper games that South Carolina has played this year. The Gamecocks were 1-of-11 on third down, only got 12 first downs the entire game, and were outgained by 78 yards. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116169/connor-shaw">Connor Shaw</a> was 10-of-20 passing. You could make a decent case that, given the high-stakes win by the Gamecocks in the other Columbia last weekend, this was letdown.</p>
<p>Except, of course, for the result. The Gamecocks twice scored 17 unanswered points against Mississippi State, aided in no small part by five Bulldog turnovers, to cruise to a 34-16 win. Mike Davis ran for 128 yards on just 15 carries, while Shaw threw for four touchdowns despite lackluster numbers overall. A thing of beauty it wasn't, but a win for South Carolina it was.</p>
<p>All of which increases the pressure on Dan Mullen going into the final third of State's season. After games at Texas A&M and against Alabama at home -- both likely to be losses -- the Bulldogs could very well be 4-6. That would leave them needing to win out at Arkansas and against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl in Starkville to go to even the lowest-tier bowl. That might not be enough to save Mullen, and the whole scenario might be moot if the Bulldogs can't start turning the ball over, but for the moment that's all they've got.</p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5059014/south-carolina-gamecocks-vs-mississippi-st-bulldogs-final-scoreBrandon Larrabee2013-11-02T15:57:27-04:002013-11-02T15:57:27-04:00Tennessee vs. Missouri: What Upset Possibility?
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<figcaption>Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>You can make too much out of Mizzou's disappointing loss to South Carolina last week, and anyone looking for the Tigers to lose this game is doing just that</p> <p><i><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/missouri-tigers">Missouri Tigers</a>, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN</i></p>
<p>There's really not much of a reason to give this game a second thought. Yes, Missouri is coming off of a crushing loss to South Carolina that could eventually cost the other other Tigers the SEC East title. And yes, Tennessee defeated that same South Carolina team in one of the surprise games of the year just a week earlier.</p>
<p>But the 45-10 obliteration of Tennessee by Alabama wiped out the idea of a Tennessee "resurgence" that began in the second half of the Georgia game. That's not to criticize the Vols or what Butch Jones has done there; it was always going to be a multiseason rebuilding job for Jones, and even a one-off upset against South Carolina shows progress. Tennessee, though, is still fundamentally the team that eked out a win against South Alabama and got destroyed by Oregon. The Volunteers might be better than they were then, but there's a long way between that and "defeating two SEC East contenders in the same season."</p>
<p>And none of the other factors that you look for in an upset are there. Missouri is at home. The next game on the schedule for the Tigers is a trip to Kentucky, so there's no danger of looking ahead. Aside from the heartbreaking fashion of last week's loss, there's no reason not to trust the numbers. And the numbers say the Missouri offense is just too good for Tennessee to stop. After a slow start, the Tigers roll.</p>
<p><i>Missouri 42, Tennessee 28</i></p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5058894/tennessee-volunteers-vs-missouri-tigers-preview-tv-timeBrandon Larrabee2013-11-02T14:31:54-04:002013-11-02T14:31:54-04:00Auburn vs. Arkansas: The Games You Need to Win
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<figcaption>Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This game is Auburn's easiest remaining contest and a win that Arkansas really needs</p> <p><i><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/auburn-tigers">Auburn Tigers</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a>, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2</i></p>
<p>It's not too much of a stretch to say that this might be the hardest game remaining on Auburn's schedule. After this, the Tigers go to Tennessee and then face Georgia and Alabama at home. And while Georgia has looked average at times and Tennessee is mediocre at best, both have looked better than Arkansas for quite awhile now.</p>
<p>Not that the Hogs have nothing to play for here. If they can somehow manage to pull off the offset -- I know, that's looking like a really tall order -- a very narrow path to a possible bowl game opens up. It's almost not worth talking about, but Arkansas could conceivably then try to win at Ole Miss and against Mississippi State to get to the postseason. (We'll exclude for the moment the possibility of another upset at LSU, but the history of that game says we shouldn't rule it out.)</p>
<p>Oh, and there's pride at stake. We all know about the back and forth between Bret Bielema and Gus Malzahn in the run-up to this game. After Bielema's <a href="http://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/7/17/4533000/2013-sec-media-days-arkansas-razorbacks-bret-bielema-hurry-up">epic takedown of a Malzahn comment at SEC Media Days</a>, the Arkansas coach picked a fight this week with some <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/10/28/5038904/bret-bielema-auburn-arkansas">snark about the game film</a>. Malzahn has so far refrained from taking too many shots at Arkansas right now, but we all know that there is no love lost there.</p>
<p>So there are a variety of personal motivations in play in this game. But they're not needed. This is a game that Auburn must win if it wants to be considered a player in the SEC West, and a game that Arkansas needs to win simply to keep its season afloat.</p>
<p>In the end, though, games aren't won on motivation. A loss in this game will put Arkansas on the brink of elimination from the postseason and give Auburn a boost heading into a do-or-die stretch. <a href="http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/10/auburn_quarterback_nick_marsha_6.html">Nick Marshall or no</a>, that's exactly what should happen.</p>
<p><i>Auburn 32, Arkansas 13</i></p>
https://www.teamspeedkills.com/2013/11/2/5058612/auburn-tigers-vs-arkansas-razorbacks-preview-tv-timeBrandon Larrabee