At the SEC meetings last May, Florida football coach Urban Meyer surveyed a room of conference coaches and started counting.
“Right off the top of my head, there were nine programs that think they’re going to win the conference championship,” he said as, due to his penchant for complaining, the other coaches likely put notepads in neighboring seats so he wouldn’t sit next to them.
Nine seems a little excessive, but Meyer is known to run up the score. I bet one of three teams Meyer assumed didn’t expect to win a title was Ole Miss, a 31-30 winner over Florida two weekends ago. Aother was almost certainly Vanderbilt.
We’re down to five teams who can realistically win the SEC championship, and the undefeated Commodores are one of them. Seriously. (I know, I know — I’m going to church more, too.)
Vanderbilt’s success is great for two reasons. One, it’s a fantastic story and, two, it increases the possibility of “College GameDay” returning to Nashville. How great were the signs behind the “GameDay” set? My personal favorite: “You people are blocking the library!” There was another witty sign that I wouldn’t print here or, honestly, anywhere else, either.
A look at the five remaining title contenders. The next five weekends give us a “stumbling block” game:
5. Vanderbilt (5-0, 3-0 SEC)
Why they will: This just seems like a magical year. Honestly, when Mackenzi Adams fumbled late in last Saturday’s game, in how many previous years would an Auburn player have scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown? The answer: Every single one. Vandy had a Vandy moment and still won. The Commodores are actually playing better in the second half instead of crumbling.
“People talk about us as little ol’ Vanderbilt, and it’s kind of motivation for us,” linebacker Chris Marve said. “We can’t wait until games so we can show what we’re capable of doing.”
Why they won’t: The Commodores are last in the league in total offense and 10th in total defense. Not a promising combination.
Stumbling block: at Georgia, Oct. 18
4. Georgia (4-1, 1-1)
Why they will: The schedule looks a little less intimidating. The 1920s called Auburn, and it seems they want their offense back (it went straight to voice-mail on Tony Franklin’s phone). Florida’s offense appears stagnant.
Why they won’t: If the Bulldogs couldn’t handle Alabama’s offensive and defensive lines, they may not like what they see in Baton Rouge. Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom on LSU’s offensive line: “It was as big as any I saw in my 17 years in the NFL, and better than some of those lines.”
Full disclosure: Croom was an assistant with the Detroit Lions for four seasons.
Stumbling block: at LSU, Oct. 25
3. Florida (4-1, 2-1)
Why they will: The schedule is a little more conducive for success than Georgia’s remaining games. The Gators leave their state only one more time, and that’s to visit Vanderbilt.
Why they won’t: The offense is ... “awful. Mundane. That’s a good word. I’d agree with that. I like to use the word ‘awful,’” said Meyer, and it’s really not surprising he enjoys that word. “Can I explain it? No. Can we work real hard as coaches and players collectively and try to figure this thing out and get working? You can’t guarantee much, but you can guarantee the personnel on offense works extremely hard to get this thing right.”
Stumbling block: vs. Georgia (Jacksonville), Nov. 1
2. Alabama (6-0, 3-0)
Why they will: Aside from LSU, no other team in the West appears capable of competing with the Crimson Tide this year. Is it too early to start the hype for the Alabama-LSU game and discuss all the juicy subplots? Oh, no, the glare from coach Nick Saban is piercing through the back of my head. Moving on ...
Why they won’t: Saban continues to lament his team’s inability to finish games, but here’s the truth: Alabama does not rotate much and the players are tiring in the second half. Saban even said his tired team needed a bye week. Alabama’s last three games are against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn. Can the Tide hold up?
Stumbling block: at LSU, Nov. 8
1. LSU (4-0, 2-0)
Why they will: The Tigers have, arguably, the SEC’s best offensive line, best defensive line and best running back. The main concern entering the season was quarterback play, and Jarrett Lee has already emerged as a productive starter.
Why they won’t: Thanks to Hurricane Gustav, the Tigers are out of off weeks when some teams still have two remaining. The pass defense looks shaky. Fortunately for LSU fans, however, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin called for a 76-yard field-goal attempt and it failed. You know Les Miles was thinking about it.
Stumbling block: at Florida, Saturday
