Never before has the SEC Championship game matchup been settled so soon.
           
Alabama’s win over LSU clinched the West and Florida’s win over Vanderbilt clinched the East.
           
If each team wins out as expected, we might have the nation’s top two ranked teams squaring off in the Georgia Dome. Top-ranked Alabama (10-0) has Mississippi State and Auburn remaining and would likely remain #1 if unbeaten.  Third-ranked Florida (8-1) has South Carolina, The Citadel and Florida State left.
           
The combined records of Bama and Florida could be 23-1 - the best ever for the SEC title game. Next best is 21-2-1 in 1994: 11-1 Alabama and 10-1-1 Florida.
           
Florida is the hottest team in the country, averaging over 50 points in their last four wins.
           
Alabama is the best coached team in the country, winning decisively on the road against Georgia and Tennessee and beating an inspired LSU team in rowdy Tiger Stadium.
            
While Florida quarterback Tim Tebow hasn’t matched his Heisman Trophy numbers of 2007, he’s still worthy of an invite to New York. He accounted for five touchdowns in an easy win over Vanderbilt. Tebow’s not running as much, but he’s still mighty effective when he does.
           
Nick Saban has taken an Alabama team that went 6-6 in the regular-season the past two years and done a masterful coaching job. The Tide uses a strong run game, a strong run defense, and solid play from quarterback John Parker Wilson. This is Alabama’s first #1 ranking since Bear Bryant was the coach.
           
Alabama is so focused, a Tide assistant didn’t realize his team had clinched the West until told by a reporter.
           
Interestingly, the teams rank 1-2 in the SEC in scoring offense, scoring defense, rushing offense and third-down conversions. They rank 1 and 3 in rush defense.
           
Florida has the better quarterback.
           
Alabama has the better power run game.
           
Florida has more offensive speed.
           
Alabama has a better run defense.
           
Florida has better special teams.
           
Alabama has a better third-down defense.
           
It should be one of the best SEC championship games ever.
           
The rankings tell you so.
 


LSU A Quarterback Away From Clicking
         
No wonder Les Miles doesn’t like Nick Saban. No wonder LSU’s coach doesn’t like to speak his predecessor’s name.
           
For years, Miles has had to listen to people say he won with Saban’s talent, he won an SEC title and the national championship because of the players Saban recruited.
           
Although Miles is 10 months removed from hoisting the national championship trophy, the whispers are starting again.
           
Where does LSU go without Saban’s players? With a third loss this season, are the Tigers going back to an 8-4 team? Can they find a quarterback?
           
Quarterback Jarrett Lee’s four interceptions were pivotal in an overtime loss to Alabama, once again showcasing the importance of the position.
           
Give LSU a Tebow, and the Tigers might be undefeated. Give the Tigers a Matt Stafford or a John Parker Wilson, and they’re a top 10 team. Give them Ryan Perrilloux and they might be an 11-1 team. Give them Lee and they might finish out of the top 20.
 


Tennessee Suffers An Embarrassing Loss     

Was Tennessee’s decision to fire Phillip Fulmer validated by the loss to
Wyoming on Saturday, or did it contribute to the defeat?
           
Probably both.
           
I felt Tennessee players would destroy Wyoming in a show of support for Fulmer… or play uninspired because of the emotional blow of losing
their coach. I still thought a lackluster effort would result in a win
over one of the 20 worst teams in the nation.
           
No offense to the Cowboys - and Wyoming has no offense - but the Cowboys are the worst team to beat Tennessee in the 24 years I’ve covered the Vols. Army was bad in 1986 and Duke wasn’t very good in 1988.
           
Two others that rival the Wyoming defeat: North Texas State in 1975 and Rutgers in 1979 - but I didn’t see those games. And there were the 1958 losses to Florida State, a relative newcomer to the football ranks, and to UT-Chattanooga.
           
Will Overstreet, a former star player at Tennessee (and a voter in our MrSEC.com Power Poll), blasted the team’s lack of effort. He said they quit and didn’t come to play.
           
Others were more sympathetic, citing the team being emotional drained
and distracted by the firing of their “father figure.”
           
Fulmer took the podium in the media room after two of his players - Wes Brown and Jonathan Crompton - were emotional in their comments. Brown broke down. Crompton tired to pick up the pieces, but he, too, was teary eyed.

Crompton said the players wanted to send their coach out on a
three-game winning streak. That won’t happen, not with the loss to Wyoming.
           
Fulmer said the players don’t owe him anything. Fulmer also said he
should apologize to the fans.
           
There weren’t a lot of fans to apologize to. Actual attendance was about
75,000. Many said they would go to homecoming as a show of support for Fulmer. Maybe some did. Most did not.
           
And that’s a big reason athletic director Mike Hamilton pulled the plug on the Fulmer Era.
 

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