how the Pac-10 "punked" the SEC.
http://www.latimes.com/sp...umn?page=1&track=rss
http://sixpackspeak.yuku.com?topic=61850
http://www.latimes.com/sp...umn?page=1&track=rss
http://sixpackspeak.yuku.com?topic=61850
In Bill's post-championship article, he fails to mention
- Thread starter LTblows
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but in the most recent title games, you had the best from the SEC against the Big 10 twice, then the Big 12 twice.
What we learned about the best Big 10 teams is they didn't have the team speed that the top SEC defenses had. The Big 12 had more of it, but still not quite as much at all positions.
Oregon had the speed to match Auburn player for player. They had a lot of it actually. What they didn't have is the size to go with that speed. Where Auburn had 300 pound linemen that could run you down. Oregon's were in the 250-260 range.
ETA: For my money, the Texas-USC game in 2005-06 was much more exciting and a better game than that one. While they didn't have a ton of penalties, both teams were sloppy with the turnovers. It was a good game, but not the best championship game.
What we learned about the best Big 10 teams is they didn't have the team speed that the top SEC defenses had. The Big 12 had more of it, but still not quite as much at all positions.
Oregon had the speed to match Auburn player for player. They had a lot of it actually. What they didn't have is the size to go with that speed. Where Auburn had 300 pound linemen that could run you down. Oregon's were in the 250-260 range.
ETA: For my money, the Texas-USC game in 2005-06 was much more exciting and a better game than that one. While they didn't have a ton of penalties, both teams were sloppy with the turnovers. It was a good game, but not the best championship game.
Exactly. Both had team speed, Auburn's were just much bigger, and it wore on Oregon.
The other difference, IMO, is defense. Period. You see teams like Ohio St., TX, OU, and Oregon the last three years that averaged 40 or more a game. In BCS title games against SEC teams they scored 19, 24, 14, and 21. Most of them scored half of their yearly averages, and in all but last night's game all had a garbage time TD.
The fact is they don't see the size and speed of SEC teams regularly, and you simply can't practice for it. It's a different animal, and it always shows in bowl games. I personally think it is the only reason ACC teams show well against SEC teams in bowl games. In most cases, they have enough similar athletes to compete.
The other difference, IMO, is defense. Period. You see teams like Ohio St., TX, OU, and Oregon the last three years that averaged 40 or more a game. In BCS title games against SEC teams they scored 19, 24, 14, and 21. Most of them scored half of their yearly averages, and in all but last night's game all had a garbage time TD.
The fact is they don't see the size and speed of SEC teams regularly, and you simply can't practice for it. It's a different animal, and it always shows in bowl games. I personally think it is the only reason ACC teams show well against SEC teams in bowl games. In most cases, they have enough similar athletes to compete.
Auburn averaged 42 points, and they scored 22.
Florida averaged nearly 40 in 2008, and they scored 24 I think against OU.
Alabama did hit right at their average last year, and LSU did as well in 2007.
The combination of speed and size is definitely something they don't see every day, especially when you're facing the best from our league.
If Oregon played against a Tyrone Nix defense this year, they'd have scored 50, just like Auburn did on us. They'd have laughed at Allen Walker and Johnny Brown trying to be fast enough to chase them down.
The best defenses with the most talent and experience in the SEC though are going to be tough on anyone.
Florida averaged nearly 40 in 2008, and they scored 24 I think against OU.
Alabama did hit right at their average last year, and LSU did as well in 2007.
The combination of speed and size is definitely something they don't see every day, especially when you're facing the best from our league.
If Oregon played against a Tyrone Nix defense this year, they'd have scored 50, just like Auburn did on us. They'd have laughed at Allen Walker and Johnny Brown trying to be fast enough to chase them down.
The best defenses with the most talent and experience in the SEC though are going to be tough on anyone.