It was a bad, bad week for the SEC West
1) It capped a horrific week for the SEC West: With six of its teams spending time within the top 10 and with Alabama at No. 1, the SEC West have been hyped as one of the first-class divisions “ever” all through the 2014 season. All seven participants had certified for bowl games. On the close of commercial enterprise on the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night time, the SEC West had gone 2-five in postseason video games. Auburn had lost to Wisconsin (34-31) after which Alabama, the SEC preferred bearer for the countrywide championship, turned into totally taken aside via Ohio nation (42-35).. The day before No. 9 Ole miss became embarrassed with the aid of TCU (42-three) and Mississippi nation, which was ranked in the top 4 for most of the season, was without problems handled by using Georgia Tech (forty nine-34). LSU changed into again inept on offense in a 31-28 loss to Notre Dame. Only Arkansas (7-6) and Texas A&M (8-five) upheld the department’s honor.
I used to be as guilty as absolutely everyone of making a song the praises of the SEC West, but here is the bloodless reality: The SEC West had a bunch of first rate teams but no extraordinary ones.
2) It changed into a high-quality day for the big Ten: On the field after the Sugar Bowl nobody was smiling greater than massive Ten commissioner Jim Delany. Earlier in the day his conference, which was given up for useless after after Virginia Tech beat Ohio state and Oregon beat Michigan nation on Sept. 6, picked up wins against Auburn (with the aid of Wisconsin) and No. 5 Baylor (forty two-forty one by way of Michigan kingdom). Now Ohio nation, the final team to get into the college football Playoff, has a shot on the national championship. “maybe this may hit the reset button at the massive Ten,” said Delany. And the league has also delivered Jim Harbaugh as the brand new educate at Michigan.
Three) Alabama’s defense got taken to the woodshed: The Sugar Bowl became not as close as a 42-35 rating may advocate. Alabama got up 21-6 due to a couple of Ohio kingdom turnovers and whilst Alabama were given protecting stops in the crimson quarter. “We in no way surely stopped them,” Alabama instruct Nick Saban stated after the sport. Ohio state dominated Alabama at the line of scrimmage for 281 rushing yards towards a crew that led the nation in that category (88.7 ypg). The Buckeyes took a 3rd-crew quarterback (Cardale Jones) making his 2d career begin and controlled the game. That’s training and concrete Meyer and his group of workers out-coached Alabama.
4) Ohio nation saved the CFP selection Committee loads of grief: If Alabama had soundly beaten Ohio nation, and the red Tide was a nine-factor favorite, then the critics might have railed on the choice committee for leaving out TCU, which become No. 3 on the last Saturday of the season but dropped to No. 6 after a 55-three win over Iowa country. While TCU changed into so awesome in opposition to Ole pass over, everyone who watched Ohio country dominate Alabama is aware of the Buckeyes have a actual shot when they play Oregon on Jan. 12 for the national championship. Will all of this growth requires an 8-crew playoff? Positive. It'd were thrilling to peer what TCU ought to do towards this subject. But as I’ve written earlier than, it’s not going to happen each time soon.
5) i was not completely surprised through what passed off to Florida nation: I picked Oregon to win the national semifinal within the Rose Bowl and i certainly didn’t pick the final score. But Florida state become on foot a tightrope all season. To the Seminoles’ credit score they found a way to win each and every week. However you simply were given the experience that once they fell they have been going to fall difficult. I wrote this within the summer time and i will stand by way of it: The off-the-discipline troubles with Jameis Winston, no matter how they were resolved through the legal system, in reality took the joy out of this season for Florida country. An accomplishment that must been celebrated by way of the whole global changed into added into query on a day by day basis. Honest or now not, that changed into the truth.
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