In 23 years of being an Auburn fan I don't recall either team getting hammered like Alabama in the first quarter last Saturday, especially not when both were supposed to be top caliber teams. I was shocked. I expected Auburn to win by 4 to 7 points in a tough contest if they didn't screw up and turn the ball over like they did against GA Tech. Auburn seemed to play with the intensity of a badmouthed deep underdog in a rivalry rather than the slight favorite in a rivalry. I thought they were keyed up for UGA, but this seemed to be a whole nother level. Was bama that much worse than their rating or did bragging by bama's defense ratchet up the intensity? Or was it just injuries to a team lacking depth from probation?

Hope Tide fans don't get down on Shula (Auburn fans love bama coaches that can't beat AU) for not beating Auburn yet. I think he's done a great job to take the team where it is so soon after taking over and going through probation. Kidding aside, I expect Auburn, LSU, Bama, and GA to hammer at each other for years as long as they keep the current coaches. Spurrier may get back in the mix sooner than expected too. Don't know what's happened to UT, but don't care much either. Not sure, but don't think Urban matches up with those coaches in the top 4 this year. Interesting stat - record against bowl eligible conference teams: LSU 3-0, AU 3-1, UA 2-2, GA 1-2. Don't think it will be the 2 best conference teams in the SEC championship, but then again there were many years where the top 3 were all in the Eastern division. Also in all fairness if Shockley was healthy I'm sure GA would have beaten FL.

Over rated

USC (again) and Notre Dame - neither has a defense worth a damn. Against teams with an offense both struggle. Half the big ten beat MSU despite it's season long good offenses, but ND couldn't. Even a wimpy SEC team UT with a good defense played close to ND yet beating ND is supposed to be a big deal for USC. Hint - If USC had a good defense they wouldn't have had to come from behind so often. Sadly that ambitious loyalty challenged deffensive coordinator for Texas is most likely going to get his shot at and win a national title this year after getting ripped off last year. On the bright side I hope he disses USC's 2004 title after Texas pounds em. I think Oregon will beat ND as well, but not as bad as Texas beats USC.

Bowl Outlook

Hope the Ohio state - AU match listed by one sports site pans out. 2 strong defenses against 2 strong offenses should be a tight game and a fare evaluation of relative conference strength. Seems to me the top of the conferences are about equal. the Big 10 is full of good offenses, but few good defenses while the SEC has more teams bunched at the top with balance. The SEC lower half is weak on either offense (west) or defense (East) and probably weaker overall than the lower half of the Big 10. Don't want a match against a wimp like Wisconsin. Would love a shot at ND to show how bad a team with an offense and a defense could beat them. Pity UWV if they play LSU or GA. BE champ vs SEC champ hah!

Annual football rant off,
Mark