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What we’re not overreacting to in the SEC after a successful bowl season

John Brasier

By John Brasier

Published:

The SEC’s 8-2 bowl record changed the narrative on what had been considered a down season for the conference.

The SEC went 3-0 against the Big 12 and 3-1 against the Big Ten. With a victory over Clemson, Alabama would win the national champion and give the SEC a 2-1 advantage over the ACC.

Here’s a list of what we’re not overreacting to after a highly successful bowl season that would become spectacular if the Crimson Tide can make it 9-2:

Alabama should cap a great SEC bowl season by claiming the national title: When Las Vegas bookmakers opened the line on the national championship game with Alabama favored by seven points, gamblers jumped on the Crimson Tide. So the consensus is the Tide is more than seven points better than the nation’s only unbeaten team, led by the nation’s top quarterback.

The SEC West was dominant. The six West winners won their bowl games by an average of 27 points. Alabama shut out Big Ten champion Michigan State 38-0 in the Cotton Bowl. Ole Miss blitzed Big 12 runner-up Oklahoma State by four touchdowns. It was especially satisfying for the division after a 2-5 bowl record last season.

Texas A&M is reeling. When starting quarterbacks keep leaving, something is definitely going wrong. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin had to do something, and he did on Sunday, ridding himself of polarizing offensive coordinator Jake Spavital. A new offensive coordinator should buy Sumlin another season with Aggies supporters and could put an end to the unrest on offense.

Ole Miss and Florida went in opposite directions. During the stretch run, an Ole Miss team routed 38-10 by Florida in early October, was one of the nation’s hottest teams, and Florida, which finished with three straight beatdown losses after slipping past Vanderbilt and Florida Atlanta at The Swamp, seemed incapable of scoring on anybody. Yes, Florida lost Will Grier. But should the drop-off have been so dramatic?

LSU is helping Les Miles get the Tigers back on track. There shouldn’t be any drop-off at defensive coordinator at LSU, which paid big money for Wisconsin’s Dave Aranda, who replaces Kevin Steele, who went to Auburn. Aranda has an amazing resume with success at each of his coaching stops. He’s done better than the high-profile Steele in recent seasons. LSU felt so strong about the hire that it gave Aranda a three-year deal, regardless of Miles’ survival as coach.

John Brasier

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