SEC v. Big Ten: SEC still remains strongest in the nation in college football

This is my first blog entry for 2011 so I thought I would discuss college football since that's one of the first broadcasts (or sporting events) we see after the clock strikes midnight on January 1. There have been some criticisms against the Southeastern Conference (SEC), folks saying that the conference is down, and its quality of talent. They are also saying that the Big Ten is the top conference of this past season. Well I respectfully disagree and here is why.

Here's a little back story for you. The SEC has been dominant for the past decade. They have 6 BCS champions overall, and 4 straight (Florida, LSU, Florida again, and Alabama). They consistently have at least 2 teams playing in BCS bowls, and often up to 4 teams in the AP Top 5 poll. Also, the SEC consistently dominates in the other major bowls, ESPECIALLY when matched up against the Big Ten. When you have teams like Alabama, Auburn (the team playing for this year's BCS title), Arkansas, LSU, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and even Mississippi State, it's hard to deny the SEC of anything. Even this past season.

The 2010-2011 college football season was a bit different for the SEC. Georgia and Tennessee were basically doormats. South Carolina scored huge wins over Alabama and Florida to play for the SEC title against Auburn. Arkansas and LSU both finished 10-2 in the regular season, while Alabama finished 9-3. South Carolina finished 9-4 after Auburn dismantled them 56-17 in the SEC Championship game. And finally, Auburn is 12-0 and #1 in the country. Led by controversial Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton, the Auburn Tigers will play the also undefeated Oregon Ducks led by LeMichael James and their high-octane offense for the big prize. Doesn't sound like the SEC has skipped much of a beat.

Now consider this. EVERY school in the SEC except for Vanderbilt (a perennial cellar team) and Ole Miss were bowl eligible and played in bowls. Matter of fact, the SEC was undefeated during the New Year's Day bowls, and went 3-0 against the Big Ten head to head. Arkansas played Big Ten power Ohio State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. It was a great game, but in the end Ohio State prevailed, making it their first win in a BCS bowl game over the SEC. Name many (or any conference) that can boast of that success in any season.

OK now you have the Big Ten. This year, they had three 11-1 teams: Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State. Based on the BCS tiebreaker, Wisconsin was the conference winner and got the Big Ten BCS nod. Even as the "best" team coming out of the Big Ten, they fell to unbeaten TCU. Michigan State got their clock cleaned in their bowl game against Alabama. And we already know what happened with Ohio State. Overall, the Big Ten looked better record wise and even had overall more bowl wins than the SEC this year. However, with the exception of Ohio State this year, they still have the reputation of failing to deliver when it counts, in the BIGGEST games. The SEC has made a habit out of that.

This year, at least 4 (maybe even 5) SEC teams probably could have went into the Big Ten, Pac-10, or any other power conference and ran the table. They're just that talented. If you look at their schedule and records, the only teams that could really challenge them this year was each other.

The SEC has also been cranking out plenty of NFL Draft picks and stars. Minnesota's Sidney Rice is from South Carolina. Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown are both from Auburn. Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin are from Florida, Darren McFadden is from Arkansas. Of course, Georgia, Tennessee, and even Ole Miss have several current NFL players on their rosters. You can't deny the talent, power, and dominance of this conference.

I was watching the Under Armour High School All-American All-Star game the other night. I noticed where well over half of the players on either squad have committed to SEC schools next year. The nation #1 prospect from nearby Rock Hill, SC, JaDaveon Clowney is strongly considering either South Carolina or Alabama. Doesn't appear that the SEC will experience much of a drop-off for a while.

Now one can safely say that certain teams (Georgia, Tennessee, and even Florida this year) were down. But to say the SEC as a whole is down? I think not. Even if Auburn loses to Oregon tomorrow night, the SEC still has maintained their overall power as a conference. They sent yet another representative to the national championship game, 5th year in a row. Let's see the Big Ten accomplish that.

THE YEAR-END COWBELL LIST FOR THE 2ND HALF OF 2010!!

- Antoine Dodson, WTH???
- Alvin Green. C'mon man, stop trying to run already, and just get a regular job. Somewhere, anywhere!
- Nikki Haley. South Carolina, how in the world did she get voted in? Makes me wanna move to North Carolina with the quickness.
- Lady Gaga (and that meat dress). She just keeps getting stranger and stranger.
- Blockbuster. Y'all in trouble, Redbox and Netflix are eating your lunch. Y'all better get it together in 2011!
- Alltel in Gaffney, great service, signal, but refusing to merge with Verizon. What are y'all going to do when they get the iPhone, the new Droid, and 4G coverage?
- Brett Favre (again). Dang man you keep messing up and causing trouble. Just go back to Kiln, MS already and enjoy your retirement.
- Dallas Cowboys, y'all always seem to underachieve. Thing is, this is a pretty good team this year, y'all just lack effort and consistency.
- Carolina Panthers. Y'all just need to cut everyone and start from scratch
- Drake. Dang man you're all over the radio, every frikkin hour. Plus you sold out. You're a much better rapper and artist than you're showing. Young Money is making you a borderline coon.
- Award shows. They're waaay too many, especially country music shows. There's, what, like 6 of them alone/year?
- Health insurance. It's just rising waaay too high, and gets to where you can't even afford medication now. C'mon healthcare reform, take effect!
- The Shake weight. I'm sure it gets some results, but really? You can't take that seriously as an effective way to sculpt your arms.
- Phaedra Parks (of #RHOA). Seriously, did you think anyone was going to believe that you were full-term pregnant at 7 months? Why don't you just admit that your baby was conceived a couple of months before marriage?
- Minnesota Vikings. Y'all are just a halfway house and a hot mess right now. Y'all seem like the Raiders at the moment.
- Cam Newton. C'mon dude, how can you risk your college and pro career like that? Have you not learned from Marcus Dupree, the SMU debacle, and most recently Reggie Bush? You had a second chance already at Division I college football. SMH!
- Dr. Laura, you should have known better. Once again, a person that failed to learn from recent history.
- Lebron James (and "The Decision"). Maan talk about narcissist! All that aside, I'm glad you're going somewhere where you have a decent shot at a championship ring.
- Dan Gilbert. You acted like a scorned lover and an all-around crybaby over the Lebron situation. Granted, he left the Cavs high and dry. But you weren't making any moves to try and cover your behind in case he left.
- Waka Flocka Flames: c'mon man, stop rapping, just stop talking period. Go to Sylvan!
- Bishop Eddie Long. Another example of a corrupt, crooked minister, smh again
That's all folks! I enjoyed blogging this year, and wait and see what I have for 2011. Until then, Happy New Year!