SEC Ranked #1 and Toughest for 2007 by Stewart Mandell

SEC Ranked #1 and Toughest for 2007 by Stewart Mandel

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/05/16/mailbag/index.html

No surprise here! Not sure why the PAC 10 is ranked #2. I guess he loves USC.

 

He seems to be looking at overall league balance. The Pac-10 has solid teams, but I don't see a lot of Top 10 schools in the mix. The Big 10 has three top-caliber teams with Wisconsin, UM, and Ohio State (though UM has looked comparatively weak in BCS games). The Big 12 has underachieved since 2004, with Texas still fairly strong and Nebraska on the rise again.

No doubt about it, there is NO greater time to be an LSU (or SEC in general) fan than this upcoming season. It's gonna be an amazing ride.

 

Doesn't take much of a genius to figure that one out.

 

Bitter will come and argue the Independents are better. Watch.

 

Really amazing to think about the coaches in this leage.

4 "National Championship" (pardon my bitterness) coaches: Fulmer, Saban, Spurrier, Meyer.

1 "Should have been National Champion" (again, pardon my bitterness) coach: Tommy Tuberville

2 "We win 10 games almost every year": Miles and Richt

Thats 7 coaches that have serious claim to being a great coach! Can any other conference match that?

 

Correction. Should have had the chance to play for the NC. That implies nothing about your ability to win the game.

 

The SEC is more balanced than ever. The bottom & middle of the SEC will be the strongest its ever been. However, the top could have a bit of a dip. LSU, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida all have serious question marks. LSU looks to be able to answer them the best, while the others will likely struggle some (relatively, of course).

 

The SEC the number #1 conference? Duh.

 

No, Nada, Nope, Not Even Close, Not, Just SEC wannabes.

 

I can forgive that bitterness. That was a tough pill to swaller.