I think that when choosing the SEC East rep, the ADs will do whatever is in their power to help the SEC. That means that if LSU wins its next three, they will put whichever team helps LSU get to the national title. By that time I'm sure they'll have someone running a computer program to figure it out. It looks like if that does play out, Tennessee would have the advantage now. I know it sounds somewhat like a crazy idea, but if you were an SEC AD, wouldn't you do the same, even if it were to benefit one of our rivals like Auburn? A national championship game would be great as far as pride and money go for the SEC. After all, we haven't had an SEC team in the title game since Tennessee won it in 99. By choosing UT, let's estimate a #10 BCS ranking, it would also open up the door for UGA (should they beat Auburn with an estimated #6 BCS ranking) to get a second BCS bowl for the SEC. One could argue that if UGA goes to the SECCG, UT might be selected as a second SEC BCS team. But I think that UGA staying idle that week would be the best scenario for the SEC to get two teams into the BCS, which means more money and pride for the SEC.
the SEC ditched the rule number 7. Now instead of the AD's choosing, the representative will be determined by BCS standings. Best in BCS goes now. They wanted to avoid controversy i guess.
Looks like it'll be UGA in Atlanta if they win out. UT and UGA will be within 5 spots of each other in the BCS, so UGA gets the nod b/c of their win over UT. Should UGA lose to Auburn or Georgia Tech, then it'll be UT. Florida needs a miracle to get to Atlanta.
The rule reads: The new seventh tiebreaker will be tied into the BCS standings, which are used to determine the teams in the national championship game. Under this new tiebreaker, which will become a permanent part of the rulebook, if three teams are tied for the division title and the six previous tiebreakers fail, then the team with the highest rating in the BCS Standings after the games of Nov. 29 will be awarded the berth in the SEC championship game. But there is one twist. If the top two teams among the three are rated within five spots of one another, then the team which won the head to head meeting during the regular season will get the spot in the conference championship game. ... I didn't realize that the winner of the head to head would go on. I incorrectly thought that if the two teams were within five spots of each other then the ADs would vote for whom it wanted. Maybe if someone raised this scenario to the ADs they would change the rules again. Not likely. But it would make sense because it would all but guarantee UGA a BCS game if it remained idle (assuming they beat Auburn, they should be at least #6 in BCS ranking at the end of the season). Then the SEC would have two teams in the BCS. I don't see how the SEC could pass up an opportunity to have two teams because the money differential is enormous.
The ADs don't want to make decisions like this... that's the whole reason they changed the rules. They do not want to generate any controversy that their decisions would surely generate with such a subjective call.
Assume LSU would be in that position ... would you want a rule that would prevent us from going to Atlanta b/c we were already guaranteed a BCS bowl? I think not...
A miracle also known as one game: UT losing to Kentucky. But I hope Florida gets upset by South Carolina... That would be priceless..!!
