So, other than all being SEC members, what do South Carolina, LSU and Auburn all have in common? Yes, you're right, they are all ranked in the Top 20 in the college football polls. Well there's another thing that these teams all share as well...not only do they play the defending National Champion Alabama, they all 3 get to play them after a BYE week! Not an Alabama bye week mind you, but a bye week for them. In fact, you can also add Tennessee, Ole Miss and Mississippi State to that list but of course none of them are ranked this year.
How the SEC powers that be allowed that to get through the scheduling computers is beyond inexcuseable. College sports are governed by the NCAA with an absolutely huge rule book and the reason: to promote competitive sports with the utmost fairness. We are talking 6, yes SIX SEC teams playing Alabama fresh off a bye week!! How on earth is that schedule fair to Alabama?
Alabama: your reward for winning a national championship? How about we make your schedule as tough as it can possibly be? And not only will you be playing 6 of your 12 regular season games vs ranked teams, we are going to make sure all of them are well rested and ready to give you their best shot. Honestly, the bye week for college football teams is HUGE! Players get rested & healthy...coaches put in new plays and schemes, most designed to take advantage of your upcoming opponent...coaches and players have much longer to design a game plan. Those things cannot be taken lightly.
In addition, let's look at what Alabama has faced thus far: #18 Penn State, @ #10 Arkansas, #7 Florida and @ #19 South Carolina...and that's in their first 6 games! In fact, the game against the Gamecocks was their 3rd consecutive vs ranked SEC teams with 2 of them on the road.
That schedule is an absolute travesty and the SEC should be ashamed of what they did. Mind you, I am by no means a fan of the Crimson Tide, but that is a complete joke and no team should be subjected to that type of schedule.
It's a given that in that conference, you are going to be tested pretty often so you can't complain about having 3 games in a row vs ranked teams...that's bound to happen. However, playing six different conference teams after their bye week is something that should not EVER happen!! With 'Bama's bye not coming until the first week of November, don't be surprised if they get upset again.
Again, shame on you Southeastern Conference! There is absolutely no excuse for the injustice that you have done to the Alabama players and coaches...you have completely set them up for failure and to get beat. And we saw that today...a much fresher team with a Hall of Fame caliber coach that had 2 weeks to prepare.
Until next time...
- The Sports Nut
RIP John Wooden, the greatest coach in history
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