October 25, 2003
SEC East Champ? Let's vote on it
Once unimaginable, CNNSI has the rundown on the possibility that Florida, Georgia and Tennessee could end up in a three-way tie for the SEC East crown. What does it take for that to happen? Florida would have to beat Georgia and then everyone win out their SEC games. The result? All three teams would be 4-1 in their conference games and all the tie-breakers could lead to a vote by the SEC athletic directors to determine the division champ.
If that happens, the first tiebreaker -- head-to-head -- wouldn't resolve anything since Florida would have defeated Georgia, Georgia has defeated Tennessee and Tennessee has defeated Florida.
The teams would tie with 4-1 records in the division, the second tiebreaker.
The third -- records against the fourth, fifth and sixth-place finishers in the East -- would also be a wash.
Tiebreakers 4 through 6 all involved results against teams in the other division, and none would break the tie, either because the teams all had the same record against the West (2-1), or because all three don't have games against a common opponent from the West.
That would lead to the seventh tiebreaker, which is a vote of the ADs.
Can you say SEC chaos??
If such a vote is necessary, the ADs from Kentucky, South Carolina and the second- through sixth-place finishers in the SEC West would be joined by a representative from Vanderbilt (which no longer has an athletic director, per se) to determine the SEC East champion. The SEC West champion would be excluded from voting so it wouldn't have a say in determining who it plays in the title game.
Of course, all this is moot if Georgia thrashes Florida - which seems fairly likely.
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Comments & Trackbacks
Chris Lawrence says:
posted on October 25, 2003 12:30 PM — linkI guess that beats drawing lots, the other alternative. I suppose you could, however, make a case that overall I-A record should be the last tiebreaker before going to the vote.
In any vote, I've got to like Georgia's chances, because (a) they're better than UT and UF by any objective standard and (b) the other SEC West ADs will almost certainly want to see the West representative get pounded in the title game. (That's even putting aside that the Georgia Dome is practically home field for the Bulldogs. I don't think anyone from the west beats Georgia on a neutral field, much less a field in Georgia.)
Kevin says:
posted on October 25, 2003 04:11 PM — linkMost conferences have a tie-breaker that involves D-IA games, Chris, but the SEC doesn't for some reason. Anyway, this is still a long shot IMHO. I agree, it's gotta be Georgia. But...stranger things have happened. (Well, maybe not stranger but equally strange!)
Pete Holiday says:
posted on October 25, 2003 09:41 PM — linkI'm not sure where these folks are getting their info from. Have a look at the official SEC Website. Divisional Tie Breaker. The SEVENTH option is a vote from the ADs. I haven't taken the time to run all these through, but it would take quite a bit, I think, to make it to #7.
Kevin says:
posted on October 26, 2003 08:40 AM — linkIf Florida beats Georgia (since Tennessee won over 'Bama) it's really not that unlikely. You're right, it is tie-breaker number seven. If you check the scenario though, it would be the only one left because all the others are rendered a wash by ties or not being applicable to these three teams.
It seems this "vote" nightmare is only plausible if all three teams tie - which means all three win out after (under this scenario) UF upsets UGA.
I'm not saying it's likely, but it sure seems possible.
Chris Lawrence says:
posted on October 26, 2003 03:29 PM — linkWell, the way Georgia played against UAB, they may have trouble ahead (v. Florida, Auburn, Kentucky). Tennessee has by far the most favorable schedule ahead (MSU, Vandy, @Kentucky) with Florida somewhere in the middle (v. Georgia, Vandy, @South Carolina).
I still think the most likely scenario is Georgia winning out. If Georgia can't beat Florida, however, I can't see them beating Auburn either, which (assuming UT wins out) makes UT the East champ due to head-to-head with UF.
Justin Brady says:
posted on October 26, 2003 08:25 PM — linkThere's no telling. I wish I could cast a vote, I just don't think any team in the east is shining enough to be the favorite.
TigerEducated says:
posted on October 27, 2003 02:27 PM — linkRandy H...
I don't know what type of hemp-based products you've been smoking, or what type of experimental hallucinogenic designer drugs you've been taking, but I'm going to help steer you through that haze of bong smoke to achieve some SEC Football "existentialism"...
The best team in the SEC plays in Tiger Stadium on Saturday nights. Without question.
Now, in your drug induced stupor, you may be asking me, "Well, TE, why would you say something like that?"
Of course, again, I'll help lead you through the cloud of opium fog your poor mind is muddling through at this point.
See, the thing is, Randy, that LSU actually defeated Georgia, and it really wasn't all that close.
With Georgia's stellar performances against Vandy and the vaunted C-USA juggernaut that is UAB the past two weeks, compared to LSU's just getting by South Carolina and Auburn by a combined score of 44-14, I can see where your psychotropic paranoia might lead you to question just where the class of the SEC resides.
I assure you though, when LSU gives up less than 100 yards rushing combined to USC and Auburn, that's usually a pretty good indicator that we're a good team.
Call me crazy, but I just don't quite agree with that drug induced brain flatulence, there, Randy. I hope this helps to clear your mind...
Kevin says:
posted on October 27, 2003 03:35 PM — linkTE - Pretty sure that he meant the SEC East. That's the only division that seems to be in jeopardy of falling to the seventh tie-breaker. And, if you're predicitions keep turning out to be true, LSU (as I'm certain you're predicting as SEC West champs) wouldn't get a vote.
That being said, Randy very well could be smoking...but I think he's right about UGA being the lead dog in the East.
