Southeastern Conference is as good as any league

COLUMBIA -- The Southeastern Conference has taken a beating toward the end of the season, with people saying the league is a bunch of chumps beyond Nos. 1 and 2. For those who tuned in Saturday, there was evidence that the league is far from dead.

South Carolina polished off (Atlantic Coast Conference division title winner) Clemson early in the day, a recent rarity in these parts. The evening portion included two overtime thrillers - Arkansas-LSU and Kentucky-Tennessee - that concluded at darned-near the same time. When the dust had settled, Georgia was finishing off (ACC division title winner) Georgia Tech.

It might not have been the best top-to-bottom league in the country, but the SEC was close. And I'm not sure any conference put together a day like the SEC did Saturday.

Six of the league's teams - half of the conference - finished with 7-5 records. That means there's some serious parity afoot. The defensive talent in this league makes it very difficult to play, and play well, for eight conference games - in addition to whomever else you schedule for those other four games.

There's little doubt about one thing: Saturday's game between No. 2 Alabama and No. 1 Florida should be sensational. It has the earmarks of something every bit as special as last year's game between the same teams.

National title game bid? Heisman ramifications? What else you want?

Thumbs up

Georgia rushing: Without A.J. Green, the Bulldogs' needed to figure something out. They did, using Caleb King (166 yards) and Washaun Ealey (183 yards) to punish Georgia Tech at the Jackets' own game.

South Carolina rushing: Bulldogs weren't only ones piling up rushing yardage. South Carolina's 223 rushing yards were the most for a Steve Spurrier-USC team against a BCS opponent. Kenny Miles (114 yards) got his starting gig back for the bowl.

Eggceptional: Mississippi State's Dan Mullen deserves a lot of credit. His Bulldogs didn't have much left to play for, but he got their best effort in an Egg Bowl dispatching of Ole Miss. How'd the team celebrate? By toting the Egg Bowl trophy around town. Like it.

Thumbs down

Ole Miss: A week after climbing back up on the pedestal on which it began the season, Ole Miss gave it all back with a deflating loss to rival Mississippi State. The Rebels can make good with another Cotton Bowl win. That would get them to nine victories two consecutive seasons. Got a lot of rebuilding to do after this season.

Bowl luck: Georgia and South Carolina deserved better bowls after those big wins against in-state rivals. But, alas, they'll probably be in the SEC's bottom two games, in Birmingham and Shreveport. They still have braggin' rights? And at least they'll be in games they should win?

The Mouth: The regular season's over, so does that mean we'll be hearing from Lane Kiffin a lot more? Taunting a Kentucky team that took you to overtime? Not letting this non-existent feud with Urban Meyer go? When will the boy learn? You had a nice season; why not enjoy that instead of going after others?

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