SEC Football Q&A: Is the SEC the Big Winner in the New 4-Team Playoff Format?

Every Thursday on The SEC Blog, we will feature questions from the Bleacher Report inbox, Twitter and email. Do you have a question for next week's Q&A? Send it to SEC lead blogger Barrett Sallee via the B/R inbox, on Twitter @BarrettSallee or at [e-mail].

You've got SEC questions, and I've got SEC answers. Thank you everybody for your questions this week, and if I didn't get to them this week, they are still saved and will be used in the future.

With that, we're off.

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Is Bama CFB's biggest winner with new playoff? RT @BarrettSallee: Today is #SEC Q&A day!

— Chris Yow (@ChrisYow14) June 28, 2012"

Alabama certainly is one of the winners in the new format, but I wouldn't go so far as to single it out as the biggest winner.

In the short term, the SEC as a whole comes out smelling like a rose. Perception is reality in college football, and right now, the perception—which has been earned for six straight years—is that the SEC is the most dominant conference in the country.

Every year presents different scenarios in the BCS era, and that won't change in the playoff era. A one-loss team from the SEC will get the benefit of the doubt over every other one-loss team and some undefeated teams from lesser conferences.

The term "contract bowls" has spurred the discussion that the new system will prevent teams from lesser conferences from gaining access to the six-team rotation. That may be true in some cases, but it won't prevent those teams from winning their games and presenting a worthy résumé to the selection committee.

Once the dollars start rolling in, everybody will be a winner.

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@BarrettSallee Will the #SEC have a "down" year? I am predicting no undefeated team from SEC this year, thoughts?

— Ken Sanders (@kenosando) June 28, 2012"

I disagree. 

I think LSU, Alabama and Arkansas all have what it takes to run the table, provided that they don't beat each other up. There is still a big gap between those three teams and the rest of the SEC West.

Alabama has to travel to LSU and Arkansas, and that season opener against Michigan shouldn't be overlooked. Those are tough games, and the likelihood of the Crimson Tide winning all three isn't high, especially considering that Michigan and Arkansas come early in the season and Alabama had holes to fill on defense.

The loss of Bobby Petrino won't impact Arkansas as much as others have suggested. That team is still loaded offensively, and the return of running back Knile Davis should take some pressure off quarterback Tyler Wilson. With home games vs. Alabama and LSU, the schedule sets up well for the Hogs.

LSU is still loaded. The Tigers were a quarterback away from being an elite team last season, and Zach Mettenberger should be able to fix that. Mettenberger doesn't have to be Joe Montana; he just has to look like him from time to time to keep opposing defenses honest. 

I think the Tigers will run the table and make it to the BCS National Championship Game for the second straight season.

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@BarrettSallee can AU take down a Petrino-less Ark and a deflated Bama this season?

— Nick H (@cinco2seis) June 28, 2012"

No and no.

Auburn's season should be judged by wins and losses, because the Tiger roster is still relatively young and not as deep as the three big boys in the SEC West. Auburn is looking at another 7-5 or 8-4 season, but I think those losses will be easier to take.

Each of Auburn's five losses last season were by two touchdowns or more. That gap will narrow in 2012, and the Tigers will be in games late—which will be a marked improvement from a year ago.

When you're in games, all it takes is a few breaks to win them. But I don't think that the Tigers will be close enough vs. Arkansas or Alabama to get it done.

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