SEC Versus PAC-10 Debaters: Shut Up

If this past week's college football action proved anything, it's that anyone can beat anyone.  Oh, and the people who constantly bicker and sling mud over which conference is the best need to shut up—at least for now. 

At the conclusion of USC's loss to unranked Oregon State, all you could hear from SEC fans and USC haters alike was, "Told you so!" 

They barked that USC shouldn't have jumped over Georgia in the polls early in the season (and maybe they shouldn't have) and that they definitely shouldn't have been No.1.

Along came Saturday.  The SEC, particularly the eastern portion, got flipped on its lid.  Think fast: Who leads the SEC East?

That would be the Vanderbilt Commodores. 

The same Vanderbilt team that beat Ole Miss last week.  How did the Rebels do this week?

They did just fine in beating No.4 Florida.  At the Swamp no less. 

With the Gators' loss, not only would the Georgia Bulldogs have a clear and unchallenged path to No.2 in the polls, but they would be sitting pretty with a tie for first in the SEC. 

Fast forward to about 9:30 p.m. eastern time.  It's 31-0.  At the half.  Between the hedges. 

Instead of a blackout, it appeared to be more like a power outage.  Sure, Georgia made the score respectable but it was too little too late. 

SEC and PAC-10 fallout

- The SEC can forget about having four team ranked in the top ten.  That number will be cut in half.  Only Alabama and LSU will likely be ranked among the nation's elite when polls come out this afternoon.

- The PAC-10 may have to forget about having a team ranked at least in the top five.  With the SEC losses coupled with Wisconsin's loss, the Trojans likely will remain in the top ten just not top five.

- Did I mention yet that both of the big SEC losses were at home?

- I wouldn't expect more than three PAC-10 teams to be ranked in the top 25.  With Clemson, East Carolina, and TCU all losing Saturday, I expect Oregon and Oregon State (only because the beat a No.1) to creep into the AP poll.  Oregon was already part of USA Today's rankings. 

- The SEC will likely have six teams ranked (Georgia, Florida, Vanderbilt, LSU, Alabama, and Auburn).

- Tennessee, you are gosh-darn awful. 

Now, this is not to say that these are not still good conferences.  They are.  This is not to say that a power conference like the Big XII is superior.  The season is still young.  I realize that the PAC-10 and SEC still have plenty of time to pick up the pieces and finish the season strong with the possibility of an at-large BCS berth still out there.

But enough, already.  The conference arguments in September and October are getting old.  And flawed. 

Talk to me in January.  I'll listen then.