re: Too much SEC bias in the polls

In a word, no, because I don't see any bias to be tired with.

But the notion of bias is itself subjective.

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First off lets throw Alabama out, they would not stand a chance.

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Not so fast, my friend. What makes you say that? Alabama's offensive line is strong, strong enough to make holes for their talented running backs. They won't demolish Southern Cal at all -- Southern Cal has a very strong run defense -- but Alabama, from what I've seen, is much more physical than Southern Cal and I think they might be able to stun that run defense. Southern Cal's offense may look good, but I think their numbers have been inflated thanks to weak competition.

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Texas Tech, OU, Texas. None of those teams has a defense to slow USC down. Certainly they have potent passing offenses, but USC has the #1 overall pass defense, total defense, scoring defense, and pass efficiency defense. They would be lucky to score more than 21 vs USC and I do not think they could hold USC under that.

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Now you're making yourself look like a fool. Southern Cal has a good defense, yes. But to say they could hold the Big 4 (I'd include Oklahoma State, too) to under 21 points is downright laughable when Oregon State scored that many by halftime. Now, I wouldn't be surprised to see Southern Cal break 21 against those defenses, but not more than 30, and those offenses could easily score 30, not because the defense is bad, but because the offense is that good.

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Florida. Florida has a more balanced offense with the option game, and a better defense than the above 3. I think USC would win because we are more physical than Florida. It would be a tough game, but the Florida playmakers would get beat on like they never had. We would be able to pressure Tebow which is key to stopping Florida.

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"...would get beat on like they never had." So now you're claiming Southern Cal is more physical than the entire SEC. That's another claim that is downright laughable. Southern Cal ain't more physical than Florida. I think Florida would win here, and there's a good chance they win big, as well -- Southern Cal's defense is no better than the defenses that Florida has made a plaything of as of late, and it doesn't matter how "good" Southern Cal's offense is, Florida's will score early and often.

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USC is indeed more physical than any single SEC team this year. That is very clear to me. Our safties are bigger and faster than most SEC linebackers.

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Oregon State was knocking you off the line. Jacquizz Rodgers had 186 yards on the ground and he was running up the gut. USC had 86 yards rushing. That isn't physical on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. I know that was their worst effort of the year but that game was lost in the trenches.

We played our worst 2 quarters of the season in the first half of the Oregon St. game. I will not argue that one bit.

Is it better to judge USC by those 2 quarters or by the rest of the entire body of work? We shut down some very prolific offenses in CAL and Oregon. Completely owned Ohio St. etc...

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Completely owned Ohio St. etc...

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Thats not hard to do. 2 SEC teams had no problem owning them in the last 2 BCS champ. games. Its not that much of an accomplishment. The Buckeyes aren't that good.

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We played our worst 2 quarters of the season in the first half of the Oregon St. game. I will not argue that one bit.

Is it better to judge USC by those 2 quarters or by the rest of the entire body of work? We shut down some very prolific offenses in CAL and Oregon. Completely owned Ohio St. etc...

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I think USC is a great team. However I just think after seeing them have a lapse like that in the trenches I wouldn't consider them a lock to physically dominate the SEC. I think they have the talent to beat anyone in the country. I don't think there is anything that has clearly showed them to be the best team in the country.

Like I said before I am specifically talking about a bowl game scenario. Would you put your money on an even bet proposition against USC vs. any of those teams you named?

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Like I said before I am specifically talking about a bowl game scenario. Would you put your money on an even bet proposition against USC vs. any of those teams you named?

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Teams like Florida have played great in big games in recent history as well. I'm sure you can admit that Texas has had a great performance or two recently in big bowls. USC has been good too but they aren't the only one.

Right now I would probably put money on Florida and Texas Tech.

I would put my money on USC versus OU because their recent Bowl performance hasn't been great and their defense seems to have holes.

I'd consider a Texas vs. USC game too close for me to bet on. Texas has had some bad defenses lapses but the USC offense hasn't been consistent.

I wouldn't bet on the Bama game because my shades are tinted Crimson however I think we've got the O-line and defense to play with anyone.

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I guess we will have to just agree to disagree

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Fair enough.

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I am rooting for Oregon St. to win out so that if we do not make the bcs nc game then we will likely play a Big-12 team in the Fiesta bowl, or a SEC team in the Sugar.

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I'd love to see a USC vs. Bama/Florida matchup. It would be much more entertaining that SEC vs. Utah.

There is 1 major unbeaten. Utah, Boise St. don't really have an argument for the bcs nc game, and Ball St. has no argument for a bcs game of any sort.

As for this Las Vegas Sports Consultants Poll (also called the Oddsmakers Poll), it is a poll released by these guys -- LINK

They claim to be respected oddsmakers, but their website is pretty cheap looking (you'd think real Vegas oddsmakers would have a better website). Also, you can look at the pictures of the 12 guys in the firm and they look like a bunch of guys that work at an oil change place or a gas station, not some legit Vegas oddsmaker firm.

Anyway, they decided they would create their own college football poll. You can see their lastest poll here LINK

In their last poll (11/03), they rank Florida #2, Alabama #7, Georgia #10, LSU #12, South Carolina #22, and Ole Miss #31.

In their preseason poll (8/18), they had Florida #5, Georgia #7, South Carolina #14, LSU #15, Auburn #18, Tennessee #23, Alabama #31.