Is Ole Miss the Best Team in the SEC? Will Ohio State Dominate Indiana?

[30Duck]

I agree with both of these.

Buying: Ole Miss is the best team in the SEC.

With each passing week, it becomes more apparent that Ole Miss is the SEC’s best team. Texas is currently atop the league standings, but the Longhorns have been inconsistent all season — and looked terrible against Arkansas on Saturday. Texas A&M is up there, too, but the Aggies’ QB situation leaves a lot to be desired. Alabama and Georgia both have significant weaknesses, although the Dawgs have largely matched Ole Miss’ ceiling in a couple of big games this season.

 

As for Ole Miss, Jaxson Dart is playing great in recent weeks and the Rebels’ defense is second to none in the SEC. Ole Miss ranks in the top 15 nationally in pass defense EPA and rush defense EPA, per Game on Paper. The Rebels also have the No. 2 passing offense by the same metric. There’s a lot to like about this profile despite their 2 early losses.

 

Last week in this piece, I bought in to Ole Miss winning the national championship at +1000. Due to tiebreaker constraints, it’s extremely unlikely Ole Miss will reach the SEC title game. But that might end up being a blessing in disguise if Ole Miss gets to host a first-round game in Oxford.

Selling: Ohio State’s defense can keep Indiana off the field

Ohio State ultimately came away with a stress-free 31-7 win over Northwestern this past weekend, but that score line might be a bit deceiving.

 

The Wildcats moved the ball pretty methodically throughout this game. They only found the end zone once, but they had 4 drives that resulted in 10+ plays. Three of those drives took at least 5:30 off the clock. Given that Ohio State faces a much more formidable offense in Indiana this weekend, it could be an issue that the Buckeyes were not able to get off the field against Northwestern.

 

I think Indiana will probably try to sustain drives and churn clock early on, but this offense has a little bit more bite to it than Northwestern’s has. The Hoosiers should have more success in the red zone. If Indiana gets down early, I don’t think Curt Cignetti will pack it in offensively and run the clock down.

 

It’s much more likely he’ll get aggressive in an effort to make up any sort of deficit. That would lead to more points — for either the Buckeyes or the Hoosiers. I like the over in this spot.

 

[JabbaNoBargain]

I think Indiana is more of a wildcard then most will admit. SOS is terrible, but they've been handling their business.

 

As to the SEC, who knows? Every team has had it's inconsistent moments this year. Very good odds of a 5 way tie for second place. No idea how that tiebreaker shakes out.

 

 

[30Duck]

On 11/18/2024 at 2:04 PM, JabbaNoBargain said:

I think Indiana is more of a wildcard then most will admit. SOS is terrible, but they've been handling their business.

Isn't that the definition of perfunctory?

[Jon Joseph]

 

NO! The best team in the SEC does not lose at home to 4-6 Kentucky and at 6-4 LSU. Recency Bias based on a win over UGA.

 

Who knows which team in the SEC is the best? They have all taken turns beating one another. But IMO, it isn't Texas. Texas schedule is a breeze compared to Georgia and Bama. 

 

MAYBE? Ohio State is -11. I watched Cig's news conference today and not surprisingly, he is super confident. Would a two-score loss in Columbus be all that bad? I hope Indiana can hang in because I do not want to see 5 SEC teams in the PO and 3 B1G teams.

 

The SEC cheerleaders will ignore Texas playing no one and emphasis Indiana losing to the only ranked team it played. 

 

On 11/18/2024 at 6:26 PM, 30Duck said:

Perfunctory? Ask Texas.

 

[30Duck]

On 11/18/2024 at 4:37 PM, Jon Joseph said:

I hope Indiana can hang in because I do not want to see 5 SEC teams in the PO and 3 B1G teams.

 

The SEC cheerleaders will ignore Texas playing no one and emphasis Indiana losing to the only ranked team it played. 

I don't want this to become the SEC Invitational Part 2, but Texas, yeah, it's hard to make a schedule argument for Sark's guys. Credit to Indy for taking Charlotte's best shot. Maybe they'll be in "Hoosiers Part 2"

[30Duck]

Notre Dame isn't the only team from Indiana that could shake up the CFP rankings.

Undefeated Indiana, who has looked impressive most of the season but who has collected zero ranked wins thus far, will head to the Horseshoe for a big-time battle with Ohio State this upcoming Saturday. This outcome is sure to shake up the rankings either way this game goes.

 

While there is always a healthy level of respect for SEC football, it's nice to have major CFP intrigue emanating from the state of Indiana on multiple fronts showing the country that some darn good, rough, and tough football is being played there.

[HappyToBeADuck]

Just my thoughts on the SEC and BIG.......and many won't agree with this useless post

 

The SEC is undervalued but Texas is way overvalued. The way the Ducks are currently playing (especially the offense) I would not want to play Bama, Georgia, Ole Miss or Tennessee. 

 

Texas has no meat on their schedule to warrant a top 5 ranking.

 

A full strength Duck squad with Tez, Burch and Harper healed and playing would put the Ducks in position to beat anyone.

 

As of now, with pitiful second half scoring we would lose in a shootout. I firmly believe the Duck D would not allow a blowout. But that is a big task!

 

Bama blew the doors off of Wisconsin and OBD's just got by for a hard fought win. The other 4 top SEC teams would also smoke the Badgers.

 

The BIG is overvalued. Where are the big OOC wins? Their are 14 marginal teams in the BIG and the top 4 have feasted on that fact.

 

Aside from OBD's win against the Buckeyes, we have no other top level,  potential CFP victory! I know, what about Boise State? Well if BSU loses another game they will not be in the CFP. Power house high school level Army or Tulane could steal that 12th spot.

 

tOSU has a top win against PSU. PSU has no big win and neither does Indiana. The BIG is playing on the CFP house money. Gaudy records but very little meat on the bone.

 

Indiana has to play tOSU very tough or they could fall out of the Top 12.

 

With 4 spots for ACC, Big 12, G5 and ND that leaves 8 spots. I agree with Jon Joseph that Indiana must play a tough game or win against the Buckeyes or the SEC may get 5 teams in the CFP. 

 

Go BSU, win out and strenthen OBD's SOS.

 

Go Indiana, play tOSU tough or win. 2 undefeated teams playing for the BIG CCG will insure 4 BIG spots.

 

Then let the CFP begin..

 

With the squad at full strength well i love OBD's chances. This years squad could end up as Oregon's best ever. Especially with a schedule break to recover.

 

GO DUCKS....HEAL UP..... and open up a can of whoop arse on the huskies.

[Nevada Dawg]

On 11/18/2024 at 4:37 PM, Jon Joseph said:

 

NO! The best team in the SEC does not lose at home to 4-6 Kentucky and at 6-4 LSU. Recency Bias based on a win over UGA.

 

Who knows which te

SEC is the best? They have all taken turns beating one another. But IMO, it isn't Texas. Texas schedule is a breeze compared to Georgia and Bama. 

 

MAYBE? Ohio State is -11. I watched Cig's news conference today and not surprisingly, he is super confident. Would a two-score loss in Columbus be all that bad? I hope Indiana can hang in because I do not want to see 5 SEC teams in the PO and 3 B1G teams.

 

The SEC cheerleaders will ignore Texas playing no one and emphasis Indiana losing to the only ranked team it played. 

 

 

 

A lot of truth in this post, particularly on Ole Miss and on Texas having a cake-y schedule. They haven't beaten anyone currently ranked I don't believe, and I think that they'd lose again to UGA if they played again and/or to Alabama if those two match up. 

 

Cignetti is always confident in public as far as I can tell. His team has been a good story, but I don't believe they will survive their first trip to the "Shoe". I sure hope they do however.

 

Yes, indeed, there is a lot of football to be played before the CFP brackets get established. I hope that my dawgs are ranked at least 8th at the end and get a home game, against # 9 I presume. Win that one and they'd go against the lowest seeded conference champion. I could live with that pairing. I am not sure that the Dawgs have enough in the tank to win the natty this year, but I want them to progress as far as they can, of course. And if they can't make it to the final, I am behind OBD all the way!!