Georgia coach Kirby Smart saw the praise coming. "Another week in the SEC," he said. "Humility is a week away as we saw today."
The rest of the league backs him up. Ole Miss lost 52-28 at Florida a week after a cathartic win over Lane Kiffin in Oxford. Florida had just rocketed into the top 10, then lost its next two games in blowouts to Missouri and South Carolina.
No. 1 Texas had the best resume in the country but rarely looked like the best team. That caught up with the Longhorns against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. LSU lost on the road to unranked Kentucky when Will Stein went for two in overtime and got it. Sources believe the Tigers' roster cost upwards of $50 million. They are 4-2, with Mississippi State, Alabama and Texas still ahead.
The nine-game SEC schedule has become a gauntlet where anything can happen from week to week. Georgia stands alone at the top, flaws included. The Bulldogs caught a few controversial calls, including a late non-call on an obvious pass interference. The columnist says you could still argue for Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State or even Alabama.