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Posted By: Bob

Rhett- I congratulate Utah on their undefeated season and the upset of Alabama, but no one seriously thinks that if Utah played in the SEC and had to travel to the Swamp, play between the hedges in Georgia, played the Bayou Bengals, etc. every week that they would have been undefeated. What they did was great and they should be proud but if they played in the SEC they would have been lucky to go 4-4 in the conference.
As far as the Pac-10 goes, I think it is an underrated conference but with the exception of USC, not a single team in the conference plays the kind of defense they play in the SEC and defense wins championships. The SEC can win every year with teams like LSU and Florida and Georgia because of defense. Joe Kines once said that in the SEC the teams will slit your throat and drink your blood. Every game is a death struggle. Emerging from the week to week struggle is why the champions are so tested and play so well in the championship games. USC's defense is what makes them special and they stand alone in the Pac 10 in that regard.
Finally, look at the coaches in the SEC Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Les Miles, all with National Championship rings. Bobby Petrino, Mark Richt, recently fired Phil Fullmer with a championship ring, Tommy Tuberville with a 13-0 Auburn team which was screwed out of a BCS championship game appearance, the list goes on. Great athletes, great coaches, passionate fans, all makes the SEC the best conference in the nation year in and year out.