[Mule]

Sammy, if they weren't CONSTANTLY proclaiming USC as the best of the best, it might be a little easier to take. They have been ranked #1 more than any other team. The facts are that in the BCS era, USC, OSU, FSU & Oklahoma have 6 appearances, the weak schedules of USC, OSU & FSU contributing to much of that. ONLY the Fightin' Tigers of LSU are undefeated at 4-0. The SEC also leads the group with 11 appearances, followed by 8ea from the PAC10 & Big10. SEC leads in win percentage as well with .733 percent. For BCS Championships, the SEC leads with 4 of 10. No other conference has more than half as many.

As far as the non-conference schedule red herring, as usual LSU has one of the toughest schedules in the nation, facing 2, that's right 2 TOP 5 powerhouses away, and 2 top 10 teams at home. USC doesn't face this many top 10 teams in a decade. I will close with a repeat of the words of perennial SEC detractor, Kirk Herbstreet.

There's no better conference than the SEC. None. Let me count the ways: 1) Georgia has more talent than anyone in the nation. 2) Florida is the ultimate points machine, and Gators MLB Brandon Spikes would be my first pick to build a defense around. 3) LSU's D-line, with DT Ricky Jean-François and DE Tyson Jackson, is flat-out frightening. 4) Three second-tier teams—Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee—would contend in the other BCS conferences. 5) Both Ole Miss and Bama have the talent to pick off a fave on the right week. Like I said, there's no better conference. —KIRK HERBSTREIT