The case for Oklahoma (not LSU or Georgia) being the SEC’s best team
Oklahoma’s defense plus John Mateer offers balance.
Defenses at LSU and Texas look good, too, but where’s the offense?
Georia earns respect by beating Tennessee on road.
OK, so that’s perhaps a bit premature, but programs have been declared resurrected based on less evidence.
Seriously, though, when evaluating SEC teams after three weeks, who’s performing better than Oklahoma? Combine the Sooners’ stout defense with cool-handed transfer quarterback John Mateer, and they’re playing like the SEC’s most balanced team.
Speaking of good defenses, the way LSU’s is playing has Brian Kelly fired up – especially at reporters looking to throw stones at his team’s 3-0 start.
On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams each rank their five-best teams in the SEC.
It’s a difficult exercise. More than half the conference remains undefeated, and Tennessee showed a punch despite losing in overtime to Georgia.
There are fewer bad teams in the SEC than in any other conference, but, how many are great teams?
Opinions differ on the conference’s best team.
Who are the five-best teams in the SEC?
Adams’ top five:
1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas A&M
5. Tennessee
Rationale for LSU at No. 1: No other SEC team has a better combination of victories than LSU’s, which include wins at Clemson and at home against Florida. LSU’s defense looks like an elite unit from a past time when the Tigers won national championships by fighting to defend every yard. The offense needs some grease, and Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t find the consistency to match his talent, but that defense is a wrecking crew.
Toppmeyer’s top five:
1. Oklahoma
2. LSU
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Texas A&M
Rational for Oklahoma at No. 1: I, too, admire LSU’s defense, but the Sooners’ D looks just as good, and Oklahoma’s offense is in a much better rhythm. If I could choose any SEC quarterback to start for my team for the rest of the season, I’d choose Mateer. He needs more support from his ground game, but that could be coming. Tory Blaylock rushed for 100 yards last weekend at Temple. Several SEC teams are strong on defense, and I’m keeping Texas in my top five, despite Arch Manning’s struggles, based on its defense. Oklahoma’s defense, though, looks like a classically good Brent Venables unit, and Mateer remedied Oklahoma’s previous offensive woes.
Week 4 picks against the spread!
Toppmeyer’s five-pack of picks (picks in bold):
∎ Alabama-Birmingham at Tennessee (-39.5)
∎ Auburn at Oklahoma (-6.5)
∎ Tulane at Mississippi (-12.5)
∎ Florida at Miami (-3)
∎ Oregon State at Oregon (-34.5)
Season record: 9-6 (4-1 last week)
Adams’ five-pack of picks (picks in bold):
∎ Auburn at Oklahoma (-6.5)
∎ South Carolina at Missouri (-13.5)
∎ Florida at Miami (-3)
∎ Alabama-Birmingham at Tennessee (-39.5)
∎ Michigan (-2.5) at Nebraska
Season record: 7-8 (4-1 last week)
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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.