Somewhere over the rainbow

The great thing about writing a blog is that you can make thousands of ridiculous predictions and if one comes true, you’re a genius. Before the 2007 football season, I told anyone that would listen (basically four people) that 6-2 would probably win the SEC East, and that it would not be completely inconceivable for 5-3 to win it. Tennessee was one recovered fumble away from making that 5-3 prediction a reality. With that in mind, let’s take a walk down the yellow brick road of the 2008 SEC East schedule:

Week 3 – The Dawgs come to the Fairgrounds looking to put their first notch in their championship belt. The Gamecocks lose their brief one week division lead after beating Vanderbilt in yet another slugfest against Gawga.
UGA 1-0 USC 1-1 Vandy 0-1

Weeks 4, 5 and 6 – While the West watches Auburn and LSU determine the frontrunner in their division, Florida and Tennessee has the attention of the East. Tebow begins his Heisman campaign in earnest as Volunteer fans start their annual grumbling when the “new fangled” passing offense gets poor marks. The Vols catch Auburn in a double hangover game the next week and manage to pull off a squeaker. Vandy struggles along as Kentucky plays its first conference game against an Alabama team that is growing up quickly. The Gamecocks win a thriller at Ole Miss as the offense shows its first sign of life in conference play.
UF 3-0 UGA 2-0 USC 2-1 UT 1-1 Vandy 0-3 Kentucky 0-1

Week 7 – Another Saturday of showdowns as Florida and LSU return for another episode of the fourth down game. It takes overtime to do it, but LSU shocks the world with a field goal. Meyer becomes more and more reluctant to run his quarterback as a year and a half of lowering his shoulder is starting to wear on him. Georgia goes to Knoxville and notches another Eastern division victory. Gamecocks take advantage of a rebuilding Kentucky squad.
UF 3-1 UGA 3-0 USC 3-1 UT 1-2 Vandy 0-4 Kentucky 0-2

Week 8 – LSU comes to Columbia after its dramatic victory in Gainesville for a CBS 3:30 game. It is obvious to all that are watching that the Tigers are a bit listless against the Gamecocks. The third quarter is marred by a botched fake field goal by USC as Spurrier seeks revenge for last year. Late TD drive seals it for Les Miles and Company and USC loses another close one. Vandy loses to the Dawgs and becomes mathematically eliminated at 0-5.
UGA 4-0 UF 3-1 USC 3-2 UT 2-2 Kentucky 0-3

Week 9 – LSU continues its ridiculous three week jaunt through the Eastern division, but this time lands a home game against Georgia. The game resembles a heavy weight fight as both teams slug it out back and forth. CBS moving the game to a night time kickoff tips the odds in LSU’s favor. Les Miles gets even more outlandish with his post game comments. Tennessee squeaks by Alabama at home.
UGA 4-1 UF 4-1 USC 3-2 UT 3-2 Kentucky 0-4

Week 10 – Everyone raises a glass in Jacksonville as the Eastern Conference is on the line when Florida takes on the Dawgs. The teams set a series record for most yards of offense in a game. Both quarterbacks make their bid for the Heisman as Florida wins it on a late Tebow quarterback sneak. Meyer refuses to shake Richt’s hand because “he never forgot what Georgia did last year.” Tennessee comes to the bird cage for an ESPN 7:45 kickoff. The week off seems to have done the Gamecocks good as the offense finds some traction. The defense gives up yards, but not points, as another barn burner between these two goes Carolina’s way. The Vols, along with the Wildcats, are mathematically eliminated.
UF 5-1 UGA 4-2 USC 4-2

Week 11- Florida and Georgia shell Vandy and Kentucky. The Gamecocks survive a hangover game to beat an Arkansas team that is struggling to grasp the new offense. USC’s defense plays with a giant chip on their shoulder after last year.
UF 6-1 UGA 5-2 USC 5-2

Week 12 – Georgia goes down to the Plains and finds an Auburn team with a lot of late season fight left in it despite being out of the race for the West. The Dawgs come up empty handed, eliminating them from contention as they just run out of gas down the stretch. The ESPN night game features Spurrier against his old team and, wait a minute, the winner goes to Atlanta? No, can’t be.

Ok, so all this story is missing is a wicked witch, a scarecrow, and an urban legend about a little person hanging himself; but stranger things have happened. In all sincerity, I am giving LSU way too much credit for sweeping that stretch of Florida away, USC away, and Georgia at home. But Georgia struggling with its tough schedule is not that far fetched. Same goes for the Florida and Tennessee scenarios. The sure bet is that the winner of the Georgia-Florida game will determine the East. But you never know, Dorothy’s slippers may actually be garnet and that November 15th game could be for all the lollipops. I wonder if Ted Turner will colorize it.