[ShowMeTigers]

If you were given the task of single-handedly selecting the team, who simply has the best chance of beating Alabama who would it be? Ignore W/L records and BCS standings and consider other SEC teams and Ohio State eligible. If you were to get paid if your team wins, who would you choose as their Challenger?

I really don't know how I would answer this at first thought. I can tell you I would not choose Oregon, or Kansas State or Oklahoma. Also not Florida and LSU - both have an anemic offense.

For me it would come down to Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and South Carolina.

Now SC could win but were inconsistent, so scratch them. Ohio State played in a very average conference so scratch them. Texas A&M are a great team but they were peaking and caught Bama in a trap game. It wouldn't happen again, Scratch A&M. Notre Dame's extrordinary defense makes them my second choice. They will make it close with Bama. But the Irish never dominated anyone all year and they got very lucky to be sitting at #1 right now. Purdue and Pitt outplayed them. ND not my first choice.

I would choose Georgia. The Dawgs played the Tide on a night when the both teams fought hard and Georgia played a downright even game against Bama, and you know Bama was a totally psyched up for the SEC championship and the last roadblock the NC. Georgia played even or better than Bama's best. They would be my first choice.

Here's my list of best challengers:
1. Georgia
2. Notre Dame
3. Ohio State
4. Texas A&M
5. South Carolina
6. Stanford
7. Oregon
8. Florida State
9. Florida
10. Oklahoma

[Viper]

1. Ohio State
2. Texas A&M
3. Georgia
4. Notre Dame
5. Oregon
Notre dame will be an ok game to watch since it's not a rematch, but I think Bama is gonna run away with it.

[AggieNation]

1.Georgia
2.Oregon
3.A&M
4.LSU
5.Ohio State

[Kinnick]

In a one game national championship with a month to prepare, the only teams that would have a chance are Georgia, LSU, Florida in that order.

[WeWantTheVest]

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. Georgia
5. A&M

That's right now. A month from now favors defense and Nick Saban considerably. I'd love to see Ohio State be the team to end it for the SEC given our past struggles with the conference.

[MountaineersFan]

I would still have to go with Oregon. I think Bama would be able to slow down their offense, but not stop them. I think it would be a very good game.

I also think UF could be a good game. UF has a very good defense, better than Bama I would say. I see a very low scoring game with lots of FGs. Obvioulsy UGA would be a good matchup as they just barely lost last week. A&M would be a good matchup as well but I think we would get a different result this time.

[Kinnick]

Originally Posted by MountaineersFan

I would still have to go with Oregon. I think Bama would be able to slow down their offense, but not stop them. I think it would be a very good game.

I also think UF could be a good game. UF has a very good defense, better than Bama I would say. I see a very low scoring game with lots of FGs. Obvioulsy UGA would be a good matchup as they just barely lost last week. A&M would be a good matchup as well but I think we would get a different result this time.

I agree with everything in the second paragraph. Oregon is a very good team but their weakness is going against a sound defense with big bodies, speed, and depth. I think Florida, LSU or Bama would beat Orehon soundly. Oregon would do well in an 8 team playoff because teams won't have a month to prepare and could still be a bit banged up and tired from the game before.

[turbotom]

According to ESPN, Vegas would favor the Ducks over every team but 'bama. Not that Vegas is always right...

[BamaChamps]

The only challenger to Bama is Bama turning the ball over lol, or a physical team like Stanford.

[MountaineersFan]

This year is a perfect example of why the BCS and preseason polls do not work. There are 4 teams with 1 loss records. Why is Bama in the NCG and not say Florida? Or Oregon? They have similar records. I can understand K-State based off who they lost to. But both Florida and Oregon lost to top 10 teams, in fact those teams are higher ranked than the team Bama lost to. This is exactly why they need to do away with preseason polls and not start the rankings until around the 5th week or so. I think it shows a little favortism towards the SEC as well