Despite the Picker's constant refrain, offensive philosophy has never been the issue. Championships are won by defenses.

The last six BCS champions have been from the SEC. Three of the six, Florida in 2006 and 2008 and Auburn in 2011, ran some version of the spread offense featuring quarterbacks who were effective both running and passing. Alabama (2010 and 2012) and LSU (2007) ran more conservative "smashmouth" offenses. What did they all have in common? Stifling defenses. What won yesterday's games for Georgia and Florida? Their defenses. Mizzou and A&M did not have to face that in the Big 12.

Here's a theory that will be tested in '14 and beyond: Spread offenses aren't winning nat'l titles because they go sour on the shelf between the first of Dec., when teams play their last reg. season games, and the Jan 7 or 8 title game. Defenses don't go stale like that with down-time, so the great SEC defensive teams which run vanilla offenses have had an advantage in the title games during the BCS era.

The 5-week layoff is ridiculous, and hampers the timing of the spread.

When the changes take place in '14, with less layoff and a semifinal game before the final, spread offenses might fare better.

Defenses not only prevent the other team from scoring, they set up scoring for your offense. Did you watch the Missouri-Georgia game? The big surge for Georgia was triggered by turnovers forced by Georgia's defense, giving the offense the ball on the 1 and five yard lines. A series of four-and-outs by your offense also wears down your defense, making it easier for the other team to score. The Big 12 has turned into a souped-up version of the old WAC, with good offenses that look great because they play against weak defenses. There's a single reason the SEC has dominated in recent years, winning three BCS championships with spread offenses and three with conservative offenses. All of those teams had great defenses, just as Oklahoma had when it last won the national
championship. OU beat Florida State with its defense.

I especially enjoyed watching Gary Pinkel get the "spanking" he deserved. I guess being in the cellar in the SEC East is better than middle of Big 12 with a bowl bid. Have fun Mizzou.

You can't run the ball out of the silly spread against good teams. Period.