The Big 12 V. The SEC; Week 1

The debate over who is the best conference in the nation begins again, and luckily for college football fans and the sake of the debate the opening week featured a top-tier matchup of the two superpower conferences.

#13 Georgia (5th in SEC) was handled quite efficiently by #9 Oklahoma State (3rd in the Big 12). Oklahoma State's Defense answered alot of questions for the Big 12, and the Cowboy's offense was able to overcome an excellent Georgia Defense with big plays.

Despite the head-to-head win this week belongs to the SEC. A huge win for Alabama over a Virginia Tech team that looked superb, and the blow BYU handed to Oklahoma and Sam Bradford in particular undoubtedly tips the scales in favor of the SEC.

The premier teams for the two leagues, Texas and Florida, showcased their claims to the nations top two spots by destroying lesser opponents. Until these teams, (if these teams) play each other in the National Championship game, Florida has to be given the edge as the defending National Champions.
Win: SEC.

The next-best teams, still college football elites, could not have put themselves in different situations. Alabama made a stronger BCS case than any other team in the nation by defeating future ACC champion Virginia Tech. The Sooner's lost to a skilled and ranked BYU team and almost as importantly lost Sam Bradford for an unforseen amount of time.
Win: SEC

The third best teams for each conference: Oklahoma State for the Big 12 and LSU for the SEC (the debate between LSU and Ole Miss is for a different article) is the only clear win for the Big 12. We all know what the Cowboys did, but a late start time for LSU left them out off the prime time picture. A close win over last year's worst team in the BCS was probably not as bad as it seems on paper. A new coach and a new year inspired Washington to give LSU everything the Tigers could handle, still images of last year's crumbling still danced before every LSU fan's eyes.
Win: Big 12

Nebraska handled Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss eventually took control of Memphis and posted a blowout on the scoresheet. Although I don't believe Mississippi should be ranked anywhere near their top ten spot, they are most likely a better team than Nebraska from everything we know at this point.
Win: SEC

Georgia lost to Oklahoma State, but the story would have been very different if their opponent was Kansas. Kansas is underrated and calls plays like they are BCS buster in a BCS conference, and towards the end of the season could be very dangerous, but as with Nebraska they still have to prove they are better than their SEC counterpart on the field.
Win: SEC.

The non-ranked others: I'm not sure if anyone will believe me but the Big 12 has the upper hand in depth. Texas Tech and Missouri are still very good teams though losing team leaders to the NFL. Baylor could be the best team in the nation that nobody knows, and because of Baylor's ever improving play the Big 12 South will still be the best sub-conference in the nation. A&M continues to pull in enough recruits to make itself dangerous should the team ever come together. The Big 12 north, however, is not deep. Colorado has not turned the corner, Kansas State's decline from power seems un-reversible at this point and Iowa State is doomed to the depths of the Big 12 locker.

Naturally there are always teams in the SEC that come from unranked positions to prove how deep the conference is. Tennessee and Lane Kiffin are a match made in heaven and after week one have put themselves back into the discussion of the SEC east. Kentucky, South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbuilt and Arkansas could show something down the stretch, but that remains to be seen.

The Week 2 Conference Heirarchies:

Big 12 SEC
Texas Florida
Oklahoma State Alabama
Oklahoma LSU
Nebraska Ole Miss
Kansas Georgia
Missouri Tennessee
Texas Tech Auburn
Baylor Vanderbuilt
Texas A&M South Carolina
Kansas State Kentucky
Colorado Arkansas
Iowa State Mississippi State