Comparing SEC Football Teams to World Cup Teams

When you talk about Alabama football, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Dominant defense, right? Well that's what you get when Italy plays soccer. They have the weapons to score plenty of goals, with the likes of world class players Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo, just like Alabama has Amari Cooper and the entire arsenal of talent on the offensive side, but will completely stifle teams on the defensive side of the field. Not to mention time of possession is always a priority to the Italians.

The most obvious comparison between these two teams is the use of red as their primary color. However, the way both teams play is what we're mostly getting at here. Arkansas is most definitely close to the bottom of the SEC rankings, and Iran is one of the lowest rated teams in the World Cup. There are solid players on both teams, but on the whole, no one stands out in a crowd. Iran's current head coach, Carlos Queiroz, is the former skipper for the Portuguese national team, and Arkansas will enter season number two with Bret Bielema; meaning both teams hired a coach from a better side, and neither team seems to be anywhere near where they want to compete in their league or group.

Again, coincidentally, both teams sport the same color (although the Ivory Coast has a more tolerable shade of orange). Auburn is absolutely loaded on offense, led by quarterback Nick Marshall. The Ivory Coast, by comparison, also possesses one of the best offensive weapons in the world; Didier Drogba. Speed is another thing both teams have, and they have it in abundance. The Tigers run the hurry up-no huddle offense, with plenty of fast players, and the Ivory Coast tries to play a more up-tempo style of soccer and get their attacking players into open spaces. Sabri Lamouchi is the Ivory Coast head man, in his first managerial position, and Gus Malzahn is at his first top-tier collegiate coaching position.

When I was contemplating this article idea, the first comparison that I made was that of the Florida Gators and England, because it was too perfect. Both teams have a roster filled with top tier talent; both teams have a sort of Dunning-Kruger effect (think they're better than they really are); and not many outside of their own fan bases pull for them to succeed. It's alarmingly shocking how these teams aren't consistently winning championships, especially with the domestic (local) talent that they both constantly produce.

I promise, I'm not intentionally selecting teams with the same color jerseys, it's purely coincidental... Georgia running back Todd Gurley is arguably the best player in the SEC, and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in this rendition of the World Cup. Georgia is a popular choice to win the SEC Western Division crown, although winning the conference title is a completely different discussion. Portugal is primed for a great run at the World Cup, but may not get too far when they take on top teams, like their Group G opponent Germany.

Well, both teams start with the letter "K."

Oh, and neither team has any realistic shot at winning their championships. You can count on one hand how many great players are on both teams (in fact, you may not even need a hand to begin with), and defeating either team could seriously be considered beating the hapless (okay, maybe not seriously, but you get the idea).

Before you get upset about this comparison, just hear me out.

It's nearly impossible to beat these teams at home. Going to Baton Rouge and attempting to beat LSU in Tiger Stadium is always a daunting task, and usually ends with a Bayou Bengal victory. Likewise, Brazil hasn't lost a home match in 39 years! Yes, you read that correctly: 39 YEARS. No one on this year's Brazilian roster was even a thought 39 years ago, much less alive then. Now, although their styles of play vastly differ, they both have one of the most talented squads in their respective competitions. And let's not forget that the coaches, Les Miles for LSU and Luiz Felipe Scolari for Brazil, are known for their sideline personalities and often give reporters and journalists some very quotable material.

When you see either team on your schedule, it's usually a safe bet that you will come out as the victor, although the game/match may be slightly more difficult than it should be. Both squads tend to beat the teams at or below their talent level (as they should), but too often lose to teams that they need to beat in order to advance to the next level. Dak Prescott is the on-the-field leader for the Bulldogs, and although he may not be the best player in the SEC, he has enough talent to lead Mississippi State to possibly 8 or even 9 victories this year. John Obi Mikel is Nigeria's Dak Prescott: he's a solid player, and when he turns on his engine, he can become a top class talent.

Both teams are the new kids on the block. Missouri will be entering just their third season in the Southeastern Conference, and Bosnia and Herzegovina has just made its first ever World Cup appearance. Not only are they new to the party, but they both have quickly made names for themselves by arriving fashionably early. Missouri is the reigning SEC East champions, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are currently ranked #22 in FIFA's World Rankings, and just held their own in their first ever World Cup match against Argentina, the fifth ranked team in the world according to FIFA.

Okay, it's one thing to share one color with one team, but share all three? There may be more here than originally thought.

Ole Miss is a team that is constantly getting better with each recruiting class they bring in, with this being head coach Hugh Freeze's third season at the helm of the Rebel football team. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann is about to finish his third full year as the head man of our national team, and he has attempted to make the United States a better team by making a youth movement of his own. Although you don't realistically expect either team to go all the way, they're both quite capable of making good runs and could even prevent a favorite from winning their respective championships.

The first comparison between the two teams is that of their head coaches. Steve Spurrier is a former Heisman Trophy winner, popularizing the argument that he was at one point one of the best college football players during that time; he gradually made his way to the SEC as a head coach, and now is often considered one of the best. Although Germany's Joachim Loew never won a Player of the Year award, he was a dominant player and now coaches at the highest level of international soccer. Both South Carolina and Germany boast great talent all over the field. The Gamecocks are favorites to win the SEC East, and Germany are the overwhelming favorite to win Group G, especially after their 4-0 dismantling of Portugal in their first match of group play.

Tennessee is considered to be one of the worst teams in the SEC, and the 2014 season doesn't look much more promising for the Volunteers. They play in the toughest conference in college football, and head coach Butch Jones may be in over his head. Australia, similarly, is the lowest ranked team in this rendition of the World Cup. They only have one world class player, and they don't really 'wow' you when they play their best. Not to mention they are competing in one of the toughest, if not the toughest, group in the World Cup, going up against world powers Spain, Netherlands, and Chile.

There comes a point in time where you should just start feeling sympathy for these teams.

Since Johnny Football doesn't play for the Aggies anymore, comparing A&M to a World Cup team isn't as accurate as it would have been last year. The Aggies have weapons all over the field; they can basically throw up points at will. However, their defense often struggles because of the near constant pressure they suffer because their offense scores so quickly. Argentina also feels the effects of a highly potent offense. World superstar Lionel Messi is an absolute terror, but if you can contain him, managing the other 10 players on the field isn't rocket science. Their defensive unit is average at best, and tend to put way too much pressure on one player to make plays.

When one thinks about Vanderbilt University, the first thought is usually, "That's a smart school." That's also what many think when they talk about Japan. However, these teams aren't just intellectual; they are getting better at their respective sports. Vanderbilt has the benefits of playing in the Southeastern Conference, so finding good players to recruit is relatively easy. Japan has been continuously producing better talent each generation, and although they are still only ranked #46 by FIFA, the future is definitely bright for the island nation.