The Ultimate Showdown
Posted August 23th, 2009, 12:33 PM ET

Now that the AP pre-season poll has been released, we can all get along with our lives. Oh, by the way: Florida is ranked #1...as if we didn't know that, already.

I did notice that Vanderbilt received more votes than South Carolina in the AP pre-season listing. As you know, the 'Dores and Cocks are involved in a "Southern Fried Football™ Probation" game on October 24th. The reasoning behind this decision comes from the SFF Board of Governors.

The Gamecocks have lost the past two years to Vandy (while being ranked both times), and if they happen to lose a third consecutive year to Bobby Johnson's squad, then Spurrier's boys go on SFF Probation.

It should also be pointed out that Vandy has beaten upstart Ole Miss two years running, too. It was announced today that if the pre-season Top 10 Rebels lose to Vandy on October 3rd, they will be given the same punishment. October is going to be a busy month.

So, how unlikely is it for Vandy to beat a SEC team three years in a row? I looked it up. In the past twenty years, only one conference team has a major losing streak to Vanderbilt. The Kentucky Wildcats lost 5 consecutive years to their Nashville rival from 1991-95. Nobody else is close, during that time period. South Carolina lost in back-to-back years in '98 & '99, and Ole Miss lost to them in '91 & '92....but that's it.

Vanderbilt football is the equivalent of Duke football in the ACC. Consider this:

In the last twenty years, Vandy is 26-131 in conference play....while Duke is 25-132. When you're winning conference games at a 19% winning percentage, then you might have a problem.

The only team in the ACC to lose three straight years to Duke in the past twenty years?....Wake Forest, from '93-'95.

If it makes Vandy fans feel any better, they can take solace in knowing that they beat Duke four years in a row ('98-'01) during this stretch.

So, for the 2009 installments of Ole Miss and South Carolina football...beware....don't lose to Vandy this year, or there will be a severe punishment forthcoming.

Says who?

The Southern Fried Football™ Board of Governors.....that's who.