The SEC can celebrate its status as the best football conference in the country after this weekend. Alabama and Georgia are excused from the celebration.

What are the odds of Alabama losing to Mississippi State, and Georgia losing to Kentucky on the same weekend? After you answer that one, here's another question: What are the odds of Alabama (without Mike DuBose as coach) losing to Mississippi State and Georgia (without Ray Goff as coach) losing to Kentucky on the same weekend?

As if that's not upsetting enough to the SEC's traditional powers, Vanderbilt played Florida, the SEC's highest ranked team, a six-point game.

On the same Saturday that the SEC demonstrated its balance, its shot at a national championship looked longer than ever. A one-loss Florida team, which supposedly has the best chance of qualifying for the national championship game, dropped in the polls after its narrow victory over the Commodores.

Just because you have the best conference doesn't mean you have the best team. Would Louisville still be unbeaten if it played an SEC schedule? No. But it still would be capable of beating the best team in the SEC at a neutral site.

So until you have a national championship playoff comprised of conference champions, the SEC will be at a disadvantage. That's a continued source of frustration for SEC fans. But the league's balance was reason for celebration, not frustration, this weekend.

Saturday's four conference games were decided by an average of five points. The largest margin of victory was eight points.

A weekend of surprises should impact Kentucky coach Rich Brooks more than anyone. The victory probably saved his job.

The Wildcats are 5-4 with three games to play. They don't even have to beat Vanderbilt to be bowl eligible.

Even if his Wildcats lose to the Commodores, Brooks shouldn't be on the conference's endangered coaching list. By beating Louisiana-Monroe, the Wildcats would be assured of a six-win season.

Kentucky has gone from 2-9 in its first season under Brooks to 3-8 last year to possibly 6-6 this season. Not only has its record improved, it has become more competitive against the best teams in its division.

In Brooks' first season, Kentucky lost to Georgia, Florida and South Carolina by an average of 27 points per game. Last year, it lost to those three teams by an average of 22.3 points per game. This season, Kentucky lost to Florida by 19, and to South Carolina by seven before upsetting Georgia.

The second-biggest upset winner was Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom, whose job security wasn't an issue even though the Bulldogs are headed for a third consecutive losing season on his watch. Mississippi State has improved in the second half of the season with the return of quarterback Michael Henig, who was injured in the season opener.

In their first six games, the Bulldogs averaged 12.7 points per game. In their last four games, they have averaged 28.8 points.

Vanderbilt also continued to show its increased competitiveness under coach Bobby Johnson. Even Vanderbilt's best teams usually have a blowout loss in the second half of the season when its lack of quality depth has been exposed by injuries. But in the second half of this season, the Commodores are 2-2, with games remaining against Kentucky and UT.

Never mind that it lost its best offensive lineman, Brian Stamper, to injury. It hasn't suffered a significant drop-off.

South Carolina, which beat Vanderbilt 31-13, is the only team to score in the 30s on the Commodores, who have beaten Georgia and lost to Alabama, Arkansas and Florida by a total of 11 points.

As competitive as the league has been this season, it could be even more competitive next year, particularly in the East.

Vanderbilt and Kentucky will return 18 of 24 starters, including their punters and kickers. South Carolina will return 19 of 24 starters, even if sophomore wide receiver Sidney Rice goes pro early.

The SEC won't have to wait until next season to be rewarded for its balance. The league will be able to fill all eight of its contractual agreements with bowls after this season. And if it can qualify a second team for the BCS, it could put nine teams in bowls.

But the same balance that will make it so popular with bowls won't help it qualify for the biggest bowl of all.