The SEC is more like the NFL in that

all the conference games are so tough.
Week in and week out your playing McFadden, Tebow, Moreno, Hester, etc.

Just like the Falcons can beat the Bucs on any given day, the bottom teams are capable of beating the top teams especially after emotion filled games the week before or the timing of bye weeks, etc. LSU struggled down the stretch and when you have to face McFadden who will be carving up NFL defenses next year, it's not easy.