The various league championship games are huge obstacles for all teams winning/competing for National Championships.
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The majority of teams play one of their toughest rivals in the final week of the season. Examples of that would be Alabama/Auburn, Georgia/ Georgia Tech, Florida/ Florida State. It seems like the SEC is punishing two of its best teams.
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Imagine a team going undefeated during the regular season then SEC mandates that you have to play the championship game against another Top 20 type team. Does this game make any sense ???
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The SEC is hurting itself by playing this game.
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Last night's loss by UT was hardly unpredictable. This community puts so much pressure on Fulmer, his coaches and the players, to come through against the Gators, its understandable that the Vols would be flat in their next game-- which took place a week later.
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The same kind of excuse could be made for why Florida wasn't ready to play versus UT. In its previous game, UF pummeled Florida State for the first time in several (4?) years. Its hard(emotionally)for these college players to play back-to-back games against arch rivals.
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It took 5 opportunities but the SECC game finally cost the regular season winner a shot at the nat'l title. You KNEW it was going to happen at some point. Of course, these conference champ games had already cost teams such as Nebraska (when Texas upset them), K-St. (in '98 when A&M beat them), and even Texas this year.

You asked the question, "does this game make any sense?". The answer to that question is a simple yes--dollars and cents!

Also, I have to admit I love the atmosphere surrounding the title game. It is much better than any bowl I have recently attended.