How do we know the SEC is any good?

[cuseincincy]

I know its kind of a facetious question but really, outside of other SEC teams who have they beaten this year that proves they are any better than the other conferences? Heres who the top SEC teams have beaten and as a side note, on average they each have played ONE non-conference BCS opponent.

Mizzou - Indiana (5-7, 8th best record in B10)
South Carolina - UNC, Clemson, UCF. The whole conference's credibility may be built here.
Georgia - North Texas
Vandy - Wake (4-8, 12th in ACC)
Auburn - Washington St (6-6-, 7th in PAC12)
Alabama - Va Tech (5th in ACC)
LSU - TCU
Texas A&M - Rice

Other than SC that is putrid. Not saying Ohio St is any better (Cal or Buffalo) but in the most important category OSU has no losses. SEC teams get the benefit of the doubt when records are equal, I get it and don't disagree. But now they seem to want it even when records are not equal. I know the BCS is changing next year a little. But if somehow a one loss SEC team jumps over an undefeated FSU or OSU, this years championship game will be meaningless. That said, if OSU plays against MSU the way they did against UM they will get trounced.
FYI - The much maligned ACC that FSU completely dominated this year has 11 out of 14 teams bowl eligible. Thats more than any other conference (and a better %) which at least suggests that there are more mediocre teams and less bad teams than any other conference.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Because it's the SEC, the best conference in football, the conference that has won the last 7 (I think?) championships.

 

[dasher]

Because it's the SEC, the best conference in football, the conference that has won the last 7 (I think?) championships.

the conference that has a team that we went on the road and beat last year. Look, the SEC is great but the point is valid. And by the way, one of those N.C.'s had the SEC playing the SEC.

 

[NineOneSeven]

the conference that has a team that we went on the road and beat last year. Look, the SEC is great but the point is valid. And by the way, one of those N.C.'s had the SEC playing the SEC.

Fair point, that was a big win. But, I don't care if every championship over the last 7 years had two SEC teams in it, they were obviously both good enough to be there.

In my humble opinion (IMHO for those who love the acronyms), I think this thread is silly. If the SEC isn't good, what conference is?

 

[Oakland]

I know its kind of a facetious question but really, outside of other SEC teams who have they beaten this year that proves they are any better than the other conferences? Heres who the top SEC teams have beaten and as a side note, on average they each have played ONE non-conference BCS opponent.

Mizzou - Indiana (5-7, 8th best record in B10)
South Carolina - UNC, Clemson, UCF. The whole conference's credibility may be built here.
Georgia - North Texas
Vandy - Wake (4-8, 12th in ACC)
Auburn - Washington St (6-6-, 7th in PAC12)
Alabama - Va Tech (5th in ACC)
LSU - TCU
Texas A&M - Rice

Other than SC that is putrid. Not saying Ohio St is any better (Cal or Buffalo) but in the most important category OSU has no losses. SEC teams get the benefit of the doubt when records are equal, I get it and don't disagree. But now they seem to want it even when records are not equal. I know the BCS is changing next year a little. But if somehow a one loss SEC team jumps over an undefeated FSU or OSU, this years championship game will be meaningless. That said, if OSU plays against MSU the way they did against UM they will get trounced.
FYI - The much maligned ACC that FSU completely dominated this year has 11 out of 14 teams bowl eligible. Thats more than any other conference (and a better %) which at least suggests that there are more mediocre teams and less bad teams than any other conference.

Because, outside of Miami, USC, and Ohio St their boosters cheat more than anyone else's.

 

[Marsh01]

This whole a one loss SEC team needs to play for the title crap is crazy. I do think however that if Auburn beats Mizzou they should jump Ohio State (I think it will be a moot point because Sparty is beating the buckeyes).

 

[OttoinGrotto]

SEC teams get the benefit of the doubt when records are equal, I get it and don't disagree. But now they seem to want it even when records are not equal.

Drives me nuts. I've ranted about the luxuries that have been afforded to Alabama before, but not they want it extended for the whole conference, and as you said, in cases where records aren't equal.

Reel it in.

 

[Jeepers]

Will be interesting to see what happens if FSU were to win it. ACC would surely see a bump, I would think.

 

[longislandcuse]

I want FSU to play an SEC team. I dont feel like watching them destroy a B1G team, noone respects the B1G anyway.

 

[Timonen]

obviously it's subjective (which is why it's so much fun, imo), but I'll default to the conference that's won so many titles in a row and has the most players leave for the pros each year. there's no question the conference is down this season but i think a lot of that is attrition-related, not programatic stuff. also, some of the marquee ooc games scheduled have turned out to be duds (e.g., tcu, virgina tech, etc.).

also, ole miss whipped texas which is pretty legit at this point.

what's really interesting (I just checked) is that you can play the same "how do we know...?" game with the pac 12, big 10 and big 12. it seems like nobody plays anybody anymore. or perhaps they try to, but somebody is always underperforming enough to negate it. other than some notre dame games and asu's win over wisconsin, nothing looks impressive across the board!

 

[Alsacs]

The difference between the SEC and the rest of the conferences is that the SEC's 3rd thru 7th teams tend to be ranked and creates the perception that the whole conference is good when its middle class is good so the conference perception is puffed up. However, the SEC schedules are terrible and lead to situations where Georgia-Alabama haven't played in the regular season since 2008 when Matt Stafford was the QB for the Bulldogs and he is in his 5th season in the NFL. Aaron Murray went 5 years at Georgia and didn't play Alabama one time in the regular season. They faced off in the 2012 SEC Title game and that is it. Georgia and Alabama are top 5 SEC football brands, but since they don't play each other it keeps one less off those teams so Mississippi State and Kentucky can take the losses. SEC football schedules are like the old Big East basketball schedules Syracuse went 10-6 in 2006-2007 and Villanova went 8-8, but the committee screwed us because our schedule was weaker than Villanova's. That is why I agree with Steve Spurrier when he says that divisional records inside each division should be used for determining conference champions. Counting the cross-divisional games in the standings isn't fair since they aren't balanced.

 

[ImperialOrange]

This whole a one loss SEC team needs to play for the title crap is crazy. I do think however that if Auburn beats Mizzou they should jump Ohio State (I think it will be a moot point because Sparty is beating the buckeyes).

The SEC should lose the strength of schedule in conference arguement due to the utter shite they schedule non league. Perhaps a 1 loss SEC team that has the balls to schedule like we do out of conference but not one with week 11 matchups with Furman, etc.

 

[Marsh01]

The SEC should lose the strength of schedule in conference arguement due to the utter shite they schedule non league. Perhaps a 1 loss SEC team that has the balls to schedule like we do out of conference but not one with week 11 matchups with Furman, etc.

Yea those week 11 games against these cupcakes are ridiculous I agree.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I know its kind of a facetious question but really, outside of other SEC teams who have they beaten this year that proves they are any better than the other conferences? Heres who the top SEC teams have beaten and as a side note, on average they each have played ONE non-conference BCS opponent.

Mizzou - Indiana (5-7, 8th best record in B10)
South Carolina - UNC, Clemson, UCF. The whole conference's credibility may be built here.
Georgia - North Texas
Vandy - Wake (4-8, 12th in ACC)
Auburn - Washington St (6-6-, 7th in PAC12)
Alabama - Va Tech (5th in ACC)
LSU - TCU
Texas A&M - Rice

Other than SC that is putrid. Not saying Ohio St is any better (Cal or Buffalo) but in the most important category OSU has no losses. SEC teams get the benefit of the doubt when records are equal, I get it and don't disagree. But now they seem to want it even when records are not equal. I know the BCS is changing next year a little. But if somehow a one loss SEC team jumps over an undefeated FSU or OSU, this years championship game will be meaningless. That said, if OSU plays against MSU the way they did against UM they will get trounced.
FYI - The much maligned ACC that FSU completely dominated this year has 11 out of 14 teams bowl eligible. Thats more than any other conference (and a better %) which at least suggests that there are more mediocre teams and less bad teams than any other conference.

Georgia just won @ Georgia Tech. It was an incredible game to be at and I'm glad it went to 2 ot's since the final action was played right in front of me.

Sidenote, I don't feel as bad about what #25 from Tech did against us because he caused the same issues vs SEC talent. Thaat guys is a Sproles clone.

 

[Timonen]

The SEC should lose the strength of schedule in conference arguement due to the utter shite they schedule non league. Perhaps a 1 loss SEC team that has the balls to schedule like we do out of conference but not one with week 11 matchups with Furman, etc.

this is a bad year to argue it, but this point is nuts. bama and lsu play marquee ooc games every year. that their opponents had off years isn't their fault. ole miss played texas. florida played florida st. uga played clemson. msu played ok st. tenny played oregon. usc plays clemson. if you want to knock mizzou and auburn this year, be my guest...but overall the conference is scheduling big games.

 

[ImperialOrange]

this is a bad year to argue it, but this point is nuts. bama and lsu play marquee ooc games every year. that their opponents had off years isn't their fault. ole miss played texas. florida played florida st. uga played clemson. msu played ok st. tenny played oregon. usc plays clemson. if you want to knock mizzou and auburn this year, be my guest...but overall the conference is scheduling big games.

Aside from South Carolina the rest of the out of conference schedules look the same as those that we rip on Beamer, Rutgers, etc for.

 

[Alsacs]

All they are doing is playing 3 cream puffs and 1 good OOC game.

 

[Alsacs]

Which is fine, but because the conference has 14 teams and only plays 8 conference games means they play 2 or 3 tough games in conference each year. I look at the conference schedules of each team rather than say the conference is really strong. Alabama has played Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee as 7 of their last 10 SEC East opponents(not counting the SEC Title game) If Texas A&M didn't play Florida last year then Alabama doesn't win the SEC West and doesn't win the NC. Crap like this is never mentioned.

 

[Timonen]

Aside from South Carolina the rest of the out of conference schedules look the same as those that we rip on Beamer, Rutgers, etc for.

but that's where you need to actually consider the other in-conference teams. rutgers has uconn et al. every year. lsu has bama, auburn, florida, a&m, etc...plus georgia on fun years like this one. uga was tripped up ooc this year, but the conference pretty much handles those marquee games and the trip-ups happen in conference. again, i'm not arguing that they're vastly superior this year...but i don't think any other conference is all that great either so would give the sec the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Timonen]

All they are doing is playing 3 cream puffs and 1 good OOC game.

that's not an sec model, though. that's what everyone is doing...except for a lot of schools who play 4 cream puffs (ohio st, michigan st, oklahoma st, baylor).

 

[Alsacs]

but that's where you need to actually consider the other in-conference teams. rutgers has uconn et al. every year. lsu has bama, auburn, florida, a&m, etc...plus georgia on fun years like this one. uga was tripped up ooc this year, but the conference pretty much handles those marquee games and the trip-ups happen in conference. again, i'm not arguing that they're vastly superior this year...but i don't think any other conference is all that great either so would give the sec the benefit of the doubt.

LSU is the team that gets screwed more than any other SEC team and I am okay with them scheduling nobody in the non-conference each year. They play Florida, Alabama each year. Then depending on the strength of the SEC West have other tough games and this year got the whopper of @Georgia as well. Alabama with an 8 game schedule will never play Florida AND Georgia in the regular season unless one of them is in the SEC title game.

 

[NashvilleOrange]

I get tired of the SEC hype but seven titles in a row should give the conference every excuse to put a team in the national title. As for the preseason hype leading to a number of top 25 teams, it's definitely deserved. Just look at recruiting rankings - every team in the top 35- 40 and 9 or 10 teams in the top 20. The talent in the conference is a step above the rest.

 

[cuseincincy]

this is a bad year to argue it, but this point is nuts. bama and lsu play marquee ooc games every year. that their opponents had off years isn't their fault. ole miss played texas. florida played florida st. uga played clemson. msu played ok st. tenny played oregon. usc plays clemson. if you want to knock mizzou and auburn this year, be my guest...but overall the conference is scheduling big games.

But the SEC went 2-4 in those games you mention. Your kind of making my point. They don't always win when they schedule tough out of conference games.

 

[cuseincincy]

I get tired of the SEC hype but seven titles in a row should give the conference every excuse to put a team in the national title. As for the preseason hype leading to a number of top 25 teams, it's definitely deserved. Just look at recruiting rankings - every team in the top 35- 40 and 9 or 10 teams in the top 20. The talent in the conference is a step above the rest.

So we shoudl base pre season rankigns on recruiting rankings? Or are you just pointing out the similarity between the two.

 

[Timonen]

LSU is the team that gets screwed more than any other SEC team and I am okay with them scheduling nobody in the non-conference each year. They play Florida, Alabama each year. Then depending on the strength of the SEC West have other tough games and this year got the whopper of @Georgia as well. Alabama with an 8 game schedule will never play Florida AND Georgia in the regular season unless one of them is in the SEC title game.

But the SEC went 2-4 in those games you mention. Your kind of making my point. They don't always win when they schedule tough out of conference games.

. they're 4-4, right? bama and lsu won their games vs vtech and tcu. i'm not saying they're better, necessarily. i'm taking issue with the point that they don't schedule anyone. i'm saying their schedules, on the whole, are still at least as hard as anybody elses.