I think that the SEC is a darn fine conference. In my opinion, the Irish schedule is not as top heavy as an SEC schedule is. Our best opponents this year aren't as good as the SEC's top opponents. That's more a function of those good Irish opponents falling off this year. It's not a scheduling problem.
That said, we don't have any "gimmie" wins...unless you count Navy this year. It's tough to win against legit teams week in and week out.
No doubt they're good. But I was looking at Bama's schedule and I really wasn't that impressed. They played two good teams LSU and TAMU. Only one of those games on the road. They will obviously have another tough game against UGA coming up.
09/01/12 vs. Michigan Arlington, Texas W, 41-14
09/08/12 vs. Western Kentucky Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 35-0
09/15/12 at Arkansas * Fayetteville, Ark. W, 52-0
09/22/12 vs. Florida Atlantic Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 40-7
09/29/12 vs. Ole Miss * Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 33-14
10/13/12 at Missouri * Columbia, Mo. W, 42-10
10/20/12 at Tennessee * Knoxville, Tenn. W, 44-13
10/27/12 vs. Mississippi State * Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 38-7
11/03/12 at LSU * Baton Rouge, La. W, 21-17
11/10/12 vs. Texas A&M * Tuscaloosa, Ala. L, 29-24
11/17/12 vs. Western Carolina Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 49-0
11/24/12 vs. Auburn * Tuscaloosa, Ala. 2:3