The SEC

[Timugen]

Is anyone else sick and tired of this logic?

1. ASSUME (preseason) that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football.

2. SEC teams beat up on teams the much-maligned service academies would kill as well.

3. Prove ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when playing OOC games against the few legitimate/semi-legitamate opponenents scheduled.

4. Beat each other up in your conference schedule and whine about the conference cannibalizing itself because all the teams are so great (despite proving nothing against anyone but each other.)

5. Fall back on the ASSumption (1.)

and conclude:

6. The SEC is the NFL-light, by and far tougher than any other conference/schedule in college football.

I'm sorry, but I'm sick of the same BS logic year after year, and I have a feeling it will be exposed in this year's Bowl Games. But of course, it will start all over again before next year.


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I would like to ammend this post......

It's rather interesting that if one were to take away #1 (the assumption) this appears to be a very similar situation to the Big East teams this year. "Prove" yourself by going undefeated against unproven teams in your conference, then the teams that make it through without losing "prove" themselves by beating another team that managed to not lose against the same unproven competition. Oh yeah, and then get their a$$es handed to them by Cincinnati. And in a attempt to temper some of the flaming I'm sure to get from this I want to make a very clear distinction: I said similar; not the same.

But God forbid anyone question that ASSumption that makes the SEC the hardest conference in college football.

 

[kjones]

It seems like that's the way it works, you hit it right on the head. I can never seem to make sense of why people fall for this either.

 

[johnnd05]

Amen.

 

[Satans Little Helper]

Is anyone else sick and tired of this logic?

1. ASSUME (preseason) that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football.

2. SEC teams beat up on teams the much-maligned service academies would kill as well.

3. Prove ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when playing OOC games against the few legitimate/semi-legitamate opponenents scheduled.

4. Beat each other up in your conference schedule and whine about the conference cannibalizing itself because all the teams are so great (despite proving nothing against anyone but each other.)

5. Fall back on the ASSumption (1.)

and conclude:

6. The SEC is the NFL-light, by and far tougher than any other conference/schedule in college football.

I'm sorry, but I'm sick of the same BS logic year after year, and I have a feeling it will be exposed in this year's Bowl Games. But of course, it will start all over again before next year.


------------------------
I would like to ammend this post......

It's rather interesting that if one were to take away #1 (the assumption) this appears to be a very similar situation to the Big East teams this year. "Prove" yourself by going undefeated against unproven teams in your conference, then the teams that make it through without losing "prove" themselves by beating another team that managed to not lose against the same unproven competition. Oh yeah, and then get their a$$es handed to them by Cincinnati. And in a attempt to temper some of the flaming I'm sure to get from this I want to make a very clear distinction: I said similar; not the same.

But God forbid anyone question that ASSumption that makes the SEC the hardest conference in college football.

First of all i am a ND fan my whole life. Second I have lived in the south for most of my life after moving from Northern KY. If you need answers to your above assumptions, you need only look at the end of season rankings for the top 7 SEC teams. There are 9 SEC teams going to a bowl this year. And yes if Michigan or OSu or USC has to play LSU, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee every year, then I could possibly think they would not be able to run through their conference like they did this year. As much as you like t think the SEC is not the toughest conference top to bottom, I have to say IMO it is.

Look at the SEC rankings right now going into bowl games
Florida #2, LSU #4, Auburn #9, Arkansas #12, Tenn #17. 5 top 25 teams. I looked and Florida beat all of them except Auburn, their only loss. And to play them back to back.

They dont have to schedule outside of their conference. I dont blame them. They have A+ schedules every year. Arkansas did schedule USC for a home and home. (Dont mention the fact they lost. it was their fisrst game and it was a blowout we all know, without McFadden.)

By the way i have never even seen a comparison between the Big East and the SEC. There is no comparison. What Louisville v Ky? Ky has lost that game for years and will never be competitive against Louisville. WVU v Georgia? Came out like gamebusters only to almost lose that game. I would say UGA players did not respect the speed. but WVU D was awful and almost gave it up in the end.

No other conference can hold a candle to the SEC

 

[Katzenboyer]

The SEC is the toughest conference in the NCAA right now, bar none.

I didn't bother reading your entire post, because it seemed to be arguing otherwise.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

Some people will never understand that rankings don't provide proof that the SEC is the best conference. Theoretically, we could rank the top 7 MAC teams in the top ten. If they don't play anyone outside of their conference, how do you prove they don't deserve the ranking?

All the postings defending the SEC have either been based on ranking, making excuses for why they lost OOC games or ignoring the whole argument and saying they didn't read the post because they disagree with the premise.

There is ONE way to prove the SEC is the toughest conference, go out and beat teams from other good conferences on a regular basis. They simply haven't done it.

Stop believing everything you hear on ESPN. And if you are not going to read an entire post, please do not comment on it. It is disrespectful and ignorant.

 

[Guest]

Tenn, Bama, Aub,Florida,Georgia, and LSU are all elite programs that recruit excellent talent every year. No other conference in the country can match that fire power, the Big Ten for example only has what I'd consider three elite schools in PSU, Mich, and OSU.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I'll concede that they are really good teams, but none really seperate themselves from the truly elite. Alabama has been crap for years. Last year's team squeeked by on defense. Whether SEC fans like it or not, the "elite" teams are being called out every year for a reason. USC goes out and beats good OOC opponents. tOSU goes out and plays Texas and vice versa. USC, tOSU and Texas are the dominant teams over the last few years. Why? Because they go OOC and BEAT people while SEC teams sit at home and TALK about how good they are.

If the SEC "elite" are so damn dominant why can't they dominate bowl games? They are average at best in bowl games . No more lip service from SEC teams. BEAT people.

 

[Aerosmith777]

I think the SEC is definetely a tough conference, and overall (not just in one particular year) they are the toughest conference around top to bottom. But I do also hate this myth that the SEC is always the toughest conference. And it REALLY annoys me when I hear fans (and worse, media members) assume a team had a tough SOS just b/c they're an SEC team, w/o actually looking at SOS rankings or the season as a whole. And similarly, discounting another team's SOS against an SEC team w/o looking at any of the rankings just b/c of the conference they're in (or not in, in the case of ND-actually, this annoys me just in general, not particularly w/ the SEC).

For example, of the top 5 SEC schools this year, 3 of them have Sagarin SOS below ND (LSU, Auburn, & Arkansas), 1 has a SOS ranked one spot ahead (Florida), and the fifth is 8 spots ahead (Tennessee 11/ND 19). Yet their schedules are never maligned the way ND's is, b/c "they're in the SEC." And none of them are anywhere near the top schools in the Pac-10 this year, who have schedules ranked 2nd, 6th, 10th, 3rd, 7th and 9th. The Pac-10 was a much tougher conference this season to me than the SEC, but no one wants to say that on the national stage.

 

[scooper]

I love watching the SEC. I think they are the toughest conference top to bottom. However, I don't think they are the end all and be all that they are made out to be. And I do think their OOC scheduling practices are terrible.

I think their defenses as a whole are the best group in the country. But that is inflated some by stone aged or high school offenses. LSU does seem to be one exception. I like Jimbo Fisher.

Bottom line, yes the conference is good. Probably the best. But that doesn't make them slam dunk winners against tough teams from outside their conference.

 

[irish4life99]

The SEC is the toughest conference in the NCAA right now, bar none.

I didn't bother reading your entire post, because it seemed to be arguing otherwise.

Care to add any substance back up your claim or do we just take your word for it?

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I think the term "toughest" is what puts people on different pages. Toughest meaning they have more teams of equal ability? Yes. Toughest meaning their teams are better than everyone elses? No.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Is anyone else sick and tired of this logic?

1. ASSUME (preseason) that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football.

2. SEC teams beat up on teams the much-maligned service academies would kill as well.

3. Prove ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when playing OOC games against the few legitimate/semi-legitamate opponenents scheduled.

4. Beat each other up in your conference schedule and whine about the conference cannibalizing itself because all the teams are so great (despite proving nothing against anyone but each other.)

5. Fall back on the ASSumption (1.)

and conclude:

6. The SEC is the NFL-light, by and far tougher than any other conference/schedule in college football.

I'm sorry, but I'm sick of the same BS logic year after year, and I have a feeling it will be exposed in this year's Bowl Games. But of course, it will start all over again before next year.

I think you are right in many ways here. While I think the SEC seems to have a lot of talented teams, you really can't get perspective.

Just like the Miami-FSU game early this year. Both teams blow chunks, but the announcers were just ooing and ahing over how good each Defense was. LOL

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I think you are right in many ways here. While I think the SEC seems to have a lot of talented teams, you really can't get perspective.

Just like the Miami-FSU game early this year. Both teams blow chunks, but the announcers were just ooing and ahing over how good each Defense was. LOL

That is a GREAT point.

 

[nd1]

there are good teams in every conf. but more in sec.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

there are good teams in every conf. but more in sec.

I agree it seems that way this year...but we will have to see how those teams fair against teams OUTSIDE their conference.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I agree it seems that way this year...but we will have to see how those teams fair against teams OUTSIDE their conference.

This is a concept some can't or refuse to understand.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

This is a concept some can't or refuse to understand.

It's easy to assume you are the greatest when everyone is trying to give you a reach around... That being said, it will be interesting to see how FL and Ark fare in their bowl games.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

It's easy to assume you are the greatest when everyone is trying to give you a reach around... That being said, it will be interesting to see how FL and Ark fare in their bowl games.

There is a TON of pressure on Florida. They are representing the whole SEC and having to defend the idea they've been selling that the SEC champion deserves to play in the national championship ahead of any other 1 loss teams. If they lose(and lose big) it would really damage that facade of dominance they are trying to shove down our throats.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

There is a TON of pressure on Florida. They are representing the whole SEC and having to defend the idea they've been selling that the SEC champion deserves to play in the national championship ahead of any other 1 loss teams. If they lose(and lose big) it would really damage that facade of dominance they are trying to shove down our throats.

Yeah...

To be honest, my concern is that LSU is actually the BEST team in the SEC...and we have to face them. Ugh.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

Let me just throw this out there...

If UF loses to OSU & LSU loses to ND, that would mean the last two SEC Champions lost their Bowl games and the last 2 SEC Representatives lost in their Sugar Bowl games. IF that happens, what could SEC fans possibly say?

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Let me just throw this out there...

If UF loses to OSU & LSU loses to ND, that would mean the last two SEC Champions lost their Bowl games and the last 2 SEC Representatives lost in their Sugar Bowl games. IF that happens, what could SEC fans possibly say?

They will say the teams are really better, but made some silly mistakes or did not show up... There is always an excuse.

 

[nd1]

well lets be honest nobody has beaten osu and probably won't.michigan got lucky to be yjat close. it took 3 turnovers to make it a three point game.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

well lets be honest nobody has beaten osu and probably won't.michigan got lucky to be yjat close. it took 3 turnovers to make it a three point game.

That's the point. SEC teams have painted themselves into a corner. If the SEC is so dominant, then their Champ must be dominant. Unfortunately for them, this is not the case. Any now it is popular to say LSU is actually the best team in the league. Well, if they don't beat lowly Notre dame, what would that say about the SEC?

Big time pressure for the SEC this bowl season. Let's see if they put their money where their mouth is.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

That's the point. SEC teams have painted themselves into a corner. If the SEC is so dominant, then their Champ must be dominant. Unfortunately for them, this is not the case. Any now it is popular to say LSU is actually the best team in the league. Well, if they don't beat lowly Notre dame, what would that say about the SEC?

Big time pressure for the SEC this bowl season. Let's see if they put their money where their mouth is.

The Big Ten is supposed to be a joke compared to the SEC...I guess we will see how that plays out in January.

 

[maison bleu]

Is anyone else sick and tired of this logic?

1. ASSUME (preseason) that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football.

2. SEC teams beat up on teams the much-maligned service academies would kill as well.

3. Prove ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when playing OOC games against the few legitimate/semi-legitamate opponenents scheduled.

4. Beat each other up in your conference schedule and whine about the conference cannibalizing itself because all the teams are so great (despite proving nothing against anyone but each other.)

5. Fall back on the ASSumption (1.)

and conclude:

6. The SEC is the NFL-light, by and far tougher than any other conference/schedule in college football.

I'm sorry, but I'm sick of the same BS logic year after year, and I have a feeling it will be exposed in this year's Bowl Games. But of course, it will start all over again before next year.


------------------------
I would like to ammend this post......

It's rather interesting that if one were to take away #1 (the assumption) this appears to be a very similar situation to the Big East teams this year. "Prove" yourself by going undefeated against unproven teams in your conference, then the teams that make it through without losing "prove" themselves by beating another team that managed to not lose against the same unproven competition. Oh yeah, and then get their a$$es handed to them by Cincinnati. And in a attempt to temper some of the flaming I'm sure to get from this I want to make a very clear distinction: I said similar; not the same.

But God forbid anyone question that ASSumption that makes the SEC the hardest conference in college football.

People who don't live in conferences shouldn't throw stones.

We don't even need to talk about this. Settle in on the field. Superdome, Jan 1. Whack LSU first, THEN talk trash about the SEC.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

People who don't live in conferences shouldn't throw stones.

We don't even need to talk about this. Settle in on the field. Superdome, Jan 1. Whack LSU first, THEN talk trash about the SEC.

And people who do should keep their feelings about ND to themselves too, right?

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Here are the SEC bowl games:

1) Bama vs OK State (OK State is mediocre, but this should be good matchup)
2) SC vs Houston (Houston sucks big time...there is no way around it...10-3 with a loss to MIAMI)
3) Kentucky vs Clemson (Clemson should be favored here, if KY pulls it off, I will be impressed)
4) Georgia vs VT (even matchup, should be interesting)
5) Tennessee vs Penn State (PSU is way outmatched...their record does not reflect how bad they are)
6) Auburn vs Nebraska (advantage Auburn)
7) Arkansas vs Wisconsin (Wisconsin had super easy schedule, they should lose big)
8) LSU vs ND (ND is way outgunned, we know that...if LSU wins by less than 1 TD it would not reflect well on them)
9) UF vs tOSU (OSU favored, FL winning would be big upset)

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

People who don't live in conferences shouldn't throw stones.

We don't even need to talk about this. Settle in on the field. Superdome, Jan 1. Whack LSU first, THEN talk trash about the SEC.

We are lucky that we are not in a conference...it helps SoS most years.

Throwing stones at them does not make sense though... But the nice thing about most conferences is that you are guaranteed to play some really easy teams in conference, not to mention out of conference.

In the coming years, ND will be scaling some of its schedule back to be a bit easier, like the various BCS conferences. That will be an interesting change.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

Here are the SEC bowl games:

1) Bama vs OK State OSU
2) SC vs Houston SC
3) Kentucky vs Clemson Clemson
4) Georgia vs VT VT
5) Tennessee vs Penn State UT
(6) Auburn vs Nebraska Toss-Up, but I think Nebraska
7) Arkansas vs Wisconsin Ark
8) LSU vs ND LSU on paper, but the homer in me says ND
9) UF vs tOSU OSU

Out of 9 games, I think they win 4-5.