From Rich Bozich's 'notes' column today...

When I compare USC's non-conference schedule with the cream puffery practiced by the Southeastern Conference, I smile at the folks who scream that SEC football is the greatest thing since Derby Pie.

 

According to Sagarin, Florida's highest-ranked nonconference opponent will be Florida State, which the Gators play Saturday. Sagarin ranks the Seminoles 50th.

 

Arkansas played USC at home -- and lost 50-14. The average Sagarin rating of the Hogs' three other non-league opponents (Utah State, Southeast Missouri State and dangerous Louisiana-Monroe) is 171.3. There are 119 NCAA Division I-A teams.

 

Nobody does home-cookin' like the SEC. A third of its 12 teams didn't play a non-conference road game.

 

SEC teams played 39 of their 48 non-conference games at home. That's 81.3 percent. Big East teams played 60 percent of their non-conference games at home, and Big Ten teams 70 percent.

 

The average Sagarin rating for the SEC's 48 non-league opponents -- a robust 106.4. The average Sagarin rating for the Big East's 40 non-league opponents is 94. The Big Ten number is 87.9.

 

SEC teams scheduled three road games against top-40 teams. So far the league is 0-2.

 

The SEC's most impressive non-conference road win?

 

Mississippi State's 16-10 overtime win over Alabama Birmingham, which is ranked 124th.

 

Read the SEC bylaws. It says schedule at least three embarrassingly easy non-league games -- unless you can get away with four. Win at least half your league games. Keep chanting, "The SEC is the greatest."

 

Some people will believe you.

If USC had to play in a conference like the SEC year in and year out then they would not be scheduling such a tough non-conference schedule. I believe teams should try to schedule 1 tough non-conference opponent every year. Sometimes it doesnt work out. UL played Miami and Florida plays Fla St. Neither are any good this year. Really the 2 teams that need to be criticized the most is LSU and Auburn.

If USC had to play in a conference like the SEC year in and year out then they would not be scheduling such a tough non-conference schedule. I believe teams should try to schedule 1 tough non-conference opponent every year. Sometimes it doesnt work out. UL played Miami and Florida plays Fla St. Neither are any good this year. Really the 2 teams that need to be criticized the most is LSU and Auburn.

 

I am not sure if there is a way to amend this problem, but I would like to see it as a requirement that in order to be eligible for a national title, two of your OOC games must be against BCS conference opponents (or just one, in this case it would have to be on the road).

The problem with Bozich's argument is that the majority of television analysts and radio talk show hosts (w/o an agenda) agree that the SEC is the strongest.

The SEC is the greatest! The SEC is the greatest!

 

 

Even is the SEC does schedule softly in the non-con, does that necessarily mean the conference as a whole isn't the best?

If you look at scheduling on all levels of football most coaches do what they need too to make their teams better. Take Danville on the high school level as an example. In district play they normally have one competive district game; therefore they schedule a very tough non-district slate. The same I think can be said for USC. That's why SEC teams schedule lightly ooc they beat each other up so much during the regular season. Bozichs arguement does nothing for me. If playing in your own conference keeps up your sos why bother taking a chance.

So he picks the best team in the PAC-10 to use as a comparison. On top of that USC probably plays the hardest OOC schedule of any team in the country. Its funny he didn't bother to compare any of the other teams in the PAC 10.

So he picks the best team in the PAC-10 to use as a comparison. On top of that USC probably plays the hardest OOC schedule of any team in the country. Its funny he didn't bother to compare any of the other teams in the PAC 10.

None of the other Pac-10 teams claim they deserve to be in the title game.

None of the other Pac-10 teams claim they deserve to be in the title game.

 

So the two 1 loss SEC teams don't have a case to be in the NT game? If you want to base claim on the NT game to OOC schedule then WVU, UofL, and Rutgers never had a leg to stand on.

Funny........

Jim Rome's guest host just spent 30 minutes talking about how great the SEC is and how bad, REALLY bad the PAC 10 is.

 

And he is an admitted Pac 10 junkie.

:sleep:

:sleep:

 

 

I agree, just another sad attempt.

From Rich Bozich's 'notes' column today...

Man you UL fans sure love to get the ball rolling on these "SEC isn't the best threads", what is this like the second one of these threads in two days. Funny.

Colin Cowherd said today that if you take USC out of the Pac-10 your left with the Big East. :laugh: And he's a Pac-10 homer.

Colin Cowherd said today that if you take USC out of the Pac-10 your left with the Big East. :laugh: And he's a Pac-10 homer.

 

Ouch!!!