A lot was said this year about the SEC West going 28-0 outside of conference but let's take a look at how strong that indicator was:

1) Seven of the 28 OOC games were played against FCS (I-AA) opponents. The SEC teams won each handily.
2) 17 of the 28 games were against FBS schools that are outside of the so-called major five conferences. ALL 17 were played at the SEC West team's home field.
3) They played four games against so-called P5 teams: Alabama beat WVU (7-6) 33-24 in Atlanta, Arkansas won at Texas Tech (4-8) 49-28, Auburn won at Kansas State (9-4) 20-14, and LSU beat Wisconsin (11-3) 28-24 at a neutral field in a adjoining state to Louisiana. Ole Miss, Missisippi State, and Texas A&M did not face an opponent from one of the GMT conferences (Group of Most Televised).

When you look at those four wins are they really all that impressive to indicate that the SEC West is head-and-shoulders above their peers? And as for the other 24 OOC games how many did anyone really expect the SEC team to lose considering all were played at home?

At least the Big 12, Big 10, and ACC averaged at least one P5 five opponent per team (counting Notre Dame as a P5) and the PAC-12 played teams played eleven P5 schools out of only 37 OOC opportunities (29%, vs SEC West's 14%). I'm not trying to make a big deal about differentiating P5 versus G5, but if they want to feel superior to everyone else, play somebody. All they really did in my mind was was 24 games at home in games they were highly favored and won reasonably competetive games against decent but not great teams.

The funny thing is, SEC backers inlcuding those in the media are still using this 28-0 argument!?!!

Isn't that the point, though? There are so many incredibly awesome teams in the SEC that it would ruin college football if they played, and perish the thought, lost to one of those good G9 teams.

For all those sec lovers why don't they just make another nfl division and place the sec in it? They arrrreeee that good. For those that are taking my post seriously, I'm just kidding.

But has anyone from ESPN or at any national media level dissected this down like you have? 28-0 looks more awesome at face value than when you show how was obtained.

(01-03-2015 01:17 PM)Franko Wrote:  But has anyone from ESPN or at any national media level dissected this down like you have? 28-0 looks more awesome at face value than when you show how was obtained.

Do you think that they would care? I doubt it very much.

(01-03-2015 01:31 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  

(01-03-2015 11:55 AM)bigbelly Wrote:  ALL 17 were played at the SEC West team's home field.

For what it's worth, which isn't much, Mississippi State played at South Alabama and Texas A&M played at Southern Methodist.

Sorry, I guess I got a little over zealous on the home games, but nevertheless, 15 of 17 home games with the two away games being against a .500 South Alabama squad and possibly the worst FBS team in SMU.

(01-03-2015 05:49 PM)bigbelly Wrote:  

(01-03-2015 01:31 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  

(01-03-2015 11:55 AM)bigbelly Wrote:  ALL 17 were played at the SEC West team's home field.

For what it's worth, which isn't much, Mississippi State played at South Alabama and Texas A&M played at Southern Methodist.

Sorry, I guess I got a little over zealous on the home games, but nevertheless, 15 of 17 home games with the two away games being against a .500 South Alabama squad and possibly the worst FBS team in SMU.

But you left out one important detail. With the exception of very few games they were all worked by their league officials. That makes a huge difference also.

They didn't look so superior this time! Most of them had their asses handed to them. Hope it's a recurring progressive trend!