(05-09-2013 03:08 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-09-2013 10:39 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(05-09-2013 08:18 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(05-08-2013 11:00 AM)JRsec Wrote:  Until we get to 16 Bama just needs to relax and let Auburn move to the East and Missouri to the West. 9 conference games with two permanent rivals might get that done. We'll see.

Bama can relax with the current arrangement for right now. I think we need to see whether or not Mizzou in the East is a determent to the schools' integration into the SEC or if they need the western rival to gin up the necessary fan interest.

I've previously mentioned that there are only two permanent cross division rivals that matter, UT/Bama and UGA/Auburn. There is nothing stopping the other 10 schools to schedule however they desire while leaving these two games intact.

Bama can relax because this year they are looking at playing the easiest schedule in the SEC. But LSU and Florida are tired of having to play each other every year just so Alabama can play Tennessee every year.

In 1992 each conference school had two protected rivals. Auburn held onto Georgia and Florida. Alabama held onto Tennessee and Vanderbilt. That of course meant they had a game advantage over both L.S.U. and Auburn every year. Those putzes have always wanted the advantage. In my opinion when they no longer get those scheduling perks the SEC will truly be a fellowship of equals from the standpoint of revenue and scheduling.

For the past two season UGA had the easiest sked in the SEC. I'm not saying that 'Bama didn't influence who they played in 2013, just that one of the top always ends up that advantage. You also have to acknowledge that the SEC eliminated the 2 protected rivalry once competition inconsistencies began to spring up.

Honestly, I happen to believe 15 is the perfect number of teams for the conference in that it would allow for three division and allow the SEC to maintain an 8 conference schedule. Three division winner and a wild card team would create two semis before the SEC championship and would dovetail nicely into the new CFB Playoffs.

Of course the problem with my setup (or any scenerio beyond 14 IMO) is no one wants to really be in the same division as Bama and putting the MS teams in with them would only increase the probability of the appearance in the SEC postseason.