SEC Wilting Under the Weight of Alabama Greatness

[trojanfan12]

The thing is - our team has improved since then as well.

True, but USC has improved more than any other team in the country. Of course, we had more room for it than most other teams though.

Like I said, I think Bama still wins by double digits, just not the clownstomping you think it would still be.

Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[trojanfan12]

Btw, seems like only Bama fans could get butthurt in a thread talking about how great they are.

 

[4down20]

True, but USC has improved more than any other team in the country. Of course, we had more room for it than most other teams though.

Like I said, I think Bama still wins by double digits, just not the clownstomping you think it would still be.

Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

I agree on your improvement, but our front 7 is playing out of it's mind right now.

I'd be more worried about what your defense would do.

 

[socaljim242]

Got married in Vegas.

USC has improved over the year, but not to the degree being claimed.

Yeah , while I'm sure you're quite the football mind I'm gonna go with the guys who make their living on this.

 

[Tidergirl]

It matters for a couple of reasons. One, cupcakes are typically within the first game or 2 of the season when teams are getting started, working out kinks, and many haven't even started running their full offensive and defensive systems yet. They are essentially, scrimmages for the top teams.

Many teams in the SEC schedule 2 or 3 cupcakes at the beginning of the season and one towards the end of the season while other conferences are playing conference opponents and/or rivalry games. So, while other teams are putting their records and rankings at risk, SEC teams are taking a break.

Imo, all of this "my conference is better than your conference" stuff is a bunch of nonsense anyway. How can you determine that one conference is better than another when they aren't playing by the same rules?

I do agree with you 100%. but with saying that there are not any scheduling rules....I am just playing devils advocate... The SEC is manipulating their schedules to benefit them. Not a bad idea. I am not one of these conference honks by any means...

 

[Tidergirl]

Smart because it gives the teams in that conference an edge since they all can play another Chattagooga and one less game against a conference foe. Smart if your fans dont care they have to pay to see your team have a scrimmage against Chattanooga in November.
I'd rather have the possibility of a decent game than play Azuza Pacific in November for an easy win. Plenty of better things to do here if thats what we were given.

I absolutely hate it, and I think the fans get cheated by playing the cupcakes. I have no desire to go and spend money to watch Bama beat up on "children of the poor U"

 

[AlaskaGuy]

2016 Power 5 opponents by team and conference

ACC Atlantic
BC - 8 conference games = 8 P5
Clemson - 8 conference games + Auburn, USCe = 10 P5
FSU - 8 conference games + Ole Miss, UF = 10 P5
Louisville - 8 conference games + Kentucky = 9 P5
NC State - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
Syracuse - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
WF - 8 conference games + Indiana = 9 P5

ACC Coastal
Duke - 8 conference games + Northwestern, ND = 10 P5
GT - 8 conference games + Vandy, UGA = 10 P5
Miami - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5 (incomplete schedule)***
North Carolina - 8 conference games + UGA, Illinois = 10 P5
Pitt - 8 conference games + Penn St., Okie St. = 10 P5
UVA - 8 conference games + Oregon = 9 P5
VT - 8 conference games + Tennessee, ND = 10 P5

Total: 132 / 14 = 9.428 P5


B1G East
Indiana - 9 conference games + WF = 10 P5
Maryland - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Michigan - 9 conference games + Colorado = 10 P5
MSU - 9 conference games + ND, BYU = 11 P5
Ohio St. - 9 conference games + Oklahoma = 10 P5
Penn St. - 9 conference games + Pitt = 10 P5
Rutgers - 9 conference games + Washington = 10 P5

B1G West
Illinois - 9 conference games + North Carolina = 10 P5
Iowa - 9 conference games + Iowa St. = 10 P5
Minnesota - 9 conference games + Oregon St. = 10 P5
Nebraska - 9 conference games + Oregon = 10 P5
Northwestern - 9 conference games + Duke = 10 P5
Purdue - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Wisconsin - 9 conference games + LSU = 10 P5

Total: 139 / 14 = 9.928 P5


Big 12
Baylor - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Iowa St. - 9 conference games + Iowa = 10 P5
Kansas - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Kansas St. - 9 conference games + Stanford = 10 P5
Oklahoma - 9 conference games + Ohio St. = 10 P5
Oklahoma St. - 9 conference games + Pitt = 10 P5
TCU - 9 conference games + Arkansas = 10 P5
Texas - 9 conference games + ND, Cal = 11 P5
TT - 9 conference games + Arizona St. = 10 P5
WVU - 9 conference games + Missouri, BYU = 11 P5

Total: 100 / 10 = 10 P5


PAC North
Cal - 9 conference games + Texas = 10 P5
Stanford - 9 conference games + Kansas St., ND = 11 P5
Oregon - 9 conference games + Virginia, Nebraska = 11 P5
Oregon St. - 9 conference games + Minny = 10 P5
Washington - 9 conference games + Rutgers = 10 P5
Washington St. - 9 conference games = 9 P5

PAC South
Arizona - 9 conference games + BYU = 10 P5
Arizona St. - 9 conference games + TT = 10 P5
Colorado - 9 conference games + Michigan = 10 P5
Utah - 9 conference games + BYU = 10 P5
UCLA - 9 conference games + TAMU, BYU = 11 P5
USC - 9 conference games + Alabama, ND = 11 P5

Total: 123 / 12 = 10.25 P5


SEC East
UF - 8 conference games + FSU = 9 P5
UGA - 8 conference games + North Carolina, GT = 10 P5
UK - 8 conference games + Louisville = 9 P5
Mizzou - 8 conference games + WVU = 9 P5
SCAR - 8 conference games + Clemson = 9 P5
UT - 8 conference games + VT = 9 P5
Vandy - 8 conference games + GT = 9 P5

SEC West
Alabama - 8 conference games + USC = 9 P5
Arkansas - 8 conference games + TCU = 9 P5
Auburn - 8 conference games + Clemson = 9 P5
LSU - 8 conference games + Wiscy = 9 P5
Miss. St. - 8 conference games + BYU = 9 P5
Ole Miss - 8 conference games + FSU = 9 P5
TAMU - 8 conference games + UCLA = 9 P5

Total: 127 / 14 = 9.071 P5


SEC to count independents for Power 5 quota

Big Ten to Count Army, 3 AAC Teams as Power Five Opponents

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree on your improvement, but our front 7 is playing out of it's mind right now.

I'd be more worried about what your defense would do.

From what I've seen, your front 7 has been playing out of it's mind all year long. It would definitely be interesting to see what Darnold could do against them, especially since our o-line has been playing a bit better as well.

No doubt that Bama's front 7 gets to him some. But I also think that Darnold would be able to make a few plays as well. He's not the statue that Browne was and the kid just doesn't seem to panic at all. He almost seems to throw better on the move than from the pocket.

I think our defense would a good bit better than in that first game. But we just don't have the depth there to be able to contain your offense for as long we'd need to win the game. Especially since it looks like Hurts is the real deal at qb.

 

[trojanfan12]

I do agree with you 100%. but with saying that there are not any scheduling rules....I am just playing devils advocate... The SEC is manipulating their schedules to benefit them. Not a bad idea. I am not one of these conference honks by any means...

Oh, I absolutely agree that what the SEC does is smart and definitely benefits the conference as a whole. I just wish the NCAA would set things up so that all conferences are playing by the same rules. I really don't care if it's every conference must play 8 conference games or 9. I just want to see everyone play the same number so that it, hopefully, eliminates much of the advantage.

Until that happens though, the SEC should absolutely continue to do what it's doing because it's obviously working.

 

[Droopdog51]

The rest of the SEC is down this year. Luckily they only play 8 conference games to pad there win totals with shit jv teams.

You mean like Rutgers, Idaho, & Portland State?

 

[AlaskaGuy]

You mean like Rutgers, Idaho, & Portland State?

The SEC has 4 OOC games and they schedule one decent OOC game and three cupcakes. The Rutgers game ... which is a home & away series btw, was scheduled four years ago when Rutgers was going bowling on a yearly bases.

 

[Droopdog51]

Going Bowling only takes 6 wins. Not a real good indication of a good team.

Washington has played 3 teams that were ranked at game time.
An over rated #7 Stanford that they crushed.
#17 Utah where the winning score was controversial.
#19 USC that they lost.

Yet, somehow the SEC has an advantage because they only play 8 conference games?

 

[AlaskaGuy]

Going Bowling only takes 6 wins. Not a real good indication of a good team.

Washington has played 3 teams that were ranked at game time.
An over rated #7 Stanford that they crushed.
#17 Utah where the winning score was controversial.
#19 USC that they lost.

Yet, somehow the SEC has an advantage because they only play 8 conference games?

And that is the reason the SEC plays a pathetic 8 game conference schedule. It's a fvk lot easier to get those SEC teams bowl eligible with an 8 game conference schedule. What kind of no testicle conference would have 14 members yet only play an 8 game conference schedule. Some SEC teams meet twice every ten years if they're lucky. The SEC teams play 1 less P5 team on average vs their PAC counterparts.

 

[Droopdog51]

So it's ok for Washington to have 3 cupcakes on the schedule because they play 9 conference games. Gotcha.

 

[Wild Turkey]

The only conference that comes close to the SEC right now is the Big10. I would say they are a little heavier at the top and the SEC is a little heavier in the middle.

Bowls will be interesting.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

So it's ok for Washington to have 3 cupcakes on the schedule because they play 9 conference games. Gotcha.

Again Washington scheduled Rutgers four years ago in a home & away series when Rutgers was going bowling year in and year out. An actual home & away series with a halfway decent P5 team at the time. And again the PAC teams average 10 P5 games when their SEC counterparts average 9. Go figure eh.

 

[8085sooner]

Step on up SEC #2, if OU wins out, we get to play. I want a rematch with either UF or LSU.

 

[Volbound1700]

So what is to stop me from calling an Alabama player and offering him money? Once he accepts, I call the NCAA and turn myself plus Alabama in for cheating. That would end the dynasty .

 

[Malibu]

Go Gators!!! Peace.

 

[trojanfan12]

Going Bowling only takes 6 wins. Not a real good indication of a good team.

Washington has played 3 teams that were ranked at game time.
An over rated #7 Stanford that they crushed.
#17 Utah where the winning score was controversial.
#19 USC that they lost.

Yet, somehow the SEC has an advantage because they only play 8 conference games?

The advantage is in the lack of the additional conference game. That's one extra game against a team that knows them well and is highly motivated to beat them vs. a game against a team that is there to pick up a paycheck.

Going bowling is actually a pretty good indicator of how good a team is. A 6 win team is at least good enough to win half of their games. It's better than scheduling some low level mid-major or FCS team that likely couldn't win a game in a P5 conference.

Washington did "schedule down" as they were trying to re-build their program and it's hurting them as it should. However the PAC, as a whole, tends to schedule fairly aggressively OOC and does take on the added risk of playing 9 conference opponents rather than just 8 and an additional cupcake.

Also, those cupcakes are additional home games for the 8 conference game teams while the 9th conference game could be on the road.

Also, as AG points out, at the time the home and home was set up, Rutgers wasn't bad.