The SEC Bias in Polls is Ridiculous

[ellupo]

You go back and look at every season the SEC won the championship and look at the road taken by the champ and tell me the schedule wasn't brutal...

Last year. Just because TAMU went from middle of the road to beat Bama does not mean their schedule was tough. They had one tough game on the schedule in LSU and then the CCG. With 8 conference games and only 1 tough scheduled. On top of that Bama has not had much trouble before last year with the winner of the east. Please tell me how Arky, Ole Miss, Mizzou, TN, Miss. St. and Auburn were "brutal".

 

[SEC Official]

Ellupo,

Let me go ahead and do the research for you.

2012: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #13, #5, #15, #3 (OOC games were against #8 and #1)
2011: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #14, #12, #1, #1 again (OOC games were against #23)
2010: Auburn: -- in the SEC they played #12, #6, #9, #18 (OOC they played #2)
2009: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #20, #9, #22, #1 (OOC they played #7 and #2)
2008: Florida -- in the SEC they played #4, #8, #24, #1 (OOC they played #1 and #23)
2007: LSU -- in the SEC they played #12, #9, #17, #18, #17 again, #14 (OOC they played #9 and #1)
2006: Florida -- in the SEC they played #13, #9, #11, #8 (OOC they played #1)

Please call bullshit on that... ? You can't... sure, any 1 or 2 teams... you can say they were overrated... that there is some big ESPN and BCS SEC conspiracy... but in the end they played a SHIT LOAD of tough competition and won. They all even played the best the other conferences had to offer and won....

No bullshit there... but oh yea, let's focus on those 2-3 OOC games against cupcakes...

 

[night]

... At being this butthurt over WEEK 3 polls! There's a lot more football to be played!!!

Seriously. Plus this isn't even the poll that counts!

 

[SEC Official]

Seriously. Plus this isn't even the poll that counts!

Sure it is... but only when it supports someone's argument. If it doesn't we hear non-stop about OOC road games, lack of travel, bowls being in warm climates like the SEC (go figure), ESPN conspiracies, BCS conspiracies....

It is kind of ridiculous... all the while other conferences have their chance on the field and don't even come close. Outside Oregon and Auburn.. which wasn't as close as the score indicated, they have all been blowouts.

 

[uncfan103]

Ellupo,

Let me go ahead and do the research for you.

2012: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #13, #5, #15, #3 (OOC games were against #8 and #1)
2011: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #14, #12, #1, #1 again (OOC games were against #23)
2010: Auburn: -- in the SEC they played #12, #6, #9, #18 (OOC they played #2)
2009: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #20, #9, #22, #1 (OOC they played #7 and #2)
2008: Florida -- in the SEC they played #4, #8, #24, #1 (OOC they played #1 and #23)
2007: LSU -- in the SEC they played #12, #9, #17, #18, #17 again, #14 (OOC they played #9 and #1)
2006: Florida -- in the SEC they played #13, #9, #11, #8 (OOC they played #1)

Please call bullshit on that... ? You can't... sure, any 1 or 2 teams... you can say they were overrated... that there is some big ESPN and BCS SEC conspiracy... but in the end they played a SHIT LOAD of tough competition and won. They all even played the best the other conferences had to offer and won....

No bullshit there... but oh yea, let's focus on those 2-3 OOC games against cupcakes...

2012: Alabama in conference played Mississippi St., LSU, aTm and the CCG
2011: Alabama played Arkansas, LSU, Florida and Auburn
2011: LSU played Florida, Auburn, Alabama, and Arkansas and CCG.


Big Ten champions
2012: Ohio State played Michigan St., Nebraska, Michigan and would've played a CCG
2011: Wisconsin played Nebraska, Penn St., Michigan St. and the CCG

Pac 12 champions
2012: Stanford played USC, Oregon St., Oregon, UCLA, and CCG
2011: Oregon played Arizona State, Stanford, USC, and the CCG

I don't see such a big difference in the schedules of the conference champions...do you?

 

[Rolltide94]

michigan dropped 4 spots even though they won, im sorry but that would NEVER happen to an SEC team

Didn't Florida drop from 10 to 12 after winning against Toledo 24-6?

Toledo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Akron

 

[bksballer89]

You go back and look at every season the SEC won the championship and look at the road taken by the champ and tell me the schedule wasn't brutal...

What was so brutal about Bama schedule last year? 3 out of their 12 regular season game can be considered as tough

 

[Rolltide94]

What was so brutal about Bama schedule last year? 3 out of their 12 regular season game can be considered as tough

Ok, please show me the team that you think played a tough schedule. Quite frankly everybody in College Football plays a relatively weak schedule. Florida was widely considered to have the toughest schedule in the country by a significant margin and they had 5 "tough" games. 99.5% of the teams in college football have 2-4 legit games on their schedule...yet you find it necessary to make a big deal about one with 3...I wouldn't even consider 3 to be below average.

 

[bksballer89]

Ok, please show me the team that you think played a tough schedule. Quite frankly everybody in College Football plays a relatively weak schedule. Florida was widely considered to have the toughest schedule in the country by a significant margin and they had 5 "tough" games. 99.5% of the teams in college football have 2-4 legit games on their schedule...yet you find it necessary to make a big deal about one with 3...I wouldn't even consider 3 to be below average.

I'm not disagreeing you but to say a team that had 2-3 tough game had a brutal schedule is outrageous IMO.

I think a schedule with 5 tough games can be considered as brutal....3 not so much

 

[4down20]

I'm not disagreeing you but to say a team that had 2-3 tough game had a brutal schedule is outrageous IMO.

I think a schedule with 5 tough games can be considered as brutal....3 not so much

As with all things you have to put them in the proper context, which in the case of SoS is to compare them with other teams.

And when you are looking at top teams, they get some kickdown in that because they can't play themselves. IE: By default Miss St is going to have a harder conference schedule than Alabama.

 

[Gator]

Last year. Just because TAMU went from middle of the road to beat Bama does not mean their schedule was tough. They had one tough game on the schedule in LSU and then the CCG. With 8 conference games and only 1 tough scheduled. On top of that Bama has not had much trouble before last year with the winner of the east. Please tell me how Arky, Ole Miss, Mizzou, TN, Miss. St. and Auburn were "brutal".

For starters NO OSU fan should be calling out others about SOS.
Tex A&M played 2 AP top 10 teams and 4 AP ranked teams compared to ZERO AP top 10 teams and 2 AP ranked teams for OSU.

For the record, in 2012 Tex A&M's SOS was much better than OSU's.

NCAA says Tex A&M's SOS = #3 : OSU's SOS =#74
Sagarin says Tex A&M's SOS = #6 : OSU's SOS =#60
Massey says Tex A&M's SOS = #4 : OSU's SOS =#46
Billingsly says Tex A&M's SOS = #21 : OSU's SOS =#62
Anderson & Hester says Tex A&M's SOS = #22 : OSU's SOS =#52
The average is Tex A&M's SOS = #11.2 : OSU's SOS =#58.8

Secondly, you (and others) are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 MAC team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 BIG team. You are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 CUSA team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten team. You are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 Sun Belt team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten team. You are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 WAC team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten team. Yet you are totally unwilling to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 from one BCS conference is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten from another BCS conference. In your mind all BCS IN-conference games are equally difficult. Why??

In the BCS era here are the Number of AP ranked teams by conference
1) SEC....76..or 5.1 per year
2) Big 12....60..or 4.0 per year
2) Big Ten....60..or 4.0 per year
4) ACC....49..or 3.3 per year
5) PAC-12....41..or 2.7 per year

In the BCS era here are the Number of USA-Today ranked teams by conference
1) SEC....76..or 5.1 per year
2) Big 12....61..or 4.1 per year
2) Big Ten....58..or 3.9 per year
4) ACC....47..or 3.1 per year
5) PAC-12....41..or 2.7 per year

Feel free to check out the computer rankings. You will find the same trend.

Here is a list of the percentage of IN-Conference games that were against AP ranked teams.

1) SEC: 42.88%
2) Big Ten: 36.04%
3) Big 12: 35.08%
4) ACC: 31.06%
5) PAC-12: 26.68%

Here is a list of the percentage of IN-Conference games that were against AP ranked teams.

1) SEC 21.44%
2) PAC-12 16.23%
3) Big Ten 16.19%
4) Big 12 15.41%
5) ACC 6.44%

IN-conference SOS are NOT equal among BCS conferences.

You (and others) want to claim the SEC hasn't "earned" their rankings and are giving the benefit of the doubt by pollesters. Well....

In the BCS era
what conference has played the most Bowl opponents? the SEC
what conference has played the most BCS opponents? the SEC
what conference has played the most AP ranked opponents? the SEC
what conference has played the most AP top 10 opponents? the SEC

what conference has the best record vs Bowl opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs BCS opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP ranked opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP top 10 opponents? the SEC


You want to claim the SEC doesn't play good OOC schedules
In the BCS era against NON-conference opponents

# Bowl teams played: ACC: 373, SEC: 350, Big 12: 333, PAC 12: 322, BIG: 322
# BCS teams played: ACC: 362, BIG: 321, SEC: 298, Big 12: 269, PAC 12: 266
# AP ranked teams played: ACC: 163, PAC 12: 160, SEC: 158, BIG: 144, Big 12: 118
# AP ranked teams played: ACC: 73, PAC 12: 62, SEC: 56, BIG: 55, Big 12: 52

IS the SEC schedule out of line with the others???? Clearly the answer is NO.

BUT...In those BCS era games against NON-conference opponents

what conference has the best record vs Bowl opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs BCS opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP ranked opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP top 10 opponents? the SEC

On average, the SEC doesn't play "easier" OOC games than the others, but on average, the SEC does better in those games.

 

[fordman84]

Well played Gator.

You SEC haters want me to lock the thread, or you want to ignore what he said and keep bitching about week 3 coaches poll?

 

[ellupo]

Ellupo,

Let me go ahead and do the research for you.

2012: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #13, #5, #15, #3 (OOC games were against #8 and #1)
2011: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #14, #12, #1, #1 again (OOC games were against #23)
2010: Auburn: -- in the SEC they played #12, #6, #9, #18 (OOC they played #2)
2009: Alabama -- in the SEC they played #20, #9, #22, #1 (OOC they played #7 and #2)
2008: Florida -- in the SEC they played #4, #8, #24, #1 (OOC they played #1 and #23)
2007: LSU -- in the SEC they played #12, #9, #17, #18, #17 again, #14 (OOC they played #9 and #1)
2006: Florida -- in the SEC they played #13, #9, #11, #8 (OOC they played #1)

Please call bullshit on that... ? You can't... sure, any 1 or 2 teams... you can say they were overrated... that there is some big ESPN and BCS SEC conspiracy... but in the end they played a SHIT LOAD of tough competition and won. They all even played the best the other conferences had to offer and won....

No bullshit there... but oh yea, let's focus on those 2-3 OOC games against cupcakes...

Oh your want to use rankings at time of game. So you really think Michigan was #8? Rankings work out so well how about FL and Louisville last year? Last years schedule Bama had one tough team to play LSU, then TAMU played above what others thought and so did GA. Prior years Bama had zero problem with the east champ. As others have said compare Bama to what other conf. champs have played, not difference.

 

[4down20]

For starters NO OSU fan should be calling out others about SOS.
Tex A&M played 2 AP top 10 teams and 4 AP ranked teams compared to ZERO AP top 10 teams and 2 AP ranked teams for OSU.

For the record, in 2012 Tex A&M's SOS was much better than OSU's.

NCAA says Tex A&M's SOS = #3 : OSU's SOS =#74
Sagarin says Tex A&M's SOS = #6 : OSU's SOS =#60
Massey says Tex A&M's SOS = #4 : OSU's SOS =#46
Billingsly says Tex A&M's SOS = #21 : OSU's SOS =#62
Anderson & Hester says Tex A&M's SOS = #22 : OSU's SOS =#52
The average is Tex A&M's SOS = #11.2 : OSU's SOS =#58.8

Secondly, you (and others) are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 MAC team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 BIG team. You are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 CUSA team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten team. You are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 Sun Belt team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten team. You are perfectly willing to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 WAC team is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten team. Yet you are totally unwilling to accept as fact that beating an 8-4 from one BCS conference is NOT the same as beating an 8-4 Big Ten from another BCS conference. In your mind all BCS IN-conference games are equally difficult. Why??

In the BCS era here are the Number of AP ranked teams by conference
1) SEC....76..or 5.1 per year
2) Big 12....60..or 4.0 per year
2) Big Ten....60..or 4.0 per year
4) ACC....49..or 3.3 per year
5) PAC-12....41..or 2.7 per year

In the BCS era here are the Number of USA-Today ranked teams by conference
1) SEC....76..or 5.1 per year
2) Big 12....61..or 4.1 per year
2) Big Ten....58..or 3.9 per year
4) ACC....47..or 3.1 per year
5) PAC-12....41..or 2.7 per year

Feel free to check out the computer rankings. You will find the same trend.

Here is a list of the percentage of IN-Conference games that were against AP ranked teams.

1) SEC: 42.88%
2) Big Ten: 36.04%
3) Big 12: 35.08%
4) ACC: 31.06%
5) PAC-12: 26.68%

Here is a list of the percentage of IN-Conference games that were against AP ranked teams.

1) SEC 21.44%
2) PAC-12 16.23%
3) Big Ten 16.19%
4) Big 12 15.41%
5) ACC 6.44%

IN-conference SOS are NOT equal among BCS conferences.

You (and others) want to claim the SEC hasn't "earned" their rankings and are giving the benefit of the doubt by pollesters. Well....

In the BCS era
what conference has played the most Bowl opponents? the SEC
what conference has played the most BCS opponents? the SEC
what conference has played the most AP ranked opponents? the SEC
what conference has played the most AP top 10 opponents? the SEC

what conference has the best record vs Bowl opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs BCS opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP ranked opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP top 10 opponents? the SEC


You want to claim the SEC doesn't play good OOC schedules
In the BCS era against NON-conference opponents

# Bowl teams played: ACC: 373, SEC: 350, Big 12: 333, PAC 12: 322, BIG: 322
# BCS teams played: ACC: 362, BIG: 321, SEC: 298, Big 12: 269, PAC 12: 266
# AP ranked teams played: ACC: 163, PAC 12: 160, SEC: 158, BIG: 144, Big 12: 118
# AP ranked teams played: ACC: 73, PAC 12: 62, SEC: 56, BIG: 55, Big 12: 52

IS the SEC schedule out of line with the others???? Clearly the answer is NO.

BUT...In those BCS era games against NON-conference opponents

what conference has the best record vs Bowl opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs BCS opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP ranked opponents? the SEC
what conference has the best record vs AP top 10 opponents? the SEC

On average, the SEC doesn't play "easier" OOC games than the others, but on average, the SEC does better in those games.

 

[romeo212000]

Sure it is... but only when it supports someone's argument. If it doesn't we hear non-stop about OOC road games, lack of travel, bowls being in warm climates like the SEC (go figure), ESPN conspiracies, BCS conspiracies....

It is kind of ridiculous... all the while other conferences have their chance on the field and don't even come close. Outside Oregon and Auburn.. which wasn't as close as the score indicated, they have all been blowouts.

Oklahoma vs Florida wasn't a blow out. Florida just got a garbage touchdown at the end. That was a good game.

 

[Beggs]

 

[Gator]

uncfan said "
I don't see such a big difference in the schedules of the conference champions...do you?"

UNCfan, lets expand your post just a bit and align opponents....


2012: Alabama played...8-5 Miss St.,....OOC 8-5 Mich.....10-3 LSU.....................11-2 aTm and....12-2 UGa in the CCG and OOC 12-1 ND
2012: Stanford played OOC 8-6 Wisc ........9-5 UCLA......9-5 UCLA in CCG............9-4 Ore St and...12-1 Oregon and....OOC 12-1 ND
2012: Ohio State played..7-6 Mich St..........8-5 Mich.....10-4 Neb and ??? played 10-4 Neb in the CCG (OOC NO ONE)

In 2012 Bama and Stanford played similar schedules while OSU played the easier even if we give them Neb in the CCG.

2011: LSU played.......... 8-5 Auburn.........10-4 UGa in CCG....OOC 10-3 WVU.......11-2 Ark......................12-1 Alabama and 12-1 Alabama
2011: Alabama played.....8-5 Auburn...OOC 9-4 PSU.....................11-2 Ark.........13-1 LSU and................13-1 LSU
2011: Wisconsin played...9-4 Neb..............9-4 PSU.....................11-3 Mich St....11-3 MSU in CCG and OOC 12-2 Ore
2011: Oregon played.......7-6 Cal.............10-2 USC..............OOC 11-3 Wisc........11-2 Stanford and....OOC 13-1 LSU (6-8 UCLA in the CCG!!)

I would say Bama, Wisc and Ore played about the same with LSU playing one more quality opponent.

 

[BlackSand]

I would say Bama, Wisc and Ore played about the same with LSU playing one more quality opponent.

Yeah ... And in 2011 LSU also beat the dog mess out of ... Oregon No. 3 (40-27) and West Virginia No. 16 (47-21)... In our OOC games.

 

[SEC Official]

Oh your want to use rankings at time of game. So you really think Michigan was #8? Rankings work out so well how about FL and Louisville last year? Last years schedule Bama had one tough team to play LSU, then TAMU played above what others thought and so did GA. Prior years Bama had zero problem with the east champ. As others have said compare Bama to what other conf. champs have played, not difference.

That goes both ways...

Remember when Florida lost to an UNRANKED Miss team in 2006... and all of you were like "Florida sucks... " and then Miss ended up being a top 10 team (if not top 5) when they waxed the floor with the best the B12 had to offer in the bowl?

So you have to have some baseline.. but you logic cuts both ways. Preseason polls are crap... Miss was a top team that year but they started slow... and it took time for the polls to catch up.

 

[ktg8trgrl]

Didn't Florida drop from 10 to 12 after winning against Toledo 24-6?

Toledo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Akron