What Outside Fans Love and Hate About The SEC

Everybody who has followed college football or even college sports in the past 30 years has a passionate opinion of the SEC. One way or another, you have an opinion of the conference. There are some absolute truths, some half-truths, and some incredibly biased opinions involved with this feeling that you have. It is important to try to acknowledge these truths and move towards a greater knowledge of what we have with the SEC. So what do we have with this conference?

The SEC is a football based conference that has had a team at or near the #1 spot in the sport since about 2003. A team has won the NCAA championship from the SEC in 8 of the last 10 years. Those championships include 7 straight from 2006-2012. The conference also contains one of the most dominant basketball team ever in the Kentucky Wildcats who have won 8 national championships (2nd to only UCLA with 11). Kentucky leads all schools in winning percentage all-time in basketball. This conference is widely regarded as the cream of the crop when it comes to baseball and softball success as well. The numbers surely seem to back this up. Outside of those sports, the conference boasts several nationally recognized teams that have had continued success in a variety of sports.

Outside of the conference it is widely acknowledged that the SEC has the best football conference. They have the most dominant team and they have several elite programs. The conference has some fantastic schools both athletically and academically. They are to be respected. There are some fantastic all-around programs that the conference boasts. Those schools are to be respected for the programs that they have.

Fans of the conference are very vocal about that success. They continually boast of success by any SEC team in any sport and use it as confirmation bias that their conference cannot be beat in anything. That is where the hate comes in. SEC West fans were trying to act like undefeated FSU and Ohio State teams cannot compete in the SEC West. Not that they would finish 2nd or 3rd, the argument is that they would magically be below .500 in the conference. That the nation's elite programs would struggle to tread water. That they'd be worst than Arkansas. That the SEC is the best in every sport because Alabama and LSU are elite in football.

Let's start there with the dominance across sports. As a conference, the SEC typically boasts the national champion. There is no arguing 8 out of 10. However, football dominance is not overall sport dominance for the history of time. As of July 2015 (when last combined champs summary was released) the SEC had a total of 267 titles across all sports, but that number is smashed by just 3 schools in the Pac 12....UCLA, Southern Cal, and Stanford have a combined 323 titles across all sports. That is 56 more titles by 3 schools than all 14 SEC schools combined. Do not talk to us about sustained dominance across all sports. Feel free to brag about baseball, football, and/or softball success, but don't go overboard.

Now to football...
The SEC is the best conference. However, it is not untouchable. Were another elite program to join, they would still be elite. That team might finish 2nd or 3rd behind Alabama, perhaps LSU, or even Auburn in a good year, but they'd still win. The school wouldn't be treading water. They wouldn't be Arkansas...oh and Arkansas was not the best 6-6 team ever, They were 6-6 and there was a reason for it. 6-6 teams aren't magically 13-0 in other conferences. Maybe a game or 2 difference, but they aren't magically playoff contenders elsewhere in the Power 5.Oh and while the SEC West is elite, the SEC East is hot garbage in football. Missouri went from Big 12 bottom feeder to 2x SEC East champ. The West is the best division in Power 5, but you could argue the East as the worst. So don't get too carried away.

What can the SEC brag about though?
They can brag about their team being fantastic in the best football conference in the nation. For Alabama that means being the best against the best. Why a team with 4 national championships in recent history would want to share that success as conference pride is beyond me. Live it up Alabama! Your team has been kicking everyone's ass!! Do not degrade yourself by chanting for your conference in some collectivist nonsensical movement. Embrace your team. Why the heck are you rooting for your top rival to knock off FSU in the national championship? Seriously? Rooting for your rival.....You could be the class of sports, but you chose things like "keep the title in Alabama" ? Come on man!!!! You are the fanbase in the country most entitled to brag and enjoy your ride. IMO you ruin it a bit when you give others credit.

Kentucky brag about what you have done in basketball. Brag about that all day. Enjoy it.

Auburn don't claim the titles that you didn't win. Enjoy the ones you won legit.

Ole Miss you don't win titles and you are only relevant now because your coach paid athletes. Don't start....

Mississippi State you have never won a national title in any sport, just stop...

South Carolina you won some baseball titles, but you can't even win the SEC East. No, you wouldn't be a playoff contender elsewhere...

No, there won't be an all-SEC playoff. No, you won't get 3 teams. Yes, another team could possibly win. Yes, football and sports exist outside the SEC. If you would just acknowledge that as an SEC fan, you wouldn't be so despised.

Just enjoy being the top dog in football. Enjoy being perhaps the best overall conference. Please just don't go overboard. If you are an Alabama fan that does not do the constant conference brag, mad props to you. Respect to that program for the dominance it has provided. Don't be so willing to share. Enjoy what Nick has done.

Next week I will go over the current state of all FSU sports. Until then, have a great one.

-Noland

You Want Better College Football Games?

Following last night's epic failure of the College Football Selection Committee it seems that this post had perfect timing today...
Last Saturday in college football was separation Saturday. This weekend contained the most exciting games of the year. There were multiple top 25 matchups this past weekend and many of them were quite good. It seems we only get these types of matchups every few weeks though. What if there was a way to guarantee high profile matchups every single week? What if teams could no longer schedule cupcake city in November. It seems quite unfair for Notre Dame to play Arizona State while Mississippi State gets to play Tennessee-Martin after all....

The answer lies in doing away with conferences and taking the scheduling out of individual schools hands. I know this idea is radical and it will never happen, but there will be an infinitely better regular season. SEC fans should love this because it would give that conference the chance to prove it on the field and have an all-SEC football playoff. We could guarantee that deserving teams make the playoff. There would be no need to compare an 8-0 Marshall to a 2 loss team in the SEC. No need because they would play each other every year.

Here is the idea.
52 teams
4 groups
13 teams per group
All 12 teams play each other only
After games, the top two teams play in a championship
Winner of championship goes to the playoffs
Lowest team in each group gets relegated to next 52
Those next 52 do the same team and the top 4 get to rejoin the top group.
Groups reshuffled each year based on final record
All Games on Saturdays (Thursday and Friday night games reserved for lower groups)

This way the best team in each group goes to the playoff and we settle it on the field. You get true conference championships too. What is the point of not having the 2 best teams play in a conference championship? The SEC is going to have Missouri likely playing the SEC West champ...Missouri lost to INDIANA. NOBODY wants to see Missouri play an SEC West team. They want to see two SEC West teams duke it out again. Divisions make it tougher to get those true conference championships my scenario does not. The biggest plus though is that the regular season is infinitely better.

Check out what the groups would look like below. I will separate groups based on the final coaches poll from last year. There are 41 teams that got votes in the final coaches poll so I will fill in from there.

Group A
1) Florida State
8) Alabama
9) Oregon
16) UCLA
17) Oklahoma State
24) Notre Dame
25) Nebraska
32) Ole Miss
33) Texas
40) Louisiana Lafayette
41) Navy
48) BYU
49) Rice

Group B
2) Auburn
7) Clemson
10) Stanford
15) Louisville
18) Texas A & M
23) Vanderbilt
26) Washington
31) Kansas State
34) Miami
39) Utah State
42) Georgia
47) Arizona
50) Georgia Tech

Group C
3) Michigan State
6) Oklahoma
11) Ohio State
14) LSU
19) USC
22) Duke
27) Fresno State
30) Texas Tech
35) East Carolina
38) Iowa
43) Bowling Green
46) Boise State
51) Penn State

Group D
4) South Carolina
5) Missouri
12) Central Florida
13) Baylor
20) Arizona State
21) Wisconsin
28) Northern Illinois
29) Marshall
36) Cincinnatti
37) North Texas
44) Virginia Tech
45) Mississippi State
52) Tennessee

Next Four In: TCU, Ball State, Minnesota, Colorado State
A look at the top 4 in these lower divisions how it will look and expand it from there if you want
Group E
53) TCU
60) Oregon State
61) San Diego State
68) Maryland
Group F
54) Ball State
59) West Virginia
62) Buffalo
67) Pittsburgh
Group G
55) Minnesota
58) Houston
63) Arkansas State
66) Syracuse
Group H
56) Colorado State
57) North Carolina
64) Western Kentucky
65) Michigan
Obviously, TCU as a championship contender is a big omission, but they went 4-8 last year in a very good Big 12. After the first year though, you would think this would be corrected because teams move out. You would think at least TCU would move up after a year and a team like North Texas would drop out. However, if North Texas could hang around, they would get to prove it. After 2 or 3 years, you would have a terrific field of 52.

Look at the regular season matchup differences though. Let's look at my Seminoles in particular and what their schedule would look like vs. their current schedule.
Group Schedule
Aug. 30 BYU @ FSU
Sept. 6   FSU @ Notre Dame
Sept. 20 FSU @ Ole Miss
Sept. 27 Navy @ FSU
Oct. 4    FSU @ Rice
Oct. 11  La.Lafayette @ FSU
Oct. 18  UCLA @ FSU
Nov.1    FSU @ Oregon
Nov.8    FSU @ Texas
Nov.15  Nebraska @ FSU
Nov.22  FSU @ Oklahoma State
Nov.29  Alabama @ FSU
Actual Schedule
Aug.30  FSU v. Oklahoma State (Dallas)
Sept.6    Citadel @ FSU
Sept. 20 Clemson @ FSU
Sept. 27 FSU @ NC State
Oct. 4    Wake @ FSU
Oct.11    FSU @ Syracuse
Oct.18    Notre Dame @ FSU
Oct.30    FSU @ Louisville
Nov.8     UVA @ FSU
Nov.15   FSU @ Miami
Nov.22   Boston College @ FSU
Nov.29   Florida @ FSU

In both schedules, FSU plays Oklahoma State and Notre Dame which are two very quality opponents. While they lose three rivalry games (Clemson, Miami, and Florida) by going to the group schedule, the schedule is so much better. They get challenged throughout the schedule with only a few lesser opponents. The group schedule they get to play La Lafayette and Rice which are still tougher than the Citadel and arguably tougher than some ACC teams. This group is loaded with competition and you get to see three monster clashes when Bama, FSU, and Oregon collide with each other. You would assume that La. Lafeyette would lose this group and then be replaced in the Top 52 by a team like TCU. If you still aren't convinced though, let's look at the team with the most difficult schedule this year, Auburn.

Group Schedule
Aug. 30  Texas A & M @ Auburn
Sept. 6    Auburn @ Georgia Tech
Sept. 20  Clemson @ Auburn
Sept. 27  Auburn @ Vanderbilt
Oct. 4     Auburn @ Kansas State
Oct.11    Utah State @ Auburn
Oct.25    Auburn @ Stanford
Nov.1     Arizona @ Auburn
Nov.8     Auburn @ Miami
Nov.15   Auburn @ Georgia
Nov.22   Washington @ Auburn
Nov.29   Louisville @ Auburn
Actual Schedule
Aug.30   Arkansas @ Auburn
Sept.6     San Jose State @ Auburn
Sept.18   Auburn @ Kansas State
Sept.27   Louisiana Tech @ Auburn
Oct. 4     LSU @ Auburn
Oct.11    Auburn @ Mississippi State
Oct. 25   South Carolina @ Auburn
Nov.1     Auburn @ Ole Miss
Nov. 8    Texas A & M @ Auburn
Nov.15   Auburn @ Georgia
Nov.22   Samford @ Auburn
Nov.29   Auburn @ Alabama

I realize that the Auburn-Alabama showdown would be lost and you lose some SEC rivalries by losing this schedule, but you can't argue that it isn't better from top to bottom. You keep 3 of the teams on their schedule (Georgia, Kansas State, Texas A & M) and replace the Mississippi schools and Bama with Clemson, Utah State, Stanford, Arizona, Miami, and Louisville. Instead of Samford for the 11th game, they are playing Washington. Instead of San Jose State for game 2 they are now playing Georgia Tech. All of these strong matchups in what I consider the weakest group. Not a cupcake on the schedule besides Vanderbilt who would likely fall out of the Top 52 after one year.

With these awesome groups you would have four more very strong conference championships. Let me try to project them based on how teams are doing this year...
Group A
Florida State v. Oregon (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
Group B
Auburn v. Arizona (Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA)
Group C
Ohio State v. Michigan State (Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI)
Group D
Arizona State v. Mississippi State (Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX)

That could give us a Final 4 like this
Florida State v. Arizona State (Sugar Bowl)
Auburn v. Ohio State (Rose Bowl)
National Championship
FSU v. Auburn (Dallas)
The more things change the more they stay the same....
While only one of these teams might make the actual playoffs (heck it could be none) this is a way better system. Sure Auburn would have a slightly easier path than the others in this scenario, but they still would have earned their way in. FSU and Oregon could meet twice and while we would be denying that championship from happening, it would be settled on the field. This system is FAR better. I know it won't happen, but it would be AWESOME!! We can dream can't we. Heck, we thought we would never get to a playoff, so maybe we will get here...

-Noland

A Four Team Playoff Doesn't Solve Everything

I try to be as optimistic as possible as often as I can be. When it comes to a four team playoff I am very optimistic and hopeful that it will solve everything. However, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that there may still be controversy. We won't have controversy every year and sometimes there will be a clear cut group, but there will be controversy.

Take this year for example. Until yesterday a playoff wasn't even necessary. If Alabama and FSU go undefeated, then they clearly have the most impressive resumes of any teams to play for a title. This is the perfect BCS scenario that has happened twice. When USC played Texas and when FSU played Virginia Tech. Every other year, there has been major griping with the BCS. Throwing two more teams into the mix would help one would assume.

Most years a four team playoff would help a great deal. It will help a lot this year. Let's again look at it this year and assume no conference tournaments are played. Our four team playoff would be FSU, Ohio State, Auburn, and Mizzou. Oh wait, not Mizzou, actually Alabama so we have controversy. After the SEC championship though we have the SEC Champion, FSU, Ohio State, and Alabama. If Ohio State loses then it comes down to Michigan State and Oklahoma State for that final spot. Would Big 12 champ Oklahoma State deserve it more than Alabama though?

Most people would assume that Alabama deserves it more than Oklahoma State. However, shouldn't winning your conference mean something? Yes, and so should playing the better schedule and having the better resume. I get both arguments. Despite being a guy that would prefer conference champions, I would probably go with Alabama in this scenario, but again both teams have a strong case.

The obvious answer to this is the same as the men's basketball tournament, don't be on "the bubble" and you don't have to worry about it. This situation is surely better than the BCS and will have less controversy, but it isn't perfect. I am excited and look forward to this playoff. I remain optimistic that it will help us crown the true champion of college football. At the same time I am realistic and urge you to be so that you aren't disappointed with the controversy that is sure to follow. One more year! In the meantime....Go Noles!

-Noland

College Football Picks For Today

More ACC, SEC, and Interesting Game Picks. I missed on one game last week, but had a very solid first week. I even hit on my upset special. Here are some more picks...

Kansas State over Miami

Miami wasn't that impressive in a win over a BC team that isn't that good. Kansas State has better athletes and will win the game at home.

 

NC State over UConn

The Wolfpack should get back on track against an unimpressive UCONN team.

 

Temple over Maryland

I told you that Maryland was the worst team in the ACC and could lose to William & Mary. They almost did, and they will lose tonight.

 

UVA over Penn State

The Cavs are going to be good this year. Penn State is not going to be good. This one could get rather ugly.

Auburn over Mississippi State

One of the games of the week. I expect Auburn to bounce back after a loss to a very good Clemson team, that could easily compete for a national title. Auburn could still affect the title picture and will win a tough game today.

 

South Carolina over East Carolina

Clemson over Ball State

BC over Maine

Virginia Tech over Austin Peay

 

UNC over Wake

If Maryland is the worst team in the ACC, Wake isn't that far behind this year it seems. Wake looked pathetic against Liberty last week. If they are going to upset the Tar Heels a lot has to change. Based on last week and talent on their rosters, UNC wins in a route. As a big Jim Grobe fan, I hope I am wrong and Wake pulls it out.

 

Alabama over Western Kentucky

 

Michigan over Air Force

Michigan burned me last week. There is a chance they will do it again. Depending on how much hangover there is about last week's beatdown, Michigan could easily lose to Air Force. I expect Brady Hoke to bounce back against the service academy though.

 

Notre Dame over Purdue

The Irish looked impressive last week. This team could get to the BCS if they build off last week. Will there be hangover from a long trip though against a good Purdue team?

 

Texas A&M over Florida

A & M will impress in their SEC debut. Florida looked horrible in their opening game last week. It is all setting up for the Aggies.

 

Tennessee over Georgia State

 

FSU over Savannah State

Lots of people have been giving the Noles flack over this opponent. However, consider that it was supposed to be West Virginia and then the Mountaineers bailed. With West Virginia on the docket the Noles had 3 legit out of conference opponents. Without them it doesn't look as well, but when an opponent bails we are left with who we can get. So in comes the huge underdog Savannah State who will get thrashed this week.

LSU over Washington

Arkansas over Louisiana Monroe

Georgia Tech over Presbyterian

 

Army over San Diego State

The black knights will get it done in this one. This team will get close to bowl eligible, not sure they get there, but they get on track today.

 

Kentucky over Kent State

 

Georgia over Missouri

This one makes me nervous. The four suspensions on defense for the Bulldogs could cause them problems given that this is Missouri's SEC debut and they will look to impress at home. However, these guys have to much talent to lose this one.

 

Upset Special

Duke over Stanford

Some wouldn't call this an upset, but Stanford is ranked and Duke is not. Also most people still expect Duke to lose all the time. It will take a while for that perception to change. I will have said numerous times that Duke is no longer the ACC doormat. I also believe they get to bowl eligible this year. Today these guys prove it.