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We’ve heard it beat into our heads since 2006. The Southeastern Conference is God, the rest of us are trash, and the SEC dominates everyone outside its conference, being unbeatable, and then whips up on each other, justifying the reasoning that they are far superior to all of us and we should fall to our knees, begging for mercy, before the Football Gods. Oddly enough, it also happens to be the reason why they claim one or two loss SEC teams should jump unbeaten teams from other BCS conferences to play for the National Championship.
I will give you SEC lovers out there, in the past, yeah, the SEC has put some animalistic teams out there against the rest of the country, and few have survived their wrath. However, the Bowl Championship Series is NOT a cumulative system that awards berths in the National Championship based on performances of the past (unless your Notre Dame negotiating access). The system is designed to find the best two teams on a year by year basis to play for the title.
Furthermore, as much as I hate Notre Dame, I hear those drunk on SEC toilet sangria claiming a one loss Alabama should jump over Notre Dame or Kansas State to play in the BCS title game. I’ve heard all the tears about how aggy just got lucky vs Alabama, and I’ve heard the laughs of how a middle of the pack Big 12 team walked into the SEC and slapped around the Zeus of the “Conference of the Godsâ€. I’ve also chuckled thinking about how if aggy was really that good, their leaving the Big 12 cost them a shot at a National Championship and in turn they cost their new friends a shot at one as well. Ironic isn’t it?
Since I don’t buy into this whole “Conference of the Gods†thing, I decided to break down the most relevant available data (being 2012 to date) on the Southeastern Conference’s out of conference games to determine once and for all, in my mind at least, just how “God like†the SEC is. Some of the conclusions are interesting to say the least. Let’s dive in folks, starting with Zeus:
#4 – Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1)
ns Michigan W41-14 (7-3)
vs Western Kentucky W35-0 (6-4)
vs Florida Atlantic W40-7 (3-7)
vs Western Carolina W1-0 (FCS)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (3-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (4-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (16-14)
The team that could beat an NFL team has gone 4-0 vs a schedule just over .500 The win over Michigan isn’t as impressive as it was, based on how bad the Big 10 has been this season. Looking beyond Michigan, Bama fattened up on two Sun Belt teams and the infamous FCS team they all schedule. Definitely a fine football team, but don’t tell me they cant be beaten by the Jacksonville Jaguars… or Oregon/KSU for that matter.
Auburn Tigers (2-8)
ns #11 Clemson L26-19 (9-1)
vs Louisiana Monroe W31-28 (OT) (6-4)
vs New Mexico St W42-7 (1-9)
vs Alabama A&M W1-0 (FCS)
Record vs Top 25 (0-1)
Record vs FBS (2-1)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-1)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (16-14)
The Tigers played Clemson tough, and disappeared into shame. The “signature†win of the schedule is a blowout of hapless New Mexico State, a pseudo FCS Team still in FBS, who had Auburn on the ropes at the half. Again, you see the pattern emerging of fattening up on the Sun Belt and FCS. Great effort again vs Clemson, but this isn’t Christ like now is it?
Arkansas Razorbacks (4-6)
vs Jacksonville State W49-24 (FCS)
vs Louisiana Monroe L34-31 (OT) (6-4)
vs #22 Rutgers L35-26 (9-1)
vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane W19-15 (8-2)
Record vs Top 25 (0-1)
Record vs FBS (1-2)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (2-2)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (23-7)
I give Arkansas credit for playing some decent mid majors here, and doing it tough in a horrible situation. Their losses to Rutgers and ULM are respectable given their sad circumstances, and the win over Tulsa wasn’t too bad. Now that said, against a tougher schedule of Mid Majors, they still just went 2-2.
#6 – Florida Gators (9-1)
vs Bowling Green W27-24 (7-3)
vs Louisiana Lafayette W27-20 (5-4)
vs Jacksonville State W1-0 (FCS)
at #10 Florida State Seminoles (9-1)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (2-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (21-8)
Our beloved Coach Boom has the Gators at an impressive 9-1 with FSU still to go. However, the Gators needed Tim Tebow’s divine intervention to beat Bowling Green and ULL at their house. We’re going to find out about Florida in a couple weeks, but until then, tell me this: Just how impressed are you with those close wins over the mid majors? Honestly?
#5 – Georgia Bulldogs (9-1)
vs Buffalo Bulls W45-23 (3-7)
vs Florida Atlantic W56-20 (3-7)
vs Georgia Southern W1-0 (FCS)
vs Georgia Tech (5-5)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (2-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (11-19)
Mark Richt has cooled the seat under him and should play for the SEC Championship, but given how he feasted on cream puffs out of the conference, one might not be so impressed. The Gators were in trouble at home for quite awhile against Buffalo, and didn’t/wont leave the friendly confines of home for an OOC game. Not once. So……remembering Buffalo…does this scream dominant at you?
Kentucky Wildcats (1-9)
at #19 Louisville L32-14 (9-1)
vs Kent State W47-14 (9-1)
vs Western Kentucky L32-31 (OT) (6-4)
vs Samford W1-0 (FCS)
Record vs Top 25 (0-1)
Record vs FBS (1-2)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (2-2)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (24-6)
The Wildcats signature win is the now curious demolition of 9-1 Kent State. Past that they were blown out by Louisville in a rivalry game, and lost in shameful fashion to an in state mid major who is honestly more talented and better coached. No shame in that right? But wait, this is a mighty SEC team. They should have whipped them all like they did Kent State. Right????
#7 – Louisiana State Tigers (8-2)
vs North Texas W41-14 (4-6)
vs #25 Washington W41-3 (6-4)
vs Idaho W63-14 (1-9)
vs Towson W38-22 (FCS)
Record vs Top 25 (1-0)
Record vs FBS (3-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (4-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (11-19)
The mighty Tigers do have a nice win over Washington. I wont take that from them. Good solid win. Now past that, they were in trouble against Towson, and you get no credit whatsoever for beating up on hapless Idaho. Better resume out of conference than most of their opponents, and along with Alabama deserving of a top 15 ranking, but not this high.
Mississippi Rebels (5-5)
vs Central Arkansas W49-27 (FCS)
vs UTEP W28-10 (2-8)
vs #15 Texas Longhorns L66-31 (8-2)
at Tulane W39-0 (2-8)
Record vs Top 25 (0-1)
Record vs FBS (2-1)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-1)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (12-18)
We know these guys well enough. The Rebels got demolished by Texas at the Grove, and followed it up with 3 OOC wins, against Central Arkansas, hapless UTEP, and nearly defenseless Tulane. The Rebels actually left home for one of these games and took on a quality opponent at their house. Mississippi “is what they is†so to speak. Marginal in the SEC, marginal in any other of the Big 5 conferences.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-3)
vs Jackson State W56-9 (FCS)
at Troy W30-24 (5-5)
vs South Alabama W30-10 (2-8)
vs Middle Tennessee W45-3 (6-3)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (3-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (4-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (13-16)
The Bulldogs are a curious bunch, starting off 7-0 not facing much and then cratering. Many will tell you the signs were there, given this delicious schedule. The Dogs went to Troy and had a fight with a Troy team that’s just .500, and beat up one FCS team and one team fresh out of FCS. Middle Tennessee was the signature win of this schedule, but how much credit overall can you give the Bulldogs?
Missouri Tigers (5-5)
vs Southeastern Louisiana W62-10 (FCS)
vs Arizona State W24-20 (5-5)
vs Central Florida W21-16 (8-2)
vs Syracuse (5-5)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (2-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (18-12)
I can’t shame Missouri here. For them, this isn’t a bad OOC schedule, and they’ve to date took care of winning. The ASU victory would be the signature win thus far. Long way to go, but we all know Slive and the boys wouldn’t want to hang their hats on the Tigers.
#9 – South Carolina Gamecocks (8-2)
vs East Carolina W48-10 (6-4)
vs UAB W49-6 (3-7)
vs Wofford W1-0 (FCS)
at #11 Clemson (9-1)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (2-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (18-12)
What to say about the Gamecocks? They’ve taken care of business and blown out their opponents in dominant fashion. I wont speak ill of them for that reason, and Id believe they are deserving of their top 15 status.
#8 – Texas A&M Aggies (8-2)
at SMU W48-3 (5-5)
vs South Carolina State W70-14 (FCS)
at Louisiana Tech W59-57 (9-1)
vs Sam Houston State W1-0 (FCS)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (2-0)
Record vs FCS (2-0)
OOC Record (3-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (14-6)
That OOC Opponent Record looks pretty good when you are the only SEC team to play two FCS schools, and better still when they actually went on the road twice. Aggie at 8-2 belongs in the top 20 of the BCS simply on the backs of doing more OOC than most, not that its necessarily a big accomplishment.
Tennessee Volunteers (4-6)
ns NC State W35-21 (6-4)
vs Georgia State W51-13 (FCS)
vs Akron W47-26 (1-10)
vs Troy W55-48 (5-5)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (3-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (4-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (12-19)
The neutral site win over NC State is nice. The others are non impressive and the Vols are down right shameful. Same boat as MSU, middle of the road here or anywhere else.
Vanderbilt Commodores (6-4)
at Northwestern W23-13 (7-3)
vs Presbyterian W58-0 (FCS)
vs U Mass W49-7 (1-9)
at Wake Forest (5-5)
Record vs Top 25 (0-0)
Record vs FBS (2-0)
Record vs FCS (1-0)
OOC Record (3-0)
FBS OOC Opponent Record (13-17)
Vandy’s win over Northwestern looks pretty good the longer the season goes, but the rest of the OOC schedule is an absolute joke. I had to google Presbyterian to verify the Commodores hadn’t somehow got a Division II school on the schedule.
2012 Southeastern Conference Summary
Out of Conference Record (44-6)
The “Conference of the Gods†is 44-6 vs OOC folks to date. Yes I know stop screaming. Lets break that number down into some realistic numbers:
Out of Conference Record (FBS) (29-6)
Out of Conference Record (FCS) (15-0)
So lets cut the FCS garbage out and stick to the 29-6 OOC Record. Yes I see you are still screaming at the screen SEC homers. Lets keep digging here:
Record vs BCS Top 25 (1-4)
That’s the first number that kind of jumps out at you. The SEC will get a shot at Florida State and Clemson, which may improve that record, but Washington may damage it dropping from its 25th spot. So at best the “Conference of the Gods†can hope to get to .500 against the BCS Top 25. Wow…I thought the mighty SEC would easily be undefeated against all us lesser opponents out here. Didn’t you?
FBS Opponent Record (222-187) – The SEC’s opponents are just over .500 on the year at around a 54% winning percentage. Now lets cut into it further by removing the records of those rivalry games a few teams play that, honestly, those SEC schools have no ability to get out of:
Record of “Required†Rivalry Game Opponents (37-13)
Cutting it down to the OOC Opponents the SEC chose to schedule, the record to date is 185-174, or just over .500 at a shade over 51%. Who wouldn’t expect a Big 5 conference to go 29-6 against a schedule of teams averaging just over .500?
Home Games – 44
Away Games – 9
Neutral Games – 3
The SEC doesn’t like to leave home to play people, and it shows here. 47 games at a neutral site or home, and of those neutral site games two were in friendly locations to the SEC team. One should win a high number of games against marginal competition at home shouldn’t they? Is that supposed to be impressive?
OOCT Winning Records – 22
OOCT .500 or Under – 19
And we close it out with being 29-6 against a schedule of teams around .500 with over 80% of those games in friendly locations, and almost half those teams having non winning or losing records. Again is this impressive?
Something else to chew on: Arkansas and Kentucky played two of the toughest OOC schedules this year and neither one is making a bowl. Interesting isn’t it?
So there it is SEC homers. Clear numbers of your general “normalcy†this year. No real proof of some kind of “God like†status where we should all “fear youâ€, and in closing…..one question:
If you are all so tough because you beat each other up in the conference, just how tough are you when you’re playing like this against the rest of us??
Follow Johnny on Twitter – @Texas0205
