SEC vs PAC 10...one more time

#1
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Oct 21, 2004
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#1
Here is an argument from Rivals.com on the SEC vs Pac-10. It was in response to a question from a reader.

It's about depth
Why is it that every analyst in the nation sees the SEC as the clearly dominate conference? They do produce a lot of NFL talent, but that doesn't always equal college success. How come the Pac-10 isn't even in the conversation? The SEC offenses struggle, causing the defenses to look great. The opposite happens for the Pac-10. So what is the big difference?
— Troy in Los Angeles
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The Pac-10 is largely viewed as a conference with one powerful team and a couple of good ones. The SEC has five teams – Florida, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn – that are viewed as nationally powerful, while Arkansas and Alabama have that ability.
Within the last 10 seasons the SEC has boasted three national champions – Tennessee in 1998, LSU in 2003 and Florida in 2006. Auburn also went undefeated in 2004, but was not given the opportunity to play for the national championship.
By comparison, the Pac-10's only undisputed national championship was won by USC in 2004, although the Trojans were voted national champions by the Associated Press in 2003.
When you look at the last five seasons, the only Pac-10 teams other than USC to finish in the top 10 of the AP national rankings were No. 9 California in 2004, No. 9 Washington State in 2003 and No. 10 Washington State in 2002.
In contrast, the SEC had No. 3 LSU and No. 9 Auburn in 2006, No. 6 LSU, No. 8 Alabama and No. 10 Georgia in 2005, No. 2 Auburn and No. 7 Georgia in 2004, No. 1 LSU and No. 7 Georgia in 2003 and No. 3 Georgia in 2002.
Furthermore, in that span the SEC has had 25 teams finish in the final top 25 rankings, while the Pac-10 has had 13.
Last year the Pac-10 went 3-3 in bowl games, which included Oregon losing 38-8 to BYU, UCLA falling 44-27 to Florida State and Arizona State falling 41-24 to Hawaii.
The SEC was 6-3 in bowl games with Alabama falling 34-31 to Oklahoma State, Arkansas falling 17-14 to Wisconsin and Tennessee losing 20-10 to Penn State.


Olin's Mailbag: Only time will tell - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I thought it the perfect reponse to the age old debate...
:rock::rock::rock:
 
#5
#5
Well, it wasn't an article, just a quick answer to a reader who sent in the question. So, I don't think you can expect a fully researched response.

I think the stats speak for themselves, though. What is your issue with the writer's answer? :popcorn:
 
#6
#6
Well, it wasn't an article, just a quick answer to a reader who sent in the question. So, I don't think you can expect a fully researched response.

I think the stats speak for themselves, though. What is your issue with the writer's answer? :popcorn:

Teddy is angry over the obviously biased stats presented.:p
 
#7
#7
i would also add to the mix......how many members of each conf. have won their respective conf. championships......that goes directly to the competition w/in the conference itself. FL, Aub, LSU, GA, Bama, and TN have all won the SEC in the last ten years. 6 different teams in a 10 year span.

the Pac 10.....USC and who else??? seriously...i don't know...i know UCLA had a couple of good years in the late 90's.....and USC has dominated since 01 right?

it does go to show that the Pac 10 is more of a 1 horse show and the SEC has several legit contenders each year.....

it's just better.

having said that, i do think the Pac 10 could actually be very good this year........
 
#9
#9
It is worth restating that the constant question is, 'Is (fill in the blank) conference better than the SEC?'...

When the SEC is the one consistently residing at one half of the equation then, well, the answer to the question is self evident.
 
#10
#10
To me, the strength of a conference is best measured by how happily you'd take the schedule it offered if placed in it. When looking at the SEC, getting UT, Fla, UGa, SC, Bama, and then a rotation of Auburn, Arkansas, and LSU is brutal, any way you look at it. Compare that to the Pac-10's list of USC, UCLA, Oregon, Cal, some Arizonas and Washingtons, and I think any reasonable person would believe they have a better chance to go through the latter unscathed than the former.

I'll freely admit that I don't envy a lineup that would include FSU, Miami, Va Tech, BC, Clemson, UVa, plus the GTs and NC States of the world most years, and I would quickly rate the ACC second on a year-in-year-out basis, with the Big 12, Pac-10, and Big 10 generally tied for third as top heavy conferences with weaker second tiers.
 
#11
#11
It is worth restating that the constant question is, 'Is (fill in the blank) conference better than the SEC?'...

When the SEC is the one consistently residing at one half of the equation then, well, the answer to the question is self evident.
:salute:excellent point........
 
#12
#12
To me, the strength of a conference is best measured by how happily you'd take the schedule it offered if placed in it. When looking at the SEC, getting UT, Fla, UGa, SC, Bama, and then a rotation of Auburn, Arkansas, and LSU is brutal, any way you look at it. Compare that to the Pac-10's list of USC, UCLA, Oregon, Cal, some Arizonas and Washingtons, and I think any reasonable person would believe they have a better chance to go through the latter unscathed than the former.

I'll freely admit that I don't envy a lineup that would include FSU, Miami, Va Tech, BC, Clemson, UVa, plus the GTs and NC States of the world most years, and I would quickly rate the ACC second on a year-in-year-out basis, with the Big 12, Pac-10, and Big 10 generally tied for third as top heavy conferences with weaker second tiers.


the acc the last 2 years might have been the worst bcs conference.
 
#13
#13
What is your issue with the writer's answer? :popcorn:

I thought it was poorly put together and didn’t really speak to the realities of a changing college football world. Its old, dated thinking. He’ll eat his words by seasons end.:crossfingers:
 
#14
#14
I thought it was poorly put together and didn’t really speak to the realities of a changing college football world. Its old, dated thinking. He’ll eat his words by seasons end.:crossfingers:

more likely proven 100% correct on the first weekend
 
#15
#15
the acc the last 2 years might have been the worst bcs conference.

Supposing you didn't see the referrences to "most years" and "year-in-year-out" in my post, I'll still say that I would have rather played a Pac-10 schedule that includes at most 4 teams that have a shot to knock off a good team than run the gauntlet through, say, Wake, NCSU, Ga Tech, FSU, Maryland, Clemson, and Miami, then have the honor of having to beat one of them again.
 
#18
#18
Supposing you didn't see the referrences to "most years" and "year-in-year-out" in my post, I'll still say that I would have rather played a Pac-10 schedule that includes at most 4 teams that have a shot to knock off a good team than run the gauntlet through, say, Wake, NCSU, Ga Tech, FSU, Maryland, Clemson, and Miami, then have the honor of having to beat one of them again.

yeah i saw that.

the pac-10 is far better than the acc currently. not true 5 years ago of course. wake, ncsu, and ga tech wouldn't have finished in the top half of the pac-10. agree to disagree i guess.

Some stats from mandel (who is an idiot of course):

Last season, the ACC went 6-16 against opponents from other BCS conferences.

∙ The conference is 3-31 against top-10 opponents since 2000.

∙ Its league champion has lost in its bowl game seven straight years

SI.com - Scorecard - College Football Blog: The ACC: How Low Can You Go?
 
#20
#20
the acc the last 2 years might have been the worst bcs conference.
last year definitely.

had VT won the ACC in 05 though, the view of the conf. wouldn't have been as bad as it was with an 7-4 FSU beating VTU for the ACC crown.
 
#21
#21
The issue is not really if the pac-10 sucks........it's that they suck so hard.
 
#24
#24
I posted this somewhere else but Ill say it again...SEC is always, ALWAYS being compared to the latest conference to challenge us to the nations best conference. SWC, BIG 10, BIG 12 and now PAC 10...Compare all you want, we SEC homers are laughing our butts off at you.
 
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