<![CDATA[The SEC Myth]]>The theory is that the SEC is so much superior than every other conference. Well, I am here to tell you that that theory is a myth. Why does the SEC have so many teams with such good records?

Cupcake scheduling primarily. While teams say in the Big Ten, ACC, Pac 10 etc. generally schedule 2 games a year against other power non-conference opponents (e.g. Ohio State played both Va. Tech and Cinci) generally the SEC teams will only schedule one game per year against...but in some cases SEC schools will schedule 4 non conference games against cupcakes.

Examples:

Mississippi State's non conf. schedule: So. Miss, UAB, So. Ala, UT Martin

Texas A&M non conf schedule: Lamar, Rice, SMU, Lou.-Monroe

Vanderbilt: Temple, UMass, Charleston Southern, Old Dominion

In a couple of cases SEC schools only meeting with a power conference foe resulted in the SEC school getting hammered:

Tennessee played Utah St. Ark. St., Chattanooga....but got hammered by Oklahoma 34-10

Missouri played South Dakota St., Toledo, got a decent win vs. Central Fla, but got beat by Indiana

In some cases the SEC teams only real out of conference test is yet to come:

South Carolina has taken care of cupcakes Furman/So. Alabama, beat a decent E. Carolina team....but still must play its biggest out of conference game vs. Clemson

Florida has taken out cupcakes Idaho, Eastern Michigan, Eastern Kentucky....but must still play Florida St.

Kentucky has beaten weaklings UT Martin, Ohio U, Louisian Monroe.....but must still play Louisville

OK, in a few cases the SEC team did win its one game against a decent opponent:

Alabama did beat West Virginia, while also taking on cupcakes Fla Atlantic, So. Miss., Western Carolina

Arkansas beat its one decent opponent Texas Tech while also taking on lesser lights Nicholls St., UAB, and Northern Illinois

Auburn's road defeat of Kansas St. is the best non-conference win of the year for the SEC, but they also played patty cake with San Jose St, Samford, and La. Tech.

LSU won a decent game on a neutral field against Wisconsin 28-24 while also playing cupcakes Sam Houston St, Louisiana-Monroe and New Mexico St.

Ole Miss beat Boise St. (but Boise is not what they used to be) along with Memphis, Louisana-Lafayette and Presbyterian

The ONLY SEC school that has two tough non-conference opponents on its schedule is Georgia, who has defeated Clemson so far and must take on Georgia Tech. They also played Troy and Charleston Southern. Georgia schedule is more typical of the non-conference schedules that teams in other conferences play.

In some cases, like Georgia/Georgia Tech and Florida/FSU the matchups are mandated by those state legislatures. I have no doubt in my mind that the SEC schools would probably duck those opponents if they could. Florida already ducked Miami in favor of those matchups vs. Idaho and Eastern Michigan.

If Ohio State operated like an SEC school they would have never scheduled a Virginia Tech this year, opting instead perhaps to take on Youngstown St. or some other FCS style school. They could have sited, as SEC schools apparently do, that they did take on their one major opponent in Cincinnati. But OSU and the Big Ten don't usually opt to be so ....craven.

The SEC excuse is also feckless: "well, we play so many tough in conference games that we have to have some breathers on our schedule". Sorry, but until this year there were plenty of breathers on their schedule. This is the first time probably in my life that both Ole Miss and Mississippi State were anything other than fodder. And if football Kentucky and Vandy have always been weak. No, as a general rule a good SEC team would only have really 2-3 tough games on their schedule. This year seems a bit different because of the Mississippi phenomena.....i.e. that the two schools from that state are not their usual pushover selves......but then, as noted those schools have had pushover non-conference schedules themselves this year...its just that they did indeed have some breakout wins. MSU over Auburn, Ole Miss over Alabama.

(But why do I have a feeling that this Mississippi-mania will dissipate as the year goes on and they have to play some of the teams that regularly give them ass kickings. It has already happened with Ole Miss and LSU. Now Ole Miss has to play Auburn this week.)

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/30721/the-sec-mythRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 16:08:36 GMTWed, 29 Oct 2014 15:51:40 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:29:49 GMT]]>

@sadbrownsfan said:

This really shows how an actual playoff is better than no playoffs(though much rather see it expanded to 6 or 8 teams). If they had used the BCS system this year, it would have been FSU(an undefeated power 5 conference team) vs Alabama(1 loss SEC team), while Oregon and OSU would have played in the Rose Bowl.

At the very least the BIG 12 can quit crying about OSU being selected above them.

Except it would have been Alabama/Oregon who was ranked #2 by the committee.....though this committee would not have been in place. Who did like the Sagarin rankings put at the top 2 spots?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468885https://brownsboard.com/post/468885Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:29:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:49:44 GMT]]>This really shows how an actual playoff is better than no playoffs(though much rather see it expanded to 6 or 8 teams). If they had used the BCS system this year, it would have been FSU(an undefeated power 5 conference team) vs Alabama(1 loss SEC team), while Oregon and OSU would have played in the Rose Bowl.

At the very least the BIG 12 can quit crying about OSU being selected above them.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468781https://brownsboard.com/post/468781Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:49:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:30:25 GMT]]>

@browns149 said:

The SEC will continue to schedule those cupcakes. That way they can stay at home in the south and not travel anywhere west or north.

If they start scheduling big ten or pac 12 teams they will have to do the home-and-home series and they don't want that.

Yes, that is true.....though I do think that Tennessee and Ohio St. have a home and home series coming up. I also understand the concept that "we can make more money by playing home games in front of 80-100K people against cupcakes than going on the road to play a tough opponent and thereby losing a home game". All major schools do that, OSU included.....but they usually will schedule at least 1 or two games vs. the other conferences.

The SEC West was all smoke and mirrors, primarily because of the Mississippi schools. Neither Ole Miss nor MSU scheduled a single non-conference game against a power conference opponent....choosing instead to both schedule 4 cupcakes. While those schools did make a reputation by beating Auburn and Alabama respectively....the fact is they gained their reputation merely by committing incest....I mean, they couldn't get laid except to do it with their sisters.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468688https://brownsboard.com/post/468688Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:30:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:31:16 GMT]]>

@axe said:

Still the funniest thing I've seen in a while 😆

Saw that awhile back. HILARIOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468371https://brownsboard.com/post/468371Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:31:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:36:34 GMT]]>Still the funniest thing I've seen in a while 😆

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468355https://brownsboard.com/post/468355Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:36:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 22:55:28 GMT]]>

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@the-gipper said:

Yes, my point being that one dominant school does not make a dominant conference.

If the SEC continues to schedule cupcakes then the selection committee will hold that against them in future years.

Of the Power 5 conferences the Big Ten scheduled the most games against the other 4 (plus Notre Dame), the SEC the least.

The SEC will continue to schedule those cupcakes. That way they can stay at home in the south and not travel anywhere west or north.

If they start scheduling big ten or pac 12 teams they will have to do the home-and-home series and they don't want that.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468318https://brownsboard.com/post/468318Sat, 03 Jan 2015 22:14:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:50:21 GMT]]>

@tiamat63 said:

I believe in both 2006 and 2007 the SEC had a losing bowl record. But you'd never know because when Florida and LSU won the title games, that means they're the end all- be all.

Yes, my point being that one dominant school does not make a dominant conference.

If the SEC continues to schedule cupcakes then the selection committee will hold that against them in future years.

Of the Power 5 conferences the Big Ten scheduled the most games against the other 4 (plus Notre Dame), the SEC the least.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468280https://brownsboard.com/post/468280Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:50:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:47:36 GMT]]>

@axe said:

Not mad at all.. I gave OSU a 50/50 chance and kudos to them.. The SEC is down this yr even tho apparently Iowa didn't get the memo.. The SEC HAS been dominant.. Denying that is ludicrous.. Are things starting to even out? It looks like it might. If OSU/ALA played 10 times.. It might go 5/5.. Good luck next week, Oregon looked mighty tough! Tho FSU was over rated.

The SEC has had some dominant teams, but the league has not been dominant, not really.....unless you mean dominance of all the cupcakes they schedule.

As I noted....this year anyway, that conference did not play a single game vs. the Pac 12....which probably really is the dominant conference.. If they did their .500 record against the other power conferences would probably have been much worse.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468278https://brownsboard.com/post/468278Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:47:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:43:14 GMT]]>

@axe said:

Not mad at all.. I gave OSU a 50/50 chance and kudos to them.. The SEC is down this yr even tho apparently Iowa didn't get the memo.. The SEC HAS been dominant.. Denying that is ludicrous.. Are things starting to even out? It looks like it might. If OSU/ALA played 10 times.. It might go 5/5.. Good luck next week, Oregon looked mighty tough! Tho FSU was over rated.

I believe in both 2006 and 2007 the SEC had a losing bowl record. But you'd never know because when Florida and LSU won the title games, that means they're the end all- be all.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468252https://brownsboard.com/post/468252Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:43:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:42:14 GMT]]>

@bbedward said:

BTW, anybody think the SEC "dominance" would have been a little less if we had the playoffs in earlier years?

Definitely. Also, if we got rid of preseason rankings and didn't have ranking until like week 6

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468144https://brownsboard.com/post/468144Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:42:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:19:55 GMT]]>

@axe said:

Not mad at all.. I gave OSU a 50/50 chance and kudos to them.. The SEC is down this yr even tho apparently Iowa didn't get the memo.. The SEC HAS been dominant.. Denying that is ludicrous.. Are things starting to even out? It looks like it might. If OSU/ALA played 10 times.. It might go 5/5.. Good luck next week, Oregon looked mighty tough! Tho FSU was over rated.

FSU pulled a bunch of games out of their ass against lesser opponents all year.

The SEC is dominant on paper, further evaluation tells a different story. The playoffs system maybe telling a different story too. Given the polls biasing towards SEC.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468136https://brownsboard.com/post/468136Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:19:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:48:11 GMT]]>When you hand a certain conference the title year after year of course they're going to look dominant. When you make them play for it...well...

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@the-cysko-kid said:

Axe is so mad right now. Sorry bro, OSU > Alabama

Not mad at all.. I gave OSU a 50/50 chance and kudos to them.. The SEC is down this yr even tho apparently Iowa didn't get the memo.. The SEC HAS been dominant.. Denying that is ludicrous.. Are things starting to even out? It looks like it might. If OSU/ALA played 10 times.. It might go 5/5.. Good luck next week, Oregon looked mighty tough! Tho FSU was over rated.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468124https://brownsboard.com/post/468124Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:46:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:46:24 GMT]]>Of course

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468123https://brownsboard.com/post/468123Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:46:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:15:11 GMT]]>BTW, anybody think the SEC "dominance" would have been a little less if we had the playoffs in earlier years?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468114https://brownsboard.com/post/468114Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:15:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:34:18 GMT]]>Love it.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468058https://brownsboard.com/post/468058Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:34:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:56:53 GMT]]>

@edwardejw said:

As you watch 'Bama mop up OSU on New Year's day and trounce Oregon in the championship game. Hate to say it but Saban is on track for another one.

The SEC has revenue sharing which is why their programs (all of them - Track - Basketball - Baseball and Football) are all so strong and that's why we root conference also. As much as I hate 'Bama, I want them to win the championship 'cause that's more money in the coffers.

Um...

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468050https://brownsboard.com/post/468050Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:56:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:56:02 GMT]]>

@axe said:

7 of the last 8 National Championships.. If FSU doesn't pull a miracle out of their ass it's 8 out of 8..

That's not a myth.. That's a clear fucking dominance..

Um...]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468049https://brownsboard.com/post/468049Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:56:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:49:18 GMT]]>Axe is so mad right now. Sorry bro, OSU > Alabama

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468047https://brownsboard.com/post/468047Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:49:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 16:54:36 GMT]]>Here is the updated record of the SEC against the other 4 Power conferences after the bowls:

vs. ACC won 3 lost 5

vs. Big Ten won 2 Lost 3....with one game remaining Iowa vs. Tenn. happening today.

vs. Big 12 won 5 lost 2

vs. Notre Dame won 0 lost 1

vs. Pac 12 0-0 these conferences did not play a single game against each other this year....not even a bowl game. Just curious why they duck each other....In theory they are supposed to be the two strongest conferences.

So the SEC is currently 10-11 for the entire year vs. all other conferences....with one game to play. Hardly dominance.

No, the dominant conference in the nation appears to be the Pac 12. Including the Bowls they are currently 14-3 against all other power conferences and ND. They also have 3 games to play: today with UCLA vs. Kansas St. and Oklahoma St. vs. Washington.....and Oregon vs. Ohio St. (yet still no game vs. SEC).

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468030https://brownsboard.com/post/468030Fri, 02 Jan 2015 16:54:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:44:43 GMT]]>

@axe said:

urbantattle_zps73d2efa1.gif

That little girl just beat the best of the SEC in their own backyard!]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468005https://brownsboard.com/post/468005Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:44:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:39:09 GMT]]>SEC....Southerners Eating Crow.

The SEC was behind the 4 team playoff so they could get 2 teams in the title game. Oops.

SEC West totally beat down, they are who we thought they were lol

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/468002https://brownsboard.com/post/468002Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:39:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The SEC Myth on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 13:38:53 GMT]]>urbantattle_zps73d2efa1.gif

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