I do think you have to take into account the cumulative pounding a team will take in the SEC (something that used to be true in the Big 10). It causes you to end up losing games you might think, in the abstract, that you'd win. I think UC would go .500 through an SEC schedule but would find it hard to do better.
I think UC would go about .500 in the SEC, but if they played in the AFC West would probably go 12-4.
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
Good lord, if anyone wonders why folks have grown so incredibly weary of hearing about the SEC, look no further than this thread. Florida beats UC soundly and somehow this is because of the SEC. Hilarious!
The strength of the SEC can't stand on its own. It gets diminished when people try to make these kinds of silly arguments.
Grape works as a soda. Sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie. - Larry David
"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
I've great respect for the SEC and think UC also had a great season--I say this so as not to get identified with anybody's argument here. One note, though: having 10 teams get to bowls means zilch; everybody goes to a bowl anymore--it depends more on the way you set up your non-conference schedule than on anything else.
When all is said and done more is said than done.
I remember back in the '90s, when FSU and Florida were playing epic games nearly every year, it didn't matter how the game came out. If Florida won, it was because they were battle-tested from playing tough SEC games every week. If they lost, it was because they were worn out from playing tough SEC games every week.
But I guess that's how it is for most fans. Top Team barely squeaks past Midpack Team? If it's your league, it proves how tough Midpack Team is. If it's some other league, it proves Top Team is overrated.
Reading comprehension is not just an ability, it's a choice
Just got back from New Orleans earlier tonight.
First, while I'm glad I visited New Orleans and got to experience Bourbon Street and the New Year's atmosphere, I can also say that I probably wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't make another trek down there.
On to the game, and this seemed like a pure example of a game won and lost on the line of scrimmage. Florida had a massive advantage on the line on both sides of the ball, and they were able to exploit that advantage very well. I saw that advantage opening up in the first quarter, and I immediately thought that UC was going to have to be +2 or better in the turnover battle to win the game.
Florida's defensive line put an immense amount of pressure on Pike - the most pressure he's seen since Virginia Tech last year - and that's pretty much the only way to slow down UC's offense. And unfortunately, the Gators could get a fair amount of pressure. Pike was scrambling around, and most of their effectiveness was in short, quick passes. Due to the pressure and Florida's line, UC didn't have much of a chance to open up and go down field all that much.
Defensively, UC's line was pretty much pushed around. Tebow had all day, and he just picked the secondary apart. This was pretty much the type of game where it'd have been nice if we still had Barwin, Byrd and last year's secondary, because at least then we'd have had some chance to slow Florida down. But games aren't won and lost on what ifs, and those guys are gone.
I thought the two biggest missed opportunities early on was UC's first drive which stalled due to stupid penalties, and then Pike just absolutely missing Binns on the trick play. UC was moving the ball on their first drive, and they were likely going to at least get a field goal on that drive before penalties killed it. If Pike sees Binns wide open on the following drive, that's a touchdown. Right there were 10-14 missed points, and while UC lost by much more than that, it'd have been nice to have had that hot start early on.
The Lost Decade Average Season: 74-88
2014-22 Average Season: 71-91
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