More from SEC fans. This is hilarious to check out.
College Football News recently labeled the SEC's conference as a whole as having the 5th hardest schedule when compared to the rest of the nation. This was the link inside my original post in this thread. The ACC was 1st and the Pac Ten was 2nd. Obviously, out-of-conference schedules do really count.
However, check out the some of the emails from SEC and LSU fans about the schedules. These guys are hilarious.
SEC fans e-mails/complaints
Fans e-mails/complaints/questions are in bold! Answers are below!
You guys are completely insane. You have Miami in the Top 10 but Florida at 51 for SOS? Miami plays FSU yeah, but UF plays UGA, LSU, FSU, UTenn, and if your counting West Virginia and NC State as good teams you might as well count South Carolina and Auburn I mean you got to be kidding me. Not to Mention the games @FSU, @UTenn, and a neutral site game against UGA you guys are pathetic. If I could could you tell me your point systems and what the requirements are to work on your staff because I used to like your site but this it seems you guys are putting up thoughts with no logic behind it while still sucking up to the new ACC. ? RB
A: You're acting like we set up the formula (in our strength of schedule rankings) to make it look like the SEC was average. All we did was put the formula in place and let it fly. You're forgetting that Florida plays MTSU and Eastern Michigan along with creampuffs like Mississippi State and Vandy. Kentucky and Arkansas aren't any big deal either. Playing at Houston helps out the Miami schedule. Yeah, NC State and Virginia really are that good.
You have got to be kidding me!? What are y?all smoking to have LSU?s schedule ranked below USC. This has to be a joke ? the SEC fifth in overall schedule rankings and ACC first?! The Pac 10 second? We play at Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas. Come on. - NS
A: Oh this has been a fun week hearing from the LSU fans. Out of the 100+ e-mails from the Tiger faithful that have come in, every single one conveniently left out games against Arkansas State, Mississippi State, Troy and Vanderbilt. Let?s be honest here; this is a three game season for the Tigers. Arkansas needs a TON of work, Alabama and Ole Miss are decent, but not all that great when compared to the mid-level ACC teams (please, please, please read the previews for the ACC teams before disputing this.) You?re also conveniently glossing over that with a few notable exceptions, the SEC is cupcake city when it comes to playing non-conference games. As far as USC, yeah, there isn?t a killer on the schedule, but there are 12 games against average (yeah, I?m counting going to BYU, Stanford and hosting Arizona as average tests) to way above average teams. That?s the point and where the argument comes in. Is it better to play a schedule with three absolutely brutal games or one where every game has a slight degree of difficulty?
Last year the Pac 10 was WEAK. Unless there is a drastic change in PAC 10 performance over last year USC should have no problem winning the league by an average of 14+ points per game. It is really a shame that we will not get to see them play teams the caliber of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas State, or LSU, Georgia, Florida, or Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue within a few games of each other. I suppose they will just be happy with another national championship blessed by the same system that had TCU ranked #5 at one point last year. They can always count on the sports writers! ? Kevin
A: Yes and no. Yes, outside of USC there aren?t any national title contenders in the Pac 10 this year, but there really aren?t many in the SEC past LSU and Georgia (I?m talking real national title contenders) and none in the Big XII outside of Oklahoma (sorry, but I?ve been burned by Texas before.) Bowl games aren?t always the best indicators, but the much-maligned Pac 10 did just fine for itself last year with USC?s win over Michigan, Cal?s win over Virginia Tech, Washington State?s win over Texas, Oregon State?s annihilation of New Mexico and Oregon?s one-point loss to Minnesota. SEC fans conveniently seem to forget about Florida?s embarrassment to Iowa and Tennessee?s loss to Clemson not to mention Alabama?s like-a-Hawaii-Bowl loss to the Warriors. Sure the SEC won some great bowls and is a great league, but there?s good football being played elsewhere too.
Your statement (about Michigan being better that Ohio State this year) has driven a knife through the heart of every Buckeye fan across the nation. I have printed your article and keep it in my office as another reminder how much the press loves Michigan. I trust you understand the depth of your prediction and won't mind being reminded of such during the Thanksgiving Holidays. As I reflect upon the last two years, I, like thousands of other Buckeye fans struggle with comments like Michigan 'still the class of the Big 10'. You, like most of the media, must be watching games with Maize colored glasses, while many of us are still attached to our Scarlet colored glasses. We'll see which color reigns supreme. Your analysis keeps the buckeye nation exhilarated. What must OSU do to defuse the 'class of the Big 10' rhetoric? Obviously, 25-2 during the past two years has not been enough. I love this game! ? JS
A: It's exactly the opposite. If you take a hard, hard, hard look at the Buckeyes with all the holes that need filling and all of the inexperience it?s hard to figure out how they?re still ranked in the top ten of almost every preseason poll. How? Why? It's Ohio State and the program is getting nothing but respect from the media looking hard at the brand name. There are still major quarterback question marks, the offensive line needs to play far better and has several newcomers coming in, and several top defensive players from last year need to be replaced especially on the line. Sure, the Buckeyes are going to be great again, but Michigan is a better and more complete team going into the season. Ohio State is being given nothing but respect by the media while everyone is generally overlooking Michigan (except us.)
Now that both polls are out, who do you think at this early stage are the most over and underrated teams? I believe Wisconsin, Marshall (others receiving votes...), and Maryland are underrated , while Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson are possibly overrated. I know Ohio State lost a lot of players, but believe they'll end up being pretty tough in the long run. What say you? Thanks.......Buckeye fan in scUMville
A: My top three overrated teams (according to the two main preseason polls).
1) Ohio State ? Yeah, in mid-October this should be one of the ten best teams in America, but to be ninth in both polls in the preseason is a bit high. Is there a passing game yet? Will the defense be able to come up with all the same magic? No way, no how does this inexperienced team get the same close wins for the last two Buckeye juggernauts got.
2) Florida - This is a good team, but there are way too many holes to be considered in the top ten going into the season. I never like to rank preseason teams like this, but how is Florida (10th in the Coaches and 11th in the AP) better than the Iowa team (12th in Coaches and 19th in the AP) after the 37-17 Outback Bowl loss?
3) Utah ? (21st in Coaches and 20th in AP). Yeah the Utes have just about everyone coming back, but would you really take them over Purdue, Minnesota, NC State or Wisconsin?
Underrated Teams ?1) NC State ? Has anyone actually done one second worth of research? This Wolfpack team is loaded, loaded, loaded. This is a top ten team on talent and it?s borderline criminal to leave it out of the top 25 like the polls did.
2) Michigan ? Everyone is just looking at the offensive backfield and missing how amazing the rest of this team is. The Wolverines should be in the top five (7th in Coaches, 8th in AP) and is one of the true national title contenders.
3) Auburn ? Feeling burned last year, everyone is overlooking how much talent returns. This is a very, very good team that will be in the SEC title hunt all year long.
I am in a college fantasy league where we select teams, not players. We start 5 teams each week, earning points for victories, points scored and points allowed. I have been looking over the 117 teams and need to find a couple "sleeper" teams who will win some games, put up some points and hold the opposing team to a decent score. Do you have any teams in mind? Also, in your opinion, who are your projected top 5 offenses in the nation, going to points scored. Who are your top 5 defenses in the nation, based on points allowed? ? RW
A: Five sleeper teams as far as victories, points scored and points allowed.
1) North Texas ? After the initial non-conference nightmare the Mean Green will destroy everyone in the Sun Belt.
2) Boise State ? The last few years should be enough to convince you.
3) Bowling Green ? The schedule is nice and squishy and the team is loaded.
4) Miami University ? MU will still roll even without Ben Roethlisberger.
5) Northern Illinois ? Jim Novak?s best team yet.
Top five projected offenses on points scored ? 1) Oklahoma, 2) Hawaii, 3) USC, 4) Texas Tech, 5) Louisville
Top five defenses on points allowed ? 1) LSU, 2) Georgia, 3) Iowa, 4) Nebraska, 5) Michigan
