Ranking the conferences at mid-season
Remarkably, we are heading into the second half of the season so what better time to rate the conferences? Here is just one man’s opinion. Please give me yours.
1. SEC: I’ve gotten all kinds of notes telling me how down the SEC is this season. Florida is No. 1 and Alabama is No. 2 and both are winning ugly. Some of that is by design. LSU is 5-1 and ranked No. 9 but could have easily lost to Mississippi State and Georgia. Ole Miss (4-2) has been a disappointment based on preseason expectations. Auburn started 5-0 but has faded with losses to Arkansas and Kentucky. Georgia has all kind of issues. I’ll agree that the SEC is not as strong top to bottom as it was a year ago. But it’s still the toughest conference in the country and has a good chance to post its fourth straight national championship.
2. Big 12: Like the SEC, the Big 12 is not as strong as it was a year ago when Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, all finished the regular season 11-1 and Oklahoma and Texas finished 2-3 in the final BCS Standings. Still the league is pretty strong. Texas is not as good offensively as Colt McCoy simply hasn’t put up the numbers he did in 2008. Oklahoma’s three losses have been by a total of five points and all have been on the road or on neutral sites. Oklahoma State (5-1) has bounced back nicely from a loss to Houston, but the Cowboys may be without receiver Dez Bryant for the rest of the season. I thought Nebraska (4-2) was making a comeback until the Cornhuskers got whacked by Texas Tech (5-2) last week.
3. ACC: I’ll admit that the Atlantic Division is not very good. Boston College (5-2), which was picked to finish dead last, leads the division while Clemson (3-3) is starting to show a few signs of life. But the ACC gets this rating because of Georgia Tech (5-1), Miami (5-1) and Virginia Tech (5-2), which are all rated in the top 14 of the BCS. And Virginia (3-3, 2-0) is on top of the division and awaits a visit from Georgia Tech on Saturday.
4. Big East: Everybody likes to beat on this league but I think it’s pretty good. Cincinnati (6-0) is ranked No. 5 in the BCS and has a very good chance to run the table if quarterback Tony Pike (arm surgery) is able to play down the stretch. South Florida (5-1) beat Florida State in Tallahassee and the Bulls’ only loss is to Cincinnati. West Virginia’s (5-1) only loss was on the road to Auburn. Pittsburgh (6-1) might be the best team in the league. The Panthers host Cincinnati on Dec. 5. Connecticut (4-2) and Rutgers (4-2) are both very competitive.
5. Big Ten: Here we are at the halfway point and No. 6 Iowa (7-0) is the leader in the clubhouse. The Hawkeyes are pretty good on defense but spotty on offense. They needed to block back-to-back field goals to beat Northern Iowa (17-16) in the opener. They had to rally to get past Arkansas State (24-21). Ohio State (5-2) lost to Purdue. Penn State (6-1) didn’t play anybody early in the season and lost to Iowa at home. There is really nobody special in this league and the winner faces the real possibility of again getting waxed in the Rose Bowl by USC.
6. Pac-10: The problem with this league is that every time one of their teams gets some love, it seems to fall off the face of the Earth. USC (5-1) is No. 7 in the BCS but this is not a vintage Trojan team. But it is good enough to win the Pac-10 again which tells you everything you need to know about the league. Oregon (5-1) deserves a lot of credit for bouncing back from an opening loss to Boise State. The Ducks just might be good enough to beat USC on Oct. 31 in Eugene. But after those two teams this league is two miles of bad road. Arizona (4-2) is No. 22 but California (4-2), Stanford (4-3), and UCLA (3-3) have been disappointments.
7. Mountain West: It was very tempting to put the MWC ahead of the Pac-10 and I still could be talked into it. I really like TCU (6-0), which is No. 8 in the BCS. Quarterback Andy Dalton has 23 career victories, second in school history to the great Sammy Baugh, who had 29. Jerry Hughes could be the best defensive end in the country. The best game of the week is TCU at BYU (6-1), which has beaten Oklahoma and somehow lost to Florida State. Utah (5-1) is not as good as last season but the Utes could still win this league.
8. Conference USA: Houston (5-1) has the nation’s leading passer in Case Keenum (416.83 ypg) and has already posted wins over Big 12 opponents Oklahoma State and Texas Tech plus a win over Mississippi State of the SEC. The Cougars’ only loss was to league foe UTEP (58-41) in a crazy game. Tulsa (4-2) isn’t as good as a year ago, but its only losses have come to Oklahoma and Boise State. SMU (3-3) is average now but, under June Jones, it’s only a matter of time before the Mustangs are com. East Carolina (4-3) is the defending champ and still very much in the conference race.
9. WAC: Boise State (6-0) is a good football team with quarterback Kellen Moore, but trust me when I tell you that the Broncos’ No. 4 ranking in the BCS will not last. Because of a weak schedule, Cincinnati, Iowa, USC, and TCU could all pass Boise before the season is over. The rest of the league is pretty average and the Broncos won’t be pressed too much to go 13-0. They go on the road to face Derek Dooley’s Louisiana Tech team (3-3) on Nov. 6 and then host Idaho (6-1) on Nov. 14.
10. Mid-American: Here is something you probably didn’t know. Ohio and Temple sit atop the standings in the MAC’s East Division. Temple (4-2) has won four straight games for the first time since 1985. Central Michigan (6-1) should win the West Division behind quarterback Dan LeFevour. There are teams on the rise like Bowling Green (3-4), who has Freddie Barnes, who leads the nation in catches (12.1) per game.
11. Sun Belt: My money is on Troy (4-2), which has won four straight games since opening the season with losses to Bowling Green and Florida. The Trojans should win Saturday against North Texas and then they host a big game with Louisiana-Monroe (4-2) on Oct. 31. First place in the conference will probably be at stake.
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210 comments Add your comment
Homer
October 21st, 2009
9:30 am
Big 12? Thats crazy. Oklahoma got taken to the woodshed by Miami (ACC) and has 3 loses. Texas has beaten NOBODY, but the aforementioned weak OK team.
The ACC is clearly #2 with UM, GT, and VT.
Saint Simons
October 21st, 2009
9:32 am
45 – 42 !!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahha
Saint Simons
October 21st, 2009
9:33 am
sec plays alot of cupcake teams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
m
October 21st, 2009
9:35 am
Thank God and Greyhound William & Mary isn’t in the ACC.
Jonathan Crompton
October 21st, 2009
9:36 am
The bowls will decide everything.
David
October 21st, 2009
9:37 am
I agree with the list except I’d drop the ACC to 5th behind the Big East and the Big Ten.
DawginLex
October 21st, 2009
9:38 am
I’d rate the Big 12 behind the ACC and the Pac 10. The mountain West is better than the Big 10 and the big East.
SEC
ACC
Pac 10
Big 12
Mountain West
Big 10
Big East
conf USA
WAC
MAC
Sun Belt
The big 12 is horrible. Texas is way overrated. Texas would lose head to head with all of the following:
Florida
Bama
Vt
GT
Miami
USC
Oregon
Boise State
Les Miles
October 21st, 2009
9:38 am
Hey m, remember the Peach Bowl. And before you bring up turnovers, last I checked turnovers are a part of the game.
Ba'ii
October 21st, 2009
9:39 am
The ACC has nine bad teams. No way that deserves to be as high as 3rd.
Trade School Junkie
October 21st, 2009
9:43 am
Oh look, “Mr. SEC’ ranked his conference at the top?
Wow, shocker, right?
And this statement: “…and [the SEC] has a good chance to post its fourth straight national championship.”
“Mr. College Football” isnt going to support…ANY…method of determining a TRUE National Champ…if it isnt biased towards the SEC.
If there is ONE SINGLE organization that ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT want to EVER have a true play-off system, its the SEC, for sure.
Folks, ITS ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$$$$$$$.
Bill E. Goat
October 21st, 2009
9:46 am
Saint Simons EVERY conference has teams playing several cupcake teams. GT and FSU played Jacksonville State. Miami played FAMU. BC played Northeastern and Kent State. Clemson and Maryland play Middle Tennessee. Maryland played James Madison. Clemson plays Coastal carolina. Duke played Richmond and Army. NC State played Murray State and Gardner Webb. UNC played The Citadel and GA. Southern. Virginia played William and Mary. VTech played MArshall and East Carolina. Wake played Elon.
I guess since the ACC struggles with the Cupcakes and loses a few to them you somehow consider yourself less of a hypocrite with your dumb statement.
Trade School Flunkie
October 21st, 2009
9:46 am
“Folks, ITS ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$$$$$$$.”
That’s right, and Georgoa Tech cannot even sell out its 50,000 seat stadium.
LMAO
Bill E. Goat
October 21st, 2009
9:47 am
Trade School Junkie you do know that when the SEC wins a National title they do have to play a school from another conference. It’s up to that other conference school to prevent them from winning it. your arguement is dumb and holds NO Merit.
Anonymous
October 21st, 2009
9:47 am
The SEC’s undoubtedly ranked first for its stellar officiating!
Paul ( You doesn't have to call me Johnson}
October 21st, 2009
9:48 am
Ward, I’m worried about the SEC!
Aw June, you don’t have to worry about the SEC ( As long as the SEC Officiating Crews keep the Gators and the Gumps undefeated )
Miles
October 21st, 2009
9:49 am
SEC is the toughest conference…no brainer…
Mr. Accounting
October 21st, 2009
9:51 am
Trade School…….Did you see that contract the SEC signed with ESPN for 3 B as in Billion. A playoff would give them more money not less. Why in the world would the SEC be afraid of a playoff. They finished 7-2 in bowls last year. Your blue bloods at UVA and UNC have led the charge against a playoff. It’s called research, you should try it sometime.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 21st, 2009
9:52 am
I’m speechless. Tony Barnyard thinks the SEC is the toughest conference?!?
I would have never, ever, seen that coming.
Willie Martinez 4 President
October 21st, 2009
9:52 am
Georgia should join the ACC they might win some big games finally
slick
October 21st, 2009
9:53 am
what do you mean by the “mustangs are come.”? don’t underestimate texas. they are growing as a team, have muschamp as defensive coordinator(nice move dawgs) and rank 1 or 2 every year in recruiting so their pure athletic ability helps them overcome their mistakes. they can match up physically with any team in the country. think the houston QB deserves more recognition from the press. wish to express my condolences to the family of the murdered UCONN cb “jazz”. so senseless.
JT
October 21st, 2009
9:54 am
Here is my mid season report:
SEC
ACC
Big East
Pac 10
Big 12
Mountain West
Big 10
conf USA
WAC
MAC
Sun Belt
Tim
October 21st, 2009
9:54 am
How in the heck can anyone watch college football and think the ACC and the Big East is better than the Pac 10 and Big 10?. Come on Tony, your better than this. No team in either conference would finish in the top 3 of the other.
Pi$$colorliketech
October 21st, 2009
9:55 am
Ah yeah! it just burns up the Tech people that they are winning in a crummy conference. Bawa ha ha ha ha.
I love it when they talk like they have done something….what a joke Tech is. Too funny!
Mikey
October 21st, 2009
9:56 am
I would rank the ACC slightly ahead of the Big 12…
reebok
October 21st, 2009
9:56 am
Tech fan here. I think the SEC is a clear # 1, but I also think the ACC is equal to the Big 12.
Kid Ray
October 21st, 2009
9:58 am
Thank You TB – Finally some BigEast love from the Deep South. The only conference w/o a horrible loss is the BE.
And don’t forget that it only has 8 teams…so you cannot just compare the best 8 from the SEC or B12. you really need to compare with the middle 8, or the top 4 and bottom 4, or the middle 8 to compare apples to apples.
A down year for my Rutgers Scarlet Knights…but a solid year for the BE.
Anonymous
October 21st, 2009
9:59 am
Where are all the conspiricy theorists from yesterday?
Oh, they’ve probably been taken out and eliminated by the spies, mobsters, crooks and murderers involved in the cover-up!
Scurrilous and surreptitious times, these.
GCS Eagle 91
October 21st, 2009
10:01 am
After the top 3, ( UF AL, LSU) what do you have inthe SEC? I think the SC is the 4th best team in the SEC, and they’ll go 8-4. That’s respectable…UT lost at home to a lousy UCLA squad, UGA doesn’t need mentioning…BUT, the bowls will decide the best conference top to bottom, and last year that was the SEC.
I think college football is down a notch or two this season as a whole…I see poor tackling technique on good teams, too many penalties, and very few ball control offenses. Anyway, I like UF/AL winner vs Texas in the BCS title game. Too bad…TCU is the toughest team I have seen this side of Alabama….That would be a match-up…..
GT
October 21st, 2009
10:09 am
What is blue blood anymore. We use yesterday’s definitions for today’s situation. I watched Miami and FSU come back to the pack because the ACC doesn’t put up with outlaw members. I watch the SEC get to number one because that is more important to them, they are selling football, entertainment and it supports schools that otherwise are located in thinly populated cow towns that would have lost their significances if it wasn’t for what happens on Saturdays not school days in those “universities”. Keep it up and there won’t be college football. Make money the ruler of all this and the only interested party will be these outpost to nowhere which eventually won’t support the game when the television audience is tired of the show. The point here is we need to bring this back to a college event not control by outside interest and their money. Any day now Donald Trump will be trying to buy the NCAA if someone in the SEC hasn’t beaten him to it already.
sunday
October 21st, 2009
10:09 am
For once, I completely agree with Barnhart. And I don’t understand everyone’s ACC bashing at all. For example, cbssportsline.com has Georgia Tech’s schedule ranked as the 12th most difficult up to this point, and Virginia Tech’s as the number 1 most difficult schedule played. That says a great day about those two teams and their conference.
matt r
October 21st, 2009
10:10 am
As much as I love to hear the experts pontificate using only their opinions, here are some actual results…
http://www.colleyrankings.com/foot2009/conf07.html
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
10:15 am
I guess I agree with most of the assetions Tony. I don’t think that the SEC is as strong this year as usual and I think that most of the smaller conferences are weaker than usual.
This Spurrier Alabama thing bothers me though. What else are they doing? If they are so good, why do they have to resort to cheating? Why does the ref standing right there, not see that? They have surely proven that they can call teams for looking at the sky, having only 3 players on one side of the kicker, and hitting too hard when someone bumps you. WHY DOES ALABAMA HAVE TO CHEAT?
Not Disappointed!
October 21st, 2009
10:15 am
SEC earned the right to be Number 1, but the ACC should at least be tied for second with the big 12.
Ramblin Wreck!
DirtyDawg
October 21st, 2009
10:16 am
I’ve yet to understand, or more appropriately, agree with this obsession with having some sort of multi-team playoffs…with the possible exception of the ‘Plus One’ that would allow the top four BCS-ranked teams to meet in two of the existing BCS Bowls with the winners playing each other following that. My reasons are that any kind of eight or sixteen team playoff would negatively impact the Bowls and what they represent to the communities, charities and festivals they’re designed to promote…winning team’s fans would have a hard time attending – financially – more that one (if even that) of their team’s games…instead of 25 or so teams/fans/alumni/coaches/players/etc. getting to end the season on a positive note, there would only be a single happy team at the top, with the others with fans trying to unload playoff tickets after each round.
Don't care about sec or acc
October 21st, 2009
10:17 am
An observation from a Penn State fan, it’s telling that from reading these blogs, Georgia’s two biggest win’s last year were:
1) LSU beating Ga Tech
2) Ole Miss beating Florida
And their biggest wins this year, although they haven’t happened yet will be:
1) Anyone beating Florida
2) Alabama beating Tenn
3) Miami beating Ga Tech
I can say for sure, Penn State, Ohio State & Michigan would be mortified to brag about someone else beating someone for us.
10 out of 12 teams on probation, the sec is great.
Otto
October 21st, 2009
10:18 am
Texas has not beat anyone but who really has? Bama? If so who did VT beat?
In this age of parity and reduced scholarships compared to the past nobody will be that great. The scholarship level needs to go from 85 to 95 to produce really great teams.
IMO Texas is the best team not in the SEC and may have beaten Florida the past 2 weeks with Tebow looking to be in a daze.
Ole Miss had 20+? players missing practice for the flu, It only takes a day or 2 to drop several pounds but it takes weeks to get it back. Ole Miss is not doing what they were expected early in the season but all things considered I don’t think they’re doing that bad.
Mr Accounting dead on with the playoff. The SEC would get even more money. The mid pack/mid level conf teams (UNC, UVA, most of the Big10) would not benefit and thus the Rose Bowl and ACC are against the playoff. The SEC has been leading the charge for a playoff. Yes I am UGA fan and against a playoff.
matt r
October 21st, 2009
10:18 am
I agree DirtyDawg, I think the NFL Playoffs also are a negative thing. I would much rather the top 12 teams play in six different games so we can all be happy at the end of the season and hold hands. And for God’s sake, that March Madness is the biggest abortion in sports… what a disgrace.
Bob
October 21st, 2009
10:19 am
Tony, I almost always agree with you. I am an SEC fan and I agree they are probably #1. But the PAC 10 behind the Big Ten and Big East. You must go to bed too early. What in the world makes you think the Big East or the Big 10 is remotely close to being as good as the PAC 10? Sorry, I don’t see it at all and I suspect come bowl season, we will see it replayed again and again.
The PAC 10 is 3-1 vs the Big Ten this year and we know what happens come bowl time between the two. Oregon State, a mid level PAC 10 team lost to the best Big East team in a good game.
Sorry, but it is an article like this that feeds that West Coast conspiratorial thought process about East Coast bias. I ain’t buying that either the Big East or Big 10 is better. And the conference is 1-0 vs the Big 12 and 1-1 vs the ACC. You are way off base on picking the PAC 10 last…not even close.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
October 21st, 2009
10:21 am
Tony Barnhart is a joke.
“Mr College Football”? More like “Mr SEC Football” because he knows little to nothing about the Pac 10.
Either he is stupid, or willfully ignorant. However, he gives the rubes who continue to believe the entire SEC is better than any other conference, and that’s who [mostly] reads the AJC.
Saint Simons
October 21st, 2009
10:22 am
Sec plays 31 cupcake teams!!!
King of Sandy Springs
October 21st, 2009
10:22 am
You folks keep saying everyone schedules cupcakes. Most SEC schools are just able to schedule 3. Go Gator.
12 & 21
October 21st, 2009
10:24 am
Hey Lexie dawg, what happened the last time UGAY played Bama or GT?
I believe they got their @$$ whipped twice tween the hedges!!!!!
BTW the all time record is Bama 36 UGAY 25…………deal with it.
Big 10
October 21st, 2009
10:26 am
The $3 Billion will come straight out of the wallets of SEC fans.
Get ready for SEC games to go pay-per-view.
So, whats in YOUR wallet (to coin a phrase)
Otto
October 21st, 2009
10:28 am
Dirty Dawg, Go back to Tony’s spring blogs, the plus one does not solve the problem. UGA gets hung out in ‘07, and Utah gets hung out in ‘08.
The only playoff that will ever have a chance of being agreed on will include all BCS conf champs plus at large bids (ND and nonBCS teams will get first look) killing what is left of the magic of the regular season and any big out of conference games.
I’ll take the current system and watch Pitt upset WVA, or UCLA upset USC to setup a BCS title matchup. The current system is far more fun to watch than a playoff that will for the most part look like the past few Rose Bowls with an undeserving Big10 champ getting throttled by USC.
Otto
October 21st, 2009
10:29 am
Hasn’t the Big 10 been exposed enough dropping 2 BCS bowls a year?
gatorsam
October 21st, 2009
10:31 am
Enter your comments here
gatorsam
October 21st, 2009
10:34 am
To St. Simons: speaking of cupcakes, do you know what ACC really stands for? Association of College Cupcakes. Accociation of Community colleges. Almost a College Conference. Take your pick. They all fit!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
ESecPN
October 21st, 2009
10:37 am
As long as you live here you’ll never escape the SEC bias. I love how it’s “the SEC” that’s won 4 of the last 6 national championships. WRONG! Florida and LSU won them. And one of those LSU had to fall a$$-backwards into with 2 losses. The rest of the conference (with maybe the exception of Alabama the last couple of years) is weak. And just who has Florida beaten so far this year? LSU? A team that should have lost to lowly Georgia and probably Mississippi State?! And what about Alabama? Their “signature win” so far is Virginia Tech, a team Georgia Tech proved was and still is over-hyped. The SEC is no different from a lot of other big name conferences, it’s just that SEC fans want you to believe that when a lowly SEC team upsets a top-tier SEC team it’s because the whole conference is strong. Yet, when the same thing happens in another conference it’s because the whole conference is weak. Can’t wait for the bowl games. The SEC will be exposed this year.
Jacket
October 21st, 2009
10:43 am
I love these moron fleabags calling Tech a cupcake, a high school offense and other defamatory names. If I had almost 500 yards shoved down our throats last year on a much better group of players than this year, I wouldn’t………well, never mind. That’s exactly why everybody knows buttsniffers are dumbazzes.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 21st, 2009
10:45 am
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER is 100% correct.
Let’s take a look at this weeks rambling of Mr. College (yeah whatever) Football.
Monday: UF/UA playing twice for the National Championship?!?….WTF
Tue., crying about the SEC refs AGAIN!!!
Today who’s the best conference? Good golly, it’s the SEC!!!
NOW, What if (And it’s a HUGE what if) UGAg was 6-1 and had beaten the #4 team in the Nation last Saturday?
Well, there would be Tony’s map to a National Championship all laid out.
No crying at all about SEC refs.
A preview of UGAgs next opponent, and who knows what else he could come up with.
What is the zip code of the AJC and GT?
Tony, you are a joke, and the only people who don’t get it are you and your UGAg buddies.
CFB Pulse
October 21st, 2009
10:46 am
matt r @ 10:10 am — nice link. There’s a little more to it than that, but that’s a good start.
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
10:47 am
Anyone with any desire for pure objectivity needs to follow the link put on by Matt R. For those of you who missed it, it is listed below:
http://www.colleyrankings.com/foot2009/conf07.html
Bobby Dodd
October 21st, 2009
10:47 am
To all the Tech haters on here, it’s your free will to hate Tech and dog the ACC but when the season is over. Tech will be 3-0 against the SEC???
LES BIAN
October 21st, 2009
10:47 am
Tony – ACC #3? you knew that would get them fired up.
Bubba
October 21st, 2009
10:49 am
Right on, Dirty Dawg. These playoff geeks don’t have a clue. They think a playoff would solve everything. Playoffs are not, and never have been, about matching the best two teams in a championship game. If they were, you wouldn’t have all these divisions and wild card teams. You wouldn’t have a team like the Atlanta Hawks making the playoffs at 7 games under .500. You’d simply match the two best teams from each conference or league. But that wouldn’t make enough money, so we have a bunch of division “champions” and still that’s not enough, so we have “wild card” teams. It’s bogus. If you don’t think playoffs dilute the regular season, check out the pitiful TV ratings for regular season college basketball. Rodeo gets more viewers. The BCS, flawed as it is, does a far better job of pitting the best two teams in a championship game. And remember, before the BCS there was almost no way to put the two best teams together.
Otto
October 21st, 2009
10:50 am
ESecN, No argument VT was overhyped. Yes LSU and UF have the title but don’t forget BCS bowl wins by Auburn and UGA. The SEC has been doing really well in the bowl challenge despite the SEC team putting 2 teams in BCS bowls and having the lower pick in majority of their Bowls for example the Chicken Bowl SEC #4 vs ACC #2. Like you I can’t wait for the Bowls. The SEC proves again it is the top conf.
Association of College Cupcakes
October 21st, 2009
10:50 am
Hey, look at us… we’re 11-2 against Football Championship Subdivision teams.
Anonymous
October 21st, 2009
10:58 am
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER is little more than a hateful, anti-semite and his vitriolic spew is not welcome here.
Rocky King
October 21st, 2009
10:59 am
gatorsam—SEC= Seems Everyones Cheating
JB
October 21st, 2009
10:59 am
Tony say’s ” Georgia has all kinds of issues”…….One Big one, Willie Martinez. We are NOT talking about what kind of father, friend, neighbor, co-worker etc he is. We are talking about the RESULTS of him being the Defensive Cord. and the University of Georgia. He’s horrible. The stats don’t lie. The loses don’t lie. The games we have BARELY won don’t lie. The drum beat that get’s louder with every game we play. The Quote in the paper by Crompton, the Tennessee QB ” we knew what they were going to do on every play”. Ya Think? How about Kiffen the week of the game ” we know what they are going to do on offense, all the way back to Mark at FSU, it’s no mystery”
My biggest fear is that there will be no Changes on this staff at year end. If not, it will be a defining moment in Georgia football history. Mark will have sealed his fate with this guy.
DawgGirl32
October 21st, 2009
11:00 am
I would put the ACC ahead of the Big 12 and I will be the first to admit that Bama and Florida are really bringing up the SEC’s average.
Tory
October 21st, 2009
11:00 am
well let’s go ahead and say it- Spurriers alegations of Bama cheating- tell me how in the world the officials missed that- do they not watch. Yet another example of the trash we call SEC Officials. Its time for something to be done. It is pre-determined that they will do whatever they can to make sure UF and UA go unbeaten. I guess we will hear from the SEC Office- yes, it was a mistake. Bama did break the rules- we’re sorry! what a bunch of CRAP
Stinger
October 21st, 2009
11:02 am
Bubba said:
“Playoffs are not, and never have been, about matching the best two teams in a championship game.”
Uuhh, anyone remember March Madness?
Anyone want to use a BCS-type model for March Madness?
Yeh, didnt think so.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 21st, 2009
11:03 am
dawggirl32, you are more objective than TB.
I still got a Whole Lotta Love for ya.
Honest Abe
October 21st, 2009
11:06 am
Rocky King, except for BCS championship games and bowl games in general.
Eric
October 21st, 2009
11:06 am
Who cares? As an Auburn fan, UGA fan, UF fan, UT fan, bama fan, whoever you pull for, you hate the rest of the conference…except for the door mats, Vandy and Miss St. Admit it, we all hate each other, so why would we really want our conference to be the best. I sure as hell don’t care if the teams I hate most lose every week. For example, I think it’s pretty damn funny that UGA is suffering right now. And I wish bama and Florida would get in on some of that suffering. Eventually, I know they will. It may be intellectually smart to pull for our rivals, but emotionally it’s out of the question.
slaw_dawg
October 21st, 2009
11:08 am
tony great show last night.
im a little suprised that you have the Big East ranked higher than the Big 10.
We just dont see teams like the 90s Nebraska, early 2000 Oklahomas, Miamis of the 80s anymore. Florida’s a good team, but i think its way to early to call them a dynasty (they look very flawed this year).
We’re not having dynastyIts possible that the recruiting talent is being spread out. The SEC has 7 teams in the top 25 recruiting. South Florida has taken talent away from Miami and FSU. Cincy has dipped into the OSU recruiting pool.
TechNick
October 21st, 2009
11:11 am
BTW Barnfart. GT’s record is 6-1. Hmmm. You must be eliminating more Tech wins from your UGAy mind. Now we can clearly see your bias.
Will
October 21st, 2009
11:15 am
UGA is down this season and will be lucky to win 7. However we will back next season with a 10 or 11 win season.
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
11:15 am
Why are you Techies on a blog whining about no respect? It looks like he give out plenty of love to the Jackets. We all do, and it is amazing that you Techies want to come on here and blast objective journalism, but in case you can’t figure out objectivity, I suggest you check out the link below: Since it is numbers and lines you can probabally figure it out. TECH ROLLS BABY!
http://www.colleyrankings.com/foot2009/conf07.html
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
11:16 am
Should be gives
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
October 21st, 2009
11:17 am
Here are Jeff Sagarin’s rankings:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc09.htm
You will notice that at #1 is the Pac 10, followed closely by the SEC (probably a statistical tie), then with a big drop off to the ACC, the Big East, the Big 10 and the Big 12 at probably a near statistical tie.
You will notice that the strength of schedule for the Pac 10 teams are quite high, with UDub at #1 in the country. The lowest is AZ State, at #88. UDub has the highest due to their in-conference play, plus LSU and ND out-of-conference. AZ State is hurt by having weaklings UL-Monroe, ID State, and UGA (sorry) on their schedule. In the SEC, Arkansas has the toughest schedule, having to play UF from the SEC East, and their difficult SEC West Schedule. Alabama and Florida rank 26th and 46th, respectively; Alabama’s SOS is boosted by their scheduling VaTech, and Florida’s weakened by playing both Charleston Southern and Troy.
Anyone who believes Tony Barnhart is “Mr College Football” is deluding themselves.
Halsey
October 21st, 2009
11:19 am
People who don’t like the fact that the SEC is the toughest conference claim it’s down every year. Give it a rest already.
Willie Martinez 4 President
October 21st, 2009
11:19 am
I think UGA has a chance of winning this weekend.
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
11:21 am
Sagarin always disise the SEC until after the year, when they shoot up becuase they whip everyone else MR Pope a/k/a Catholic Hammer. I suggest you look at something more objective such as actual results on the field. See below mackeral snapper
http://www.colleyrankings.com/foot2009/conf07.html
Bubba
October 21st, 2009
11:25 am
Stinger, do they teach you to read at Tech? I never said playoffs aren’t popular, only that they aren’t about matching the two best teams and that they dilute the REGULAR SEASON. March Madness isn’t the regular season, is it? Try again.
ESecPN
October 21st, 2009
11:29 am
I love men:)))
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
11:30 am
Why are you Techies afraid to look at the actual results of the conferences to date. Tech has a great team, and so do FSU, UM, and VT. But everyone else in your conference is pulling your conference down. MSU our bottom, played you great this year. We will see how the others fare. Make no mistake about it, TECH has a great team, and I doubt that they would be losing to Wm & Mary, but somone in your conference did?
http://www.colleyrankings.com/foot2009/conf07.html
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
October 21st, 2009
11:34 am
From 2000 to 2008, the SEC finished #1 in the Sagarin Rankings 4 times, with 3 of those years being 2006, 2007, and 2008. The only other year for the SEC to finish #1 was 2001.
Each year, the SEC finished: 2000 – 4th; 2001- 1st; 2002 – 3rd; 2003 – 2nd; 2004 – 6th; 2005 – 5th; then 2006-2008 – 1st.
While impressive, this isn’t the kind of dominance one would expect when hearing from rabid “SEC fans” (who generally just like to pump themselves up to make their own teams seem better). In short, the SEC dominance is something recent, and it won’t last.
Trade School Junkie
October 21st, 2009
11:36 am
Denver dog:
“…objective journalism…” from Barnhart ???? What a joke.
His nickname isnt “Tony Bias” for nothing, you know.
Man, thats one thing Barnhart has NEVER been accused of.
Bama
October 21st, 2009
11:39 am
Look, just except the fact that Barnhart is a complete SEC homer, and lower your expectations to that concept.
Dont expect anything other than a complete SEC bias.
Huh?!
October 21st, 2009
11:40 am
Catholic Hammer, the day I get my college football information from USA Today is the day I need to stop following it. PAC-10 at or near the top… C’mon Man! That makes the AJC look like Pulitzer Prize winning material.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
October 21st, 2009
11:43 am
This isn’t the USA Today, it’s Jeff Sagarin, hosted by the USA Today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Sagarin
You make yourself look like a fool.
DawginLex
October 21st, 2009
11:44 am
Catholic hammer,
If you expect anyone to believe that ANY team from the Big 10 could beat UF,Bama or LSU, I want some of your stuff. the next 6 from the SEC would wipe the mat with (pick one) any Big 10 team.
Rduck
October 21st, 2009
11:45 am
How does having the 8 conference champs diminish the regular season? You still have to beat every team in your conference to be the champ and get the bid. Maybe take all the conference champs and seed them based on strength of schedule so they won’t be so quick to gang up on lowly non-conference cupcakes. I think the at large bids would be the only controversial part of it, but that is what this sport is already dealing with. Until you take the opinions of local sportswriters with an agenda and the coaches whom most never watch the games out of the equation, there will always be more controversy than actual facts determining the champion.
heckuva engineer
October 21st, 2009
11:46 am
CATHOLIC HAMMER — where has your conference been ranked over the last decade?
Huh?!
October 21st, 2009
11:48 am
…hosted by the USA Today with Jeff Sagarin’s approval (and cashed check) you idiot.
Bubba
October 21st, 2009
11:49 am
Rduck, only the most gullible fan believes that an 8-team playoff would remain at 8 teams for more than a couple of years. I challenge you to name ONE playoff in any sport that has not expanded beyond its original format.
TribePride
October 21st, 2009
11:49 am
I would put the ACC slightly behind the Colonial Athletic Association
William and Mary 26 Virginia 14
Richmond 24 Duke 16
Maryland 38 James Madison 35 OT
Loop
October 21st, 2009
11:49 am
Acc is def #2. If ou was ou, then i would agree. But they are not.
Loop
October 21st, 2009
11:51 am
oh and fla should have a loss. the officiating in the sec has been horrendous.
Rduck
October 21st, 2009
11:52 am
Playoffs DO try to get the best 2 teams playing for the title. That is why they seed the teams in the playoffs with the best 2 teams playing the worst 2 teams and give them an easier road to the title game. But they actually have to play for it. It is not just given to them like it is now. If you can’t win your conference, you have no business playing for the title.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
October 21st, 2009
11:53 am
MY conference? Well, I went to GT, and am still a big GT fan, but my favourite conference (for various reasons) is the Pac 10. Over the years, the Pac 10 has finished: 2000 – 1st, 2001 – 3rd, 2002 – 2nd, 2003 – 4th, 2004 – 2nd, 2005 – 4th, 2006 – 3rd, 2007 – 2nd, 2008 – 4th, and currently 1st.
Why do you ask?
Tom
October 21st, 2009
11:55 am
Pac-10 6th? What did your wife run off with someone from California?
UCLA has been a disappointment? How can a team picked to come in 7th disappoint . . . didn’t they go into Knoxville and beat down UT?
Big Least and Big 10? Are you kidding me? Padding your record by playing directional midwest teams (which Iowa should have easily lost to TWO of) is not impressive.
ACC? GaTech, Miami and VaTech look okay (I guess), but should anyone (not named Clemson) “fear the turtle” and UVA couldn’t win the Patriot League. UNC, Wake and NC State have been exposed and FSU is a mess . . . by your logic “BC has been disappointing.”
That brings me to the big, bad SEC. We have no idea if they are any good because their teams are afraid to play anyone outside the South (oops, forgot LSU’s close win over Washington, my bad). Aside from the big three (LSU, Florida and ‘Bama) who could win the WAC or MWC?
Ole Miss? Talk about exposed, disappointing teams? So, a 7th place Pac-10 team struggling (in conferences) is disappointing, but the 7th ranked team in the nation being overrated is okay?
Rduck
October 21st, 2009
11:56 am
Bubba, all I am saying is that the current system is a joke. All the preseason polls and facination with 1 team or 1 conference deminishes what is the best sport in the country. There has to be a better way. I take it you are a fan of one of those teams that always gets the easier path.
VOL Fan
October 21st, 2009
11:57 am
The SEC is the toughest conference and has been for a number of years despite the horrible officiating. Finally, someone who agrees the Pac-One is a JOKE. When USC is the only legit team in the entire conference you can go somewhere with any argument of them being the best.
ESecPN
October 21st, 2009
11:57 am
DawginLex, you’re “stuff” most be more potent, because the only team the SEC has dominated in the Big Ten is Ohio State. The SEC has had its problems beating teams like Iowa, Michigan and Penn State in recent bowls. There is no “next 6″ in the SEC. There’s basically 2 teams and a lot of filler.
Bubba
October 21st, 2009
11:59 am
Rduck wrote: It is not just given to them like it is now. If you can’t win your conference, you have no business playing for the title.
Given to them? You can’t be serious. If Florida goes 13-0 and makes it to the NC game, it was “given” to them? They earned it on the feild And if you don’t deserve to play for the championship without winning your conference (or division), then why does the NFL and every other playoff allow it? After a few years, college football would too. Guaranteed.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 21st, 2009
12:08 pm
Mr. College Football, Georgia Tech is 6-1. Oh wait, I forgot the Missy St. game don’t count.
Denver Dog
October 21st, 2009
12:11 pm
I still say go to the actual results listed below: That tells it all, it is purely objective, and Tech man, I didn’t say TB was objective, but if I did, I shouldn’t have. He definitely is a home type guy, which includes Ga Tech. Look below at this link, then make up your own mind.
http://www.colleyrankings.com/foot2009/conf07.html