The strength of schedule for SEC teams is just so much better. It's just SEC teams beating up on each other.
The SOS argument boils down to a self-fulfilling prophecy. The SEC is a "good" conference so it starts the season with more top 25 teams, who then proceed to play top 25 SEC teams, so victories are given higher value, and defeats muted, then the SEC teams maintain their ranking longer and are able to generate a higher SOS value, which causes its teams to be ranked higher in NEXT year's poll despite the conference's overall record being the same or worse than the other Power 5.
Statistically the SEC has dominated the Power 5 conferences in out of conference records over the past decades.
The SEC bias argument is so tiresome. Only the PAC-12 is even close and I don't think they are all that comparable. Just what conference am I supposed to believe the SEC is stealing pre-season rankings from?
I can't believe the season the Rams are having. Their quarterback might even be a contender for the Heisman trophy. That would definitely be a first for CSU!
I would not use the word "dominated". From 1998 - 2012 SEC vs. PAC-12 regular season: 10-12 SEC vs. PAC-12 bowl games: 1-0 SEC vs. Big 12 regular season: 6-10 SEC vs. Big 12 bowl games: 21-8 SEC vs. ACC regular season: 42-36 SEC vs. ACC bowl games: 16-9 SEC vs. Big 10 regular season: 7-4 SEC vs. Big 10 bowl games: 19-19 SEC vs. Big East regular season: 16-15 SEC vs. Big East bowl game: 3-8 In 2013 the SEC was 7-3 in bowl games, bu 0-2 in BCS bowls losing to a Big 12 team and an ACC team. There is some argument to be made that the SEC is an above average conference, perhaps marginally superior to the other Power 5 conferences but the idea of "dominance" is basically excellent PR.
SEC is 48-3 against non-conference opponents this year. I'd say that's pretty good at least. I'd like to see some more power conferences schedule SEC teams.
The reverse is true as well. Pretty easy to rack up a non-conference winning streak when you are playing Presbyterian and Directional State U.
Phooey. Colorado State lost to Air Force today, ending their longest ever winning streak (9 games). Still bowl eligible, but out of contention for the Mountain West title. 10-2 is a damn good record to finish the season with, though!
At least my Trojans finished strong by beating the crap out of Notre Dame. That always boosts my spirits. On to the Foster Farms Bowl, or whatever....
Except when that non-conference schedule consists of: Idaho, So. Miss, S.Dakota St, TN-Martin, Utah St, Lamar, Sam Houston St, San Jose St, Nicholls, E. Michigan, UAB, Fla Atl, Ark St, Rice, La-Lafayette, UMass, Tx Tech, SMU, Troy, NMex St, La Tech, Charleston Southern, TN-Chattanooga, La-Monroe, Furman, Old Dominion, Presbyterian College, E.Ky, W.Carolina, S.Alabama (many of these scheduled multiple times against SEC teams) ... it's not exactly much of a challenge to rack up that kind of record. Moreover, if the SEC wants to prove its dominance it ought to try scheduling games north of the Mason-Dixon line in November. Madison, Columbus, Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, etc in those weather conditions would be a better test for you, as opposed to the relatively balmy temps normally seen in Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Athens, etc in November.
The SEC is The Weinstein Company of college football. On a side note the ACC was 4-0 against the SEC this last weekend.
I do NOT envy the College Football Committee tonight. They better have gallons of coffee and Mt. Dew and a locked room!