re: Do the Buckeyes now have the easiest road to the title game each year?

quote:

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I think this myth, that SEC teams play 8 rock 'em, sock 'em games needs to end.

In 2011 Alabama was 7-1 in the SEC, they beat a grand total of 2 teams that finished the regular season with a winning record. Arkansas 10-2 and Auburn who was 7-5. Their other 5 wins were all teams that were 6-6 or worse.

In 2012 there were 6 SEC teams in the top 10-12 most of the year. The 2 teams that played in the SEC CG played 2 of the other 5, or the fewest of the 6. Coincidence that they made it to the SEC CG? I doubt it. Bama's SEC card again included only 2 wins over winning teams: 10-2 LSU and 8-4 MSU.

So while the SEC is the best conference, when you only play 8 of 14 teams (and have your alum making the schedule) you can take credit for playing a monster schedule without having to actually play one.

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Not everyone gets the easy route like Bama. LSU has to play 3 or 4 tough SEC west games, 2 top SEC east teams, and usually one or more tough OOC games. And if they do well in those, they have to play SEC title game and bowl game. The last 2 times LSU made the title game, they played 8 or more ranked teams.