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Possible scheduling format if the SEC goes to 16 teams

Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:05 pm
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:05 pm
I never really liked the "Pod" approach with the 16 teams, but after LSU has been repeatedly raped by the SEC Office from a scheduling standpoint, I can see where this could balance things out and make things fair. It could also solve the "traditional rival" crap AND get us to a 7 game conference schedule, opening the door for more quality OOC games. Here's how it COULD work, starting with the 4 four-team divisions (pods):

SEC WEST
LSU
TAMU
MISS St
Ole Miss

SEC East
South Carolina
Florida
NC State
Kentucky

SEC North
Arkansas
Va Tech
Mizzou
Vandy

SEC South
Georgia
Alabama
Auburn
Tennessee

In looking at those, I would say that they are actually fairly evenly distributed from a strength standpoint.

Now, here's where my plan differs from most that I've seen. Each season, there will be a rotating divisional pairing. The winners of the pod pairings play for the conference championship. So, for example, Let's say year one would have an East/West and North/South pairing. These teams would play each other:

LSU
TAMU
Ole Miss
Miss State
South Carolina
Florida
NC State
Kentucky

Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Tenessee
Mizzou
Va Tech
Vandy
Arkansas

This is FAR more equitable than the present system, because each team in a "pairing" will have played the same schedule as opposed to one team being able to play the weak sisters of the league while others are forced to play tougher opponents.

In this system, it would also allow for the possibility of an Alabama vs. LSU SECCG on years when they are not paired.

Another plus for the fans is that each team will play every other team in the league at least once every three years.

Also, with 7 SEC games, SEC teams will have the opportunity to schedule 5 OOC games, helping the SEC to avoid beating each other up too badly and opening the door to schedule stronger OOC opponents, which I would really enjoy as a college football fan.

Your thoughts?
This post was edited on 12/3/12 at 11:53 pm
Posted by MrPackSix
Lakeview/God's Country
Member since Oct 2009
8220 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:07 pm to
If it doesn't involve Bama getting benefited then Slive's not interested

But seriously i actually like this
This post was edited on 12/3/12 at 11:09 pm
Posted by Mongeaux
Austin TX
Member since Jan 2007
640 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:11 pm to
Cool concept, but the "north" is woefully inept.
Posted by LSU=Champions
BAWxtard | Tier 1
Member since Apr 2004
22257 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:12 pm to
quote:

SEC South
Georgia
Alabama
Auburn
Tennessee


Woah.
Posted by RBWilliams8
Member since Oct 2009
53417 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:14 pm to
Like
Posted by CalTiger53
California
Member since Oct 2011
9034 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:16 pm to
quote:

after LSU has been repeated raped by the SEC Office from a scheduling standpoint


That is not rape. It is just like in a 1500 meter race they give Bama 2 laps advantage. You may even be able to catch up but you are so exhausted that you may not make it to the finish line with 20 meters to go. Is that something to complain about?
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:17 pm to
quote:

Woah.


This is for the "traditional rival" teams that have us screwed up now. With this, you will have these "rival"games every year:

Alabama - Auburn
Alabama - Tennessee
Auburn - Georgia
Georgia - Tennessee

Auburn and Georgia will take turns being good and on some years they both will be, but both have also had runs of mediocrity as well. Tennessee could be down for a while unless they can recruit nationally again.
Posted by CarrolltonTiger
New Orleans
Member since Aug 2005
50291 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:21 pm to
An unbalanced pod would not be that important since you rotate the annual opposition pod and division winners would be based upon all teams playing the same teams.

Every third year when the West plays the South it would be somewhat inequitable as the West and South would probably have the most power, but that would be sorted out in the championship game that should be rotated in some fashion, particularly if there is expansion.
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:21 pm to
quote:

It is just like in a 1500 meter race they give Bama 2 laps advantage. You may even be able to catch up but you are so exhausted that you may not make it to the finish line with 20 meters to go. Is that something to complain about?


That's actually a good analogy, CalTiger. And, yes, in this system, each team will have to run the same race to make it to the SECCG from their pairing. In some years, one pairing may be easier than the other, but it's like that now with the East and West divisions.
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:26 pm to
quote:

An unbalanced pod would not be that important since you rotate the annual opposition pod and division winners would be based upon all teams playing the same teams.

Every third year when the West plays the South it would be somewhat inequitable as the West and South would probably have the most power, but that would be sorted out in the championship game that should be rotated in some fashion, particularly if there is expansion.


Exactly! And you are absolutely right on rotating the SECG with expansion, possibly between Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans and Charlotte, St. Louis or Nashville.

On the "unbalanced" North pod, I could see Mizzou improving, Vandy is no longer a pushover, and Arkansas and Va Tech are strong teams most years.
This post was edited on 12/3/12 at 11:29 pm
Posted by Topwater Trout
Red Stick
Member since Oct 2010
67589 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:29 pm to
What about UGA/UF rivalry?
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:32 pm to
No system is perfect, but Florida isn't one of the teams that has been throwing fits over their "rivalry" game. Even without being in a pod, they would still play each other every three years and have the potential to play every year that they aren't paired in the SECG.

Same thing for Georgia vs USCe.
Posted by Topwater Trout
Red Stick
Member since Oct 2010
67589 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:35 pm to
I don't think florida or Georgia would give up that game though.
Posted by DumpsterFire
Member since Sep 2012
1450 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:37 pm to
quote:

SEC North
Arkansas
Va Tech
Mizzou
Vandy


Yes, please
Posted by WITNESS23
Member since Feb 2010
13720 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:38 pm to
I stopped reading because I completely disagree with your 4 divisions
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:39 pm to
Well, they haven't been faced with the question since they are in the same division. That said, they shouldn't be given the choice. One or two teams should not be able to dictate things that impact the entire conference; that's a big part of the problem that we have now.
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:41 pm to
quote:

I stopped reading because I completely disagree with your 4 divisions


Well then you missed the most important part.

That said, how would you do it, bearing in mind that any attempt to seperate Georgia - Auburn, Bama - Auburn and Tennessee - Bama is an exercise in futility.

Same for:

Georgia - Florida
LSU - TAMU
LSU- Ole Miss
Ole Miss - Miss State

I'm also not wild about getting rid of LSU-Bama or LSU-Auburn, but with the conference at 14 and probably going to 16 at some point, there's no way that everyone can get what they want.
This post was edited on 12/3/12 at 11:48 pm
Posted by Topwater Trout
Red Stick
Member since Oct 2010
67589 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:43 pm to
I agree.
Posted by BayouBengals03
lsu14always
Member since Nov 2007
99999 posts
Posted on 12/3/12 at 11:48 pm to
quote:

SEC North

We can't have an SEC North.

SEC Central.
Posted by ffishstik
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
4128 posts
Posted on 12/4/12 at 12:00 am to
quote:

We can't have an SEC North.


That's funny, I actually thought about that, but stuck with it to keep it simple.
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