SEC vs Big 10

Every now and then, it's fun to have a good old fashion debate.  Even when you go into the debate knowing that your argument is probably the strongest.  Tuesday morning as I was listening to my teammate Dylan Gwinn's show, he was having a debate with a caller about the strength of the Big 10 relative to that of the SEC.  Most people would argue that the SEC is the top dog in college football, but I give Dylan credit for attempting to debate the harder half of the case.  I assumed as I went to research this blog, that even 1/4 of the way through the season there would be sufficient evidence to indicate the superior brand of football in the SEC.  Let's take a look at how the teams in the conference have performed through the 1st quarter of the year.  We will make note of wins over fellow BCS league teams and what I would deem bad losses.  Then I will match up each team head to head against its counterpart from the other conference and guess which league would win the most games in a head to head tussle.

SEC BCS Wins

Bama (2) Penn State, Duke
Auburn (1) Clemson
Kentucky (1) Louisville
LSU(2) West Virginia, North Carolina
Florida (1) South Florida

SEC Bad Losses
Ole Miss (1) Jacksonville St.

Big 10 BCS Wins
Northwestern (1) Vanderbilt
Wisconsin (1) Arizona State
Michigan State (1) Notre Dame
Michigan (2) UConn, Notre Dame
Ohio State (1) Miami
Iowa (1) Iowa State

Big 10 Bad Losses
Minnesota (2) South Dakota, Northern Illinois
Purdue (1) Toledo

The schedule numbers to me appear to be a wash.  Now let's match up the teams against one another.  I will use the Sagarin ratings to match up the top team in the Big 10 with the top team in the SEC and so on down the line. (Incidentally, Sagarin lists the SEC as the #1 conference and the Big 10 #5.)

Alabama (#1) versus Ohio State(#6):  This is one game where I actually think the Big 10 might fare pretty well.  The Buckeyes have the size on defense to contend with Bama's running game and a mobile QB to neutralize pass rush abilities.  Prediction: Big 10 win by 3 points

Florida (#2) versus Penn State (#22):  Florida's defense would have very little to contend with in this game.  The Gators sloppy offense would probably keep it conservative and relatively close.  Prediction: SEC by 7

LSU (#4) versus Michigan (#26):  The Wolverines smallish 3-3-5 defense would be gashed by the power running of LSU and Denard Robinson would likely leave this game in a body bag.  Prediction: SEC by 10

Auburn (#16) versus Iowa (#27):  Iowa's defense would keep them in this game.  Ricky Stanzi is a more consistent player than Cam Newton.  I also prefer Kirk Ferentz to Gene Chizik. Prediction: Big 10 by 3

Arkansas (#19) versus Wisconsin (#31) The Razorbacks would put a big number on the field against a slow secondary for the Badgers. Prediction: SEC by 10

South Carolina (#20) versus Northwestern (#35)  The Gamecocks have a huge weight advantage on both lines.  The Wildcats' QB situation probably prevents them from turning this into a shootout.  Prediction: SEC by 7.

Kentucky (#34) versus Michigan State (#41)  Kentucky's offense has been pretty productive.  Michigan State is a very balanced offense.  This one probably goes down to the wire.  Prediction: Big 10 by 1

Mississippi State (#38) versus Illions (#61)  Here is where the carnage begins.  There are more bottom feeders in the Big 10.  Illinois would never score on the Bulldogs. Prediction: SEC by 10

Georiga (#48) versus Indiana (#85)  Georgia would welcome the marshmellow soft Hoosier defense compared to the Gamecocks and Razorbacks they have played.  Prediction: SEC by 17

Tennessee (#53) versus Purdue (#96)  Even in a down year, Tennessee would find a way to beat a Purdue team which lost to Toledo. Prediction: SEC by 3

Vanderbilt (#59) versus Minnesota (#102)  The Gophers have already lost to 1-AA competition and needed a late TD to beat a Sunbelt team.  Vanderbilt would win quite easily. Prediction: SEC by 10

Since the Big 10 only has 11 teams this year, Ole Miss can sit out and practice. (Lord knows they need it!).

The Final Tally: SEC 8 Big Ten 3

What are your thoughts on the SEC versus the Big 10 or any of the other conferences for that matter?
Email me: http://www.blogger.com/pages/email-mattjackson.html


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