2008 BCS Rankings

[jwinslow]

That can't be an advantage. I have it on good authority from many football savvy BP posters that it is idiotic to favor your conference.

When it becomes louder than your team, yes.

How can a bowl filled with idiots make a difference?

the shoe benefits quite nicely from this characteristic.

 

[WyoBuck]

That can't be an advantage. I have it on good authority from many football savvy BP posters that it is idiotic to favor your conference.

How can a bowl filled with idiots make a difference? :tongue2:

It's really less idiotic, and more, just, pathetic.

 

[Gatorubet]

It's really less idiotic, and more, just, pathetic.

I dunno Wyo, it seems to be a component in the SEC PR machine. Every time the S-E-C chant starts the commentators give us some love.

Since all I seem to hear from Big-10 fans is how the SEC is too over rated, that "our conference is better" mantra from the SEC schools seems to be effective.

Personally, all in all, I'd rather be ranked and in a good bowl than unranked and whining about the ranking.* To the extent our conference unity plays any part in that, I have to think it a good thing.

* you're not whining WYo, and I am not talking about the Bucks obviously, as they are in yet another BCS Bowl, an absolutely impressive run

 

[jwinslow]

Gator, if the geographical factor is overstated, then why does the SEC have trouble out of region in OOC games?

Personally, I think the bowl location is a big advantage in the big picture, including the non-bcs bowls (which you've admitted), not necessarily on a game by game basis. Actually the comfort factor in Tempe may have worked against OSU (though I imagine they would've arrived spoiled and not ready for those banshees off the edge regardless of the locale ).

 

[WyoBuck]

Gator, I am just speaking from personal experience here, I was in Nawlins last January. I was just really dissappointed at how the LSU fans responded to a healthy win. It seems to be the mantra though. I guess my dissappointment comes from, where is the loyalty to your team, rather than conference. I whole-heartedly believe that in ANY game that the Big 10(11) plays in, no matter what, you will NEVER hear a BIG 10! chant. God, Family, Country, CFB team. The conference doesn't even rank.

 

[Gatorubet]

Gator, if the geographical factor is overstated, then why does the SEC have trouble out of region in OOC games?

I guess if I had the time I could look up bowl results and add/subtract the home field advantage points and see how that would work out. But I won't.

I guess it is overstated if someone suggests that South Carolina has an advantage in New Orleans simply because they are an SEC team. And I think it is silly to state that we have an advantage just because it is warm weather.

I don't follow the stats on the OOC games out of region. The BCS bowl results - to me - indicate the best measure of conference strength. Of course, that is where we excel as a conference, so that may be my bias. Houston Nutt scheduled some kick ass games OOC, and got his ass kicked. A declining UT program did too. Then again, Nutt had one of those ass kickings when they won the West, and while I can say as an SEC fan that Nutt is always produces a weird Jekyll and Hyde type team that stinks up the place and then beats the top tier the next week, that is little us statistically.

I guess I think how good a team is has far more to do with a loss or win than the geographic factor.

 

[jwinslow]

I guess if I had the time I could look up bowl results and add/subtract the home field advantage points and see how that would work out. But I won't.

Because we've already talked about that

The BCS bowl results - to me - indicate the best measure of conference strength

Except the level of competition varies greatly between conferences... go look at who the ACC/Big East plays compared to the big ten. If we played their schedule and won a large majority of our games, would that prove something?

Houston Nutt scheduled some kick ass games OOC, and got his ass kicked. A declining UT program did too. Then again, Nutt had one of those ass kickings when they won the West, and while I can say as an SEC fan that Nutt is always produces a weird Jekyll and Hyde type team that stinks up the place and then beats the top tier the next week, that is little us statisically.

And Auburn. And LSU, who struggled greatly with lousy, 5-loss ASU & Oreg St teams (while LSU won 10 reg season games).

I guess I think how good a team is has far more to do with a loss or win than the geographic factor.

Sure, but that doesn't eliminate it as a relevant factor...

 

[Gatorubet]

Gator, I am just speaking from personal experience here, I was in Nawlins last January. I was just really dissappointed at how the LSU fans responded to a healthy win. It seems to be the mantra though. I guess my dissappointment comes from, where is the loyalty to your team, rather than conference. I whole-heartedly believe that in ANY game that the Big 10(11) plays in, no matter what, you will NEVER hear a BIG 10! chant. God, Family, Country, CFB team. The conference doesn't even rank.

Well, if it is any consolation it is done at all non-conference wins, and it was not meant as some sort of specific anti-Buckeye deal.

After innumerable chats about it, it is safe to say that y'all don't get it, and that our overall conference loyalty is just one of those things that make college football unique. I can go to our website and purchase any number of SEC logo gear.

SEC Gear Apparel, Merchandise, Clothing, Gear, Gifts, Shop, Store, Bookstore

Big Ten, Apparel, Merchandise, Clothing, Gear, Shop, Store, Gifts

I've seen fans wear SEC gear, and I've worn an SEC hat to some games of our SEC Brethren with my Gator shirt....waht can I say?

 

[jwinslow]

After innumerable chats about it, it is safe to say that y'all don't get it, and that our overall conference loyalty is just one of those things that make college football unique. I can go to our website and purchase any number of SEC logo gear.

I get loyalty. I get supporting your comrades. I don't get watching your team win and choosing to celebrate the prestige of your conference instead of your own team. That's what is over the top and absurd about the whole thing.

 

[JXC]

I get loyalty. I get supporting your comrades. I don't get watching your team win and choosing to celebrate the prestige of your conference instead of your own team. That's what is over the top and absurd about the whole thing.

Or better yet...watching your team lose, but celebrating that other teams in your conference won, and therefore your conference is good. An SEC fan is the only type of fan that would brag about the conference going 8-1 in the bowls, when the 1 was their school.

 

[Gatorubet]

Because we've already talked about that...

I guess I don't like your methodology. For example, in the 2005 Peach Bowl LSU kicked Miami's ass 40 to 3. Since you use the artificial "SEC Region" as your set point, that game is not listed, even though Atlanta is the ACC home of Georgia Tech, and under one of the oft heard theories here an obvious advantage for Miami, also an ACC team.

At best it is a draw. But somehow that LSU win in ACC home territory is worthless and not mentioned, while an LSU win over Miami in - say - Raleigh, would have been good enough to make your list because no SEC state stain has magically influenced the result.

Sorry, I don't buy it.

And again, our playing an annual Nole-Gator game with FSU finishing in the top 5 every year for a decade, I could give a shit that we did not schedule Indiana at Indiana instead so we could pump up that OOC in a non-SEC state stat.

 

[Gatorubet]

Or better yet...watching your team lose, but celebrating that other teams in your conference won, and therefore your conference is good. An SEC fan is the only type of fan that would brag about the conference going 8-1 in the bowls, when the 1 was their school.

Absolutely true...except for the other conferences.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

The theory that the bowl location gives southern teams an advantage over northern teams is a flawed excuse for B10's poor performance. Theoretically, it's possible that fans in the South would have a shorter drive to the bowl locations, but that theoretical advantage has not been empirically observed on a consistent basis. Without numbers pointing to a bias in fan turnout, the only remaining logical basis for this theory would be that SEC teams play better under the sun, which is wholly illogical.

 

[JXC]

The theory that the bowl location gives southern teams an advantage over northern teams is a flawed excuse for B10's poor performance. Theoretically, it's possible that fans in the South would have a shorter drive to the bowl locations, but that theoretical advantage has not been empirically observed on a consistent basis. Without numbers pointing to a bias in fan turnout, the only remaining logical basis for this theory would be that SEC teams play better under the sun, which is wholly illogical.

It's not illogical that warm weather teams will stay in better shape and have better practices. The colder the weather, the more your body shuts down. Cold weather = less enegry, higher rates of depression, and then the change in the weather can affect your body as well. To play in weather that you live in, is a big bonus.

 

[jwinslow]

I guess I don't like your methodology.

I was looking at OOC games during the regular season, on the topic of whether the SEC is willing to play out of region. Bowl games are determined for them. Did I include bowl games in my list? Maybe I did, let me know, those lists are long enough to involve errors.

For example, in the 2005 Peach Bowl LSU kicked Miami's ass 40 to 3. Since you use the artificial "SEC Region" as your set point, that game is not listed, even though Atlanta is the ACC home of Georgia Tech, and under one of the oft heard theories here an obvious advantage for Miami, also an ACC team.

At best it is a draw. But somehow that LSU win in ACC home territory is worthless and not mentioned, while an LSU win over Miami in - say - Raleigh, would have been good enough to make your list because no SEC state stain has magically influenced the result.

Well hello Mr. Hyperbole. Is this where this debate is headed?

Sorry, I don't buy it.

Then why does the SEC struggle so much way out on the left coast? How do you explain LSU's OrSt/ASU stumbles?

And again, our playing an annual Nole-Gator game with FSU finishing in the top 5 every year for a decade, I could give a shit that we did not schedule Indiana at Indiana instead so we could pump up that OOC in a non-SEC state stat.

And like we already discussed in that thread, I conceded that the beef should be more with other teams than UF. There's a reason teams like Georgia avoids leaving the region like the plague.

It's not illogical that warm weather teams will stay in better shape and have better practices. The colder the weather, the more your body shuts down. Cold weather = less enegry, higher rates of depression, and then the change in the weather can affect your body as well. To play in weather that you live in, is a big bonus.

To practice, train, eat and sleep where you do all year is also a big bonus (for LSU, USC, Miami). Correct me if I'm wrong that they usually practice at home.