2023 Week 2 Rankings

[NYGoldenDomer 2,046]

15 hours ago, jbrown_9999 said:

SEC also figured out to schedule their way to look better than other folks.

1) By only playing 8 conference games, they add 1/2 a win and remove 1/2 loss from most SEC teams' final record compared to conferences such as Pac ?? and Big Ten who play 9 conference games. The extra non-conference game is usually a win for all SEC schools given #2 and #3 below.

2) SEC teams will often schedule TWO FCS schools. Teams are penalized in the polls for losses more than weak wins. 10-2 with two FCS wins will usually be ranked ahead of 9-3 with no FCS opponents. 

3) They play more games vs. the Sun Belt conference than any of the other P5 conferences. Sun Belt is probably the weakest of the Group of Five conferences. 

4) The BCS days rewarded the SEC formula since only the top 2 teams played in the NCG and losses were a big part of the ranking algorithm.  

5) Top teams in the SEC are probably better relative to other conferences than during the BCS era. Success then created the SEC myth and translated to improved recruiting now.

[NYGoldenDomer 2,046]

3 hours ago, NDhoosier said:

very well written... Very good analysis. You put it into words better than I could.

Better than I as well!