I've done the toughest non-conference schedules and the toughest conference schedules in the SEC. But who has the toughest overall schedule? This goes a long way to determining what bowls everyone goes to, after all, 9-10 teams from the SEC go to a bowl game each year.
1. Auburn
2. LSU
3. Tennessee
4. Ole Miss
5. Vanderbilt
6. Arkansas
7. Mississippi State
8. Alabama
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Kentucky
12. South Carolina
I will have my 2011 SEC predictions on Monday.
JB
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Toughest Conference Schedules
Last year I came up with a formula to determine who had the toughest conference schedule. This year I didn't want to do that, I thought I'd use more of what I see on paper. So I came up with what I thought was the criteria for a tough schedule: 1. playing really good teams, 2. playing on the road, 3. and playing really good teams in back-to-back weeks.
First I identified when each team played one of the top 6 teams from my power rankings (Monday's post). Then, I tallied up how many of those games were on the road. Finally, I counted how many of those games were played on back-to-back weeks. If they was a tie, or it was close playing Georgia, Tennessee or Auburn was the tiebreaker. This is for SEC play only, in order from toughest to weakest:
1. Auburn - The Tigers will definitely have to defend their SEC title because their schedule is brutal. They are the only team to play all 6 SEC teams! And on top of that they play Georgia on the road. If that wasn't enough the play at South Carolina, at Arkansas, vs. Florida, and at LSU the first four weeks of October. That's back-to-back-to-back-to-back games against really tough competition, and three of those games are on the road! No one comes close to Auburn's strength of schedule in my opinion.
2. Tennessee - The Vols have a pretty tough schedule too, playing all the top 6 except for Mississippi State. They play three of them on the road just like Auburn does and they come close with a back-to-back-to-back vs. LSU, at Alabama, and vs. South Carolina. This is a difficult task to Derek Dooley as that usually light November now has a trip to Fayetteville in it.
3. Ole Miss - They play #1,3,4, & 5. The only one of those that is a road game is Mississippi State at the end of the year, but there are two separate back-to-backs, one in the middle of the season and one at the end. When you're a mediocre team, it's always a bad sign when you're winnable games are on the road and your toughest games are at home.
4. Vanderbilt - Vandy will play the top 3 teams in the SEC, two of them on the road. They also play at Florida the week after they host Arkansas. They might be better served to start 0-4 and skip those games to stay healthy. They play Georgia and at Tennessee as well.
5. Mississippi State - State plays #1,2,3, & 4 in the SEC with Arkansas being the lone road game, however, that is the second half of a back-to-back. There are also road games at Georgia and Auburn. For the most part the teams they are better than are played on the road and the teams even or ahead of them are at home...that could big the recipe for a special year.
6. Kentucky - The Cats will have a back-to-back-to-back vs. Florida, at LSU, and at South Carolina. That will be tough to recover from, and then they've got MSU coming to Lexington a few weeks later. They play Georgia on the road and end the season with their perennial loss vs. Tennessee.
7. Alabama - They've got the same thing as Ole Miss, playing two separate back-to-backs vs. top 6 during the year. They play at Florida and at Mississippi State and home vs. Arkansas and LSU. There's a bye before the second back-to-back which should help.
8. Arkansas - UPig plays at #1, vs. #2, and a back-to-back vs. #5 and at #4 at the end of the year.. Throw in home games against Auburn and Tennessee. It won't be easy, but not a bad schedule in the SEC for a big year.
9. Florida - The Gators only play three of the top 6 teams, but they are #1,2, & 4. They have a back-to-back vs. Bama and at LSU to start October and a road date to play South Carolina in mid-November.
10. South Carolina - South Carolina has the team and the schedule to do something this year. Their toughest game is at Arkansas November 5th, and they have a back-to-back hosting Florida a week later. The only other top 6 game is at Mississippi State in the middle of the season, but that game starts three consecutive SEC road games at State, UT, and UPig. They also play Georgia & Auburn.
11. LSU - LSU spread their tough games out nicely playing at MSU in September, then vs. Florida 3 weeks later, at Bama 4 weeks later, and then vs. Arkansas 3 weeks after that. They also play Auburn and at Tennessee. LSU should have their legs under them in every game.
12. Georgia - If Mark Richt can't pull a 4-4 record out of this schedule he's going to be feeling the heat. No back-to-backs and no road games vs. the top 6. And only three games vs. the top 6, tied for fewest in the SEC. Home against South Carolina, MSU, and neutral site vs. Florida. They pull the easiest three teams from the West and play in the weaker East division.
JB
First I identified when each team played one of the top 6 teams from my power rankings (Monday's post). Then, I tallied up how many of those games were on the road. Finally, I counted how many of those games were played on back-to-back weeks. If they was a tie, or it was close playing Georgia, Tennessee or Auburn was the tiebreaker. This is for SEC play only, in order from toughest to weakest:
1. Auburn - The Tigers will definitely have to defend their SEC title because their schedule is brutal. They are the only team to play all 6 SEC teams! And on top of that they play Georgia on the road. If that wasn't enough the play at South Carolina, at Arkansas, vs. Florida, and at LSU the first four weeks of October. That's back-to-back-to-back-to-back games against really tough competition, and three of those games are on the road! No one comes close to Auburn's strength of schedule in my opinion.
2. Tennessee - The Vols have a pretty tough schedule too, playing all the top 6 except for Mississippi State. They play three of them on the road just like Auburn does and they come close with a back-to-back-to-back vs. LSU, at Alabama, and vs. South Carolina. This is a difficult task to Derek Dooley as that usually light November now has a trip to Fayetteville in it.
3. Ole Miss - They play #1,3,4, & 5. The only one of those that is a road game is Mississippi State at the end of the year, but there are two separate back-to-backs, one in the middle of the season and one at the end. When you're a mediocre team, it's always a bad sign when you're winnable games are on the road and your toughest games are at home.
4. Vanderbilt - Vandy will play the top 3 teams in the SEC, two of them on the road. They also play at Florida the week after they host Arkansas. They might be better served to start 0-4 and skip those games to stay healthy. They play Georgia and at Tennessee as well.
5. Mississippi State - State plays #1,2,3, & 4 in the SEC with Arkansas being the lone road game, however, that is the second half of a back-to-back. There are also road games at Georgia and Auburn. For the most part the teams they are better than are played on the road and the teams even or ahead of them are at home...that could big the recipe for a special year.
6. Kentucky - The Cats will have a back-to-back-to-back vs. Florida, at LSU, and at South Carolina. That will be tough to recover from, and then they've got MSU coming to Lexington a few weeks later. They play Georgia on the road and end the season with their perennial loss vs. Tennessee.
7. Alabama - They've got the same thing as Ole Miss, playing two separate back-to-backs vs. top 6 during the year. They play at Florida and at Mississippi State and home vs. Arkansas and LSU. There's a bye before the second back-to-back which should help.
8. Arkansas - UPig plays at #1, vs. #2, and a back-to-back vs. #5 and at #4 at the end of the year.. Throw in home games against Auburn and Tennessee. It won't be easy, but not a bad schedule in the SEC for a big year.
9. Florida - The Gators only play three of the top 6 teams, but they are #1,2, & 4. They have a back-to-back vs. Bama and at LSU to start October and a road date to play South Carolina in mid-November.
10. South Carolina - South Carolina has the team and the schedule to do something this year. Their toughest game is at Arkansas November 5th, and they have a back-to-back hosting Florida a week later. The only other top 6 game is at Mississippi State in the middle of the season, but that game starts three consecutive SEC road games at State, UT, and UPig. They also play Georgia & Auburn.
11. LSU - LSU spread their tough games out nicely playing at MSU in September, then vs. Florida 3 weeks later, at Bama 4 weeks later, and then vs. Arkansas 3 weeks after that. They also play Auburn and at Tennessee. LSU should have their legs under them in every game.
12. Georgia - If Mark Richt can't pull a 4-4 record out of this schedule he's going to be feeling the heat. No back-to-backs and no road games vs. the top 6. And only three games vs. the top 6, tied for fewest in the SEC. Home against South Carolina, MSU, and neutral site vs. Florida. They pull the easiest three teams from the West and play in the weaker East division.
JB
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Best Conference Games
20. October 22nd: Tennessee at Alabama - Two years ago the Vols almost knocked off Bama in Tuscaloosa, and then last year they almost knocked off LSU in Baton Rouge. Could this be another October road game Tennessee unexpectedly holds their own?
19. September 24th: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vandy has enough returning starters that it looks like they could have a chance at a bowl, but they need this game...and so does Ole Miss. Chances are the winner goes to a bowl and the loser doesn't.
18. October 22nd: Auburn at LSU - This is one of the best games every year, always entertaining.
17. October 8th: Georgia at Tennessee - This game could be the determining factor in which team goes to a bowl. Hard to believe this game has gone down that much.
16. November 19th: Mississippi State at Arkansas - If State can pull off a couple upsets before this game could be for the lead in the West, however, chances are that it will be a tough game Arkansas will have to get through before facing LSU.
15. September 15th: LSU at Mississippi State - This is almost never a good game, and the only time it was close in the last decade was the last time LSU came to Starkville. But this is the first meeting of the year between the 'Top 4' from the West, and it's on a Thursday night.
14. Septmeber 17th: Tennessee at Florida - This is the first real test for Will Muschamp and the Gators, how will they do? And how much has Tennessee improved, which direction will these teams go in 2011?
13. September 10th: Mississippi State at Auburn - This will be Auburn's first SEC game since winning the national championship. Being at home against a tough team how will they respond? Will MSU be able to overcome a road challenge in what has the potential for a really good year?
12. October 29th: Georgia vs. Florida - The largest outdoor cocktail party in the world has lost a good bit of it's luster. Either a UGA or UF fan would undoubtably have this game higher as they believe this will be big years for their schools. It could be a very important game in the SEC East race but both teams have a lot to prove in the weeks prior.
11. September 10th: South Carolina at Georgia - This is always the first SEC East game of the year, and so it is again this year. UGA is at home, and if they lose the opener to Boise State the pressure will be squarely on Mark Richt to make sure this one doesn't get away. USC definitely needs this one if it's going to be a banner year.
10. October 15th: South Carolina at Mississippi State - South Carolina should be favored in every game leading up to this one, and could be undefeated heading into Starkville with a Top 5 rating. This could be a stumbling block for them and a big time win for Dan Mullen, or it could be just another notch on the belt for Steve Spurrier.
9. October 1st: Alabama at Florida - Typically this game would be in the Top 5 for sure, but with Florida's poor 2010 performance this game's gone down a few rungs. If the Gators can get past Tennessee and Kentucky this could be a chance for Muschamp to make a name for himself quickly with a win over Alabama at home. For Bama, it's their first SEC road game and a week after their huge clash with Arkansas.
8. November 12: Alabama at Mississippi State - This is State's 5th and final appearance on this countdown, it's been a while since State has been good enough to warrant that. This has the potential to be a huge game in Starkville and if State comes in with a solid record it could possibly be a Top 10 matchup. Bama will be coming off their game with LSU and this one should have big SEC West implications.
7. October 8th: Florida at LSU - This is a big game every year, and it's always a classic at Death Valley. Florida will be coming off a big game with Alabama and LSU will be coming off a home date with Kentucky. This game has the potential to be a Top 10 matchup, or it could just as easily be two non-ranked teams coming in.
6. November 5th: South Carolina at Arkansas - I think this is the best inter-division game of the year, with the probability of it being a Top 15 or Top 10 matchup. This will be the tail end of three consecutive road games within the conference for USC. Arkansas will be coming off two winnable road games and should be poised to make a run at the West crown, and they will need this game if they want to have a chance.
5. November 12th: Florida at South Carolina - Some people are picking Georgia to contend for the SEC East crown, but chances are this game will have a lot to do with who wins the division, and for that reason I rank it this high.
4. November 26th: Alabama at Auburn - Auburn lost everyone from last year's championship team, but they should have molded into an experienced team by the time the Iron Bowl comes around. Add to it that it's in Auburn and this is the biggest rivalry in college football, this will be another great game.
3. Novmeber 26th: Arkansas at LSU - More excitement at the end of the year as there is a very real chance this game could be a play-in for the SEC Championship game. This is almost always a great game, and when the stakes are even higher it should be a must-see game.
2. September 24th: Arkansas at Alabama - Chances are both these teams will be undefeated going into this game, and ranked in the Top 10. Arkansas will be going into a hornet's nest, against a team they couldn't beat at home in a similarly big game last year. This games provides what could be the most exciting matchup of the year...Arkansas' great receivers vs. Alabama's great secondary. This game will be huge and will have major bearing on the SEC West race.
1. November 5th: LSU at Alabama - This is always one of the hardest hitting, best games of the year. And this year it matches two of the preseason favorites for the division, conference, and national championships. Obviously, this will have major SEC West implications.
JB
19. September 24th: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vandy has enough returning starters that it looks like they could have a chance at a bowl, but they need this game...and so does Ole Miss. Chances are the winner goes to a bowl and the loser doesn't.
18. October 22nd: Auburn at LSU - This is one of the best games every year, always entertaining.
17. October 8th: Georgia at Tennessee - This game could be the determining factor in which team goes to a bowl. Hard to believe this game has gone down that much.
16. November 19th: Mississippi State at Arkansas - If State can pull off a couple upsets before this game could be for the lead in the West, however, chances are that it will be a tough game Arkansas will have to get through before facing LSU.
15. September 15th: LSU at Mississippi State - This is almost never a good game, and the only time it was close in the last decade was the last time LSU came to Starkville. But this is the first meeting of the year between the 'Top 4' from the West, and it's on a Thursday night.
14. Septmeber 17th: Tennessee at Florida - This is the first real test for Will Muschamp and the Gators, how will they do? And how much has Tennessee improved, which direction will these teams go in 2011?
13. September 10th: Mississippi State at Auburn - This will be Auburn's first SEC game since winning the national championship. Being at home against a tough team how will they respond? Will MSU be able to overcome a road challenge in what has the potential for a really good year?
12. October 29th: Georgia vs. Florida - The largest outdoor cocktail party in the world has lost a good bit of it's luster. Either a UGA or UF fan would undoubtably have this game higher as they believe this will be big years for their schools. It could be a very important game in the SEC East race but both teams have a lot to prove in the weeks prior.
11. September 10th: South Carolina at Georgia - This is always the first SEC East game of the year, and so it is again this year. UGA is at home, and if they lose the opener to Boise State the pressure will be squarely on Mark Richt to make sure this one doesn't get away. USC definitely needs this one if it's going to be a banner year.
10. October 15th: South Carolina at Mississippi State - South Carolina should be favored in every game leading up to this one, and could be undefeated heading into Starkville with a Top 5 rating. This could be a stumbling block for them and a big time win for Dan Mullen, or it could be just another notch on the belt for Steve Spurrier.
9. October 1st: Alabama at Florida - Typically this game would be in the Top 5 for sure, but with Florida's poor 2010 performance this game's gone down a few rungs. If the Gators can get past Tennessee and Kentucky this could be a chance for Muschamp to make a name for himself quickly with a win over Alabama at home. For Bama, it's their first SEC road game and a week after their huge clash with Arkansas.
8. November 12: Alabama at Mississippi State - This is State's 5th and final appearance on this countdown, it's been a while since State has been good enough to warrant that. This has the potential to be a huge game in Starkville and if State comes in with a solid record it could possibly be a Top 10 matchup. Bama will be coming off their game with LSU and this one should have big SEC West implications.
7. October 8th: Florida at LSU - This is a big game every year, and it's always a classic at Death Valley. Florida will be coming off a big game with Alabama and LSU will be coming off a home date with Kentucky. This game has the potential to be a Top 10 matchup, or it could just as easily be two non-ranked teams coming in.
6. November 5th: South Carolina at Arkansas - I think this is the best inter-division game of the year, with the probability of it being a Top 15 or Top 10 matchup. This will be the tail end of three consecutive road games within the conference for USC. Arkansas will be coming off two winnable road games and should be poised to make a run at the West crown, and they will need this game if they want to have a chance.
5. November 12th: Florida at South Carolina - Some people are picking Georgia to contend for the SEC East crown, but chances are this game will have a lot to do with who wins the division, and for that reason I rank it this high.
4. November 26th: Alabama at Auburn - Auburn lost everyone from last year's championship team, but they should have molded into an experienced team by the time the Iron Bowl comes around. Add to it that it's in Auburn and this is the biggest rivalry in college football, this will be another great game.
3. Novmeber 26th: Arkansas at LSU - More excitement at the end of the year as there is a very real chance this game could be a play-in for the SEC Championship game. This is almost always a great game, and when the stakes are even higher it should be a must-see game.
2. September 24th: Arkansas at Alabama - Chances are both these teams will be undefeated going into this game, and ranked in the Top 10. Arkansas will be going into a hornet's nest, against a team they couldn't beat at home in a similarly big game last year. This games provides what could be the most exciting matchup of the year...Arkansas' great receivers vs. Alabama's great secondary. This game will be huge and will have major bearing on the SEC West race.
1. November 5th: LSU at Alabama - This is always one of the hardest hitting, best games of the year. And this year it matches two of the preseason favorites for the division, conference, and national championships. Obviously, this will have major SEC West implications.
JB
Monday, August 8, 2011
SEC Preseason Power Rankings
The best team doesn't always win the championship. Tough or easy schedules have a lot to do with who can run the table or get away with only one loss. Home or away, matchups...those are important determining factors. The biggest variable is emotion. South Carolina was better than Kentucky last season, but after beating #1 Alabama the prior week, UK was able to catch Carolina at the right time and at home. But these are the power rankings which I take to mean: take all the variables I just mentioned and throw them out. On paper, who are the most talented and experienced teams.
1. Alabama
2. South Carolina
3. Arkansas
4. LSU
5. Mississippi State
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. Auburn
10a. Kentucky
10b. Vanderbilt
10c. Ole Miss
JB
1. Alabama
2. South Carolina
3. Arkansas
4. LSU
5. Mississippi State
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. Auburn
10a. Kentucky
10b. Vanderbilt
10c. Ole Miss
JB
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Allman Brothers Band
My Top 10 Allman Brothers Band songs:
10. "Don't Want You No More", 1969
9. "Ramblin' Man", 1973
8. "Blue Sky", 1972
7. "Every Hungry Woman", 1969
6. "Jessica", 1973
5. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Live), 1971
4. "Midnight Rider", 1970
3. "Melissa", 1972
2. "It's Not My Cross to Bear", 1969
1. "Whipping Post", 1969
JB
10. "Don't Want You No More", 1969
9. "Ramblin' Man", 1973
8. "Blue Sky", 1972
7. "Every Hungry Woman", 1969
6. "Jessica", 1973
5. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Live), 1971
4. "Midnight Rider", 1970
3. "Melissa", 1972
2. "It's Not My Cross to Bear", 1969
1. "Whipping Post", 1969
JB
Friday, August 5, 2011
Entitlement
These days, it seems like more and more people think they are entitled to something or another. My generation is filled with people who have a false sense of entitlement.
Liberals love entitlement...it's their main selling point. If someone thinks they are owed something, just for living, then the left is going to ask for their vote so they can try to get it for them. It doesn't matter if they've earned it, they should be entitled to it....I don't think so.
I think giving into a person's sense of entitlement gives them a false perception of reality. Every middle class teenager may think they are entitled to their parent's buying them a car when they turn 16, but if do nothing to earn that privilege they really don't learn anything, and will be shocked to find out when they are older that buying a car isn't as easy as saying, 'I want'.
If the portion of Americans who think they are entitled to food stamps, welfare, unemployment, social security, etc. would change their thinking to, 'how can I earn what I get' then we'd be able to backfill the socialism ditch we've been digging for the last few years that we are about to throw ourselves into and move on towards a lifestyle of success and pride.
JB
Liberals love entitlement...it's their main selling point. If someone thinks they are owed something, just for living, then the left is going to ask for their vote so they can try to get it for them. It doesn't matter if they've earned it, they should be entitled to it....I don't think so.
I think giving into a person's sense of entitlement gives them a false perception of reality. Every middle class teenager may think they are entitled to their parent's buying them a car when they turn 16, but if do nothing to earn that privilege they really don't learn anything, and will be shocked to find out when they are older that buying a car isn't as easy as saying, 'I want'.
If the portion of Americans who think they are entitled to food stamps, welfare, unemployment, social security, etc. would change their thinking to, 'how can I earn what I get' then we'd be able to backfill the socialism ditch we've been digging for the last few years that we are about to throw ourselves into and move on towards a lifestyle of success and pride.
JB
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Corporate Tax
Why are so many companies shipping off to other countries to base their business out of: corporate tax. A business' only function is to make money. There may be side benefits of business like helping others or doing good, but the main reason a business is in operation is to make money. So when a business is heavily taxed, and there is a place where they can pay less tax, they are probably going to go to that place.
Huge corporations pay a ton of corporate tax. When they leave for another country, they take that money they were paying in tax with them. So the idea of 'tax the evil corporations' so many people have is really a stupid idea if they can just pick up and leave.
Easy solution: lower the tax rate. I don't know exactly what it should be, but it should be low enough that people would rather come here for business than want to go elsewhere. If we keep corporations here, paying taxes, then they will all contribute to the pool of money we pay to the government. And the lower the tax rate, the more corporations can grow, prosper, and generate more money for more taxes. It makes sense to me.
JB
Huge corporations pay a ton of corporate tax. When they leave for another country, they take that money they were paying in tax with them. So the idea of 'tax the evil corporations' so many people have is really a stupid idea if they can just pick up and leave.
Easy solution: lower the tax rate. I don't know exactly what it should be, but it should be low enough that people would rather come here for business than want to go elsewhere. If we keep corporations here, paying taxes, then they will all contribute to the pool of money we pay to the government. And the lower the tax rate, the more corporations can grow, prosper, and generate more money for more taxes. It makes sense to me.
JB
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)