Versus Conference!
The Pac-10 is boasting about its start:
It says it has played more non-conference games against BCS Automatic Qualifying
conference opponents than any other BCS AQ conference
-- In non-conference games between BCS AQ conference teams, the Pac-10 has the
most wins (6) and the second best record (6-4, Winning %: .600)
-- 6th-ranked Cal is one of only three Top 10 teams with two victories over BCS AQ
conference teams
The Pac-10 has the second best non-conference record against BCS AQ conference teams:
1. SEC: 5-2 (Winning %: .714)
2. Pac-10: 6-4 (Winning %: .600)
3. Big 12: 4-4 (Winning %: .500)
4. Big Ten: 4-5 (Winning %: .444)
5. ACC: 3-5 (Winning %: .375)
6. Big East: 3-5 (Winning %: .375)
The SEC, which has 12 teams, has played 7 BCS teams. The SEC only play eight games in conference, and four out-of conference (OOC) games.
The Pac-10, which has 10 teams, has played 10 BCS teams. The Pac-10 plays nine games in conference, and three OOC games.
So far, the ratio is thus 7 BC opps/12 SEC teams for the SEC (58.3%) vs. 10/10 by the Pac-10 (100%).
Thus, the SEC, with MORE teams (12 v. 10), and more opportunities to play OOC BCS teams (48 v. 30), has so far played three LESS BCS teams than the Pac-10. This further shows that the SEC likes to duck BCS teams OOC.
SEC = playing the game = winning more championships. It sucks for football and there should be a rule against it. 8 home games should not be allowed.
I hate seeing Cal get any credit here. They've played Minnesota & Maryland. In other words they've scheduled crappy programs from good conferences to give the false appearance of a tough schedule.
Schedules are made years in advance:
Maryland is historically a mid-level bowl qualifying team, as is Cal. Minnesota typically finishes 4-7 in the Big 11, much like Cal in the PAC 10.
SEC argument is simple (and circular): We play such a tough conference schedule that we have to play a softer OoC schedule (thus rarely allowing the in-season comparison to other conferences.)
PAC 10 has to play tough OoC sched to boost perception of strength of Schedule...
For the SEC, the crime is not only its weak OOC schedule, but also that they will schedule up to 8 HOME games. (USC is on the road against tOSU and ND.) The SEC has four OOC games per team, and thus add extra cream (1-AA teams) to their cream-puff OOC schedules (I'll give Georgia a pass this year.) When they do travel, it is mostly to SEC states.