SEC Overrated?

[ManRam]

Come on man. How can you not be surprised with how A&M has performed in the SEC? They had been a middling Big 12 program for at least a decade, and no one knew that Manziel would be this good. I thought they would be fighting for a bowl game. As for Mizzou versus A&M, Mizzou had been a much better program recently than A&M. Franklin was coming off a good year, but he was injured all season. I definitely thought Missouri would have a better season than A&M, and I think almost everyone thought that.

My points aren't an indictment on the SEC either. Sometimes a program gets tremendously lucky with a QB, and that can reverse fortunes. Look at Cam Newton at Auburn as an example. They were a decent team the year before, but a lucky QB addition changed everything.

I think that's the point. No one expected A&M to do what they did, but that doesn't mean the SEC is "overrated".

[SenecaValley46]

Not many teams who arent in the SEC as of now could play those teams schedules and survive..

[Pinstripe pride]

Not many teams who arent in the SEC as of now could play those teams schedules and survive..

once again, texas a&m did, and they were far from a dominant big 12 team

[ManRam]

once again, texas a&m did, and they were far from a dominant big 12 team

And once again, that's just one team who had a Heisman winner fall into their laps.

One team going into a new conference and having success or failing miserable is never an indictment on that conference. Ever.

[Jerry34]

And once again, that's just one team who had a Heisman winner fall into their laps.

One team going into a new conference and having success or failing miserable is never an indictment on that conference. Ever.

I'll just point out again that Manziel didn't really play that well in 2 of A&M's 3 biggest games in the SEC but A&M's defense kept them in those games. You could almost point to the defense holding Alabama to 24 pts as a major factor in that huge upset as well. It wasn't just Johnny Football that succeeded in the SEC.

[ManRam]

I'll just point out again that Manziel didn't really play that well in 2 of A&M's 3 biggest games in the SEC but A&M's defense kept them in those games. You could almost point to the defense holding Alabama to 24 pts as a major factor in that huge upset as well. It wasn't just Johnny Football that succeeded in the SEC.

Sure. That team has a ton of talent. I mean, they might have 3 top 10 draft picks in 2013. I've said over and over how talented that team is. I just don't think it's an indictment on anything. It's one lone team. You can't say definitively that this is a situation where the team really wasn't any better than it has been in recent years and thus the SEC is overrated, nor can you definitively say that this team really got a lot better this year and they would have clearly been the best team in the Big 12 (well, a bowl vs. OK might make that possible to know).

We're going in circles here. If the only argument you have that the SEC is "overrated" is the A&M argument, well, that's about as flimsy as it gets. Find me when you have something that discredits:

• 6 straight National Championships
• 9-3 in BCS games since 2006
• 243-45 in non-conference games (up until this season over that 6 year span)
• a ridiculous superiority in terms of pipe-lining players to the NFL (have lead every conference the last 6 seasons in NFL draftees...40 a year on average)
• the highest paid coaches are in the SEC (over 75% of the 12 highest paid)
• The conference cleans up in Bowl Season. In those 6 years, every SEC team, including Mizzou and A&M, have won a bowl game and reached at least two bowls. No other conference can brag about that depth.
• 5 teams are going to their 5th bowl in as many years.
• Eight have been to 6 bowls in the last 9 years
• They've won more bowl games and been to more bowl games than any other conference.
• They haven't had a losing record in bowl season in over a decade. They do trail the Big East and MWC in bowl win % over that 6 year span, but I think we know why.

36-19 in bowls.

Pac-12 16-12
Big 12 25-22
ACC 19-31
Big 10 17-30

And so on, and so on and so on.

You can complain about their cupcake OOC games during the regular season, but the bowl game evidence is compelling.

All 9 SEC teams are favored in their bowls. We'll see how many upsets there are.

Texas A&M coming in and exceeding expectations doesn't mean anything more than Texas A&M was better than we all thought. Yes, other conferences have talent, talent that can match up with SEC talent, but again, that doesn't make the SEC overrated. Its accolades and success speaks for itself.

A&M having success doesn't nullify those facts. It doesn't make them not the best, because they so very clearly are. Maybe they aren't gods among men, but they definitely wear the big boy pants.

[BradyIsTheMan12]

Also, if you search long enough you are going to find blemishes in any conference. I think most would agree that the Pac-12 had their best year in quite awhile. Since that is the case, then how did a UCLA program that had been dormant for a long time become legitimate? A&M and UCLA were both energized by new head coaches that were changing the outlook of their programs, and exciting RS FR QBs. So, it seems very flawed to say that the SEC is overrated simply because a mediocre program had a huge turnaround. This happens more often than you would expect...

[Pinstripe pride]

Also, if you search long enough you are going to find blemishes in any conference. I think most would agree that the Pac-12 had their best year in quite awhile. Since that is the case, then how did a UCLA program that had been dormant for a long time become legitimate? A&M and UCLA were both energized by new head coaches that were changing the outlook of their programs, and exciting RS FR QBs. So, it seems very flawed to say that the SEC is overrated simply because a mediocre program had a huge turnaround. This happens more often than you would expect...

but if it s amedicore program in a lesser conference that means they should be the doormate in the SEC if the SEC is that much better. The SEC can be botht he best conference and overrated. **** people act like the SEC can compete with the NFL as made obvious by the can bama beat the jags thread we had.

[ManRam]

but if it s amedicore program in a lesser conference that means they should be the doormate in the SEC if the SEC is that much better. The SEC can be botht he best conference and overrated. **** people act like the SEC can compete with the NFL as made obvious by the can bama beat the jags thread we had.

Those people are idiots. If anyone really thinks that, well, they just don't get it.

The natural problem with judging "ratedness" is that the population as a whole has those over overrate, and those who underrate...as well as those that rate fairly.

So yes, some people overrate the SEC. And clearly some people underrate it. I guess a lot of this would be easier if we stated how exactly we do rate it.

I'm not saying they can beat, or even hang with, NFL teams. I'm not sure if Jerry is saying the SEC is the best conference but only barely, or if he thinks they aren't even better than the other conferences.

A&M was mediocre last season, and not mediocre in the SEC this year. Maybe they did just get substantially better? Maybe they didn't and you guys are right that the SEC isn't that great. Who really knows? Either way, one team switching conferences and exceeding or failing to meet expectations doesn't prove anything. That's all it comes down to. A&M's success are not - again - an indictment on anything.

[BradyIsTheMan12]

but if it s amedicore program in a lesser conference that means they should be the doormate in the SEC if the SEC is that much better. The SEC can be botht he best conference and overrated. **** people act like the SEC can compete with the NFL as made obvious by the can bama beat the jags thread we had.

It's not the same program though. People forget that A&M was actually really talented last season also. They blew like 5 4th quarter leads, so with the right coach that team could have been an upper-echelon Big 12 team last season. Then they go out and hire Sumlin. This looks like a home run hire, and he's brought a different culture to Aggie Land than Sherman brought. Manziel falls into their laps, and is able to pick up Sumlin's offense quickly, plus A&M has top ten NFL draft talents in Joeckel and Moore. It isn't a fair correlation to scratch your head about their Big 12 success and their SEC success.


However, I kind of see your point at the end. I do agree that the SEC can be a little bit overrated and also the best conference. I used to be in the camp of thinking the SEC was way overrated, but I've changed my tune after a few matchups between Oregon and the SEC...

[neovenator250]

Sure. That team has a ton of talent. I mean, they might have 3 top 10 draft picks in 2013. I've said over and over how talented that team is. I just don't think it's an indictment on anything. It's one lone team. You can't say definitively that this is a situation where the team really wasn't any better than it has been in recent years and thus the SEC is overrated, nor can you definitively say that this team really got a lot better this year and they would have clearly been the best team in the Big 12 (well, a bowl vs. OK might make that possible to know).

We're going in circles here. If the only argument you have that the SEC is "overrated" is the A&M argument, well, that's about as flimsy as it gets. Find me when you have something that discredits:

• 6 straight National Championships
• 9-3 in BCS games since 2006
• 243-45 in non-conference games (up until this season over that 6 year span)
• a ridiculous superiority in terms of pipe-lining players to the NFL (have lead every conference the last 6 seasons in NFL draftees...40 a year on average)
• the highest paid coaches are in the SEC (over 75% of the 12 highest paid)
• The conference cleans up in Bowl Season. In those 6 years, every SEC team, including Mizzou and A&M, have won a bowl game and reached at least two bowls. No other conference can brag about that depth.
• 5 teams are going to their 5th bowl in as many years.
• Eight have been to 6 bowls in the last 9 years
• They've won more bowl games and been to more bowl games than any other conference.
• They haven't had a losing record in bowl season in over a decade. They do trail the Big East and MWC in bowl win % over that 6 year span, but I think we know why.

36-19 in bowls.

Pac-12 16-12
Big 12 25-22
ACC 19-31
Big 10 17-30

And so on, and so on and so on.

You can complain about their cupcake OOC games during the regular season, but the bowl game evidence is compelling.

All 9 SEC teams are favored in their bowls. We'll see how many upsets there are.

Texas A&M coming in and exceeding expectations doesn't mean anything more than Texas A&M was better than we all thought. Yes, other conferences have talent, talent that can match up with SEC talent, but again, that doesn't make the SEC overrated. Its accolades and success speaks for itself.

A&M having success doesn't nullify those facts. It doesn't make them not the best, because they so very clearly are. Maybe they aren't gods among men, but they definitely wear the big boy pants.

Also, if you search long enough you are going to find blemishes in any conference. I think most would agree that the Pac-12 had their best year in quite awhile. Since that is the case, then how did a UCLA program that had been dormant for a long time become legitimate? A&M and UCLA were both energized by new head coaches that were changing the outlook of their programs, and exciting RS FR QBs. So, it seems very flawed to say that the SEC is overrated simply because a mediocre program had a huge turnaround. This happens more often than you would expect...

couldn't have said it better myself

[neovenator250]

However, I kind of see your point at the end. I do agree that the SEC can be a little bit overrated and also the best conference. I used to be in the camp of thinking the SEC was way overrated, but I've changed my tune after a few matchups between Oregon and the SEC...

LSU changed your mind, huh? just don't fall back into the trap when Oregon runs over Tennessee next year. They suck

[BradyIsTheMan12]

LSU changed your mind, huh? just don't fall back into the trap when Oregon runs over Tennessee next year. They suck

Oh, I know Tennessee sucks. Oregon can compete with top-SEC schools, but they have to protect the pigskin if they want to do it. Making mistakes against Pac-12 schools is not that big of a deal usually, but it snowballs quickly against teams like LSU.

[desertrat218]

Oh, I know Tennessee sucks. Oregon can compete with top-SEC schools, but they have to protect the pigskin if they want to do it. Making mistakes against Pac-12 schools is not that big of a deal usually, but it snowballs quickly against teams like LSU.

Speaking of LSU......apparently the real Tigers are from Clemson!

[Pinstripe pride]

Speaking of LSU......apparently the real Tigers are from Clemson!

finally they will lose their undeserved top 10 spot