Pac -10 is closer to the SEC than most think..

[Arizona's Finest]

I just want this to be pointed out because I have seen this before and later on the season the conference will beat up on each other and that will be percieved as weakness in the conference. Specifically when that is the cry of the SEC and why everyone always touts that 'anyone can beat anyone'

But this is the best the Pac -10 has been in a while and I want to have it noted. Oregon goes into the big house and beats them by 32 when the wolverines should have been sufficiently motivated. UCLA ends BYU's 11 game win streak. Young Washington looking strong in two games so far and ending Boise's 14 game win streak.

Arizona and Arizona State have played fairly well with UA being part of that 11 game win streak away at BYU but looking possibly potent against an inferior opponent. Not impressive until you consider the game App state had last week. ASU looked sloppy but potentially dominant on both sides of the ball if they can maintain their edge.

And I havn't even brought up the two upper tier programs in Cal and USC. No one in the country is going to deny the level of play of those two teams.

Big games next week with Washington having Ohio State come visit and SC on primetime against Nebraska. Those could further the arguement that the Pac -10 is much closer to having top to bottom solid programs to the SEC than many wouldn't like to admit and might be the second best in the country.

I am likely preaching to the choir on this one but I live out here in South Florida and find myself constantly defending the legiticamcy of the ball played out West. I even have to defend USC which is patently ridiculous all things considered.

To me the difference in the SEC is simple. Both conferences have great coaches. The SEC has more pure athletes (due to locality reasons) defense (what happens when you combine good athlete and good coaching) and easily more rabid fan bases (what else is there to to do in Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge?).

The PAC-10 has pro styles offenses, better overall QB play and THE premier program in America. I realize a lot of the west coast games come on late out here ( I stayed up till 1 AM watching ASU last night) but lets give creit where credit is due. Other than one poor showing )OSU at Cinncy) the Pac-10 has acquitted itself very well this years. Heres hoping SC get LSU in the title game in New Orleans. And just runs them off the field.

Go Pac-10!

Rant over

 

[ajcardfan]

I heard Mel Kiper on the radio yesterday on my way to get pizza and they were talking about the conferences. He said the SEC is still the best and the fastest. (He pulled out Spurrier's classic quote than even the waterboys in the SEC run about a 4.6.) But, he said the Pac 10, more than any other conference, has closed the gap some on the speed. He also said the Big East and ACC are really pushing the Big 10 and Big 12 in terms of talent.

I've said for years that if you look at the pros, the Pac 10 is very respected in regards to the draft. The main difference between the Pac 10 and SEC is still DEPTH. I think the dropoff is very noticable when backups start to play in the Pac 10. When backups play in the SEC, they look just as fast as the starters.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I heard Mel Kiper on the radio yesterday on my way to get pizza and they were talking about the conferences. He said the SEC is still the best and the fastest. (He pulled out Spurrier's classic quote than even the waterboys in the SEC run about a 4.6.) But, he said the Pac 10, more than any other conference, has closed the gap some on the speed. He also said the Big East and ACC are really pushing the Big 10 and Big 12 in terms of talent.

I've said for years that if you look at the pros, the Pac 10 is very respected in regards to the draft. The main difference between the Pac 10 and SEC is still DEPTH. I think the dropoff is very noticable when backups start to play in the Pac 10. When backups play in the SEC, they look just as fast as the starters.

I agree with everything you are saying. I would say the gap is closing the Pac-10 and that the Big East has definitely become a premier conference which is amazing considering everyone wanted them out of the BCS just two years back. I kind of wish they would have added those teams and Miami and VT would have stayed as that would have truly been a power conference as well.

 

[HooverDam]

I've always thought the quality of conferences was something like this:

SEC
Pac 10
Big 10
Big 12 (the Big 10/12 confernces sort of switch back and forth depending on the year)
ACC
Big East

The ACC is weak this year and last year, but generally is better than the Big East.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

I've always thought the quality of conferences was something like this:

SEC
Pac 10
Big 10
Big 12 (the Big 10/12 confernces sort of switch back and forth depending on the year)
ACC
Big East

The ACC is weak this year and last year, but generally is better than the Big East.

No respect for the Big east

36-5 out of conference
5-0 in bowl games last year
4 teams in the top 25 (assuming S.Florida gets in now)
And a big win vs the SEC.

I would say it goes

1. SEC (BY Far)
2. everyone else

 

[SunDevilDon]

No respect for the Big east

36-5 out of conference
5-0 in bowl games last year
4 teams in the top 25 (assuming S.Florida gets in now)
And a big win vs the SEC.

I would say it goes

1. SEC (BY Far)
2. everyone else

I think the Big East > ACC for now...

 

[HooverDam]

No respect for the Big east

36-5 out of conference
5-0 in bowl games last year
4 teams in the top 25 (assuming S.Florida gets in now)
And a big win vs the SEC.

I would say it goes

1. SEC (BY Far)
2. everyone else

Didn't you read the last sentence of my post? This year the ACC is weaker than the Big East, but usually thats not the case. The Big East has only 8 teams, which is part of what makes it weak, the conference schedule is less of a gauntlet. Plus they have teams that are perennial door mats like UConn, and some pretty lousy other teams like Syracuse and Pitt (recently).

Related to football conferences, I think the Pac 10 has it right with only having 10 teams, I hope they never expand. If I could waive a magic wand, I'd make a rule so that all conferences could only have 10 teams, and BCS conferences couldn't have any fewer.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree although I would say it's still true that in general SEC defenses are better than Pac 10 defenses. USC has a ton of NFL kids on defense but by and large that's not as true of the rest of the conference, SEC is loaded year after year with NFL DL and LB prospects.

But the speed in the conference is certainly catching up, Cal is one of the faster skill position teams in the country(Jahvid Best being the fastest) and SC is right close.

Agree with AJ the problem is really depth. USC is the one team in the conference that really has a ton of depth, they have all americans(HS) backing up all americans. Look at their RB depth they have a ton of injuries but they have so many RB prospects they actually had a kid transfer out to get more playing time.


My own opinion is it will be tough for the Pac 10 to ever be as good as the SEC top to bottom because the Pac 10 has higher academic standards.

 

[Rivercard]

The Big East is somewhat top heavy but weaker at the bottom. The 5-0 bowl record last year was no fluke. Louisville and WVU would both win the Big 10 this year and certainly challenge for a title in the SEC and Pac 10. Perhaps South Florida as well. All three can beat anybody.

It's a conference on the way up.

 

[Skkorpion]

The PAC 10 is meat grinder this year. A lot of games will be close.