Auburn/WVU

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Too bad neither team panned out this season, but this is still a really exciting matchup of WVU's O vs Auburn's D.

[Adelpiero]

no offense, but West Virginia hasn't exactly been a offensive juggernaut

22 points a game is poor for a spread, big play offense. 320ish yards a game?

its only 3 more pts per game than Auburn is averaging, and they have no offense.


i put this as 2 cripple teams trying to get their conferences #5-6 bowl spot.

[campinfool]

Kind of wonder what happened to WVU. Sure they lost some players, but even before Rich Rod bolted he had to have stockpiled some talent to fill in. Pat White returned as the leade rof the team, but he looks like a different cat this year. Maybe Rodriguez is a master play caller even though you can't tell yet at Michigan. Don't really have a personal interest in the team, but they used to be a treat to watch. This is pretty painful.

[Adelpiero]

they are trying to make White into a pocket passer, see Brad Smith his last 2 years.

White is a pure runner. that is their main problem.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

WVU may not be lighting up scoreboards this year, but they've got some real speedy backs. This has been a pretty amusing game so far.

[King Crimson]

they are trying to make White into a pocket passer.

i saw where that was a criticism of WVU after they lost to Skip Holtz and ECU....but nothing could have been further from teh truth against Colorado. it was qb zone read/draw every play.

[PSUFAN]

How about Devine? Pretty snappy...

[King Crimson]

nice camera angle on that Devine TD.

i could of scored on that play.

[SoCalTrjn]

I thought I read somewhere that the Pac 10 had 2 wins OOC vs top 25 teams and the big 12 and SEC had combined for zero. But of course that was when mich st was ranked and then theres that whole thing about the top 25 being all SEC and Big 12 teams but you know.... whatever

[PSUFAN]

The 'Eers swing from underrated to overrated quicker than sissyroo's ballbag slaps against crown's on a Friday Night.

[Q, West Coast Style]

"Dead man walkin'!"

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I thought I read somewhere that the Pac 10 had 2 wins OOC vs top 25 teams and the big 12 and SEC had combined for zero. But of course that was when mich st was ranked and then theres that whole thing about the top 25 being all SEC and Big 12 teams but you know.... whatever

MSU was unranked when CAL beat them.

[MuchoBulls]

Kind of wonder what happened to WVU.

Aside from losing DickRod and OC Calvin Magee, they lost Slaton, Schmitt, Reynaud and most of their D.

They are not as productive when they aren't running. Losing Slaton and a very underrated Schmitt is showing this season. Reynaud was a good WR, but he also ran some end arounds that were big plays for WVU over the years.

I liken WVU's current situation to what Rutgers is experiencing right now. After Rutgers' big season in 2006 they lost Brian Leonard and took a step backward in 2007. Once Ray Rice left they have looked pretty bad this season. Once White leaves WVU they may suffer the was Rutgers has.

[King Crimson]

I thought I read somewhere that the Pac 10 had 2 wins OOC vs top 25 teams and the big 12 and SEC had combined for zero. But of course that was when mich st was ranked and then theres that whole thing about the top 25 being all SEC and Big 12 teams but you know.... whatever

TCU is ranked #15, and Oklahoma beat TCU. just off the top of my head. Missouri beat #20 Illinois.

[PSUFAN]

It's an afterthought now...but that was a really bizzare situation, seeing Auburn that far north this late in the year.

[MuchoBulls]

It's an afterthought now...but that was a really bizzare situation, seeing Auburn that far north this late in the year.

They are one of the few SEC teams who travel outside of their region on a fairly consistent basis.

[.m2]

It's an afterthought now...but that was a really bizzare situation, seeing Auburn that far north this late in the year.

They are one of the few SEC teams who travel outside of their region on a fairly consistent basis.

Simply not true.

Actually... it's just the opposite.







SEC should avoid road games

The Birmingham News


Among BCS conferences, the Pac-10 traveled the farthest (152,802 miles), followed by the Big Ten (107,881), Big 12 (73,183), Big East (69,777) and ACC (60,865). The SEC had seven of the bottom eight teams in mileage traveled.


Georgia has traveled 358 miles in a decade - the equivalent of a day trip from Birmingham to Nashville. Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi and Auburn have nothing to be proud of, either.


The SEC isn't simply staying in the Southeast for road games. No conference played fewer nonconference games away from home in the past decade than the SEC.


Auburn was the worst in the country with only three of its 34 nonconference games on the road. Alabama had just four, joining Arkansas, LSU, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in the bottom top 12, according to a study by The NationalChampionshipIssue.blogspot.com.




the truth

[MuchoBulls]

My statement is pretty factual. They do travel to different regions of the country. They played @Syracuse (L) in 2001, @USC (L) in 2002, and @ GT (L) in 2003. Yes, they haven't done much lately in terms of road OOC scheduling, but at least they have a better track record than most from the SEC.

Of the 5 other schools that were listed there, I think you can pretty much scratch off UF and Georgia since their road OOC games were laden with FSU and GT, respectively. I am pretty sure LSU played some games in the Superdome against Tulane where they were considered the road team even know they had more fans there. I know LSU played @VT, so they get some credit for that. Not sure who Alabama played away from home. Tennessee would be the best at playing any team from Knoxville.

[.m2]

Continued Myth of the SEC



Yeah, I know... PAC 10 down this year... got it...

But once again, we get to dispel the myth of the mighty SEC.

It's amazing how many TERRIBLE out of conference teams they play... so they pad their schedule and rankings... and has been stated over and over, that way when they play each other they can justify the losses because it's two highly ranked teams.

But when they do play a quality team, especially in that rarity of rarities for the SEC - on the road - low and behold look what happens...

The have a couple of wins:

Georgia over ASU
Kentucky over Louisville
Alabama beat Clemson

and then the losses:

Tennessee loses to UCLA
Ole Miss loses to Wake Forest
Arkansas gets slaughtered by Texas
Auburn gets trounced by WVA
GA TECH demolished Miss State

So in OOC games against BCS conference opponents, the mighty SEC this year is 3 -5.

Very impressive.

of course the SEC is 2-0 against Western Kentucky, but to be fair to the Hilltoppers, both those games were played at SEC stadiums... and it has beaten both Northen and Western Illinois... and Wofford.... seriously, Wofford...





Here's one more tidbit for you... Last night's game was Auburn's first road OOC game since 2003. LINK




the truth

[WolverineSteve]

My statement is pretty factual.

With great pain I must point out that something is either factual or it is not. There are no varying degrees. If, as tools link indicates, Auburn is the least traveled team in the country then how can you possibly be correct?

So I must agree with Mtool.....God I feel dirty.

[MuchoBulls]

My statement is pretty factual.

With great pain I must point out that something is either factual or it is not. There are no varying degrees. If, as tools link indicates, Auburn is the least traveled team in the country then how can you possibly be correct?

So I must agree with Mtool.....God I feel dirty.

They did travel outside of their region to play those games. I cannot remember the last time UF left the state of Florida for an OOC game. Georgia finally traveled after how many years?

[Mr T]

So in OOC games against BCS conference opponents, the mighty SEC this year is 3 -5.

Considering the WAC owns the Pac10, why are you joking on the SEC?

Massey has the Pac 10 last in the BCS conferences with a 13-15 record OOC...Damn is that OOC record true, if so that is sad. I doubt it is true, a BCS conference should atleast be above .500 OOC.
---------

Anyway, the Iron Bowl will be fun this year. Both teams have scored most of their points in the first half with zero points in the second half. The decider could be who scores in the 2nd half

[Danimal]

If Tuberville wanted another job I'd think he would've chased the Ark and ATM positions.

Karma is biting Auburn in the ass for the way they did Franklin. Ya his O was struggling but his qb blows and he has a good track record, at least give him a whole season.

[Mr T]

i still dont understand why they switched from the O they had. It wasnt great but with a good defense, it atleast got the job done.

Oh and try not saying war eagle after seeing this....

[.m2]

So in OOC games against BCS conference opponents, the mighty SEC this year is 3 -5.

Considering the WAC owns the Pac10, why are you joking on the SEC?

Massey has the Pac 10 last in the BCS conferences with a 13-15 record OOC...Damn is that OOC record true, if so that is sad. I doubt it is true, a BCS conference should atleast be above .500 OOC.

Check out this study from the Wizard of Odds. Over the past 10 years, the Pac-10 actually has the highest winning percentage against other BCS Conference teams.

The SEC schools get to post better-looking records because they have several members who really don't bother scheduling anyone particularly tough out of conference. This leads to circular arguments about how they don't have to, because the conference teams are all so tough, and we can of course tell that by looking at their rankings, which are based on W-L records, which are caused by weaker scheduling, and now the snake has eaten its own tail.



the truth

[Mr T]

Go to a certain number of years if this year isnt good....I see you working

[SoCalTrjn]

It's an afterthought now...but that was a really bizzare situation, seeing Auburn that far north this late in the year.

They are one of the few SEC teams who travel outside of their region on a fairly consistent basis.

its been a decade or so since they have won a road game OOC

I think Florida last left Florida to play an OOC 17 or 18 years ago

But we know, they dont have to schedule tough OOC games since their conference is so tough

[PSUFAN]

i still dont understand why they switched from the O they had. It wasnt great but with a good defense, it atleast got the job done.

Oh and try not saying war eagle after seeing this....

Thanks, T - that definitey helps.

[WolverineSteve]

What was the SEC's record in bowl games last year?

0-1 vs Michigan. :D