SEC versus PAC-10: Which is better?

By Marc Hudgens  |   Friday, July 06, 2007  |  Comments( 64 )

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The recent remarks by LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles regarding the PAC-10 being soft compared to the SEC didn't set off any kind of firestorm -- this debate's been raging for years. But it still fueled the big question in the modern era: Which is the stronger conference, the SEC or the PAC-10?

In an attempt to get a firm grasp on this issue, let's look at some stats over the past five seasons:

SEC teams v. PAC-10 squads:

2006
Arkansas 14, USC 50 [winner: PAC-10]
Auburn 40, Washington State 14 [winner: SEC]
LSU 45, Arizona 3 [winner: SEC]
Tennessee 35, Cal 18 [winner: SEC]

2005
Arkansas 17, USC 70 [winner: PAC-10]
LSU 35, Arizona State 31 [winner: SEC]

2004
LSU 22, Oregon State 21 [winner: SEC]

2003
Auburn 0, USC 23 [winner: PAC-10]
LSU 59, Arizona 13 [winner: SEC]
Mississippi State 34, Oregon 42 [winner: PAC-10]

2002
Auburn 17, USC 24 [winner: PAC-10]
Mississippi State 13, Oregon 36 [winner: PAC-10]


From this info, the PAC-10 and SEC are tied at six over the series in this past half-decade. That said, the PAC-10 outscored the SEC, 345-314. A slight 31-point margin when you consider it over a five-year span.

Also, the majority of each conference's wins were by one team each: LSU and USC, the two clubs in question.

The four games in 2006 helped the SEC's argument, and it paid off with the SEC winning three out of the four games, with LSU getting some help from Tennessee and Auburn. That was a season to remember because it had more head-to-head combat between the two conferences than in years past, keeping the speculation and smack-talk alive and well.

Because Miles also brought up that he wants nothing more than to face USC for the BCS title, let's also look at LSU's record versus PAC-10 opponents and USC's mark against SEC foes:

LSU v. PAC-10

2006: LSU 45, Arizona 3
2005: LSU 35, Arizona State 31
2004: LSU 22, Oregon State 21
2003: LSU 59, Arizona 13
2002: N/A

TOTALS: LSU 161, PAC-10 68 (difference of 93 points)
LSU's record: 4-0.


As for the Trojans....

2006: USC 50, Arkansas 14
2005: USC 70, Arkansas 17
2004: N/A
2003: USC 23, Auburn 0
2002: USC 24, Auburn 17

TOTALS: USC 167, SEC 48 (difference of 119 points)
USC's record: 4-0.

It's clear both are very strong when pitted against the opposing conference's teams. Both are undefeated, with a slight edge to Southern Cal in outscoring points. Therefore, an LSU/USC matchup for the National title would not only be for said championship but bragging rights as to which conference is truly better.

Fans could have (and should have) been treated to this matchup in the 2004 BCS title game. Instead, they got to see SEC champ LSU take on Oklahoma, which actually lost in the Big XII title game to Kansas State. Because of the computers' unilateral influence, the Sooners' strength of schedule was too strong to knock them down some spots, so Oklahoma kept the No. 1 ranking and was defaulted into the title game. If not for the computers, Oklahoma would've fallen in the polls and LSU would've played PAC-10 champ USC in New Orleans. The only good that came out of this is that the computer rankings are now weighed against the AP and coaches' polls.

Fast-forwarding to today, the upcoming 2007 SEC v. PAC-10 slate looks like this:

Tennessee at Cal, September 1.

And that's it - just one SEC/PAC-10 game. And given when it's played, it'll have started and been over with before we know it. Why the two conferences don't go at it more boggles the mind. Several other hot matchups could spring from this. In addition to what we've been treated to in the past, we could use Florida/Arizona State, Georgia/UCLA, Alabama/Oregon, Kentucky/Washington, even Mississippi State/Stanford for the pillow fight bragging rights.

But at the moment, the only thing we can hope for outside of Tennessee/Cal this season is an LSU/USC matchup for a national title, which happens to take place in the Tigers' own backyard of New Orleans on January 7, 2008. Because currently there are no bowls that have an SEC v PAC-10 tie-in.

This could be what should've happened in 2004.

College football and its fans could use more games between the two conferences. It'll either spurn more debates or shut people up. But as this past season has proven, more combats between the two are sights to behold.

Original college football insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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CommentsComments: 64  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
GSOTrojan		11:42 AM
07/06/2007
I believe you failed to mention a very important point...WHERE the games were played. The Pac-10 played all four games vs. SEC...
No.2
TigerEducated		12:52 PM
07/06/2007
You've got to be kidding me...We "escaped" in 2005? We had our entire fall camp blown up by something otherwise known as the...
No.3
Kona Kahuna		01:34 PM
07/06/2007
Typical LSU fan. Take one line from the previous argument and beat it into the ground. Good and valid points about the...
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