re: Does the SEC play too many cupcakes compared to the other conferences?

Well the problem in college football is that they don't have a preseason like the NFL does. You have to start your football season "cold turkey" and hope you can have everything in place rather quickly.

Well, that doesn't bode well if your first opponent is a legit contender from a Power 5 conference b/c you will get embarrassed on national television. Not from a lack of talent in some cases, but the fact that execution and cohesiveness takes practice which grows with the experience of playing an actual "game" (hell, at least one)!!!

So, playing these cupcake teams helps to "iron out the kinks" in a way before real competition...!!! On the flip side, these smaller schools get to tune-up as well b/c the teams they play are no where close to the SEC. Playing better competition makes you better, which works for these smaller aka "cupcake" teams.

I mean, could you imagine having to go right into the meat of the SEC gauntlet to start the season with no tune-up game???

REALLY?