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

It's all noise to me. I expect my team to schedule one strong nonconference opponent each year to add to the SEC slate. Two is gravy.

Scheduling an entire nonconference slate of pushovers is a little ridiculous. But if you play an SEC schedule and add one legitimate nonconference team, nobody has a legitimate gripe - ESPECIALLY teams that play in weaker conferences.