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The SEC still needs to rebalance the divisions
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:16 am
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:16 am
For the 9th consecutive season, the SEC West absolutely dominated the East. This year the East was just 4-11 against the West. Half of the East's wins against the West were claimed by Georgia.
The issue is not the West is winning more games against the East. The issue is that they are DOMINATING the East. Over the past nine seasons, the West leads the East 93-36 in head-to-head contests... not to mention a team from the West has won the SEC Championship in 8 of those 9 seasons.
The typical ignorant response to these hard facts is, "It's cyclical!" No it isn't. The East has never dominated the West. In fact never... not one single season... going back to 1992 has the East ever won 10 or more games in a season against the West.
From 1992-2008, the regular season split in SEC cross-divisional games was an astoundingly equal 101-101-2. Folks want to imagine that the East used to dominate and now its the West's turn. No. The East has never dominated the West. It used to be balanced.
What happened? It was an anomaly caused by the fact that Florida and Tennessee were simultaneously experiencing program highs while Alabama and LSU were both experiencing program lows. Even still, the best the SEC East could do was pull even with the West over the course of those 17 seasons.
During those 17 seasons, Florida had eleven Top 10 finishes and won three National Championships. They are unlikely to have THAT type of success during just an 17-year run ever again.
During those 17 seasons, Tennessee had eleven Top 15 finishes and won a National Title. How long before Tennessee can get back to that level?
Simultaneously, during those 17 seasons, Alabama experienced seven seasons with 7 wins or fewer. Will that ever happen again to Alabama over a 17-year period?
Also during those 17-seasons, LSU experienced a 2-win season... a 3-win season... two 4-win seasons... a 5-win seasons... and a 7-win season. Do we really think LSU will sink that low again?
The chances of each of those four scenarios playing out again are unlikely. The chances that all four of those scenarios happen again during the same exact time are about as likely as winning the lottery.
Yet even still, in those days the SEC East and West were simply balanced. The reason there is imbalance today is because Alabama and LSU have returned to their norms. Tennessee and Florida are both somewhat "down" but Florida has actually been closer to their norm the last nine seasons than they were during their Golden Age from 1990-2008. Meanwhile, Georgia and South Carolina have actually been fairly good the past several years, helping to mitigate the damage.
But Texas A&M is upgrading with Jimbo Fisher. Arkansas is upgrading with Chad Morris. Auburn under Gus seems to be a contender most years, and Alabama with Saban isnt' going anywhere. LSU has proven that 8-9 wins is probably their floor now days.
This imbalance will not correct itself. It's time for the SEC to shake up the divisions.
The issue is not the West is winning more games against the East. The issue is that they are DOMINATING the East. Over the past nine seasons, the West leads the East 93-36 in head-to-head contests... not to mention a team from the West has won the SEC Championship in 8 of those 9 seasons.
The typical ignorant response to these hard facts is, "It's cyclical!" No it isn't. The East has never dominated the West. In fact never... not one single season... going back to 1992 has the East ever won 10 or more games in a season against the West.
From 1992-2008, the regular season split in SEC cross-divisional games was an astoundingly equal 101-101-2. Folks want to imagine that the East used to dominate and now its the West's turn. No. The East has never dominated the West. It used to be balanced.
What happened? It was an anomaly caused by the fact that Florida and Tennessee were simultaneously experiencing program highs while Alabama and LSU were both experiencing program lows. Even still, the best the SEC East could do was pull even with the West over the course of those 17 seasons.
During those 17 seasons, Florida had eleven Top 10 finishes and won three National Championships. They are unlikely to have THAT type of success during just an 17-year run ever again.
During those 17 seasons, Tennessee had eleven Top 15 finishes and won a National Title. How long before Tennessee can get back to that level?
Simultaneously, during those 17 seasons, Alabama experienced seven seasons with 7 wins or fewer. Will that ever happen again to Alabama over a 17-year period?
Also during those 17-seasons, LSU experienced a 2-win season... a 3-win season... two 4-win seasons... a 5-win seasons... and a 7-win season. Do we really think LSU will sink that low again?
The chances of each of those four scenarios playing out again are unlikely. The chances that all four of those scenarios happen again during the same exact time are about as likely as winning the lottery.
Yet even still, in those days the SEC East and West were simply balanced. The reason there is imbalance today is because Alabama and LSU have returned to their norms. Tennessee and Florida are both somewhat "down" but Florida has actually been closer to their norm the last nine seasons than they were during their Golden Age from 1990-2008. Meanwhile, Georgia and South Carolina have actually been fairly good the past several years, helping to mitigate the damage.
But Texas A&M is upgrading with Jimbo Fisher. Arkansas is upgrading with Chad Morris. Auburn under Gus seems to be a contender most years, and Alabama with Saban isnt' going anywhere. LSU has proven that 8-9 wins is probably their floor now days.
This imbalance will not correct itself. It's time for the SEC to shake up the divisions.
22
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:18 am to BHMKyle
Move Auburn to the East, Mizzou to West. Up the number of permanent E-W opponents to 2 so Bama will have Auburn/Tenn every year.
You’re done.
Edit: the real challenge will occur if we ever had a couple more such as Oklahoma and Kansas. Then you have to change something. Maybe move the state of Bama as a whole to the East?
You’re done.
Edit: the real challenge will occur if we ever had a couple more such as Oklahoma and Kansas. Then you have to change something. Maybe move the state of Bama as a whole to the East?
This post was edited on 12/6/17 at 10:20 am
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:18 am to BHMKyle
You could’ve just c/p one of the hundred threads you’ve made on this subject
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:19 am to BHMKyle
No. Eat shite.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:20 am to mountain D values
quote:
You could’ve just c/p one of the hundred threads you’ve made on this subject
And yet each and every year it continues to be the same story... Weird.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:20 am to BHMKyle
Play 9 games.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:20 am to BHMKyle
Swap Auburn and Missouri.
Auburn and Alabama are permanent rivals.
Missouri can play UT every year.
Auburn and Alabama are permanent rivals.
Missouri can play UT every year.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:20 am to BHMKyle
You should like a politician stating a perceived issue without providing a solution.
I award you a downvote and may god have mercy on your soul.
I award you a downvote and may god have mercy on your soul.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:21 am to BHMKyle
Here’s my take:
Mizzou stays in the East
Auburn stays in the West
And nothing changes
Mizzou stays in the East
Auburn stays in the West
And nothing changes
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:21 am to BHMKyle
quote:
The SEC still needs to rebalance the divisions
Nah
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:22 am to theone
I like the move Auburn to the east and have 2 perm opponents cross division.
Another option is divide the conference North and South. May take some crappy geography on the part of a few teams to even out the divisions, but that is another option to obtain some parity and geographic symmetry.
Another option is divide the conference North and South. May take some crappy geography on the part of a few teams to even out the divisions, but that is another option to obtain some parity and geographic symmetry.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:23 am to BHMKyle
They need to go back to 10 teams and get rid of divisions.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:23 am to TigerTalker16
quote:
TigerTalker16
Add
Repost this topic in 1 yr
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:24 am to okietiger
East just needs Tenn and Fla to return to what they used to be.
Back in the 90's the east was more dominant than the west.
It cycles.
Back in the 90's the east was more dominant than the west.
It cycles.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:24 am to BHMKyle
quote:
not one single season... going back to 1992 has the East ever won 10 or more games in a season against the West.
Even when they played 3 cross divisional games a year? That seems impossible...
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:24 am to BHMKyle
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the Big Ten used to have divisions called Legends and Leaders.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:29 am to BHMKyle
quote:
The SEC still needs to rebalance the divisions
For the 9th consecutive season, the SEC West absolutely dominated the East. This year the East was just 4-11 against the West. Half of the East's wins against the West were claimed by Georgia.
The issue is not the West is winning more games against the East. The issue is that they are DOMINATING the East. Over the past nine seasons, the West leads the East 93-36 in head-to-head contests... not to mention a team from the West has won the SEC Championship in 8 of those 9 seasons.
The typical ignorant response to these hard facts is, "It's cyclical!" No it isn't. The East has never dominated the West. In fact never... not one single season... going back to 1992 has the East ever won 10 or more games in a season against the West.
From 1992-2008, the regular season split in SEC cross-divisional games was an astoundingly equal 101-101-2. Folks want to imagine that the East used to dominate and now its the West's turn. No. The East has never dominated the West. It used to be balanced.
What happened? It was an anomaly caused by the fact that Florida and Tennessee were simultaneously experiencing program highs while Alabama and LSU were both experiencing program lows. Even still, the best the SEC East could do was pull even with the West over the course of those 17 seasons.
During those 17 seasons, Florida had eleven Top 10 finishes and won three National Championships. They are unlikely to have THAT type of success during just an 17-year run ever again.
During those 17 seasons, Tennessee had eleven Top 15 finishes and won a National Title. How long before Tennessee can get back to that level?
Simultaneously, during those 17 seasons, Alabama experienced seven seasons with 7 wins or fewer. Will that ever happen again to Alabama over a 17-year period?
Also during those 17-seasons, LSU experienced a 2-win season... a 3-win season... two 4-win seasons... a 5-win seasons... and a 7-win season. Do we really think LSU will sink that low again?
The chances of each of those four scenarios playing out again are unlikely. The chances that all four of those scenarios happen again during the same exact time are about as likely as winning the lottery.
Yet even still, in those days the SEC East and West were simply balanced. The reason there is imbalance today is because Alabama and LSU have returned to their norms. Tennessee and Florida are both somewhat "down" but Florida has actually been closer to their norm the last nine seasons than they were during their Golden Age from 1990-2008. Meanwhile, Georgia and South Carolina have actually been fairly good the past several years, helping to mitigate the damage.
But Texas A&M is upgrading with Jimbo Fisher. Arkansas is upgrading with Chad Morris. Auburn under Gus seems to be a contender most years, and Alabama with Saban isnt' going anywhere. LSU has proven that 8-9 wins is probably their floor now days.
This imbalance will not correct itself. It's time for the SEC to shake up the divisions.
Quadruple downvote just for the sheer GD text.
TL;DR.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:29 am to okietiger
I think the root cause of the imbalance is Vandy and Kentucky both being in the same division. Geographically, swapping Auburn and Mizzou makes sense, but I'm not sure that would do a whole lot to help the situation. It would help some, but not a lot.
Here are the SEC West Standings since 1992 (Winning % of Conference Games):
1. Florida- .732
2. Alabama- .702
3. Georgia- .638
4. LSU- .610
5. Auburn- .593
6. Tennessee- .580
7. Texas A&M- .521
8. Missouri- .460
9. S. Carolina- .433
10. Arkansas- .431
11. Ole Miss- .394
12. Miss. ST.- .390
13. Kentucky- .274
14. Vanderbilt- .192
Look at the gap between #12 Mississippi State (39%) and Kentucky (27.4%). That's the largest gap between two schools on the list.... the second largest gap?.... well its the gap between #13 Kentucky and #14 Vanderbilt (19.2%).
THAT is your problem. Auburn needs to be switched with either Kentucky or Vanderbilt to resolve the issue, IMO.
Here are the SEC West Standings since 1992 (Winning % of Conference Games):
1. Florida- .732
2. Alabama- .702
3. Georgia- .638
4. LSU- .610
5. Auburn- .593
6. Tennessee- .580
7. Texas A&M- .521
8. Missouri- .460
9. S. Carolina- .433
10. Arkansas- .431
11. Ole Miss- .394
12. Miss. ST.- .390
13. Kentucky- .274
14. Vanderbilt- .192
Look at the gap between #12 Mississippi State (39%) and Kentucky (27.4%). That's the largest gap between two schools on the list.... the second largest gap?.... well its the gap between #13 Kentucky and #14 Vanderbilt (19.2%).
THAT is your problem. Auburn needs to be switched with either Kentucky or Vanderbilt to resolve the issue, IMO.
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:29 am to bird35
quote:
Swap Auburn and Missouri.
Auburn and Alabama are permanent rivals.
Missouri can play UT every year.
and Alabama and Tennessee?
Posted on 12/6/17 at 10:30 am to StopRobot
Georgia beat every team they played in the West
Sorry the rest of the East isn't our problem
Sorry the rest of the East isn't our problem
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