PAC 10 has been trouble for the SEC

[JohnStOnge]

The PAC 10 has the edge in head to head competition against the SEC during the BCS era. Moreover, that is in spite of the fact that in most matchups the SEC teams ended their seasons with better conference records than the PAC 10 teams did.

Overall, the PAC 10 is 12-9 vs. the SEC during the BCS era. The average score is 28 - 25 PAC 10.

There have been 12 games such that the SEC team finished with a better conference record than the PAC 10 team did. The PAC 10 is 3-8 in those games. The average score is 32-20 SEC.

There have been 7 games such that the PAC 10 team finished with a better conference record than the SEC team did. The PAC 10 is 6-1 in those games. The average score is 37-19 PAC 10.

There have been three games such that the PAC 10 team and the SEC team had the same conference record. The PAC 10 is 3-0 in those games. The average score is 35-18 in those games.

One interesting matchup was the 2006 USC/Arkansas game. USC went on to finish 7-2 in the PAC 10. Arkansas went on to finish 7-1 during the SEC regular season then lost to Florida in the SEC championship game by 38-28. The game was played at Arkansas. USC won 50-14.

You can look at it in a lot of different ways. But I think SEC fans who think the PAC 10 is a weak conference need to take a hard look at what has happened during the BCS era when teams from the two conferences have played. The reason USC didn't play in a bunch of national title games is because they got beat in their own conference. It wasn't because people form the outside were knocking them off.

I actually favor Auburn in the BCS championship game. Just a gut feeling. But I think SEC fans need to realize that the SEC has not matched up all that well with the PAC 10 in recent history.

[bonarae]

I favor Oregon in the BCS championship game, but given this trend, Auburn might keep this game close. Both have undefeated records coming into this game.

[PaladinFan]

I think Auburn is the favorite (and not just because I'm an Auburn fan, either). I'll tell you why.

First, regular season records aside, the SEC is 6-0 in the BCS national championship and has really played well of late with three different teams winning games in convincing fashion. I know college football fans get tired of the SEC, but the reality is, the SEC wins big games on the national stage with regularity, and often in convincing fashion.

I think one reason there is a discrepancy in the records is that the PAC 10 is a little more razzle-dazzle in their offense. Harder offenses to prepare for week to week. I imagine you give Auburn a month to prepare for Oregon, and the "blur" loses a lot of its effectiveness.

On the flip side, Oregon will have plenty of time to prepare for what Auburn does offensively. Auburn will still have the best player on the field in Cam Newton. The problem with Newton is that you can scheme for him, but at the end of the day, he still outweighs the Oregon linebackers by 20 pounds. He's just a tough guy to tackle even if you have the right guys in the right place at the right time. He lit up South Carolina's defense which is generally considered maybe the second best unit in the SEC behind Alabama.

I imagine the game will come down to turnovers. Neither team can afford to give the other team extra possessions given the explosivness of the offenses. I expect a good, close game with Auburn coming out ahead.