Do Conference Championship Games make it harder to go undefeated??

I'd bet most of you clicked on this thinking, "Well hell yeah, is he really that much of an idiot to ask that"? :hihi:

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/aajoe7/70287

 

If you add another chance for failure, it becomes more difficult. That doesn't even consider an increased strength of schedule, odds of defeating a potential opponent twice, increased likelihood of injuries which might impact bowl game performance........

 

Eh. You guys handled Tennessee in '04, and we handled UGA in 03. I thought the same thing at one time, but the rematch factor is overrated.

 

exactly. the end result shows no evidence one is easier than the other. simply one team had a different route and still won or lost accordingly.

obviously, an extra hurdle makes it more difficult that even a 6 yr old with basic math skills can see. of course one could argue it prepares a team more if they can survive injuries and use the extra experience to further them along.

 

That's what I always felt too but in 15 SEC Championship games,

That's a 26% chance. If I told you there was a 25% chance of rain tommorrow.......would you still plan to fire up the pit?? :hihi:

Add this in: Of the Winners of the SEC Championship game, look at the results in the Bowl Game against an OOC team- 9 wins, 6 loses.

Season SEC Champ Result Opponent Conference Bowl Game NCAA Champion
1992 #2 Alabama W 34-13 #1 Miami Big East 1993 Sugar Bowl Alabama
1993 #8 Florida W 41-7 #3 West Virginia Big East 1994 Sugar Bowl Fla. State
1994 #5 Florida L 17-23 #7 Florida State ACC 1995 Sugar Bowl Nebraska
1995 #2 Florida L 24-62 #1 Nebraska Big 8 1996 Fiesta Bowl Nebraska
1996 #3 Florida W 52-20 #1 Florida State ACC 1997 Sugar Bowl Florida
1997 #3 Tennessee L 17-42 #2 Nebraska Big 12 1998 Orange Bowl Nebraska
1998 #1 Tennessee W 23-16 #2 Fla. State ACC 1999 Fiesta Bowl Tennessee
1999 #5 Alabama L 34-35 OT #8 Michigan Big10 2000 Orange Bowl Fla. State
2000 #7 Florida L 20-37 #2 Miami Big East 2001 Sugar Bowl Oklahoma
2001 #12 LSU W 47-34 #7 Illinois Big Ten 2002 Sugar Bowl Miami
2002 #4 Georgia W 26-13 #16 Florida State ACC 2003 Sugar Bowl Ohio State
2003 #3 LSU W 21-14 #2 Oklahoma Big 12 2004 Sugar Bowl LSU
2004 #3 Auburn W 16-13 #9 VT ACC 2005 Sugar Bowl Southern Cal.
2005 #8 Georgia L 35-38 #13 West Virginia Big East 2006 Sugar Bowl Texas
2006 #2 Florida W 41-14 #1 Ohio State Big Ten 2007 BCS Champ. Game Fla.

 

the end result is zero evidence that it makes it harder or easier. working backwards gives no answer.

 

Then can we SEC Honks quit saying that it does?? :hihi:

 

Actually, the better measure of the CGs is how it changes a team's chance to reach the MNCG.

The SECCG helped UF in 96, LSU in 03 and UF in 06. It hurt AMAB in 94 and Tenn in 01. It had no effect on AMAB in 92, UF in 95 and AU in 04.

The BigXIICG hurt KSU in 98, helped OU in 00 and had no effect on OU in 03, 04 or Texas in 05. (Not going probably helped Neb in 01, but the SECCG loss by Tenn meant more.)

Sure, having an extra game against a quality opponent means that it does make it harder to go undefeated. However, on balance the Championship games have generally been beneficial in getting teams into the MNCG.

GEAUX TIGERS

 

no because it obviously does make it harder. you can work forward and see that. Just because it still happens doesnt negate the fact an extra game makes a schedule harder no matter who it is against. Much less against a conf runner up.


what thorny says is more appropriate.

 

I agree, just by virtue of the #'s, and also that is has helped us in relation to the MNCG. :thumb: