Could It Be the National Sportswriters Have College Football All Wrong?

By -
Big 12's Kansas State plays in the last bowl game of the year Tuesday evening
My gosh, reading Twitter after Cincinnati lost to Alabama, you'd have thought they were blown out 70-0. One of my favorites was a self-described B1G (Big 10) fan who kept throwing shade at the Bearcats until his conference's Michigan kicked off an hour later against Georgia. Oops. 

I wish I had saved all of them. They are fun reading. 

I'm primarily writing about the sportswriter who commented (paraphrasing and referring to Cincy and the AAC) the Power 5 are a "different level of competition" and that the rest "should have a championship of their own" as well as all of the others who were so quick to criticize the American Athletic Conferences' football programs.
"Sports Illustrated" couldn't wait until the game was over
to criticize Cincinnati 
Really? Is this conventional wisdom (CW) among sportswriters correct?

The statistics point to the CW being wildly wrong. 
The "Power Five" are:
  • SEC
  • ACC
  • Big 12
  • Big 10
  • Pac 12
Since the bowl game contestants are more or less matched by quality of team (Toledo plays Middle Tennessee rather than, say, Georgia), the bowl results are not a bad proxy for conference quality. With one bowl left -- my Big 12 Kansas State Wildcats versus the SEC's Louisiana State -- here are the conference by conference results. 
If you want to talk about the Power 5 being a "whole different level of competition," I'd have to agree: The Pac 12 didn't win a single bowl game. They lost all five. 

Meanwhile, since everyone was complaining about Cincy, their American Conference has the second best winning percentage of the bowl season -- 75%. The Mountain West was #1 with 83%. 

Among the Power Five conferences, the Big 12 (so far) is #1 with a winning percentage of .666. That will increase to 71% when (and if) K-State wins tomorrow night. The mighty SEC won less than half of their games at 45%. One can say, with tongue partially in cheek, that Texas and OU want to move to the SEC to have a lesser level of competition. Remember: the SEC isn't just Alabama and Georgia -- it includes such 'powerhouses' as Missouri and Vanderbilt. 

So, take what the national sportswriters write with a grain of salt. They seem to suffer not only from conventional wisdom and but inertia. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The East Coast Severe Weather Threat is Over

By -
Image
Midnight: The East Coast Threat for Tornadoes and Severe  Thunderstorms Has Ended 3:50pm. Tornado watch for the Middle Atlantic Region. 2:30pm Tornadoes are also forecast in the South. 2:20pm. A couple of tornadoes, hail and wind gusts to 65 mph are possible with these storms. This includes NYC and Philadelphia.  1:05pm. The tornado risk has been extended northward into New York. The brown area has a significant risk of tornadoes. Remember: if a tornado warning is issued, go to your basement and get under heavy furniture like a pool table. Of, if your basement is finished, get into the bathroom. Go ahead an put a couple of water bottles and, if appropriate, diapers in your shelter area. Wear shoes.  If you don't have a basement or safe room, go to the lowest floor and get into a bath or closet in the middle of your home. Children should be put in the bathtub.  I'll update later today. 
Read more

Today's Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Outlook - 9:30pm

By -
Image
After 65 mph winds went through Wichita, we have been without power for 35 minutes. So, I am going to have to end coverage for the night (using backup systems to write this). Scroll down for the forecast of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms for Sunday and Sunday night.  Please read down for the latest forecasts regarding this dangerous tornado and damaging wind situation! 5:40pm, a new "regular" tornado watch has been issued for north central Kansas.  Note that wind gusts to 80 mph are likely in this storm in addition to tornadoes and giant hail. Please make sure friends and relatives in the area are aware of the danger in the area outlined in red below plus the red area outlined at 2:50pm  In addition to "several strong tornadoes," hail to 4.8" in diameter is forecast along with wind gusts to 80 mph. Now is the time for persons living in mobile homes, manufactured homes and those with mobility issues should be making plans!!  Do not wait until a tornado warn
Read more

Updated Freezing Rain and Heavy Rain Forecast

By -
Image
Note: An Updated Forecast is Available HERE Freezing Rain The National Weather Service has now issued winter weather advisories, two warnings and a watch. It may be a bit too large but, when it comes to freezing rain and slick roads, caution is usually the better course of action.  Here's a color code: Deep purple is an ice storm warning; serious condition where power outages are possible. Pink is a winter storm warning for significant icing. Deep green is a winter storm watch. I don't know why this is still a watch. If I were on the forecast desk I would have a winter storm warning for icing.  Dark blue is a winter weather advisory, a lesser condition, for icing.  Here is a view of the entire watch/warning/advisory area. The small area of green in Illinois is for flooding and, in Nebraska, for snow.  Here is a forecast of freezing rain amounts; totals to 6am Tuesday.  Color codes: Yellow is 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Power outages may occur in this areas. Deep blue is 0.1 to .25 inc
Read more