Quote:Things have changed recently now that the SEC lumps 6 bowls together instead of ordering them in an attempt to prevent the same teams from going to the same bowls over and over again.  But even still the matchups shouldnt change too much.

 

Regardless looking at it based on records of the opponent is dumb.  The better way to look at it is ranking within conference.  Is the 4th best team from this conference playing the 4th best team from another conference.... regardless of whether one of those teams in 9-3 and the other is 7-5.  Traditionally the SEC always had the most difficult bowl schedule by this definition.  Citrus was SEC#2 vs Big10#2.  Outback was SEC#3/4 v Big10#3.  Cotton was SEC#3/4 v Big12#2.  Peach was SEC#5/6 v ACC#2.  Gator was #5/6 vs Big10#4.  Music City was SEC#6 vs ACC #3/4.  Liberty was SEC#7 v CUSA#1.  etc, etc....

 

Now that the SEC has added the Belk and the Texas Bowl, I'm not sure how that has changed.  I know the Big10 had 3 teams in the group of 6 bowls while the SEC only had 2, so some of those games such as Citrus and Outback may have been in the SEC's favor unlike in other years.  Although I dont know if anyone really thought that Florida was the 3rd best SEC team by years end.  

 

Anyways I think this year goes to show you how how much bowl records mean.  SEC sets the record by going 8-2 but overall was a down year.  Other years they've been much better but had a slightly lesser conference record.  Bowl games are usually all about who wants to be there and who doesnt.