10 Softest Non-Conference Schedules in NCAA Football 2013

[Marshal Dillon]

Interesting, but does not take in account the toughness of the SEC.

3. (tie) Auburn - Index: 1.50: New coach Gus Malzahn couldn't ask for a much better non-conference schedule. All four games are at home. The Tigers open with a visit from a Washington State team coming from the opposite side of the country and the Cougars have also won just 12 games in the past five seasons combined. Then comes an Arkansas State team from the Sun Belt that'll be playing for its fourth head coach in four seasons. Later in the season, the Tigers get one of the worst FCS programs in Western Carolina (1-10 last fall) and FAU, which is 4-20 the past two seasons.

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[Catch Prothro]

Well they are trying to get bowl eligible.

[Catch Prothro]

8. Alabama - Index: 1.69: The only team on this list that faces a traditional power team. The Tide open the 2013 season with Virginia Tech, which has finished in the top 20 of the coaches poll in eight of the past nine seasons. Tech did just go 7-6, but the Hokies do have nine starters back on D. Even with a bunch of questions on offense, VT, at a neutral site, is more than a respectable draw. It's the rest of the Tide's non-con that brings the index way down. Colorado State has won only four of its past 20 games. Georgia State was 1-10 in 2012, and Chattanooga was 6-5 in FCS.

[ricky023]

8. Alabama - Index: 1.69: The only team on this list that faces a traditional power team. The Tide open the 2013 season with Virginia Tech, which has finished in the top 20 of the coaches poll in eight of the past nine seasons. Tech did just go 7-6, but the Hokies do have nine starters back on D. Even with a bunch of questions on offense, VT, at a neutral site, is more than a respectable draw. It's the rest of the Tide's non-con that brings the index way down. Colorado State has won only four of its past 20 games. Georgia State was 1-10 in 2012, and Chattanooga was 6-5 in FCS.

 , I thought our schedule was better than what they have us listed. CNS has scheduled good teams, maybe 1 or 2.  We do what we got to, to have the best schedule going. I wonder who has the toughest schedule? RTR!

[Jamos]

I'm thinking the SOS for Bama this year could play a big role in them getting to the NCG in January. The media is looking for any out in being able to vote down the Crimson Tide, and this weak schedule might be their ticket. Now if it was Ohio State or some of the other non SEC schools, everything would be just fine with the weak schedule and it would only be about the number of wins, not how tough the teams were that they played.

They don't want another SEC team, especially Bama, in the NCG!!!

[N.AL-Tider]

I'm thinking the SOS for Bama this year could play a big role in them getting to the NCG in January. The media is looking for any out in being able to vote down the Crimson Tide, and this weak schedule might be their ticket. Now if it was Ohio State or some of the other non SEC schools, everything would be just fine with the weak schedule and it would only be about the number of wins, not how tough the teams were that they played.

They don't want another SEC team, especially Bama, in the NCG!!!

As long as Bama takes care of their business by winning all games they will be in the NCG...

[pmull]

They are ranking non-conference games only. The SEC schedule will build our SOS back up very high.

VA Tech is not getting any respect and that hurts us. We need McElwain and Colorado St to have a decent year, that would help. GA St and Chattanooga are just bad games that I wish we would not schedule. I wish we still played one big game and filled the others with teams like Southern Miss, Memphis and Tulane.

[Catch Prothro]

They are ranking non-conference games only. The SEC schedule will build our SOS back up very high.

VA Tech is not getting any respect and that hurts us. We need McElwain and Colorado St to have a decent year, that would help. GA St and Chattanooga are just bad games that I wish we would not schedule. I wish we still played one big game and filled the others with teams like Southern Miss, Memphis and Tulane.

We scheduled Ga State and Colorado St because of their coaches.  I'm not sure why we're playing Chattanooga.

The team with the easiest road is Louisville, IMO.  They don't have any ranked teams on their schedule, period.  At least SEC competition put's SEC schools' strength of schedule high up there.  Oregon is another team which, after the LSU beatdown, is scheduling cupcakes in non-conference games.

[SUPERCOACH]

They are ranking non-conference games only. The SEC schedule will build our SOS back up very high.

VA Tech is not getting any respect and that hurts us. We need McElwain and Colorado St to have a decent year, that would help. GA St and Chattanooga are just bad games that I wish we would not schedule. I wish we still played one big game and filled the others with teams like Southern Miss, Memphis and Tulane.

We scheduled Ga State and Colorado St because of their coaches.  I'm not sure why we're playing Chattanooga.

The team with the easiest road is Louisville, IMO.  They don't have any ranked teams on their schedule, period.  At least SEC competition put's SEC schools' strength of schedule high up there.  Oregon is another team which, after the LSU beatdown, is scheduling cupcakes in non-conference games.

^^^THIS^^^.  We are doing those programs a favor.  Besides, is there really a difference in the outcome of Bama vs. Georgia State compared to Bama vs. Southern Miss.?  We take the foot off the pedal in the second half of both games.

[pmull]

They are ranking non-conference games only. The SEC schedule will build our SOS back up very high.

VA Tech is not getting any respect and that hurts us. We need McElwain and Colorado St to have a decent year, that would help. GA St and Chattanooga are just bad games that I wish we would not schedule. I wish we still played one big game and filled the others with teams like Southern Miss, Memphis and Tulane.

We scheduled Ga State and Colorado St because of their coaches.  I'm not sure why we're playing Chattanooga.

The team with the easiest road is Louisville, IMO.  They don't have any ranked teams on their schedule, period.  At least SEC competition put's SEC schools' strength of schedule high up there.  Oregon is another team which, after the LSU beatdown, is scheduling cupcakes in non-conference games.

^^^THIS^^^.  We are doing those programs a favor.  Besides, is there really a difference in the outcome of Bama vs. Georgia State compared to Bama vs. Southern Miss.?  We take the foot off the pedal in the second half of both games.

No difference in the outcome most of the time. So Miss got us a couple of times. Games like So Miss are a lot of interesting IMO. I am for going back to an 11 game season if we can not schedule anyone better than GA St and Chattanooga.

Rule of thumb: If the betting line is so big we will not put the game in our pick'em we need another oppontent.

[SUPERCOACH]

Southern Miss didn't win a game last year.  0-12.

Tulane was not much better at 2-10.  They beat UAB and SMU.

Memphis was 4-8, with two of those wins coming against Southern Miss and Tulane.  The other two were Rice and UAB.

I don't see today's Bama vs. any of those teams as much of a contest.  I would be surprised if Vegas put out a line for them either.

[pmull]

Southern Miss didn't win a game last year.  0-12.

Tulane was not much better at 2-10.  They beat UAB and SMU.

Memphis was 4-8, with two of those wins coming against Southern Miss and Tulane.  The other two were Rice and UAB.

I don't see today's Bama vs. any of those teams as much of a contest.  I would be surprised if Vegas put out a line for them either.

Southern Miss was 11-1 two years ago. Colorado St is about as low as you need to go. They are about Memphis, Tulane speed. GA St and Chattanooga are equal to Samford or Jax St which is a step down from UAB and Troy.

Why play these teams. No one is interested.

[SUPERCOACH]

Southern Miss didn't win a game last year.  0-12.

Tulane was not much better at 2-10.  They beat UAB and SMU.

Memphis was 4-8, with two of those wins coming against Southern Miss and Tulane.  The other two were Rice and UAB.

I don't see today's Bama vs. any of those teams as much of a contest.  I would be surprised if Vegas put out a line for them either.

Southern Miss was 11-1 two years ago. Colorado St is about as low as you need to go. They are about Memphis, Tulane speed. GA St and Chattanooga are equal to Samford or Jax St which is a step down from UAB and Troy.

Why play these teams. No one is interested.

I agree.  Let's drop all three of those guys, but don't replace them with teams that might not be much better.  Instead, add in another game with a BCS team, or even better, another SEC game.  That gets us back up to 10.  Then we have time to play a couple more playoff games and go to an 8 team playoff.  10 + 1 for SEC Championship + 3 for playoffs gets us back to 14.

[Catch Prothro]

As we've seen, it's difficult to play in the SEC.  Every game has great athletes, and Bama gets their best shot.  With injuries, strains and dings, the team is not the same week-to-week.  So that's why we play these games, give the team a breather, injuries to heal, work on the next big game. 

It's not terrible as fans, you go to a game with little stress, but it gets harder to go if you have to travel.  Some years those are the only games I got to see -- someone gave me their tickets.

Yes, it would be better to reduce the number of games played, instead of increasing them, and then play better games.  But unfortunately that's not gonna happen -- even the blowouts are big money makers for the Universities.

[SUPERCOACH]

These games are also good to take the little guys to.  They have no idea it is not a "big" game, and the atmosphere is a lot more family friendly.

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