ESPN: The 10 Teams With Easiest 2017 Nonconference Slates, LINK, Big Pretend & Big Frail Again!

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

POOR-11 1. WASHINGTON
POOR-11 2. COLORADO
BIG FRAIL 3. KANSAS
BIG FRAIL 4. BAYLOR
SEC 5. MISSOURI
BIG FRAIL 6. KANSAS STATE
BIG PRETEND 7. INDIANA
BIG PRETEND 8. NORTHWESTERN
BIG PRETEND 9. PENN STATE
Sept. 2: Akron
Sept. 9: Pittsburgh
Sept. 16: Georgia State
There's no place like home, and the Nittany Lions don't have to leave Beaver Stadium during the nonconference portion of their schedule in 2017. In fact, they leave home only once the first five weeks of the season, and that's to face Iowa on Sept. 23. That's not to say their nonconference schedule is a complete cakewalk. After all, Pitt beat Penn State last season.
SEC: 10. ARKANSAS
LINK;
http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...bears-10-easiest-nonconference-schedules-2017

 

[Pitt79]

Those teams are smart, they'll come out of their schedules 4-0 and maybe ranked. We can brag about being 2-2 unranked and having played "somebody" and "tested ourselves" Then in the end, some of those "fraud" teams will finish 9-3 while we go 7-5 and they'll go to better bowls.

 

[Pitt79]

Pitt should be something like this out of conference

1) YSU or other I-AA Team
2) MAC, USA or Sun Belt type team
3) Weak B1G, AAC, PAC or Big 12 team
4) ND, WVU, PSU

Try to have them all at home.

Something that basically guarantees minimum 3-1

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Those teams are smart, they'll come out of their schedules 4-0 and maybe ranked. We can brag about being 2-2 unranked and having played "somebody" and "tested ourselves" Then in the end, some of those "fraud" teams will finish 9-3 while we go 7-5 and they'll go to better bowls.

I hear you, scheduling WHEN you play someone is just as important as PLAYING them.

Yet, the very Best Coaches in CFB History always were not afraid to say, In Order To Be The Best One Must Play The Best, but in this day and age of when one can win 10 games and not beat a Ranked Team, does blurry the eyes of AP & Coaches Voters.

The CFB Committee last Poll is most accurate now. The way to remove it is just go to 8 Teams Playoff and then Teams will avoid playing Tougher Schedules.

Yet, it was BAMA and CLEMSON that embarrassed the Big Pretend, Poor-12, and Big-Frail were weaker than ever in the end. There Top Programs in 10+ Wins were Frauds and all in 2016.

BAMA is just far above the SEC making Top Coaches losing their jobs every few years.

USC was by far better than any Team in the Pac-12 and beat both Washington and Colorado and Penn State in the end.

CLEMSON and the ACC had a Special Year, as FSU, VT, and MIAMI are making comebacks.

Ohio State will get back on track and not afraid to play Tougher Games, Michigan Harbaugh is not afraid of anyone, and Wisconsin plays everyone Tough since Barry Alvarez arrived in 1990.

Penn State needs to show they belong in 2017 to follow up 2016 if they want to advance in the Big Ten. Paterno always had a great year every few years, but really did not win a NCS since 1986 and Franklin has change that with his recruits he is bringing to PSU far better than Paterno ever did. Now comes the 4th year tests?

We shall see, but Pitt is back on track again and one can see it how the Players respond ON & OFF the Gridiron. When Teams play Pitt they know they played a tough game. I have not seen that since 1980s.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Pitt should be something like this out of conference

1) YSU or other I-AA Team
2) MAC, USA or Sun Belt type team
3) Weak B1G, AAC, PAC or Big 12 team
4) ND, WVU, PSU

Try to have them all at home.

Something that basically guarantees minimum 3-1

I don't see that way, Pitt played most of it games since 2015-16 pretty close even with a Tougher Schedule and far less talent. I think it toughens them up and why they beat Clemson and that was truly a legitimate win away.

But I agree in part with you and would prefer ND, WVU & PSU every year.

Until Pitt Narduzzi can get the Program with some Good Back-Ups to make up for injuries it is still tough growing the Program process. This should be ready by 2018 and 2017 will be a Big Test again with New OC & QB & TE. The Defense should have more Players ready to play & back-up in 2017.

 

[aged_wolverine]

POOR-11 1. WASHINGTON
POOR-11 2. COLORADO
BIG FRAIL 3. KANSAS
BIG FRAIL 4. BAYLOR
SEC 5. MISSOURI
BIG FRAIL 6. KANSAS STATE
BIG PRETEND 7. INDIANA
BIG PRETEND 8. NORTHWESTERN
BIG PRETEND 9. PENN STATE
Sept. 2: Akron
Sept. 9: Pittsburgh
Sept. 16: Georgia State
There's no place like home, and the Nittany Lions don't have to leave Beaver Stadium during the nonconference portion of their schedule in 2017. In fact, they leave home only once the first five weeks of the season, and that's to face Iowa on Sept. 23. That's not to say their nonconference schedule is a complete cakewalk. After all, Pitt beat Penn State last season.
SEC: 10. ARKANSAS
LINK;
http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...bears-10-easiest-nonconference-schedules-2017

I don't see the issue with schools like Indiana having a weak OOC. They tend to get smacked down in conference play.


As far as PSU, if a quality Pitt team shows up, they played a decent P5 team. If you guys suck next year, then yeah, their OOC will be very terrible.


As a side note, I hope you have been well Cap. I lost both my parents in a span of 9 days around the Sparty game, and kind of killed the season more for me than the 3 close losses did. Just wasn't into it. I went to sleep at half of Iowa, and laughed at the OSU game. Reminded me of the Neb bowl game back about 10 yrs ago.

Was just looking if you guys had any info on the Sparty issues going on currently....talk of 3 players and one coach suspended. MSU is looking like they are going back to their norm of being an afterthought in conference. That should leave only Michigan and TUOS for PSU to get by in division. I think we dominate again, but until it happens, it is just opinion.

Take it easy.

 

[steel_curtain]

Those teams are smart, they'll come out of their schedules 4-0 and maybe ranked. We can brag about being 2-2 unranked and having played "somebody" and "tested ourselves" Then in the end, some of those "fraud" teams will finish 9-3 while we go 7-5 and they'll go to better bowls.

-Then we can be put into a worse position to fail because other teams rested their starters beating up cupcakes while avoiding injury, and our starters gets injured in meaningless non conference games trying to win and hang on against good teams. We played Villanova last year, an FCS playoff team and the score was 7-0 with 19 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter We lost Hendrix and Zeise for the season in that game. Again, what is the point? Pick a team we can beat 50-0 at halftime and get the starters off the field and rested in a tuneup game.

 

[Pitt79]

I don't see that way, Pitt played most of it games since 2015-16 pretty close even with a Tougher Schedule and far less talent. I think it toughens them up and why they beat Clemson and that was truly a legitimate win away.

But I agree in part with you and would prefer ND, WVU & PSU every year.

Until Pitt Narduzzi can get the Program with some Good Back-Ups to make up for injuries it is still tough growing the Program process. This should be ready by 2018 and 2017 will be a Big Test again with New OC & QB & TE. The Defense should have more Players ready to play & back-up in 2017.

Part of my point is pure MARKETING, having more wins and a ranking every year makes recruits think your better, makes more fans turn out, Get good first, then play a tougher schedule.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"aged_wolverine, post: 1805128, member: 2694"]I don't see the issue with schools like Indiana having a weak OOC. They tend to get smacked down in conference play.
New Coach in Allen and finally using Big Ten Money to rebuild the Football Program, but so hard to do in the Big Ten. I made fun of the Big Ten, Pac-12, and Big-12 because the ACC seldom has year like it did in 2016.I uesd to refer to them as the Abandon Championship Conference from 2003 to until 2010. FSU bounced back, then Clemson, and change all of that so it goes in cycles.

SEC to me still rules!

As far as PSU, if a quality Pitt team shows up, they played a decent P5 team. If you guys suck next year, then yeah, their OOC will be very terrible.
Pitt will show up, but New OC, QB, TE & Defense big questions marks so early, losing Canada is big loss, and no able to figure out how things will all work out until we see them. The game is too early but we shall see? Narduzzi still has Pitt playing better there most since 1980.

As a side note, I hope you have been well Cap. I lost both my parents in a span of 9 days around the Sparty game, and kind of killed the season more for me than the 3 close losses did.
Deepest Sympathies, been there like a Foggy Bottom Atmosphere surrounding oneself. Time makes it better and memories remain. No one can get one through it easily in anyway just time and acceptance and it will grow and go but slowly be understood.

Just wasn't into it. I went to sleep at half of Iowa, and laughed at the OSU game. Reminded me of the Neb bowl game back about 10 yrs ago.
Great game but OSU & Michigan still rule! MSU & IOWA fought it out in 2015 and Penn State & Wisconsin did it in 2016. Still, Michigan and Ohio State dominated the Recruiting again!

Was just looking if you guys had any info on the Sparty issues going on currently....talk of 3 players and one coach suspended.
Big problems I was told by some Penn State Lawyers on Compliance Issues. It not limited to recent 3 Players but USA Gymnastics Team Physician and what was going on is still being investigated and is causing ripples in Compliance Offices and everything is being Audited. Dantonio dealing with his own had aches right now. Zero Tolerance is in order and making rebuilding the team much harder for 2017, I am told. Major distractions!

MSU is looking like they are going back to their norm of being an afterthought in conference.
Look how fast MSU & Iowa dropped since 2015 in just one year? Penn State and Wisconsin may be one year wonders too. It is hard to stay up when Ohio State and Michigan get the right coaches, because the Programs are so Top of the Big Ten. Meyer's and Harbaugh recruiting classes out of sight again. Penn State, Maryland and Nebraska coming on but still behind in Big Two. Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota and Rutgers got new coaches and improving too, but still long way to go. Wisconsin, MSU, NU, Iowa are about where Pitt is at right now Top 30-45. Notre Dame suffering too.

That should leave only Michigan and TUOS for PSU to get by in division. I think we dominate again, but until it happens, it is just opinion.
Penn State was Helter Skelter in 2016 Two Quarters Down then Two Quarters Comebacks. Caught many off guard. If they can play 4 Quarter Ball like that in 2017, then they can take on Michigan and Ohio State much tougher. However, NU, Iowa, Nebraska will be prepared better in 2016. If McSorley goes down could be in trouble. Trace The Ace will be targeted by Big Ten Bruisers! On the other hand, maybe they are ready for that Big Two Challenge? Or are they MSU & IOWA of 2015, one year wonder? But way better in recruiting and very impressive. We will know soon?

Take it easy. T
No words can help right now, but there is some validity in your head accepting that a part of you went with both Parents who passed away, and a part of both of them will always stay with in your heart.

We never truly lose our loved ones. They accompany us, they don't disappear from our lives. We are burden with the mourning and it comes on waves ebbing and flowing, sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it's overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim remembering Life has to end, but Love doesn't.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Part of my point is pure MARKETING, having more wins and a ranking every year makes recruits think your better, makes more fans turn out, Get good first, then play a tougher schedule.

Can't disagree, that is the perception and few look at the details! Teams are happy to win 10+ games, but the Football Programs are built in Multiple 10+ games for 5 to 10 straight years. In today's conferences that is hard to do because so many Top teams in every Conference now that come and go and so you have to sooner or later beat them too.

Pitt Beat #1, #7, and Lost to #11, #16 & #20 and went 8-5!
Penn State Beat #6, #9 and Lost to #3, #10, and went 11-3!
WVU Lost to #5, #11, & #20 and went 10-3 and Ranked!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"steel_curtain, post: 1805155, member: 5476"]-Then we can be put into a worse position to fail because other teams rested their starters beating up cupcakes while avoiding injury, and our starters gets injured in meaningless non conference games trying to win and hang on against good teams.
True, but it still made Pitt play more Back-Ups and even Pitt limped into PSU & Clemson and still beta them. Pitt gave every Team a Game this year. But you have a point losing top 33 players in bowl game cost that Game due to injuries.

We played Villanova last year, an FCS playoff team and the score was 7-0 with 19 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter We lost Hendrix and Zeise for the season in that game.
Hard to refute! When rebuilding a Program you do need to take into account you won't have much depth or back-ups and any injury can help you lose.

Again, what is the point? Pick a team we can beat 50-0 at halftime and get the starters off the field and rested in a tuneup game.
Most are doing what you are saying. Clemson did play Auburn, South Carolina, VT, Ohio State and beat Bama and FSU, ULou too, and only Pitt stopped them?

 

[topdecktiger]

We played Villanova last year, an FCS playoff team and the score was 7-0 with 19 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter We lost Hendrix and Zeise for the season in that game. Again, what is the point? Pick a team we can beat 50-0 at halftime and get the starters off the field and rested in a tuneup game.

If you can't do that to Villanova, then you will have a hard time doing it to anyone else.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

If you can't do that to Villanova, then you will have a hard time doing it to anyone else.

Nova game PITT did not show any cards.. maybe the joker and you bit..

 

[topdecktiger]

Nova game PITT did not show any cards.. maybe the joker and you bit..

You're missing the point. The other poster was complaining that Pitt needs to play a "cupcake" team to make the schedule more manageable. Well, Villanova is AA team. If you can't consider an average AA team to be a cupcake, I don't know where else you are going to find one.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

You're missing the point. The other poster was complaining that Pitt needs to play a "cupcake" team to make the schedule more manageable. Well, Villanova is AA team. If you can't consider an average AA team to be a cupcake, I don't know where else you are going to find one.

This is how I see it and may be wrong, but I rather Pitt Players getting toughen up by playing tougher Teams, then having Players hurt by Cupcakes that don't have the same coaching and take cheap shots knowing they won't play often, and if out Players go down in such games, how can they handle Bigger Tough Games & Players????

Learn to play against the Best to Be and Beat the Best! The Clemson Game saw Whitehead get Injured but Pitt won! Players learn confidence playing bigger teams andif they don't learn from such mistakes, Coaches gone anyway.

i can see the first game need Practice but the 2016 Opening day Weekend games were the Best Ever, BAMA-USC, ND-TEXAS, WISKY-LSU, FSU-OLE MISS they handled it.

 

[topdecktiger]

This is how I see it and may be wrong, but I rather Pitt Players getting toughen up by playing tougher Teams, then having Players hurt by Cupcakes that don't have the same coaching and take cheap shots knowing they won't play often, and if out Players go down in such games, how can they handle Bigger Tough Games & Players????

Learn to play against the Best to Be and Beat the Best! The Clemson Game saw Whitehead get Injured but Pitt won!

The thing is, the whole argument is really a non-issue. If you look at Pitt's schedule, they play 2 P5 teams OOC, and 8 conference games. That's 10 total P5 teams. Compare that to someone like Penn St. Penn St plays 1 P5 team OOC, and 9 conference games. That's also 10 total P5 teams. There have been some histrionics about Pitt's schedule on prior threads, but they play 10 P5 teams, which is what most other schools do. They just get to that number of 10 in a different way, because the ACC only plays 8 conference games.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"topdecktiger, post: 1806398, member: 3806"]The thing is, the whole argument is really a non-issue. If you look at Pitt's schedule, they play 2 P5 teams OOC, and 8 conference games. That's 10 total P5 teams. Compare that to someone like Penn St. Penn St plays 1 P5 team OOC, and 9 conference games. That's also 10 total P5 teams. There have been some histrionics about Pitt's schedule on prior threads, but they play 10 P5 teams, which is what most other schools do. They just get to that number of 10 in a different way, because the ACC only plays 8 conference games.
Well, again agree to some but disagree, the Big Ten has 2 Top Elite Programs UM & OSU, 3-6 Second & Third Tier Programs NU, IOWA, UW, MSU, NU, & PSU, and the rest are pretty bad as seen in 2016 and almost every year.

Even in November every one thought the Big Ten was better than SEC & even All Conferences but the ACC beat both SEC & BIG PRETEND in the end, during the Season and in Bowl Games!

Additionally, the ACC & SEC play each other more every year, while Big Ten is afraid of SEC and stays within and turned out was not so tough again in the end.

ARTICLE ON NOVEMBER 17, 2016????
How the Big Ten flipped scripts with SEC as the nation's best conference
It took a while, but the SEC is no longer the best league in the land
LINK:
http://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ipts-with-sec-as-the-nations-best-conference/

ARTICLE ON JANUARY 24, 2017...NO MENTION OF BIG TEN?
How the ACC used coaches, quarterbacks to overtake the SEC in 2016
The 2016 season has the SEC looking for answers and the ACC learning how to brag again.
LINK:
http://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...hes-quarterbacks-to-overtake-the-sec-in-2016/

ACC had a Great Year in 2016, but SEC still Rules and the Big Ten proved to be the Big Pretend again. Due to BIG TEN TOO FEW at the TOP, playing BIG TEN TOO MANY POOR Boys at the Bottom plus weak MAC OOC!

Happens more years in the Big Ten and makes the Big Pretend, but not in SEC so much. The Pac-12 and ACC also have far better Balance and Competitive Teams and less Bottom Feeders unlike the Big Ten.

It goes in cycles but SEC still Rules in my opinion. ACC growing better with Southern Recruits, and PAC-12 always underestimated.

Big-12 is usually the Big Frail just had 4 Winning Teams in 2016 and always last place in the NFL Draft even when they had 12 Teams.

The Big Ten always puts in Great Players in the NFL too, but always behind SEC. The Big Ten does OK every 4 to 5 Years, but their Bottom Feeders are easier to beat then AAC, CUSA, and MTN WEST. Villanova could beat Purdue, Rutgers, Illinois, Indiana, last year.

Western Michigan gave Wisky a game?

 

[topdecktiger]

Well, again agree to some but disagree, the Big Ten has 2 Top Elite Programs UM & OSU, 3-6 Second & Third Tier Programs NU, IOWA, UW, MSU, NU, & PSU,

That's the same thing with every conference. You have one or two elite programs, and the rest are either second or third tier. Look at the 10 P5 teams Pitt plays next year:

Penn St
Oklahoma St
Virginia Tech
Miami
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
NC State
Duke
Virginia
Syracuse

None of those teams are elite. You could maybe stretch it and count Penn St, since they won the Big Ten last year, but that's it. This list is fundamentally no harder than the 10 P5 teams most other schools play.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

How can you call a team elite that had no quality road wins and was beaten by 39 points? Wisky's QB sucked whoever that was in the b1g championship.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

That's the same thing with every conference. You have one or two elite programs, and the rest are either second or third tier. Look at the 10 P5 teams Pitt plays next year:

Penn St
Oklahoma St
Virginia Tech
Miami
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
NC State
Duke
Virginia
Syracuse

None of those teams are elite. You could maybe stretch it and count Penn St, since they won the Big Ten last year, but that's it. This list is fundamentally no harder than the 10 P5 teams most other schools play.

I disagree, the SEC is by far more Competitive from Top to Bottom, Vanderbilt is even doing better. You are just outright wrong. Saban has BAMA at the Top of the Ladder but Top to Bottom they don't have as many Poor Boys like the Big Pretend. SEC and ACC play each other, Big Ten plays some ACC, and avoids SEC.

ACC with New Coaches is doing the same they have were far more Competitive with more Teams than ever before and have to keep that a trend. They don't have as many Top Programs. PAC-12 is more competitive too an USC sets the Pattern.

Big-12 is pretty competitive with just 10 teams but Kansas and Iowa State are really Bottom Feeders almost every year.

The Big-10 has added new coaches but that happens often almost every year. SEC does too, but that is trying catch BAMA or among themselves.

The Big Ten has much bigger problem with more Bottom Feeders and Half Top Teams that come and go, and feed off the Wins over the Poor Boys within. This is why they are often overrated and bragged about having 4 Teams in the Top Ten, then came the Bowl Games, and they ended up the Big Pretend again.

Call me when Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Rutgers start to Dominate the Big Ten. Dump the MAC School agreement too.

 

[topdecktiger]

I disagree, the SEC is by far more Competitive from Top to Bottom, Vanderbilt is even doing better. You are just outright wrong. Saban has BAMA at the Top of the Ladder but Top to Bottom they don't have as many Poor Boys like the Big Pretend. SEC and ACC play each other, Big Ten plays some ACC, and avoids SEC.

ACC with New Coaches is doing the same they have were far more Competitive with more Teams than ever before and have to keep that a trend. They don't have as many Top Programs. PAC-12 is more competitive too an USC sets the Pattern.

Big-12 is pretty competitive with just 10 teams but Kansas and Iowa State are really Bottom Feeders almost every year.

The Big-10 has added new coaches but that happens often almost every year. SEC does too, but that is trying catch BAMA or among themselves.

The Big Ten has much bigger problem with more Bottom Feeders and Half Top Teams that come and go, and feed off the Wins over the Poor Boys within. This is why they are often overrated and bragged about having 4 Teams in the Top Ten, then came the Bowl Games, and they ended up the Big Pretend again.

Call me when Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Rutgers start to Dominate the Big Ten. Dump the MAC School agreement too.

You are not discussing the same topic as I am. Which conference is better top to bottom is not the argument. The argument is about the relative difficulty of each team's particular schedule. What I'm pointing out is that Pitt's schedule is not fundamentally harder than other teams' schedules. Pitt plays 10 P5 teams, which is what most other schools do. Indiana and Minnesota are definitely not dominant teams. Neither are North Carolina or Georgia Tech (who Pitt plays.)

 

[GT74]

That's the same thing with every conference. You have one or two elite programs, and the rest are either second or third tier. Look at the 10 P5 teams Pitt plays next year:

Penn St
Oklahoma St
Virginia Tech
Miami
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
NC State
Duke
Virginia
Syracuse

None of those teams are elite. You could maybe stretch it and count Penn St, since they won the Big Ten last year, but that's it. This list is fundamentally no harder than the 10 P5 teams most other schools play.

How about Ok St? They were an official's wrong call from being considered a candidate for the playoff. And, PSU was not considered elite, but ended up being a conf. champ.

 

[steel_curtain]

You are not discussing the same topic as I am. Which conference is better top to bottom is not the argument. The argument is about the relative difficulty of each team's particular schedule. What I'm pointing out is that Pitt's schedule is not fundamentally harder than other teams' schedules. Pitt plays 10 P5 teams, which is what most other schools do. Indiana and Minnesota are definitely not dominant teams. Neither are North Carolina or Georgia Tech (who Pitt plays.)

-Georgia Tech won 9 games and went 3-0 against the SEC last year. Indiana won 5 games last year and had a losing record. Seriously?

 

[steel_curtain]

You're missing the point. The other poster was complaining that Pitt needs to play a "cupcake" team to make the schedule more manageable. Well, Villanova is AA team. If you can't consider an average AA team to be a cupcake, I don't know where else you are going to find one.

-Villanova was a playoff team in FCS. Miami was beating Florida A&M 70-3 in the 3rd quarter last year. I dont think you know the difference between good, average, and bad.

 

[steel_curtain]

-Topdeck, you should know the ACC flat out killed the SEC and Big ten in head to head games. Georgia Tech was crowned SEC East Champion for going 3-0 against that league.

 

[pittengineer75]

Pretty much any loss in-conference or out-of-conference takes PSU out of any discussion or really even Top 10 with a single loss. Bad OOC (only play a likely 8/9 win Pitt team replacing QB/RB/2 OL who will all be drafted to NFL on first couple days) and weak in-conference schedule (BIG10 is always hype, as this bowl season showed once again...hence the reason they schedule 9 conference games versus having to schedule from another P5 conference to add a loss).

This is the PSU-scheduling mantra though. Until we get away from human-bias in determining rankings though, it works for PSU. You couldnt pay me to get season tickets with that slate.

 

[topdecktiger]

How about Ok St? They were an official's wrong call from being considered a candidate for the playoff. And, PSU was not considered elite, but ended up being a conf. champ.

No, Oklahoma St is not elite. They are good, but not elite. Elite is somebody like Alabama. Oklahoma St is unpredictable. One year, the can go out and give you 10/11 wins. The next year, they can turn around and go 6-6.

Regarding Penn St, everybody needs to pay attention to exactly what I said, which was, "You could maybe stretch it and count Penn St." The underlined/highlighted part of the quote is the key point.

-Georgia Tech won 9 games and went 3-0 against the SEC last year. Indiana won 5 games last year and had a losing record. Seriously?

And Georgia Tech lost 9 games the year before. Am I drawing a direct parallel between Georgia Tech and Indiana? No. What I am saying is, if Pitt beats Georgia Tech, or Penn St beats Indiana, neither win is major news. Now if Pitt beat somebody like Alabama, then that's major news. Arguing over whether Indiana or Georgia Tech is a tougher game is like arguing over who's the tallest midget.

-Villanova was a playoff team in FCS. Miami was beating Florida A&M 70-3 in the 3rd quarter last year. I dont think you know the difference between good, average, and bad.

Villanova was a playoff team......in FCS. If they were a playoff team in FBS, then you have an argument. Villanova was a 9-4 FCS team, and lost in the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs. That's not the resume that should strike fear in any decent FBS program.

Another point on this is, Pitt didn't schedule Villanova they day before the game. That game was scheduled well in advance of the season. At the time Pitt scheduled the game, Villanova's record over the last 5 years was:

2015 :6-5
2014: 11-3
2013: 6-5
2012: 8-4
2011: 2-9

So, at the time the game was scheduled, you've got basically a .500 FCS team. I don't know how much easier you want it. What are they supposed to do, go all the way down and schedule somebody from Division III?

I'm glad you brought up Miami. The reason Miami got ranked #10 was because of their name, not because of their schedule. On the same week Miami was ranked #10, West Virginia was also 4-0, yet they were only ranked #20 (#22 in the AP). On top of that, it was the first week West Virginia even cracked the rankings, whereas Miami has already been ranked 2 weeks previous. By your logic, West Virginia should have also been ranked in the Top 10, because they were undefeated. However, they weren't. That's because the Miami situation was not about schedule. It was about name recognition.

-Topdeck, you should know the ACC flat out killed the SEC and Big ten in head to head games. Georgia Tech was crowned SEC East Champion for going 3-0 against that league.

Yeah, I know that. And that has no effect on my point. Pitt plays 10 P5 teams, like most everyone else does. Pitt isn't at a disadvantage because of their schedule.

 

[Pitt79]

You couldnt pay me to get season tickets with that slate.

What do you go to the games for? To watch your team, or the opponent?

 

[pennstatekev]

I didn't see it mentioned....the article was written by ESPN. They have a financial interest in the ACC and SEC. Their competitors have a financial interest in the B1G, PAC12, and BIG12.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

So you do believe in conspiracies

I didn't see it mentioned....the article was written by ESPN. They have a financial interest in the ACC and SEC. Their competitors have a financial interest in the B1G, PAC12, and BIG12.

 

[pittengineer75]

What do you go to the games for? To watch your team, or the opponent?

The game as a whole. Easy.

 

[Pitt79]

The game as a whole. Easy.

I don't have season tickets, I live 4 hours away and hate driving enough that I have no desire to drive up there 7-8 times in 3 months. When I do go to my one or two games per year, it's to the games that fit my schedule best, it's never about the opponent and always about seeing Pitt and tailgating with my Pitt friends.

 

[zwicker]

POOR-11 1. WASHINGTON
POOR-11 2. COLORADO
BIG FRAIL 3. KANSAS
BIG FRAIL 4. BAYLOR
SEC 5. MISSOURI
BIG FRAIL 6. KANSAS STATE
BIG PRETEND 7. INDIANA
BIG PRETEND 8. NORTHWESTERN
BIG PRETEND 9. PENN STATE
Sept. 2: Akron
Sept. 9: Pittsburgh
Sept. 16: Georgia State
There's no place like home, and the Nittany Lions don't have to leave Beaver Stadium during the nonconference portion of their schedule in 2017. In fact, they leave home only once the first five weeks of the season, and that's to face Iowa on Sept. 23. That's not to say their nonconference schedule is a complete cakewalk. After all, Pitt beat Penn State last season.
SEC: 10. ARKANSAS
LINK;
http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...bears-10-easiest-nonconference-schedules-2017

Aren't they saying Pitt has a tough OOC schedule that includes PSU and PSU has a weak schedule with Pitt?

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Aren't they saying Pitt has a tough OOC schedule that includes PSU and PSU has a weak schedule with Pitt?

The difference is Home and Away! PSU OOC all at Home, Pitt is away! I think PSU Schedule is actually Tougher in 2017, they added Nebraska Home and Northwestern Away. MSU, Iowa, OSU away. Pitt & Michigan at Home. I think it was just the OOC Rankings.

Pitt has OKST, YSU, & Rice at Home and PSU away. PSU & OKST should be Early top Ten Teams.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

That's the same thing with every conference. You have one or two elite programs, and the rest are either second or third tier. Look at the 10 P5 teams Pitt plays next year:

Penn St
Oklahoma St
Virginia Tech
Miami
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
NC State
Duke
Virginia
Syracuse

None of those teams are elite. You could maybe stretch it and count Penn St, since they won the Big Ten last year, but that's it. This list is fundamentally no harder than the 10 P5 teams most other schools play.

No its not, you did not do your research and just using perception speculation again.

The Big ten has the most Bottom Feeders the last 3 & 5 years of all PW5 Conferences and many Big ten Teams play Cupcakes on MAC OOC.

Bottom Feeders last 3 & 5 Years:
BIG TEN: 5 TEAMS
PURDUE
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
UMD
RUTGERS

ACC: 3 & 5 Years
UVA
WAKE
BC
CUSE

BIG-12:
KANSAS
ISU
LAST 3 YEARS
TTU
UT
KANSAS
ISU

PAC-12:
WSU
OREGON STATE
CAL
COLORADO
LAST 3 years
CAL
OREGON STATE

SEC:
VANDY
ARKANSAS
KENTUCKY
LAST 3 YEARS
VANDY
SC
KENTUCKY

Moreover, 5 Years had 3 Teams in the Top 10 and 4 in Top 25 if you count ND showing Better Balance against top teams in conference as well, not just two teams. SEC had 4 in Top 25 again better balance adn less Bottom Feeders and SEC-ACC played each far more than Big-10, Pac-12, and Big-12.

Big Ten just had 3 Top 25 Teams and with 5 Bottom Feeders and not playing SEC and more MAC on OCC. Big-12 had 4 in Top 25 again more Tougher Tier Teams. PAC-12 had 3!

Big Ten has Top Programs mixed with Most Weak Programs and won't play SEC and plays MAC, and more than other PW5 Conferences.

 

[topdecktiger]

No its not, you did not do your research and just using perception speculation again.

The Big ten has the most Bottom Feeders the last 3 & 5 years of all PW5 Conferences and many Big ten Teams play Cupcakes on MAC OOC.

Bottom Feeders last 3 & 5 Years:
BIG TEN: 5 TEAMS
PURDUE
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
UMD
RUTGERS

ACC: 3 & 5 Years
UVA
WAKE
BC
CUSE

BIG-12:
KANSAS
ISU
LAST 3 YEARS
TTU
UT
KANSAS
ISU

PAC-12:
WSU
OREGON STATE
CAL
COLORADO
LAST 3 years
CAL
OREGON STATE

SEC:
VANDY
ARKANSAS
KENTUCKY
LAST 3 YEARS
VANDY
SC
KENTUCKY

Moreover, 5 Years had 3 Teams in the Top 10 and 4 in Top 25 if you count ND showing Better Balance against top teams in conference as well, not just two teams. SEC had 4 in Top 25 again better balance adn less Bottom Feeders and SEC-ACC played each far more than Big-10, Pac-12, and Big-12.

Big Ten just had 3 Top 25 Teams and with 5 Bottom Feeders and not playing SEC and more MAC on OCC. Big-12 had 4 in Top 25 again more Tougher Tier Teams. PAC-12 had 3!

Big Ten has Top Programs mixed with Most Weak Programs and won't play SEC and plays MAC, and more than other PW5 Conferences.

Yes, it is the same thing with every conference. You just made up an arbitrary designation of "bottom feeder" without any clearcut definition of what constitutes a "bottom feeder."

As far as your ranking stats, you are way off. I'll just give you one example. You mentioned how many teams each conference had ranked in the Top 10 over the last 5 years. Now, you didn't articulate this clearly, so I don't know if you mean total # of Top 10 finishes, or the different teams who were ever ranked in the Top 10 during this period. Here is the breakdown of each, for the 3 conferences you mentioned:

Total # of Top 10 finishes, last 5 years
SEC - 14
Big Ten - 12
ACC - 8

Different teams to finish ranked in Top 10, last 5 years:
SEC - 7 (Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Missouri, Georgia)
Big Ten - 6 (Ohio St, Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan St, Iowa, Penn St)
ACC - 3 (Florida St, Clemson, Georgia Tech)

The Big Ten was ahead of the ACC in either category, and just behind the SEC. That doesn't support your argument that the Big Ten doesn't have as many "elite" teams. That also doesn't support your argument that the ACC is more balanced than the Big Ten, since 6 Big Ten teams finished in the Top 10, double what the ACC had. I can do the same thing for your other claims if you want. Sounds like you are the one who didn't do your homework.

 

[Big Marty1]

Everyone here always wants the toughest opponents. Cant have it both ways.

 

[revampedpanthers]

You're missing the point. The other poster was complaining that Pitt needs to play a "cupcake" team to make the schedule more manageable. Well, Villanova is AA team. If you can't consider an average AA team to be a cupcake, I don't know where else you are going to find one.

The point is even Pitt's joke glorified scrimmage game was against a decent team. Nova wasn't a average FCS team they were a playoff FCS team and it wasn't a one year blip a few years ago they were the best FCS team. Were they a BCS level team h*ll no but they weren't a complete joke of a team either. Still Pitt won that game without showing anything so its not like they were ever in danger of losing. But the whole PSU and OK st in the same year isn't smart. Play weaker P5 teams. Sure every now and then one will surprise and be good.

 

[steel_curtain]

The point is even Pitt's joke glorified scrimmage game was against a decent team. Nova wasn't a average FCS team they were a playoff FCS team and it wasn't a one year blip a few years ago they were the best FCS team. Were they a BCS level team h*ll no but they weren't a complete joke of a team either. Still Pitt won that game without showing anything so its not like they were ever in danger of losing. But the whole PSU and OK st in the same year isn't smart. Play weaker P5 teams. Sure every now and then one will surprise and be good.

-Big Ten clearly cant handle these FCS power teams. Iowa lost to South Dakota State this year and Michigan lost to Appalachian State. Washington State also got taken down by Eastern Washington

 

[revampedpanthers]

Yes, it is the same thing with every conference. You just made up an arbitrary designation of "bottom feeder" without any clearcut definition of what constitutes a "bottom feeder."

As far as your ranking stats, you are way off. I'll just give you one example. You mentioned how many teams each conference had ranked in the Top 10 over the last 5 years. Now, you didn't articulate this clearly, so I don't know if you mean total # of Top 10 finishes, or the different teams who were ever ranked in the Top 10 during this period. Here is the breakdown of each, for the 3 conferences you mentioned:

Total # of Top 10 finishes, last 5 years
SEC - 14
Big Ten - 12
ACC - 8

Different teams to finish ranked in Top 10, last 5 years:
SEC - 7 (Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Missouri, Georgia)
Big Ten - 6 (Ohio St, Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan St, Iowa, Penn St)
ACC - 3 (Florida St, Clemson, Georgia Tech)

The Big Ten was ahead of the ACC in either category, and just behind the SEC. That doesn't support your argument that the Big Ten doesn't have as many "elite" teams. That also doesn't support your argument that the ACC is more balanced than the Big Ten, since 6 Big Ten teams finished in the Top 10, double what the ACC had. I can do the same thing for your other claims if you want. Sounds like you are the one who didn't do your homework.

I won't argue conference strength, it bounces back and forth the ACC has been pretty damn good the last 3 years but I suspect that Pitt's division is going to take a step back this year. The difference is the topdecker. While PSU plays 10 P5's the 10 th is at best %50 of the time a top 40 team. Half the time its a indiana or RU some times it ends up as a NB. On the other hand Pitt is playing a OK ST who has consistently been a top 25 team. Thats the difference what people are arguing is that it makes no sense of Pitt to play OK st and PSU type opponents every year. Play PSU or OK ST then play RU,Kansas etc etc the other game. Basically to p5 one which has consistently been bad and one thats good. Most schools playing 10 P5's aren't playing teams at the level of OK ST or PSU as their 9th and 10th game. On average they are playing a 6-6 p5 team.