You do not know that Saban wants a tougher road, you are inferring that. Saban wants what is best for Saban, and if adding another SEC game gives them a better chance to get a title (maybe because of SOS or maybe because the other SEC teams will get a tougher pull also and lose one) he will do it. If he actually wanted the tougher road he'd forego the traditional rivalry game with Tenn and add it as a OOC on years they don't play already
Last 30 years in college football, there are only 4 SEC teams that have a NC and at least 2 SEC championships, with at least 5 different coaches during that time. Tennessee is one of these teams AND has won more games in that time then LSU. As far as what coach Saban wants, he wants what Alabama wants. That's why he makes the big money.
I tend to side with what Vamp is saying here. I don't know what Saban wants or his motivation of why he wants it. I know what he's said, and I can identify with the notion fans would much rather see another SEC game than some of the teams we've scheduled. If I had a say in the matter I'd go with nine conference games, and three different levels of out of conference games. A guaranteed win like you get with a Georgia Southern would be one, a game that'll carry a national audience like Michigan did last year would be another, and then scheduling a game from one of the other conferences that have the chance to get that at-large invitation to one of the bowl games not hosting a playoff—like the Orange bowl game in 2014. The focal point I see being missed is how that ninth game would have a bearing on that fourth slot in the playoffs. If you look at teams playing a nine game conference schedule we'll see their strength of schedule ranked higher than a SEC with eight.
Bullshit. Saban, like Miles, wants to win the most games possible, play for championships, and BCS bowls. He's diveting attention with the 9 game bull away from the fact that since 1992, Bama has an easier road with Tenn. If he wanted the tougher road, he'd be hollering that his schedule is easier than LSU's and that's wrong. Take off your crimson glasses, and unknight him. He's of no higher character than Miles or any other coach.
You and all the rest of the bama fans can go on singing tenn past praises, but the fact is that since the SEC went to 2 divisions, Fla is better most years, PERIOD. Even when they were regularly top 10, they were Fla and Spurrier's bitch. Can't spell Citrus without UT, remember?
I think the fans would defintely like to see a 9 game schedule, and attendance would be better than a rent a win. But while tougher than most OOC games, adding a SEC game against Kent, Vandy, Mizzo, isn't going to affect bama, LSU, Fla, Ga, and usually Aub, won loss record much. Some, but not much.
You're most certainly right. It's a perception thing; at least that's how I see some of the committee's decisions are going to be based. Consider this. Western Kentucky beat Kentucky last season. But, if you replace Western Kentucky with Kentucky on a schedule which one is going to be considered the toughest of the two?
Whose to say, under under your UWK for UK swap scenario that the wildcats had also kicked the Big Red to the curb in favor say Auburn (who they may have very well beaten, (who knows or cares)). I think that a nine game schedule has its good and bad points. The bad far out weigh the good, IMO.
Since 1992, Alabama record vs Tennessee is 10-10-1. Wouldn't that be the record that would matter most to LSU?
I can see both sides to this. Here's where I think the one point on the good side outweighs any bad case scenario. Let's assume the playoff is down to this: 1)SEC 2)Big12 3)B1G 4)teams tied on W/L's between PAC, SEC, and B1G. PAC and B1G are playing a ninth game. Does that ninth SEC game push the SEC over the B1G and PAC teams? I believe it would just as I can see a committee giving one of those two conferences the push because they've played more in conference teams. IF we use next season and assume it's the Aggies: OOC is Rice, SMU, Sam Houston, and UTEP. Using the same scenario let's put a hypothetical that either TCU or Va Tech are horrible. Would that ninth game be enough to push Bama or LSU into that fourth position? Let's assume either of the two teams—Bama or LSU—wins the SECCG and the other has one loss. Would it be right to have two from one division in the playoffs if the only loss is to that team ranked as #1? Do you see where I'm going/what I'm thinking? I believe that's how Slive looks at it as well.
