Earlier this week we made our case against Ohio State’s 2013 football team … arguing that a one-loss squad from the Southeastern Conference was a far better choice to play in the national championship game than the undefeated Buckeyes (who have one semi-quality win on their resume).
Our evidence? The Big Ten’s abysmal 8-16 record against the SEC dating back to January 1, 2007 – when Florida claimed the first of the SEC’s seven straight BCS national championships.
Obviously the past is largely irrelevant to this season, though … and if the No. 2 Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten) beat tenth-ranked Michigan State in this weekend’s conference championship, they will get a chance to play for the national title.
It’s as simple as that … (and maybe it should be).
Their likely opponent? Barring a miracle it will be top-ranked Florida State (12-0, 8-0 ACC), which is expected to roll over Duke in the ACC championship (even if Heisman Trophy frontrunner Jameis Winston is unable to play due to the scandal surrounding his alleged sexual assault).
Anyway, a reader recently noted that since we’d provided a breakdown for how the Big Ten has fared in the “age of the SEC,” we ought to do the same for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Which is a genius idea …
Since Florida beat Ohio State to win the 2006 national championship, here’s a record of every game featuring head-to-head match-ups between the SEC and the ACC …
SEC WINS: Green ACC WINS: Red)
11/30/2013: Vanderbilt 23 – Wake Forest 21
11/30/2013: Georgia 41 – Georgia Tech 34
11/30/2013: Florida State 37 – Florida 7
11/30/2013: South Carolina 31 – Clemson 17
9/7/2013: Miami FL 21 – Florida 16
8/31/2013: Alabama 35 – Virginia Tech 10
8/31/2013: Clemson 38 – Georgia 35
8/29/2013: South Carolina 27 – North Carolina 10
12/31/2012: Vanderbilt 38 – North Carolina State 24 (Music City Bowl)
12/31/2012: Clemson 25 – LSU 24 (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
11/24/2012: Vanderbilt 55 – Wake Forest 21
11/24/2012: South Carolina 27 – Clemson 17
11/24/2012: Georgia 42 – Georgia Tech 10
11/24/2012: Florida 37 – Florida State 26
9/1/2012: Clemson 26 – Auburn 19
8/31/2012: Tennessee 35 – North Carolina State 21
12/31/2011: Auburn 43 – Virginia 24 (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
12/30/2011: Mississippi State 23 – Wake Forest 17 (Music City Bowl)
11/26/2011: Vanderbilt 41 – Wake Forest 7
11/26/2011: Georgia 31 – Georgia Tech 17
11/26/2011: Florida State 21- Florida 7
11/26/2011: South Carolina 34 – Clemson 13
9/17/2011: Clemson 38 – Auburn 24
12/31/2010: Florida State 26 – South Carolina 17 Chick-fil-A Bowl)
12/30/2010: North Carolina 30 – Tennessee 27 (Music City Bowl)
11/27/2010: Wake Forest 34 – Vanderbilt 13
11/27/2010: South Carolina 29 – Clemson 7
11/27/2010: Georgia 42 – Georgia Tech 34
11/27/2010: Florida State 31 – Florida 7
9/18/2010: Auburn 27 – Clemson 24
9/18/2010: Alabama 62 – Duke 13
9/04/2010: LSU 30 – North Carolina 24
12/31/2009: Virginia Tech 37 – Tennessee 14 (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
12/27/2009: Clemson 21 – Kentucky 13 (Music City Bowl)
11/28/2009: Georgia 30 – Georgia Tech 24
11/28/2009: Florida 37 – Florida State 10
11/28/2009: South Carolina 34 – Clemson 17
10/31/2009: Georgia Tech 56 – Vanderbilt 31
10/3/2009: Georgia Tech 42 – Mississippi St 31
9/5/2009: Alabama 34 – Virginia Tech 24
9/3/2009: South Carolina 7 – North Carolina State 3
12/31/2008: Vanderbilt 16 – Boston College 14 (Music City Bowl)
12/31/2008: LSU 38 – Georgia Tech 3 (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
11/29/2008: Wake Forest 23 – Vanderbilt 10
11/29/2008: Clemson 31 – South Carolina 14
11/29/2008: Georgia Tech 45 – Georgia 42
11/29/2008: Florida 45 – Florida State 15
10/25/2008: Duke 10 – Vanderbilt 7
9/20/2008: Georgia Tech 38 – Mississippi State 7
9/6/2008: Wake Forest 30 – Mississippi State 28
9/6/2008: Florida 26 – Miami FL 3
8/30/2008: Alabama 34 – Clemson 10
8/28/2008: South Carolina 34 – North Carolina State 0
12/31/2007: Kentucky 35 – Florida State 28 (Music City Bowl)
12/31/2007: Auburn 23 – Clemson 20 (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
11/24/2007: Wake Forest 31 Vanderbilt 17
11/24/2007: Georgia 31 – Georgia Tech 17
11/24/2007: Florida 45 – Florida State 12
11/24/2007: Clemson 23 – South Carolina 21
10/13/2007: South Carolina 21 – North Carolina 15
9/29/2007: Florida State 21 Alabama 14
9/8/2007: LSU 48 – Virginia Tech 7
Impressive, huh?
For those of you who don’t count so good … err, sorry … count so “well” (we’re from South Carolina) … the SEC enjoys a commanding 38-24 advantage over the ACC in these recent games. That’s a solid edge, but it’s not quite as strong as the SEC’s 16-8 mark against the Big Ten over the same time period.
All-time, the SEC record over the ACC is a much more dominant 285-138-10 compared to its comparably competitive 78-53-2 all-time mark against the Big Ten.
None of this is meant to belittle Florida State. In fact there’s a compelling case to be made that the Seminoles are the best team in the nation this season.
We just think it would be a shame if they wound up claiming their crown without beating the champion of a competitive conference …
FIRST REACTIONS
@fitsnews But FSU is hands-down the best team in the country this season. They will mollywhop whoever they play in the final.
— Cameron Easley (@Cam_RollCall) December 4, 2013
55 comments
FSU will butcher both teams. Really a shame that it won’t be Alabama or Auburn playing them because then it might be worth watching.
TBG believes Sparty has a lil’ sumpn sumpn for the perenially overrated Buckeyes
Wouldn’t surprise me either.
You are exactly right. Michigan St will win this game.
Even with 4 weeks to prepare, FSU would likely annihilate Banambla. Everyone appears weak when compared to the noles. Just sayin, bro.
Will, you sound like a “Obama” democrat. How about we use the formula that BCS established and quit trying to pick the winners and losers by making allowances because of conferences. Why should the BCS change their formula to accommodate a team that simply has not performed as well as others this season? You bitch when the govt. picks the winners and losers in the “free market”. What’s the difference here?
FITS has consistently supported an 8-team playoff dating back to 2007. We have also consistently argued that government should stay completely out of sports (including Title IX, building stadiums w/ public debt, etc).
We?
We?
Yeah.
Y’all got a problem with that?
*smiles*
OK, here goes… forget recent history, the ACC is easily the 2nd best football conference currently in the US. And in fact, within 3 years, they’ll probably be perceived as equal to, or simply, the best. And yep, I say that begrudgingly as a proud Gamecock. Simply, the ACC has too many teams that are now consistently buzzing around the top 10.
I’ll have what you’re drinking
That moonshine condensed by radiator will dispense disolved lead solder that kills your braincells.
Fla State is 1, Clemson is 13, Duke is 20.
Honey, Auburn (3), Alabama (4), Missouri (5), and South Carolina (8) are SEC.
Hey Pop Corn (and major major), define best? By a simple definition of who’s #1, than the ACC is currently the best conference in the US. Sure, the depth and breadth of the ACC and the SEC will probably never be a parity. In other words, I can see the larger football-centered SEC having more top 25 teams for a long, long time. That said, if Florida State, Miami, VT, Clemson and Louisville, continue to improve to become annual top 10-15 powerhouses – one of which that consistently plays for the national championship – than it would hard to argue that they are not essentially at parity with the SEC. I mean this year is potentially a foreshadowing of things to come as the ACC had three teams in the top ten at the same time, midway through the season. Trust me, you can bury your head in the sand to the ACC’s improvement if you want, this Gamecock alum is not going to and will simply just call it like he sees it.
If you want to know how much people care about the EZZ championship game, consider that ticket brokers are asking only $9.50 for the FSU-Duke game, while the SC State High School Championship games are $10.00 a ticket. (Wanna bet which one will fill more seats?)
I’d take the State high school game over the ACCCG.
Considering that there will be more than two teams at the state high school championships, you might as well be comparing apples to oranges.
or the fact that the ACC game isn’t exactly a high school match up. Perhaps JV but you are right not high school.
Take a look at Clemson. They played three good teams — two of which stomped them. UGA, in an off-year, lost to them only because of a muffed field goal attempt. Clemson played tough against SC State, Citadel, Wake Forest, UVA, etc.
UGA, in an off-year (per Manray) managed to defeat USCe.
South Carolina still says HI!!!!
Who managed to defeat Pickens Tech Saturday night? Gamecocks. Who disappeared on game night? CNSYD. As usual. Gamecock Nation says hi!
disappeared? I was here all along. I must apologize that I don’t have one of those fancy phones that can access the internet but I can’t see a cost benefit. So you had to wait until I returned home for me to post on FITS News.
They played three good teams — two of which stomped them.
Stomped, while perhaps not even a strong enough word for what FSU did to Clemson, is not an accurate description of Sakerlina’s turnover enabled victory.
but USC caused the turnovers. your point is void of any merit. drink the Kool-Aid more, it hasn’t kicked in fully.
Nice try, Ace.
Sakerlina did not cause the Sammy Wadkins INT (poor execution).
Sakerlina did not cause the fumble when one Clemson player ran into the other Clemson player, who was fielding a punt.
Sakerlina did not cause the two Boyd INTs, although y’alls strong pass rush certainly contributed to it.
The fumble on the return was prolly 50/50. (Good hit/not properly securing the football.)
TBG will give you the one where y’all stripped Boyd…although *we* thought his forward progress had been stopped.
Admittedly, in the grand scheme of things, the final score is the only thing that matters and is the reason TBG has been mailing out checks and defacing his property and person with Gamecock apparel and flags etc.
The ACC is awful. I cannot imagine why fans at FSU or Clemson would even bother buying season tickets. Why not just show up at the tailgates and forget about the laughable teams on the field?
Additionally, at Clemson, players apparently have to tolerate a would-be pastor.
http://chronicle.com/article/With-God-on-Our-Side/143231/
Face, as usual, the only thing laughable is you.
Sorry dipshit. The whole country is laughing at Clemson.
Typical ivory tower BS. Per the Census Bureau, the US population today (and rising as I type this) is 317,184,674. Per your sweeping generalization, every single one of them is laughing at Clemson. care to prove you statement?
Okay, let’s call it an even 317,000,000. Here, have some corruption:
http://thenerve.org/news/2013/11/26/Clemson-president/
Oh, now I understand. They didn’t ask you for your opinion or was it because they did not ask you to submit an application?
Hell Dirtpecker fans bought season tickets when USC was 1-10 and 0-11. That proves it right there that they’re there just for tailgating. Is it half-time yet, I need a drink.
And there’s orange in the parking lot! Lots of it come 4th quarter. Oh, but you’re not a Clemson fan, right pussy123? Circus Clown, just like your coach.
The BCS claims to acount for strength of schedule, but we all know that is BS.
Please keep in mind that Florida State looks great on TV against their opponenets, but they play the same candy-assed teams that Clemson plays. While I will never believe that Ohio State is the best team in the US, they just may be able to put it on the Seminoles.
Ya heard it here first!
That is why they play the games and why there are huge hotels and casinos in LV.
Exactly. Vegas said USC was only a 4.5 point favorite Saturday. They did get that wrong. Missed it by a TD and a FG huh? South Carolina says Hi by the way
Vegas seldom gets things “wrong”. perhaps you don’t understand laying off and the vig.
BTW, Rocky Top says hi.
LOL showing your age talking about the “Vig” like they did in the days of prohibition. Its no problem, I understand the “vig” or the “juice” just fine. While Rocky top was saying Hi, the Gamecocks just beat Clemson again. I understand its hard for you to grasp, because the last time you got to have bragging rights, you were doing it via Myspace, but your team lost yet again. FYI I won big on the game this year taking the Gamecocks and the under for Clemson. The under on them was at 24 on the Tigers by the way. Won one by 10 points and the other by 7, and made me a cool $5k for 21/2 hours of “work”. Here’s some free advise, against a team that can play D always take the under for the Tigers. they pushed UGA, lost FSU and lost USC. that’s 2-0-1. I’ll take that any day and make a buck or two or 5(K). LOL Gamecocks say HI!!!!!!
ooops. Advice. sorry I meant to advise you but misspelled it too quickly in the proper context.
What SC authorities? that’s an oxymoron there. Kind of like Clemson football. Gamecocks say HI!!!!!
You participate in illegal gambling? Aren’t you afraid that the NSA will track you down and turn you into the SC authorities?
But, but, if the Gamecocks had 6 turnovers, Clemson would have scored 63 points, right? Grasping at straws, delusional, ignorant fan base. You lost. 5 straight. Deal with it.
Yep, Rocky Top says hi. You lost. Deal with it. You’re lucky we didn’t start the third string QB and fourth string RB this year.
Oh yeah, Florida State just scored again. In the “real Death Valley” that the other 49 states don’t recognize.
Sort of like the real Carolina that 49 states do recognize? Or the real USC that 49 states also recognize?
So Dabo calls his mom Sunday morning and says, “I don’t know about you, but it feels like somebody ate my pussy last night”. Get it? HarHarHar!!!!!!
I guess that’s why the Tigers cant beat USC. You all keep claiming Keep claiming you own Carolina, but lately you only have luck with the northern one. Maybe Dabo and company should figure out who you are playing, because they keep beating that ass. Gamecocks say HI!!!!! poor Clem5on. Just cant get it right.
Florida State is 14 points better than anyone else. If OSU somehow gets by Sparty, FSU will beat them by 21+.
and you say that how? With what facts to back that? who did they play? Just like a very young (youngest in all od D-1 football) speed defense did against your taters, we cause you to make turn overs proof made with the USC Clemsux game alone. A good d will do the same against FSU. only problem is only 2 of the final top 5 have one. bama and mizzou. FSU couldn’t beat either (and USC would give them a run too). FSU better pray they get to play either Ohio state who is over rated or Auburn. neither will win the conference, so we shall see. Remember the best three defenses in the SEC were bama, mizzou, and usc. We already saw what the # 3 SEC D did against the #2 ACC O, so we shall see if the other 2 can do better.
and you say that how?
Sakerlina and FSU both played Florida and Clemson this year. Look at the results of all 4 games. Read over the stats. Take into consideration that these were home games for Sakerlina and road games for FSU. See where Sakerlina belongs in the [heh] pecking order.
Now, TBG believes that Sakerlina is a legitimate Top 10 team. TBG also believes that there is not a great deal of difference between the top 15 or so teams*–with the exception of Alabama being a little bit better and FSU being a LOT better than the rest.
Take a healthy Georgia, Sakerlina, Clemson, Mizzou, Auburn,Ohio State,Oklahoma State, LSU, Texas, Oregon etc and throw ’em in a playoff and TBG has no idea who would win.
stats? stats have nothing to do with the outcome of teams that haven’t played each other. Teams are built for purposes. If you have a high powered offense you better have some sort of a defense because if a team with a good D comes to you, and has the kind of skill players to stop your team, then your defense might not be good enough to stop their offense. Look at the USC Clemson game for a prime example.(Not trying to rub it in, just it makes a perfect example here) What did the stats say coming into the game? Clemson averaged 42.27 points a game coming in and scored a whole 17 points. That’s 25.27 points less than the average, or 4 scores different. Clemson averaged giving up just 20.18 points a game and gave up 31. two scores more than the stats said they should. Now in this case did the “stats” hold up? No. Why, because stats don’t mean anything about two teams that haven’t played yet. again its all match ups. Another perfect example is Oregon and Stanford, or Baylor and Oklahoma St. FSU would not break off some of those long TD plays against a team with speed to stop it. Winston would fold after a few hard hits from some teams. I think FSU would beat USC in the end, but it would be closer than you think. I do believe however that both Mizzou and Bama would beat FSU. Auburn does not have another miracle in them to win. And just because you beat someone that beat someone else doesn’t mean you would win against them. the proof, UGA this year, LSU last year, Auburn the year before that. It was all how the teams and coached matched up.
I have respect for TBG, but in this case I hate to say that you are mistaken. Of course anything can happen on any given Saturday. Hell Duke has a chance. not a good one but they are not losing yet so they have a chance. sorry for the ramble
Good points, all.
Several years ago (2010?), the Oakland Raiders won all their divisional games (6-0), yet went 8-8 and did not make the playoffs, While head to head, they were better than any team in their division, arguably, they were not the best team in the division.
Did you hear that Dabo was so sad Sunday morning after the Carolina game he called his mom and asked her to come to bed with him, just for old times sake? Tajh answered the phone. HarHarHar!!!
Leave the jokes to Shifty and TBG.
Stooge.
Thanks.
——-Tonto “Bitter Kitty” Goldstein
Maybe I didn’t tell it just right…. See, Dabo calls his mom early in the morning for consolation after he loses the big game, and a black football player answers the phone at her house, which implies they are sleeping together. The punch line is Dabo’s expression on the other end of the phone (which you have to picture in your own mind). The big laugh is the Dangerfield-like situation of the guy who “can’t get no respect”. Which in this case, is Dabo. You don’t think that’s a side splitter?
@ nyuknyuknyuk!!!
Leave the jokes to Shifty and TBG.
Stooge.
Thanks.
——-Tonto “Bitter Kitty” Goldstein
Care to expound a bit more on Mizzou’s *defense*?