Gators will win 2009-2010 CFB National Championship

[Conan]

Haha... it strikes me funny... the Vol/So.Cal connection. Whatever.

I neglected to mention that if you remove USC and LSU, the top 2 performing teams in each conference over the past 7 or so years, the W/L record between the 2 conferences tips even further in the Pac-10's favor. I bet you didn't know that. I could research it again but take my word for it. It's true. But I'm quite sure that this fall when ASU goes to Athens in Sept., it could get disgustingly ugly. Not much other news than that, unfortunately.

I think you guys will have another shot at UCLA and unless Chow and Neuheisel can find some OL and DL, that will also get ugly. I admit it was a freak game last year when UT got beat by UCLA. Normally UCLA's QB would have thrown about 4-5 picks. Their kicker was the most valuable player in that game. How often does that happen?

As a die hard Pac-10 fan, I am glad to see that at least both Oregon teams and Cal are starting to earn a little respect. Now USC has up to 3 good opponents per year in the conference instead of none or maybe one. It's going to take Sarkisian, Neuheisel, Harbaugh, Stoops, Wulff and Erickson a while to put the rest back together, so all the SEC homies should have at least another year to gloat.

I think by the time the Vols have cooked long enough to be ready with Kiffin, USC may still be on top, but it won't be nearly as easy for them as it's been. Oregon State came close to dethroning them last season, but any of the others I mentioned could pull it off soon.

In my eyes, that wouldn't necessarily mean USC's reign is done, and they will still be good enough to make it into a BCS bowl, but they won't own the Pac-10 like they do now. Times are a changin. All over.

 

[bigtendominator]

do you have any idea how many years as a vol fan our season was ruined by a single sepember loss to florida. i know the vols were the best team in the land in 2001 (look at NFL rosters, that team was loaded) yet they lost to LSU in Atlanta and got left out

Yes, Miami and their 16 1st round draft picks (From the 2001 team over 4 years) wouldn't have kicked your ass or anything? No, Tennessee would have beat them?


If you think that, you are the dumbest guy on this forum. Find me five people that would agree that Tennessee had the best talent and better talent than Miami.

:nohead::nohead:

 

[ChrisParadise]

Yes, Miami and their 16 1st round draft picks (From the 2001 team over 4 years) wouldn't have kicked your ass or anything? No, Tennessee would have beat them?


If you think that, you are the dumbest guy on this forum. Find me five people that would agree that Tennessee had the best talent and better talent than Miami.

:nohead::nohead:

yeah id take the 01 vols over the 01 canes every time. but tthis isnt about UT or Miami , that was an example of how opinions dont mean shit in the end . come on, anyone fron the big 10 should stay out of the conversation - you guys are like retards come bowl time every single year. in fact the 01 Vols beat Michigan 45-17 in thier bowl that year

i guess the Vols winning at that same #1 Miami in 2003 didnt mean shit? its just that SEC fans dont feel the need to constantly bring that up. Miami was at the top of thier empire and the Vols were just a handful of 10-2 teams in the SEC that year

see, thats my whole point. opinions dont mean shit.

thanks for proving my point.

 

[socalgator]

GUITARJOSH-NEVER HEARD YOUR RESPONSE TO THE OOC SCHEDULE BY THE SEC IN MY PREVIOUS QUOTE: AND YOU SAID THAT THE SEC DOESN'T PLAY OUT OF CONFERENCE ON THE ROAD?

PAST SEASON:
Auburn played @WV, Bama vs. Clemson, Ole Miss @ WF, and UGA dominated ASU in Tempe this past season, and Tenn@Cal, Bama-FSU a few years ago. UGA plays OSU in Stillwater next season and they play @Oregon in a few seasons? Yeah, the SEC won't play on the road OOC...
Tenn played @UCLA also, UGA will play at Oregon in 2012? I believe. Did you even factor in that UF, UGA, SC, Kent., play their natural rivalry games OOC every year (FSU,GT, Clemson, Louisville) which is an automatic OOC game taken up every year?

in 04' USC only beat VT on a neutral field @ BYU, played Cal, ND at home and didn't play Oregon that year OR in 03'. Yes, they whipped OU but their schedule wasn't that tough.
03' is definitely an * should be placed next to USC, because they had a share of the national championship when they didn't even play in the BCS championship!!!
Their road wasn't that tough those years!

 

[bigtendominator]

Remind, what bowl game was Tennessee in this year?

Are you for real with the argument that Tennessee winning in 2003 has anything to do with 2001. Michigan beat Florida in 2007, so does that mena they would beat them in 2008?

Also, Miami was not # 1 in 2003. Do you just make shit up? Brock Berlin was the qb not Ken Dorsey.

If you are honestly comparing 2003 Miami and Tennessee with 2001 and saying that because Tennessee won in 2003 that means they are better, than you have proven my point of being the stupidest guy on this forum.

 

[bigtendominator]

yeah id take the 01 vols over the 01 canes every time. but tthis isnt about UT or Miami , that was an example of how opinions dont mean shit in the end . come on, anyone fron the big 10 should stay out of the conversation - you guys are like retards come bowl time every single year. in fact the 01 Vols beat Michigan 45-17 in thier bowl that year


i guess the Vols winning at that same #1 Miami in 2003 didnt mean shit? its just that SEC fans dont feel the need to constantly bring that up. Miami was at the top of thier empire and the Vols were just a handful of 10-2 teams in the SEC that year

see, thats my whole point. opinions dont mean shit.

thanks for proving my point.

Remind, what bowl game was Tennessee in this year?

Are you for real with the argument that Tennessee winning in 2003 has anything to do with 2001. Michigan beat Florida in 2007, so does that mena they would beat them in 2008?

Also, Miami was not # 1 in 2003. Do you just make shit up? Brock Berlin was the qb not Ken Dorsey.

If you are honestly comparing 2003 Miami and Tennessee with 2001 and saying that because Tennessee won in 2003 that means they are better, than you have proven my point of being the stupidest guy on this forum.

 

[Boxslayer]

Conan,

I'm not going to sit here and get into this cliched Pac-10 SEC argument.

But if you think Utah has a chance to be better than Florida, then you just need to stop gambling altogether.

If you think Utah got Bama's best shot then you just need to stop gambling altogether.

When Florida is missing the best player on the field for them, Percy Harvin vs. Bama, and Bama is missing the best player for them against Utah (plus motivation), Andre Smith - those 2 players are by far the best players on the field in almost any game they play and they are gamechangers.

In essence, Utah basically got a handicap if you think about it - No Percy Harvin, no Andre Smith, no motivation for Bama - go out and play the game now Utah vs. Bama. And I am one who literally despises and HATES that effin excuse by SEC idiots that always use the motivation angle as an excuse as to why their middle of the pack SEC team loses a bowl game and they try to claim motivation.

But Bama was a classic motivation let down example. They went undefeated all year, lose a heartbreaker to Florida in the SEC Title game, and they get rewarded with playing a small market team like Utah? And they were missing the best player on the field for them? The guy who dictates their run-first offense, and protects their QBs blind side who ended up getting sacked like 5 times in that game when he was barely touched all year? Come on, isnt this one obvious?

If undefeated Bama played undefeated Utah for the title, and Andre Smith plays, Bama beats Utah 8 out of 10 times.

If undefeated Utah played undefeated Florida for the title, and Percy Harvin is 100%, Utah wins that game 1 out of 10 times.

Your USC arguments hold water, but you are so jaded by East Coast bias, and your hatred for the SEC is so deep, that you say ridiculous things sometimes. You can be just as ridiculous regarding the west coast, as the SEC idiots you attack.

 

[bigtendominator]

i guess the Vols winning at that same #1 Miami in 2003 didnt mean shit?

No, It didn't mean shit 2 years later.

I guess everyone who beat UT this year means they would have beat them in 2001 or 1998, right?

 

[ChrisParadise]

i guess the Vols winning at that same #1 Miami in 2003 didnt mean shit?

No, It didn't mean shit 2 years later.

I guess everyone who beat UT this year means they would have beat them in 2001 or 1998, right?

you are the one who came with " 15 nfl picks over a 4 yr span" TN had 3 of the top 15 in the NFL draft in 02 most the Miami players were failures in the nfl anyway. half of them are dead or never did shit. on the other hand jason witten wasnt even a 1st rd pick and hes the NFL's best TE while Shockey is doing radio now i think? the TN DLine in 01 had 2 of the NFLs current best on it , Haynesworth and Henderson. a WR named Stallworth who helped NE to the Super Bowl last year and he wasnt even the best WR on the team - a preinjury Kelly Washington was way better than Andre Johnson

the point is, since they never played we will never know and thats why the team was mentioned. to reinforce that the what if factor means nothing in the grand scheme of things. our OPINIONS dont mean shit.

you think taking a poll of people makes anything official ? thats retarded

dont be an ass and try to change the subject, your agenda is obvious

 

[russ1945]

Wow. I got lost reading everything in this thread. It is kind of like a shouting match online without the talkover. All I know is when you start talking about comparing conferences, especially over a long period of time,it is pissing into the wind in the classic sense. If you have a favorite team, unless you are Army, Navy, Notre Dame, or Western Kentucky, then you are in a conference that your team has decided to compete in. As far as conferences go it only makes since to group together geographically so as to reduce travel cost and for fan convenience so fans can follow their teams. Now it seems everyone in this thread is trying to pound his chest harder then anyone else and I don't follow the logic at all. Woulda, coulda, shouda. Injuries, Inelegibilties, Lack of Motivation (waa, waa, waa). College football is and always will be about the best team on a given day. All kinds of things factor into any given game: home team advantage, how far a team travelled, referees, weather,injuries before and during the game, turnovers, the clock, on and on and on. To try and compare teams the way it is being done here is just an act of futility. Look at golf, does anyone shoot the same score everytime on any course under any conditions. Hell no. Same with football. I am not going to run down other conferences to build up my team or visa versa. It is like leaving the phone off the hook, there is no commincation and no possible right or wrong. As an outsider looking in and not trying a wave a banner one way or another my recomendation is just to agree to disagree. All of you have an agenda,
and we are all homers. Everything discussed in here is subjective and when you start calling each other dumb asses it just gets worse. What is the opposit of a dumb ass?
A smart ass?

 

[guitarjosh]

GUITARJOSH-NEVER HEARD YOUR RESPONSE TO THE OOC SCHEDULE BY THE SEC IN MY PREVIOUS QUOTE: AND YOU SAID THAT THE SEC DOESN'T PLAY OUT OF CONFERENCE ON THE ROAD?

Where did I say the SEC doesn't play OOC road games? The reality is that almost all play most of their OOC games at home though.

PAST SEASON:
Auburn played @WV SEC team lost, Bama vs. Clemson, Ole Miss @ WF SEC team lost, and UGA dominated ASU in Tempe this past season, and Tenn@Cal SEC team lost, Bama-FSU SEC lost a few years ago. UGA plays OSU in Stillwater next season and they play @Oregon in a few seasons?Great, Georgia will do more traveling in the next few years then they did in the last few decades Yeah, the SEC won't play on the road OOC...
Tenn played @UCLA also And lost, UGA will play at Oregon in 2012? I believe. Did you even factor in that UF, UGA, SC, Kent., play their natural rivalry games OOC every year (FSU,GT, Clemson, Louisville) which is an automatic OOC game taken up every year?ANd USC plays Notre Dame every year. And when they go to play them they have to leave the state.

in 04' USC only beat VT on a neutral fieldIn Washington DC. USC had to fly across the country, VT had to fly about 45 minutes. BTW, VT win their conference that year. @ BYU, played Cal Finished #9, and ASU which finished #19, ND at home and didn't play Oregon that year OR in 03'. Yes, they whipped OU but their schedule wasn't that tough. They played as many ranked teams that year as Florida did in 2006 & 2008, and more conference champions.

03' is definitely an * should be placed next to USC, because they had a share of the national championship when they didn't even play in the BCS championship!!!

If an * should go by anyone it should be LSU as they got voted #1 only because the USA today Poll is contractually obligated to vote the winner of that game #1.

 

[Snookslayer]

If Tim Tebow joined the team, I'd drink the kool-aid.

 

[Conan]

Conan,

I'm not going to sit here and get into this cliched Pac-10 SEC argument.

But if you think Utah has a chance to be better than Florida, then you just need to stop gambling altogether.

If you think Utah got Bama's best shot then you just need to stop gambling altogether.

When Florida is missing the best player on the field for them, Percy Harvin vs. Bama, and Bama is missing the best player for them against Utah (plus motivation), Andre Smith - those 2 players are by far the best players on the field in almost any game they play and they are gamechangers.

In essence, Utah basically got a handicap if you think about it - No Percy Harvin, no Andre Smith, no motivation for Bama - go out and play the game now Utah vs. Bama. And I am one who literally despises and HATES that effin excuse by SEC idiots that always use the motivation angle as an excuse as to why their middle of the pack SEC team loses a bowl game and they try to claim motivation.

But Bama was a classic motivation let down example. They went undefeated all year, lose a heartbreaker to Florida in the SEC Title game, and they get rewarded with playing a small market team like Utah? And they were missing the best player on the field for them? The guy who dictates their run-first offense, and protects their QBs blind side who ended up getting sacked like 5 times in that game when he was barely touched all year? Come on, isnt this one obvious?

If undefeated Bama played undefeated Utah for the title, and Andre Smith plays, Bama beats Utah 8 out of 10 times.

If undefeated Utah played undefeated Florida for the title, and Percy Harvin is 100%, Utah wins that game 1 out of 10 times.

Your USC arguments hold water, but you are so jaded by East Coast bias, and your hatred for the SEC is so deep, that you say ridiculous things sometimes. You can be just as ridiculous regarding the west coast, as the SEC idiots you attack.

Listen BTD, I do not hate the SEC. Let me make that perfectly clear. What I hate is the way the College Presidents and AD's have opted out of playing good teams from around the USA, and that particularly applies to Florida. OK maybe they are the champs, but once they play through a few decent teams in their own conference, who have they proven themselves playing the rest of the time? One NC game a year and the SEC schedule is like Muhammad Ali beating 3 or 4 good fighters in his own weight class, most of whom he has fought before and a bunch of middleweights or even flyweights the rest of the time. All the while there are other reputable contenders that could either enhance or ruin his reputation waiting in the wings saying come and prove it if you are as good as you say. Now what?

I did not create this scenario. CFB did. It is a fact that many of the top SEC teams don't leave the south, much less cratively set up good matchups for the rest of the country to witness just how good they are or are not. Everyone does it. That's part of the sport, unless you want to set yourself up with a bunch of flywieghts instead of legitimate BCS opponents. Traveling is also a part of what championship teams do. Teams such as Notre Dame and USC both have established their reputations all over the country for a century because they are willing to travel.

How can Florida or any SEC team that doesn't travel as widely as any other BCS team say they are the best when that may only hold up in a very small world ignoring the entire rest of the sport? Whatever the reasons may be that lead you to think Florida or any SEC team is so superior lead me to think you are a lot easier to convince of that than I am. I speak for the CFB field, the average non-south fan in the USA, probably 3 or 4 times as many of me as there are fans in the south.

Can you blame me for doubting this "flat out" superiority when I know for a fact that the SEC has had a losing record vs the Pac-10 over the most recent 7 seasons? That was a statement made on the playing field where it counts most. And it's factual. But regardless, I am not even saying that there are no truly great teams that deserve national ranking in that conference. I am saying I would like to see better proof of it on the national playing field where most other national schools play and earn their national rank, and not exclusively in your own regional back yard vs the OOC Citadels of the game.

If you want to claim that you are greater vs the rest of the nation than you will just have to play the rest of the nation to prove it.

And one more thing, if you think I just made that up about Utah and Florida vs. Alabama, and you don't see a point in it, than you probably don't read anything but your local pom pom cheerleading newsrags.

 

[socalgator]

Okay, that was russ1945 that posted this:

Most SEC teams have very weak OOC schedules year after year, especially Florida. When the SEC has gone west, or taken on good national competition during the preseason, it's cost them dearly. Could that be the real reason why they rarely travel? The Pac-10 and B-10 go all over the country. Why can't you?


I wouldn't say rarely-read my previous post. The last 5 years they (SEC) have played OOC road games in other time zones. Yes, they have lost some of those games, but UGA clearly dominated ASU, a Pac 10 school in Tempe last season. They schedule those games. BTW the Big 10 rarely travels non-conference, maybe Michigan twice in the last 10 years and Ohio St. this one time on the west coast during the year. Most of the traveling they do west is in the Rose Bowl game.
BTW I am NOT a USC hater, I just think they shouldn't be bitching about not being in the BCS championship. Unfortunately them dominating their conference actually hurts them, with only 2 maybe 3 top 25 teams ranked in the Pac 10 every year.
Honestly do you really think that USC playing CAL,Oregon and maybe Oregon St. or ASU on a good year tougher than Florida playing Georgia, LSU, Tenn., Bama, Auburn, Ole Miss year after year IN both of THEIR RESPECTIVE CONFERENCES?

 

[Conan]

Okay, that was russ1945 that posted this:

Most SEC teams have very weak OOC schedules year after year, especially Florida. When the SEC has gone west, or taken on good national competition during the preseason, it's cost them dearly. Could that be the real reason why they rarely travel? The Pac-10 and B-10 go all over the country. Why can't you?


I wouldn't say rarely-read my previous post. The last 5 years they (SEC) have played OOC road games in other time zones. Yes, they have lost some of those games, but UGA clearly dominated ASU, a Pac 10 school in Tempe last season. They schedule those games. BTW the Big 10 rarely travels non-conference, maybe Michigan twice in the last 10 years and Ohio St. this one time on the west coast during the year. Most of the traveling they do west is in the Rose Bowl game.
BTW I am NOT a USC hater, I just think they shouldn't be bitching about not being in the BCS championship. Unfortunately them dominating their conference actually hurts them, with only 2 maybe 3 top 25 teams ranked in the Pac 10 every year.
Honestly do you really think that USC playing CAL,Oregon and maybe Oregon St. or ASU on a good year tougher than Florida playing Georgia, LSU, Tenn., Bama, Auburn, Ole Miss year after year IN both of THEIR RESPECTIVE CONFERENCES?

It's got nothing to do with conference strength of schedule. That could be only an illusion if there aren't enough inter-conference games to compare to teams to around the country. Count there meaningful OOC games over the same period and even the Big-10 played twice as many as that. The Pac-10 probably 3 times that many. Some SEC teams almost NEVER play anyone outside of the region and some haven't done so for almost 20 years.

You can't claim the same level of national recognition if you don't play national teams except just one bowl game per year.

You can try to explain away things like Alabama's tanking it vs the Utes. There are always explanations but they always give people the impression that someone is being a sore loser and can't accept defeat.

And by the way, don't fool yourself and don't mislead anyone with that crap about how hard it is to play a season in the SEC. Florida played 8 teams with a .500 record or below in the regular season. They also played Mississippi, LSU and Georgia at home. Why is it that you guys like to load up on 1/2 truths all the time?

 

[guitarjosh]

SEC fan reasoning:

1) SEC teams play more ranked teams in conference.

2) Because of this, SEC teams shouldn't have to play tough OOC teams.

3) Because of this, SEC teams routinely go 4-0 in their OOC schedules, meaning they have an inflated record and a higher then deserved ranking.

4) Because of this, SEC teams play more ranked teams in conference.

5) Because of this, SEC teams shouldn't have to play tough OOC teams...

Honestly do you really think that USC playing CAL,Oregon and maybe Oregon St. or ASU on a good year tougher than Florida playing Georgia, LSU, Tenn., Bama, Auburn, Ole Miss year after year IN both of THEIR RESPECTIVE CONFERENCES?

FLorida only plays 3 of those teams every year. But you forgot Vandy, SC, UK, Hogs, Miss st.

Since you brought up Ole Miss, did you know they only are .500 since 2000? And they've only played 3 BCS conference schools OOC in that time period, going 0-6? The rest of their OOC schedule is comprised of Tulane, Arkansas St, UNLV, Murray State, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Monroe, Memphis, Wyoming, the Citadel, Northwestern State, Louisiana Tech, & Samford. They've played more 1-AA schools in their OOC since 2000 then BCS conference schools.

 

[Conan]

SEC fan reasoning:

1) SEC teams play more ranked teams in conference.

2) Because of this, SEC teams shouldn't have to play tough OOC teams.

3) Because of this, SEC teams routinely go 4-0 in their OOC schedules, meaning they have an inflated record and a higher then deserved ranking.

4) Because of this, SEC teams play more ranked teams in conference.

5) Because of this, SEC teams shouldn't have to play tough OOC teams...

FLorida only plays 3 of those teams every year. But you forgot Vandy, SC, UK, Hogs, Miss st.

Since you brought up Ole Miss, did you know they only are .500 since 2000? And they've only played 3 BCS conference schools OOC in that time period, going 0-6? The rest of their OOC schedule is comprised of Tulane, Arkansas St, UNLV, Murray State, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Monroe, Memphis, Wyoming, the Citadel, Northwestern State, Louisiana Tech, & Samford. They've played more 1-AA schools in their OOC since 2000 then BCS conference schools.

Yep. Start with 4 patsies. Then add in another 4-5 games vs .500 teams (or below) in conference play and you just got to 9 wins without hardly breaking a sweat. Win just one or 2 (home) games of the remaining 3 (or on rare occasion 4) games on your schedule vs similarly ranked SEC teams (undefeated in OOC games too) and you just made out with a 10-2 season (or even better) and that's what a tough season typically looks like for an "elite" SEC team. Being a ranked SEC team is a lot easier than they make it seem. It sounds more like a bunch of whining and exaggeration about their ever so harsh season experience. They don't exaggerate in the south much, do they?

 

[socalgator]

You guys make some valid points and do your homework (I wish I had all that time to research).
But if the Pac 10 wasn't so bottom heavy with crappy teams-these are as automatic as they get.Washington (0-12), WSU (2-10) victories vs. UW (tough), Portland St. (those 1-AA schools that the SEC faces), UCLA 4-8 (loses to fresno), Stanford 5-7(San Jose, tough game), ASU 5-7, overrated from the beginning).
The worse team in the SEC is MSU @4-8, who played @ GT (OOC, which you guys claim they never schedule a tough team), Auburn (5-7) played AT WV( OOC nonconference), Hogs (5-7) played at texas (ooc ), vANDY, sc, UK were all 7-6). MSU, , Auburn and MSU would have had a better record.
Top to bottom there is no question that the SEC is better.
So be fair in your assessment, look at your own conference.
USC will face the SEC as some point, hopefully soon so you guys can tone down a bit after USC loses.

 

[guitarjosh]

.

You guys make some valid points and do your homework (I wish I had all that time to research).
But if the Pac 10 wasn't so bottom heavy with crappy teams-these are as automatic as they get.Washington (0-12)Washington played Oklahoma, BYU, and Notre Dame in their OOC schedule. 3 bowl teams, 2 finishing in the top 25, WSU (2-10) victories vs. UW (tough), Portland St.Played Ok St, a top 25 team (those 1-AA schools that the SEC faces), UCLA 4-8 (loses to fresno)And BYU, another top 25 team. Still beat a big, bad SEC team., Stanford 5-7(San Jose, tough game)Lost AT TCU, a top 10 team. Stanford actually played more away games then home games this year. When was the last time an SEC team did that?, ASU 5-7, overrated from the beginning). Played top 10 Georgia.
The other thing is that all these teams played an extra conference game. If they didn't play so many ranked OOC teams (6, more then the entire SEC) and had 4 OOC games like the SEC does, you're looking at up to 11 wins for just those 5 teams
The worse team in the SEC is MSU @4-8, who played @ GT (OOC, which you guys claim they never schedule a tough team)Don't forget La-Tech, whom they lost to, SE Louisiana 1-AA, Middle Tenn 1-AA, Auburn (5-7) played AT WV(And got stomped. They also played La-Monroe, S Miss, Tenn-Martin (quick, what is their mascot? OOC nonconference), Hogs (5-7) played at texas (ooc )and got crushed. Also played La-Monroe (they should just join the SEC, they're on the schedule so much, W. Illinois 1-AA, and Tulsa., vANDY, sc, UK were all 7-6). Do you want me to go through their schedules or do you see a pattern here?MSU, , Auburn and MSU would have had a better record.And they would have a worse record if they eliminated one of their OOC cupcakes and played a 9th conference game
Top to bottom there is no question that the SEC is better.
But that doesn't mean their schedule is.

So be fair in your assessment, look at your own conference.
USC will face the SEC as some point, hopefully soon so you guys can tone down a bit after USC loses.They have, and if memory serves me, USC outscored them 167-48. See what happens when the SEC plays a real OOC team?

 

[russ1945]

I just decided to walk through the mine fields and I see the war is still on.
I have even been accused of saying something I don't think I said. It is bad enough we have to deal with mythical national championships but now we have to spend time dealing with mythical conference superiority. I still maintain each team stands on their own merits and I will defend to the end that defending conferences is like winning a battle and losing a war. It is too subjective a subject and there are too many axes to grind. I say axes because it is almost cave man like to try to wound someone by running down teams that they are contractually bound to compete against and not give them to come right back at you. Personally I think that every team that is in a conference should play every team in that conference every year. You just fill in the open dates (if any) with the cupcake or megateam of your choice. There is never going to be a disbanding and reformation of the conferences, they are probably going to stay the way they are forever. If there is ever a playoff it should probably be between conference champions.......period. Ratings should not have anything to do with it. If everyone played eveyone in their conference that would probably help with more accurate rankings (which are arbitary at best).
The conference justification thing that is running rampant in this thread is a Don Quiote quest at best and a mud wrestling level pursuit at worst.