Ducks Roundtable: Pac-12 is the best conference?
By Brian Spaen
Our friends over at Reign of Troy posted some commentary about why the Pac-12 is the best conference top to bottom on Sunday. He argues that including Arizona who “is hands down the best two-loss team in the country,” there are eight solid Pac-12 teams along with a couple of underachieving ones.
December 2, 2011; Eugene, OR, USA; Detail view of the endzone pylon with the Pac-12 logo during the third quarter of the Pac-12 Championship game between the UCLA Bruins and the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks defeated the Bruins 49-31. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE
The SEC still has the best teams in the nation, and against the Big 12 there is a head-to-head factor involved (Arizona over Oklahoma State). Does writer Michael Castillo make a solid argument, or is there disagreement?
Raymond: That’s a tough question after only five weeks. I’d say the Pac-12 and the Big 12 are about equal. It really depends on who you think would win a game between Cal from the Pac-12 or Kansas in the Big 12. For right now I would say the Pac-12 is stronger.
Brian: The Big 12 is a better conference overall. Do they benefit with 10 less teams? Absolutely. In the coaches’ poll (which actually matters) there are six Big 12 teams compared to the Pac-12’s four, but Washington and UCLA do make it in the AP poll while Texas Tech doesn’t. Regardless, the top six neutralize each other out. That leaves Baylor, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Kansas up against Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Utah, Washington State, and Colorado. I already disagree with Castillo’s argument that Arizona’s the best two-loss team when they got throttled 49-0 against Oregon. Baylor gave up 70 but at least scored 63. Knock out Kansas and Colo, that collection of bottom Big 12 teams is definitely better than the Pac-12’s final six.
Mike: The Pac-12 is probably the number two top to bottom conference at this point. I think the Big 12 is the toughest conference; Kansas is the weak link there but the Pac-12 is in the conversation of the best. I just think the nod barely goes to someone else. Something else to consider is that half the Big 12 doesn’t have a loss – four others only have one. By comparison the Pac-12 has two unbeatens (both in Oregon) then five one loss teams.
Ricky: The most important thing is what’s being said. Castillo was not saying that the Pac-12 was the best conference in football – he said from “top to bottom.” I would have to agree, because any game in the Pac-12 this year can be a good game. Even the bottom end of the Pac-12 has a chance of giving a top team a run for their money. The Pac-12 is not like the Big 12 where it’s an instant win when a team plays Kansas. Pac-12 might not be the best conference, but it is the most competitive.
The Autzen Zoo staff includes lead editor Brian Spaen along with staff writers Joe Soriano, Mike Vamosi, Raymond Mencke, Jr., and Ricky Widmer.