# The Big Game: State vs U **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153 "2007-01-08T15:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/101 "2007-01-09T22:50:30Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] Jarvis Moss is quoted as saying that “four or five SEC teams could have won this game”. Maybe not the classiest of things to say, but he’s a young kid pumped on emotion, not the coach. [/QUOTE] He actually said they weren’t the best something like ‘four or five SEC teams could have competed with Ohio State,’ which isn’t as bad. From what I can tell, it’s just an article of faith among SEC players and fans that the league is the best and toughest every year by far. Probably true this year. Moss also said OSU wasn’t the best team they’d played all year, considering the results… ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/102 "2007-01-09T22:55:35Z")
One interesting statistic that has been largely overlooked during this bowl season: In bowl games held in the University of Phoenix Stadium, teams wearing Blue and Orange are 2-0 over teams wearing Red and White. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/103 "2007-01-09T23:16:18Z")
[QUOTE=FatBaldGuy] One interesting statistic that has been largely overlooked during this bowl season: In bowl games held in the University of Phoenix Stadium, teams wearing Blue and Orange are 2-0 over teams wearing Red and White. [/QUOTE] Meaning that the Arizona Cardinals should immediately rename themselves the Glendale Bluebirds. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/104 "2007-01-09T23:21:40Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] Do fans outside of the SEC realize how widely reviled UF is within it’s own conference? I am pretty sure it’s a holdover from the Spurrier era, but it’s definitely true. I would say that UF and Tennessee are the most widely hated teams within this conference setting aside rivalry hatred. In other words, sure Bama and Auburn go at it, but realize that UF is hated by Georgia, Tennessee, Bama, Auburn, and on and on. Personally, I grew up an Auburn fan in Alabama. I cheered like hell for Bama in the 93 Sugar Bowl (92 season) and argued on behalf of Auburn when they were robbed a shot at USC. I was all for LSU in their split title. Admittedly, it’s still hard for me to cheer fo Tennessee, but I’ve even been able to work up a holler for the Dawgs. But UF, man, nobody likes us. [/QUOTE] This hatred was made known to me in mid-November 2000 when I saw a student banner at Neyland Stadium that said, “The Electoral College: Another Florida school we hate!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/105 "2007-01-09T23:23:48Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] This hatred was made known to me in mid-November 2000 when I saw a student banner at Neyland Stadium that said, “The Electoral College: Another Florida school we hate!” 😃 [/QUOTE] Heh. One more reason to love the SEC: EVERY game is a grudge match. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/106 "2007-01-10T01:41:31Z")
I saw one of my favorites when I went to a Vandy/Tennessee game in Nashville. A sheet had been painted and hung from the outside wall of one of the dorms. Its message: “Orange on back, red on neck, ain’t worth a sheet”. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/107 "2007-01-10T02:04:07Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] From what I can tell, it’s just an article of faith among SEC players and fans that the league is the best and toughest every year by far. Probably true this year. [/QUOTE] The SEC is by far the strongest conference in the country from top to bottom. At least five SEC teams were in the top 25 this year, with three of them in the top ten. Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and LSU each knocked at least one of the other three teams out of contention for the national championship. Plus, you have the fratricide of the SEC championship game, while the Big Ten refuses to play one. Ohio State and Michigan were very good this year. But who do you think would win between the fifth or sixth best SEC team vs the similar team from the Big Ten? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/108 "2007-01-10T02:34:28Z")
[QUOTE=Evil One] The SEC is by far the strongest conference in the country from top to bottom. [/QUOTE] I agree. I was trying to say I think that’s an article of faith _every_ year. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/109 "2007-01-10T02:37:41Z")
And I think it’s true every year. (full disclosure…I grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas) But I think the facts bear me out. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/110 "2007-01-10T03:05:13Z")
[QUOTE=FatBaldGuy] One interesting statistic that has been largely overlooked during this bowl season: In bowl games held in the University of Phoenix Stadium, teams wearing Blue and Orange are 2-0 over teams wearing Red and White. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget what happened when the Bears played on MNF this year… ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/111 "2007-01-10T03:16:47Z")
Went to UF from 1996 - 2001, fell in love with footbal (college and pro). (My dad is a Michigan alum so the polling made me very nervous–if Michigan played UF, I wouldn’t know who to cheer for! :D) Wow. Awesome. I wasn’t expecting UF to do this well at all–my prediction was that OSU would rule the first quarter, UF start mounting a comeback, end up within a scoring drive during the third quarter, and fall apart in the fourth. Although, of course, it kind of sucks to be Urban Meyer now. How the heck do you top this? Still, Orange and Blue rules. (BTW, Buckeye fans, apparently in the olden days, the school colors were something more of a marigold and blue…sound familiar? :D) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/112 "2007-01-10T03:17:59Z")
[QUOTE=Evil One] Ohio State and Michigan were very good this year. But who do you think would win between the fifth or sixth best SEC team vs the similar team from the Big Ten? [/QUOTE] Well, let’s take a look shall we? SEC-01 v Big10-01 (Florida v. Ohio State) - SEC wins SEC-02 v Big10-02 (Arkansas v. Wisconsin) - Big10 wins SEC-05 v Big10-04 (Penn State v Tennessee) - Big10 wins So, head to head, the Big10(sic) wins 2-1 unless you count the Florida win twice Big10-03 Michigan - played USC (PAC10-01) and got spanked SEC-03 LSU - treated Notre Dame (IND) like a baby seal during fur season SEC-04 Auburn - won a close one against Nebraska (Big12-02, should have been 03) Big10-05 Purdue - got frozen by Friedgen and Maryland (ACC-05) SEC-06 Georgia - amazing comeback win against Virginia Tech (ACC-03) Big10-06 Minnesota - a defensive showcase, but Texas Tech (Big12-05) wins 44-41, The FED publicly worries about “point inflation” SEC-07 Kentucky - beat Clemson (ACC-05) SEC-08 South Carolina - forgot to bring the defense, but outscored Houston (USA-01) Big10-08 Iowa - loses respectably to Texas (Big12-03) SEC-09 Alabama - lost to Oklahoma State (Big12-08), finally realized Bear Bryant died 23 years ago Big10-07 Indiana - somehow not invited to one of the 1.45x10[sup]8[/sup] bowl games despite almost having a winning record Big10-09 Northwestern - overlooked despite winning a full one third of their games SEC-10 Mississippi - didn’t play Big10-10 Michigan State - didn’t play - newflash, they sucked Big10-11 Illinois - made Michigan State look good SEC-11 Vanderbilt - didn’t play, but didn’t finish in the cellar - it’s a resurgent Vandy! SEC-12 Mississippi State - you’re kidding, right? Against other opponents, the BIG10 goes a stunning 0-4. The SEC goes 5-1, but to their credit, they wanted to send Vandy to play Ok. State which might have made them a perfect 6-0. Draw your own conclusions… ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/113 "2007-01-10T03:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=Zakalwe] Big10-11 Illinois - made Michigan State look good [/QUOTE] Hey, screw you! We beat MSU _in Lansing_! Not to mention putting a hell of a scare into OSU. Florida probably used our game tapes to put together that upset. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/114 "2007-01-10T11:44:34Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Hey, screw you! We beat MSU _in Lansing_! [/QUOTE] Any port in a storm, eh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/115 "2007-01-10T22:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > You could make a case for other teams being there, but USC had it all lined up, and Michigan had a chance against OSU and lost. The voting system was bizarre - something weird always happens there - and I have nothing good to say about the voters. But Florida belonged, that much was for sure. I agree (biased for sure), but its hard to justify Ohio State having to beat Michigan 2x to win the title. That just doesn’t make sense to me. (Of course, in 1996, the Seminoles had to play Florida 2x, and lost the National Champion ship game. We really need a playoff system). ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/116 "2007-01-11T01:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=Zakalwe] Any port in a storm, eh? 😉 [/QUOTE] Well yeah…but here you go slandering our good name in an unflattering comparison with those Nancys. A guy’s gotta draw the line somewheres. Can you tell basketball season is starting? Eat It Izzo! ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/117 "2007-01-11T02:50:11Z")
[QUOTE=joemama24\_98] its hard to justify Ohio State having to beat Michigan 2x to win the title. That just doesn’t make sense to me. [/QUOTE] you’re absolutely right, they should only have to get their asses kicked by UF once to lose it. given the performances of UF and UM post-season, I am truly astounded that we’re even discussing that craptacular match of number twos. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/118 "2007-01-11T05:59:59Z")
[QUOTE=dotchan] Although, of course, it kind of sucks to be Urban Meyer now. How the heck do you top this? [/QUOTE] By going to the NFL, failing at that, and then taking over a 2nd rate SEC team, like Vandy or one of those Mississippi schools. _Please_. ☹ 😉 \<–Dawgfan ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/119 "2007-01-11T12:45:44Z")
[QUOTE=JohnT] By going to the NFL, failing at that, and then taking over a 2nd rate SEC team, like Vandy or one of those Mississippi schools. _Please_. ☹ 😉 \<–Dawgfan [/QUOTE] I can’t see any sane NFL owner hiring a guy whose bread and butter is the Spread Offense as his new coach. Unless Daniel Snyder is hiring. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153/120 "2007-01-11T13:45:41Z")
Like I said… 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-game-state-vs-u/387153.md?page=7)