Conference Of The Crooked Numbers

All season long the biggest news in college football has been teams fighting to move to another conference. Whether for better or worse competition, change is the theme.

The SEC has been the most feared and talented conference for the last few years with a mix of both athletic defenses and fast offenses. But if the numbers are any indication, the tides might be turning.

While the SEC may still have the best all-around teams, another conference is lighting up the scoreboards with crooked numbers.

Through week 10, the Big 12 conference has five teams in the top 10 of total offensive yards per game. The SEC has none.

When it comes to scoring, the Big 12 has five teams in the top 20 of total points per game. The SEC has three.

Every weekend I turn on ESPN I hear that the SEC is by far the most dominating conference. The best defenses, the best athletes, the best teams.

In other words, I hear more about SEC hype and expansion more than I hear about actual games. Excluding the so called “Game of the Century.”

However, when I look at the box scores I see another Big 12 team with 50 plus points. While offense isn’t everything, you can’t win without it, as evidenced by a great week 10 battle between Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

Sure the SEC has the most teams at the top of the total defense category. But with big 12 teams facing others with such talented offenses, how can the Big 12 be expected to dominate this category?

It’s obvious that the most talented college players have come from the SEC the past few years. I am not disputing their track record of outstanding college athletes.

The Big 12 nevertheless produces tough and gritty players. The Big 12 produces real football players, rather than potentially real football players.

While players like Cam Newton, Felix Jones, Darren McFadden, and Mark Ingram have made an impact, the SEC has had some notable misses.

Tim Tebow was absolutely outstanding in college, but he has yet to produce in the league. Jamarcus Russell was widely regarded as a big time talent in 2007, but a few drug charges and pounds later we know how that turned out.

While the big 12 has missed with some players as well, the successes are more visible.

Sam Bradford missed the playoffs by one game in his rookie season. Despite a few off field disruptions, Dez Bryant has become a serious receiving threat for America’s team.

Adrian Peterson is considered by many the best back in the league and Ndamukong Suh has become one of the most feared defensive players in the NFL after just one season.

The numbers speak for themselves. The Big 12 should be gaining recognition as the top conference in college football.

Chicks dig the long ball, and in football they dig the offense. With proven NFL talent and huge offensive numbers, the Big 12 should get more respect from outside, and inside the conference.

In my eyes, the best defense is a good offense.