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strange as it is for me to say it, i'm thinking the ACC is the most solid conference.

Louisville, FSU, Clemson > VT, NCST, Miami, Pitt, GT >> BC, UNCCH, Duke, Virginia >>> Syracuse, Wake

compared to

Bama > LSU, UF, UGA, ~ Auburn, Arky >> aTm, UTk, USCe, MissSt, OleMiss, UK >>> Mizzou, Vandy

It seems to me the ACC has more contenders at the top, while both have really solid middles.  It's my opinion that UL can play with anyone, and were just a few plays from the tourney last year- measurably, and against the other two sitting adjacent them.  don't forget Pitt beat Clemson.  VT second year under Fuentes is going to light it up offensively while still having a stout D.  NCST is a team folks better not look past.  They can play against anyone and come out with their heads held high.  Miami under Richt should be a sparking force this season. GT is just plain tricky to play.  The rest of them are softer than the 'rest' of the SEC by my estimation. 

PAC is solid this year.  They're at least equal to the SEC.

tOSU, PSU, Wiscy > UM, huskers, >> MichSt, Minni, Iowa, Maryland, >>> the rest...

The three headed lead off is significant- they are wicked tough up top and comparable to the ACC- but they lack depth after that, and opportunity to fall out drops in inter-league play, which makes them (and the SEC quite frankly) hard to get a bead on.  UM could move up fast, along with the huskers and any other one of the next four- but the upside isn't near as strong/likely as it is in the ACC or SEC by my reckonin'.  Seems like I'm knocking the B10, but.... i'm not.  Those three atop the league are really tough cookies.

 

12 has questions.  who i thought was solid this season underwent coaching changes and the offensive threat lacks defense (oSu)...

but that's how I'd stack them if I had to....  ACC > (PAC-SEC-B10) >> 12

the sec/acc have a pretty good cross section of play in the first couple weeks, then again at end of season, so we might be able to get a good idea of those 2 conf vs each other.

sec vs acc

bama vs fsu - probably the top 2 teams from each conf, at least on paper preseason.
au vs clemson - again, on paper the #2 or 3 teams from each conf
tenn vs gtech - both picked 3rd in the weaker div, but both capable of winning div.
usc vs ncst - both picked 4th in div, neither expected to vie for ccg, but should be bowl eligible.
lsu vs cuse - only one that appears clearly lopsided in early season

at end of season, we have:
uf vs fsu - both potential div winners
uga vs gtech - slight favor for uga here, but not huge either
usc vs clemson - large favor for clemson
uk vs louisville - large favor for louisville, though uk won last year

that's a pretty solid slate of games for 2 conferences, and most appear to be fairly balanced for competitive games.

tOSU, PSU, Wiscy > UM, huskers, >> MichSt, Minni, Iowa, Maryland, >>> the rest...

I'd say you're missing NW. I think UM is a solid #4 at this point based purely on talent but as you point out might need some time to come together. I think NW and the Huskers are both in that middle group between the top 3 and the group below the >>

I'd say you're missing NW. I think UM is a solid #4 at this point based purely on talent but as you point out might need some time to come together. I think NW and the Huskers are both in that middle group between the top 3 and the group below the >>

Iowa and Minnie are also being sold short, in my opinion, but the national mantra is to piss all over the West. Purdue and Illinois need to get their shit together, but the bottom of the East is probably worse.

Iowa and Minnie are also being sold short, in my opinion, but the national mantra is to piss all over the West. Purdue and Illinois need to get their shit together, but the bottom of the East is probably worse.

Probably because the computers have rated the East as tougher in all 3 seasons of this format, and they are 3-0 in the CCG.  And it's been 3 different teams East teams winning it over those three years, so you don't have what somebody else brought up earlier as the Alabama problem in the SEC.

The last 2 CCG's have been very competitive and the balance of winning is near equal or slightly in favor of the West.

It's just that the East has 3 helmets.

That helps as far as attention goes, but the computer rankings don't know helmets.

Out of 9 divisions/conference (8 divisions + Big XII) Sagarin had...

2014
East: #5 of 9
West: #9 of 9

2015
East: #5 of 9
West: #8 of 9 (SEC East was actually last)

2016
East: #6 of 9
West: #7 of 9

Then you throw in 3-0 in the title game.

The West, thus far, has been as advertised.  I'd say where the helmet status helps is that people act like the Big Ten East has been some sort of gauntlet.  In fact the Big Ten East has been fairly mediocre, but the West has been bad.  The gap certainly isn't as portrayed, but not because the West hasn't been bad, is has been, but because the East hasn't been all that good, it's been only mediocre.

Iowa and Minnie are also being sold short, in my opinion, but the national mantra is to piss all over the West. Purdue and Illinois need to get their shit together, but the bottom of the East is probably worse.

Illinois/Purdue is not really meaningfully better or worse than Indiana/Rutgers IMHO. I'm hoping Purdue changes that, but it's a hell of a rebuild necessary.

Iowa and Minnesota are decent mid-pack teams. I don't think it's selling them short to put them below Nebraska, which is the best recruiting program in the West over the last 5 years. Even above Wisconsin. I think Nebraska has the talent to put it together any year (not sold on Riley), Wisconsin whether you figure it's talent or coaching or Barry, somehow is a threat every year, and Northwestern has been slowly trending up all of Fitz' tenure. Iowa can be VERY hit or miss. Minnesota as well.

I'm thinking the West this year comes down to one of the Big Reds or Big Purple. I don't trust Iowa ever, and don't trust Minnesota in year 1 of rowing crew.