I also think the travel to the west coast or travel from west back out east is downplayed when in reality can be draining.
The other thing that makes the West Coast road trips hokey is that the way they are doing it you usually have two games out there so the second one is a different set of issues than the first. The second one you don't have a long flight and you might actually have LESS travel than the home team but . . . you will have been living out of a suitcase on the road for a few days which has issues as well. It may also impact the first game back. Here is Michigan's West Coast road trip and the games before and after:
- vs Wisconsin at home on Saturday 1/10
- at Washington on Wednesday, 1/14
- at Oregon on Saturday, 1/17
- vs Indiana on Tuesday, 1/20
Lots of potential issues here:
Washington's game prior to Michigan is a home game against Ohio State on 1/11. That should be advantage UDub even though they play a day later because UDub has ZERO travel.
Oregon's game prior to Michigan is a road game at Nebraska on 1/13. Thus Oregon actually has to travel a LOT further for their HOME game against Michigan than the Wolverines who are only coming from Seattle.
Indiana's game prior to Michigan is a home game against Iowa on 1/17. Thus Michigan actually has to travel a LOT further for their HOME game against Indiana than the Hoosiers who are only coming from Bloomington.