As you can tell, I'm spending a decent amount of time on Twitter.com -- up to 465 followers, so I'll give a shoutout to No. 500 when I get there -- and I like that you can go to search.twitter.com and see what people are saying in real time about USF, or the Big East, or "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs."
So anyway, here's a tweet I read on Friday: "Other than 1
conference having 3 teams that should be in D2 and other being in NYC,
what's the difference between Big East and WAC Football?" Then a follow-up: "Combine the teams
from the past 5 years: West Virginia-Boise St, who you got? Fresno
State-USF? Hawaii-Louisville? Nevada-Rutgers?"
So I figured I'd do the research and see how the Big East and WAC compare. I used the past four years, since the Big East had different teams in 2004. I think the easiest criteria that the two conferences share would be nonconference games against BCS teams. Yes, the WAC probably has a higher percentage of those on the road than the Big East, but it should be a relevant statistic.
The Big East's record against other BCS conferences (and Notre Dame) since 2005? It's 38-39, including a 19-18 mark in the past two seasons. The WAC? In the same span, the WAC has a 13-62 record against BCS opponents, including a 7-30 mark in the past two years. So the Big East has fared nearly three times better against comparable competition.
How many Big East teams have a .500 record or better against other BCS league teams in that span? Five of the eight -- West Virginia is a stellar 10-2, Louisville 9-3, USF 5-5, Rutgers 4-4 and Connecticut 4-4. The rest are Pittsburgh at 3-6, Syracuse at 2-10 and Cincinnati at 1-5.
How many WAC teams have a .500 record against BCS opponents since 2005? Zero. Boise State, the league's best offering, is 3-4 against BCS teams. Fresno State is 4-8, including a great 4-3 record in the past two seasons. And Hawaii is 3-10, though its record was 0-4 in 2008. The rest of the league? Not so good: San Jose State is 1-7, Nevada 1-8, Louisiana Tech 1-9, Idaho 0-8, New Mexico State 0-4 and Utah 0-4.
And in the past two seasons, Fresno has more wins against the BCS (four) than the rest of the WAC combined -- the other teams are a combined 3-27. The WAC has done a good job of consistently putting a team in the top 10 late in the season, albeit against a lesser schedule than teams in BCS leagues. I don't know if that puts the league on par with any of the BCS conferences.
Probably won't have a post until Sunday, so I hope everyone has a good, safe 4th of July ...
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
I am thinking that the Big East record can stand up to many of the conferences especially other BCS teams...
Posted by: buy gold in darkfall | July 14, 2009 at 03:20 AM
Dying to see the MWC comparison as Air Force is my second favorite after Das Bulls!
They have some similarities such as always starting the season hot before faltering and playing strong against good opponents but playing down to weaker ones. They both can score on 3rd and 27 from their own 15 yard line but too often give up the big play when they can least afford to.
Would love to see USF and Air Force mix it up someday!
Posted by: politically incorrect | July 05, 2009 at 04:48 PM
Thanks GA...Happy 4th!!
Posted by: Bulliever | July 04, 2009 at 04:06 PM
I'll do MWC in a few days. Can run numbers on the other non-BCS conferences. Only took like 20 minutes to do Big East and WAC ...
Posted by: G.A. | July 04, 2009 at 11:49 AM
greg just curious what about the same statistics vs. MWC?
Posted by: Bullogna | July 04, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I would like to see how the Big East compares to the other BCS conferences.
Posted by: jg | July 04, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Yea for research. Thanks, Greg. Happy 4th to all.
Posted by: Ken | July 04, 2009 at 07:32 AM
GA....
I find what you wrote also quite interesting as this comes on the heals of an UTAH senator, Orin Hatch trying to go after the BCS for anitrust issues... and a Texas Senator supporting his efforts... (Both these schools definately got the shaft by the BCS politicking... what is even more surprising is that USC is not a part of this...).
As we try to get through a long summer, this is a great foundation for more articles like this... such as, how much better are we against non BCS conferences like C-USA? and the MAC? The biggest question is there a difference between us and other BSC conferences... ACC? Big Ten? SEC? Big 12? Pac 10?
I am thinking that the Big East record can stand up to many of the conferences especially other BCS teams...
Posted by: Bulliever | July 04, 2009 at 01:16 AM
Being a USF fan (and because of that, a Big East fan) all I can say is: Thanks, I needed that!!!
Posted by: USF, Why Not | July 04, 2009 at 12:44 AM
GA,
That is some great STUFF!!!!!
I will just continue to say it... the Big East is so underrated...and thanks for all the research you just did, you just saved me the time and trouble to do it.
But since Notre Shame is not in the Big East and refuses to be a part of the conference, could you please tell us if the Big East does better with them out of the picture...
Thanks again and Happy 4th...
So, are your kids okay when watching fireworks...or does the Big Bang scare them...?
Posted by: Bulliever | July 03, 2009 at 11:55 PM
The WAC's top 10 teams are a product of an easier schedule and the voters recognize that...
Posted by: Tim | July 03, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Just the facts. I like it. Good work Greg, have a happy 4th.
Posted by: JT (Atlanta) | July 03, 2009 at 10:00 PM