With Friends Like These: LSU's 2009 Non-Conference Schedule

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)

The standard excuse for SEC teams scheduling weak out of conference opponents is that they have to contend with the rigors of the SEC. Therefore, scheduling brutal OOC (out of conference) games is unnecessary, risky and quite frankly just not in the team’s best interest. 

After all, with “friends” like Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss…why go out and seek “enemies” like Ohio State, Virginia Tech, or West Virginia? 

Teams like USC and Ohio State would say, "Hey, we schedule tougher OOC opponents, why can’t you?" 

The typical answer: If you are in the Big 10 or Pac 10, you have to schedule at least two, if not three, strong OOC opponents to keep any credibility in your SOS (strength of schedule) since the rest of your conference is so weak (I'm not stating that as fact, just that it is the prevailing argument).

I submit that it has more to do with the BCS. Teams are doing what they feel like they have to do in order to place themselves in the best possible position to make it to a BCS Bowl and/or the National Championship game.

Consider that any loss can and normally does (LSU’s 2007 Championship notwithstanding) have a devastating impact on rankings and bowl position. Therefore, teams simply can’t afford to schedule a gauntlet out of conference game, particularly when they face a rigorous conference slate like teams in the SEC.

Moreover, despite efforts to factor "style points" out of the equation, the voters (for poll rankings) will look at USC more favorably for thumping San Jose State than they will if Alabama squeaks out a last-second victory over Virginia Tech. 

So teams try to make the most of their three or four out of conference opportunities. 

Florida, the defending National Champion, and LSU, the previous champion, are prime examples. 

Although Florida normally features two tough OOC games against in-state rivals FSU and Miami. This year, Miami is off the schedule and Charleston Southern High School (I’m sorry is that actually a college?) marks the warm-up game for the real opener with the juggernaut from Troy.

Doth I protest too loudly?  

Don’t worry; I remember that it took the greatest comeback in school history for LSU to beat these guys last year.

Florida does end the season with their annual run-in with what could be a much improved FSU team (though the sanctions and some attrition could reverse that), but not before the other in-state game with FIAU. 

FIAU? What happened to Miami? Well, if nothing else, there could be a good fist fight (Remember FIAU v Alabama a couple of years ago).

LSU is in a similar, if not the same, boat.

This year’s OOC Schedule is weak at best. The most difficult thing about the opener at Washington’s Husky Stadium is getting a normally supportive fan base to make the 2,029 mile trip to Seattle. (And really, this will not be a problem for the Tigers!)

Some pundits are tagging this game as a possible upset for a number of reasons.

One reason is an unreasonable lack of respect for Les Miles, another is how the Tigers struggled last season, and the final reason is heightened expectations due to the coaching (and hopefully attitude) changes at Washington. 

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