Toughest Non Conference Schedule in 2008....It Looks Like SEC or PAC10!

Non Conference schedules: The yardsticks that measure on-the-field competition between the conferences.  Clear indicators of who deserves bragging rights as the season progresses.

Here are the ratings for the BCS conferences starting with the weakest non conference schedule and finishing with the strongest for the 2008 season:

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE:  The ACC clearly has the weakest non-conference schedule of any major conference.  The big reason is that it plays so many games against Div 1AA opponents.  Four times as many as the PAC10 which plays the least. Of the four teams in the country that have two Div 1AA teams on its schedule, three reside in the ACC.  Clemson, FSU and Georgia Tech.

Clemson plays Alabama in Atlanta, FSU and Mia will both tangle with Fla, NC State hosts USF, Georgian Tech hosts Georgia, and Virginia hosts USC.  These are all tough games but there are too many weak ones throughout the season.

Boston College, Maryland, Wake Forest and Duke will not have one real test on their non conference schedules.

Most Embarrassing Schedule: Duke(James Madison, Northwestern, Navy, @Vandy)

Games against 1AA teams: 27%

BIG TEN CONFERENCE:  Illinois hosts Missouri, Ohio State @ USC, Oregon @ Purdue and Wisconsin goes to Fresno State.  Michigan and Michigan State never get a real test unless Notre Dame has healed.  Minnesota, Northwestern and Penn St. play no tough games!  All could qualify for most embarrassing.

Most Embarrassing Schedule: Indiana(W. Kentucky, Murray St., Ball St., C. Mich.)

Games against 1AA teams: 16%

BIG TWELVE CONFERENCE:  West Virginia @ Colorado, Kansas @ USF, Mizzou hosts Illinois, Nebraska hosts Virginia Tech and Baylor hosts Wake Forest.  Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas AM do not get tested.  Kansas State goes to Louisville, Oklahoma hosts Cincinnati and Texas going  to Colorado could be interesting games.

Most Embarrassing Schedule: Texas Tech(E. Wash.,@Nevada, SMU and UMASS)

Games against 1AA teams: 19%

BIG EAST CONFERENCE: Cincinnati @ Oklahoma, Fresno St.@Rutgers, Kansas@USF, Penn St.@Syracuse and Auburn@West Virginia.  Pitt and Louisville will not encounter tough tests this year.  Everyone else will get tested to some degree.

Most Embarrassing Schedule:  Pittsburgh(Bowling Green, Buffalo,@Navy, Iowa, N.D.)

Games against 1AA teams: 18%

SOUTH EAST CONFERENCE:  Tennessee@UCLA,Georgia@Arizona St., Auburn@West Virginia, Mississippi and Vanderbilt both play Wake Forest, Arkansas@Texas and South Carolina and Alabama both take on Clemson.  The Gators take on Miami and Florida State, normally tough games but not expected to be this year.  Kentucky and Mississippi State have it fairly easy.

Most Embarrassing Schedule:  LSU(Appalachian St.,Troy, N.Texas, Tulane)

Games against 1AA teams: 15%

PACIFIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE:  Georgia@Arizona St., Oregon@Penn St., Ucla@Tenn.,USC hosts Ohio St.,and Washington plays both BYU and Oklahoma.  Many monster games.  PAC 10 plays only two games against 1AA teams.  Nine of Ten teams get tested this year.

Most Embarrassing Schedule:  Arizona(Idaho, Toledo, @New Mexico)

Games Against 1AA teams: 7%