9 SEC groups are ranked within the preseason US LBM Coaches Ballot. Assume the Faculty Soccer Playoff committee will care about that? They did not final yr.
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Sports activities Pulse
The SEC buried the Massive Ten within the US LBM Coaches Ballot. 9 SEC groups are ranked, together with No. 1 Texas, in comparison with six ranked groups from the Massive Ten. Hearth up the preseason chants of superiority, however that may imply squat come Faculty Soccer Playoff choice time.
Actually, the SEC’s ballot takeover may very well be an indication of a playoff path stuffed with landmines, whereas Massive Ten front-runners Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and Illinois take pleasure in cleaner routes to the postseason.
On this version of “SEC Soccer Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Community, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to the SEC’s ballot blitz and clarify why this ought to be considered cautiously for the convention’s playoff contenders.
Additionally they level to 2 overrated SEC groups, plus an unranked workforce that they’d place within the High 25.
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Ought to the SEC be ok with having 9 ranked groups?
Toppmeyer: Effectively, it means the SEC is at no scarcity of playoff hopefuls. Along with the SEC’s 9 ranked groups, the highest two vote-getters outdoors the High 25 additionally hail from the SEC. That is 11 groups inside the high 27. And but, the SEC additionally had 9 groups ranked in final yr’s preseason ballot, however solely three made the playoff, whereas the Massive Ten led all conferences with 4 qualifiers and produced the nationwide champion for the second consecutive season. The Massive Ten’s cream is as candy because the SEC’s, and that is what issues most come playoff choice time. Who’s received one of the best groups on the high?
Think about the schedule for No. 17 Florida. I am positive the Gators take pleasure in being ranked. It is a credit score to how they completed final season taking part in effectively, they usually return quarterback DJ Lagway. However, the Gators will play seven groups ranked within the preseason ballot. A couple of SEC groups drew favorable schedules, however others like Florida may want for extra weak hyperlinks inside the convention.
In the end, I do not suppose the SEC having extra ranked groups within the preseason offers the convention any higher probability of manufacturing extra playoff qualifiers than the Massive Ten.
Adams: It is simpler to make the playoff from the Massive Ten than the SEC. Simply ask Indiana. This preseason ballot displays the problem most SEC groups can count on to come across all through the convention schedule. And if the committee would not change its tune on three-loss groups (none had been chosen final season), I am undecided that it is any nice benefit to have 9 ranked groups from one convention.
The SEC’s addition of Texas and Oklahoma and elimination of divisions looks as if an amazing method for producing an abundance of 9-3 and 8-4 groups. That is not an amazing method for the 12-team playoff.
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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Community’s nationwide faculty soccer columnist. John Adams is the senior sports activities columnist for the Knoxville Information Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Soccer Unfiltered podcast, and take a look at the SEC Unfiltered e-newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
