B10 vs. B12

JG brought this argument up this weekend via text, that I didn't check until early Sunday morning...but I needed more than a text to make a legit response to this. Basically, it read that some guy was trying to talk JG into the idea that the B10 is better than the B12.

Now the word "better" is not exactly clear...so let's look at it from a couple of different angles.

1) Best Team
Hands down, TEXAS. This arguement goes to the B12. Nobody in my favorite conference could play with this bunch - no chance.

2) Most Depth
This is debatable. The B10 has 4 teams that could finish with 10 wins...that's pretty solid. B10 also has a likely list of 7 bowl teams. As for the B12, only 2 teams have a legit chance at 10 win seasons (not counting bowl games or championship games). The B12 should have 8 bowl teams when it's all said and done...including one in the NC Game. One could argue that the B10 will have 2 BCS teams, but that's just a lack of other quality records around the country...I don't think the B10 sports 2 of the best 10 teams in the country, but 2 BCS spots counts for something.
Verdict on this one - B10 has more depth.

3) Non Conf Performance
B12
NEB playing close to VT, MIZZ crushing ILL, OKST beating GEO, ISU getting crushed by IOWA, OK losing to BYU and MIA, COL losing at WV...not a lot to hangt their hat on in out of conference play. The GEO win looks a lot less impressive right now than it did then, the VT close call is nice...but not a W. The MIZZOU win and ISU loss cancel each other out.

B10
IOWA beating AZ, MICH over ND, MSU losing to CMU and ND, MN over AF - this is a good win, WIS over FRES, PUR playing ORE and ND close, OHIOST losing to USC...again, NW losing to SYR. I don't see a W as impressive as the OKST over GEO in the B10 out of conf results. As a whole, more bad losses in the B10 than in the B12 and fewer big wins means the verdict on this one goes to the B12.

4) Head to Head (B10-B12 Challenge)
This is the most fun way to compare. Line 'em up, neutral field - who would win more games: (lined up according to Sagarin Ratings in USATODAY)

1. TEXAS vs. OHIOST = TEXAS 1-0 B12
2. OKST vs. IOWA = IOWA 1-1
3. OK vs. PSU = OK 2-1 B12, the D would eat up the poor OL of PSU
4. NEB vs. WIS = NEB is a pretty good team, if they can score they win NEB 3-1 B12
5. TT vs. MSU = TT is a better team this year. 4-1 B12
6. MIZZ vs. MN = Can't do it...MIZZ 5-1 B12
7. KAN vs. NW = KAN is better if they figure it out...6-1 B12
8. A&M vs. PUR = A&M wins a shootout...7-1 B12
9. KST vs. MICH = MICH can't beat anyone...8-1 B12
10. ISU vs. IND = IND should handle this one...8-2 B12
11. BAY vs. ILL = BAY is awful. B10 garbage is better than B12 garbage...8-3 B12

There you go...very subjective, but I think B12 wins this one in a land slide. Better offenses and some comparable defenses for most of the teams at the top.

B12 is "better"...at least for this year.

Let's hope we can settle it in the Bowls...well, one specifically...Tempe 12/31...

GOPHERS vs. CYCLONES - Game of the Year