FanShot

Strength of Schedule, and Gary Patterson on Style Points

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An interesting take from ESPN blogger Andrea Adelson. And I like Patterson's view on style points, if only because he makes clear that suffocating defense is stylish, too. Related to Adelson's info: WVU's past opponents are 12-12, its future opposition is 13-16. And since I trust Sagarin's schedule strength more than the NCAA's oversimplified method of looking only at a team's oppnents' records, WVU's is 135th, while Oregon, Boise, and TCU come in at 50th, 55th, and 64th, respectively. And all you Big East bashers out there...you've got some ammo this week. The Big East is rated ninth by Sagarin in both central mean and simple average, behind the likes of the I-A Independents, Mountain West, and the WAC. Further, only Cincy and Pitt have schedule strength numbers higher than 91st. When a horse drops two classes he becomes a viable contender, usually, even if he has never come close to running like a winner. This is especially true, if said horse is also turning back in distance. I bring this up because I am a bit of a class player. So let me say, the only teams that I think should have a shot at beating us the rest of the way are Cincy, Pitt, and maybe UConn. I hate to fuel some of your fires, and I don't think these numbers will last...but for now, there is no doubting that the Big East is, uh, not good.