Pool Insider: The Plot Against the Big 12

Last week, I received a complaint about no Big 12 games making the weekly five, and this week I got the following additional complaints...

"I assume we are going to start seeing some Big 12 games as they start firing up. We have Ark-Texas next week, Tech-a&m, Tech-Nebraska, Texas-OU..." -- John Sully

"There seems to be a lot of bias by 'the one who picks the games' this week to pick everything in the south. You know, contrary to popular belief, there are other football conferences besides the SEC and ACC. But, I realize that Nebraska is off and I appreciate NOT having Notre Dame in this week and therefore you probably had slim pickings." -- Ryan Husker

So let me address these complaints. First, there is absolutely no bias against the Big 12 in the football pool. In fact, I would prefer that Arkansas be in the Big 12 instead of the SEC. Second, the games are picked with total disregard for conference affiliation. Games are picked using a formula to balance the games featuring the top teams in the country and the games that will be the most competitive. That's how you get the games. They basically pick themselves.

Why are there so many ACC games in the pool thus far? It is a very balanced conference with fairly good teams and they start playing conference games in the ACC right from the get go. So while the Big 12 teams are mostly getting their easy non-conference games out of the way, the ACC is already fighting for the belt.

It's funny because I also get complaints when enough SEC teams don't make the weekly five. For instance, this week people want to know where the Alabama-Arkansas game is. I'll tell you where it is, it's on Raycom. That is typically a sign it is not exactly the biggest game in the country.

The South will typically be represented more because there is better football in the South. That's why you have CBS paying $55 million and ESPN paying $2 billion for rights to the SEC.