Since they stopped division play, the conference has had an unbalanced schedule. For example, this year, we play UK, Fla, & USC - the top 3 teams in the league - all twice. No one else in the SEC plays all 3 of those teams twice. We also play Bama twice, who was in 4th place yesterday. Bama, on the other hand, plays LSU, MIzzou, Miss St & Auburn all twice - that's the bottom 4 teams in the league. They only play one of the top 7 teams twice (USC). MUCH easier schedule.

I know with Divisions, you get the situation where one Division is stronger than the other (usually it was the East with UK & Fla), but at least everyone in the Division had a balanced schedule.