First off, the fact that ESPN is even making the comparison is a good thing. Also, all three of them more or less say that the top of the MWC is better than the top of the BIg East. Brian Bennett, the blogger for the Big East, doesn’t even know who to list as the conference favorite(s) and concedes that the top of the MWC is better.

All three also say that bottom of the MWC is worse, which shows that the MWC has work to do at improving, but also with working on perception. Take last years MWC #8 (Wyoming) versus Big East #8 (Syracuse). Both had one conference victory. Both had one victory over an FCS team (Wyoming over North Dakota State; Syracuse over Northeastern). Wyoming had two nonconference victories over FBS teams—Ohio and Tennessee—while Syracuse’s lone nonconference FBS victory came over Notre Dame. It is far from a given that Syracuse would beat Wyoming on a neutral field.

It’s a similar story for MWC #7, New Mexico (4-8, 2-6) against Big East #7 Louisville (5-7, 1-6) with Louisville’s extra victory being attributable to playing FCS Tennessee Tech while New Mexico did not play an FCS team.

So while the MWC could still improve, it’s not as bad as commonly perceived. I am a little annoyed (though not shocked) at Graham Watson for not defending the middle and bottom of the conference.

Using the BCS automatic qualifications, As I recently did for MWC/PAC 10/Big East:

Mind you this is a 4 year average over 2005-2008. The Big East dominated in 2005 while the MWC struggled that year, so the MWC will bounce once this year is dropped.

9) Big East – West Virginia
19) MWC – TCU
28) Big East – Cincinnati
30) Big East – Louisville
33) MWC – BYU
34) Big East – South Florida
37) Big East – Rutgers
40) MWC – Utah
50) Big East – Pittsburgh
51) Big East – Connecticut
- Not Worthy of BCS title -
68) MWC – Air Force
74) MWC- New Mexico
83) MWC – CSU
89) MWC – Wyoming
96) Big East – Syracuse
100) MWC – SDSU
108) MWC – UNLV

Even if this is accurate, the MWC has 3 teams vying for top 25 contention. They should be expected to take no more than 2 conference losses and maybe one OOC loss, thus 3 10 win top 25 teams is possible this year.

The Big East will have 5 teams vying for their top spots and will knock each other out like the ACC did last year. With 2 losses a piece and maybe an OOC loss they will be lucky to get one or 2 top 25 spots.

This is actually the best argument AGAINST Utah being invited to the PAC 10 or Boise State being invited to the MWC. A top heavy conference is good for those at the top.

9) Big East – West Virginia
11) MWC – BYU
15) Big East – Cincinnati
21) MWC – Utah
30) MWC – TCU
31) Big East – Louisville
35) Big East – Rutgers
36) Big East – South Florida
44) Big East – Connecticut
47) Big East – Pittsburgh
- Not BCS -
57) MWC – Air Force
76) MWC – New Mexico
84) MWC – Wyoming
88) Big East – Syracuse
90) MWC – CSU
103) MWC – UNLV
105) MWC – SDSU

I do believe teh strength of programs is more stable than many suppose and that one years numbers (Ole Miss) don’t justify a burst the next year.

This is what my numbers tell me the world sees. The MWC is not done with its work yet.

I think we were better. This year? Well, everyone was basing there appraisal on last year’s talent. Utah and TCU and BYU all face serious losses in linemen and defensive talent—we will see. If we’re all three good again, the talent depth has increased such taht yes, we’re better. But the MWC, and previously the WAC, has had good out of conference years before. Heck, a few years back people were talking about how perhaps the Pac-10 was bets in the nation with Cal, Oregon, USC dominant teams—that talk is over.