PAC-10/SEC showdown, 2007 strength of schedule style

In light of my post from yesterday about conference strength of schedule standings, I thought it might be interesting to post a comparison of the PAC-10’s out of conference schedule for 2007 with that of the SEC. So, courtesy of NationalChamps.net, here we go.

First, the SEC:

• Alabama: Western Carolina, Florida State, Houston, Louisiana-Monroe (for ‘Bama, that’s an upgrade over some years past)
• Arkansas: Troy, North Texas, UT-Chattanooga, Florida International (ugh…)
• Auburn: New Mexico State, South Florida, Tulane, [still looking]
• Florida: UCF, Troy, Florida Atlantic, Florida State
• Georgia: Oklahoma State, Western Carolina, Troy, Georgia Tech (mixed bag, but should be two top 25 teams there)
• Kentucky: Eastern Kentucky, Temple, Louisville, Florida Atlantic (the Wildcats’ first four games of the year, BTW)
• LSU: Middle Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Tulane, Louisiana Tech
• Mississippi: Missouri, Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State, Memphis
• Mississippi State: West Virginia is the only one announced so far (which doesn’t bode well, IMO)
• South Carolina: Louisiana-Lafayette, South Carolina State, North Carolina, Clemson
• Tennessee: California, Southern Miss, Northern Illinois, Louisiana-Lafayette
• Vanderbilt: Richmond, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Wake Forest

Now, the PAC-10:

• Arizona: New Mexico is the only announced non-conference opponent at present
• Arizona State: San Jose State, San Diego State, Colorado
• California: Tennessee, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech
• Oregon: Houston, Michigan, Fresno State
• Oregon State: Utah is the only announced non-conference opponent at present
• Stanford: San Jose State, TCU, Notre Dame
• UCLA: BYU, Utah, Notre Dame (impressive)
• USC: Idaho, Nebraska, Notre Dame
• Washington: Syracuse, Boise State, Ohio State
• Washington State: Wisconsin, San Diego State, Idaho

Admittedly, the results are somewhat skewed by three of the schools listed only having one non-conference opponent scheduled at present, but is there much doubt as to which conference overall has a more impressive looking non-conference schedule?

Two more questions to ponder: from those lists, which conference would you expect to go into next season with the higher strength of schedule rating? And how much of your opinion do you think is based on the SEC schools having to fill out their schedules with one more non-conference opponent than do the PAC-10 schools?