I figured I'd analyze it a little more deeply, so I averaged the preseason rankings from SI.com, Athlon and Phil Steele (I have his magazine, but couldn't find a link online; you'll have to trust me) to determine head-to-head matchups between the two conference's teams.

From the numbers, listed below with my game projections, it seems as though the Big XII hasn't quite caught up to the SEC, though anything can happen once the season begins.

OKLAHOMA (4.33 average) at FLORIDA (2.33): Florida safeties Dorian Monroe and John Curtis and tight end Cornelius Ingram are all done for the season, and Percy Harvin's ankle has gotten plenty of attention this offseason. Meanwhile, the Sooners have 13 starters back, including eight on offense, including terribly proficient sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford. Plus, I trust Bob Stoops to outcoach Urban Meyer.

WINNER: Oklahoma

MISSOURI (5.33) at GEORGIA (3.67): Man, the Bulldogs are having a rough go of it with all these arrests and this offseason trouble. Let's pretend this game's early in the season, Georgia's still getting everyone back and attempting to salvage the season. For the very early national title frontrunner, Georgia is on a rapid fall, eh?

WINNER: Missouri

TEXAS (11.33) at AUBURN (7.67): I was surprised to see Auburn this high, but the Tigers return 16 starters, including their tops three rushers (who combined for over 2,000 yards on the ground). Auburn's main worry will be preparing new quarterback Kodi Burns for primetime, but Texas, even with its name recognition, will be a little down.

WINNER: Auburn

TEXAS TECH (12.33) at LSU (9): Maybe the best matchup of the bunch, the Tigers and Red Raiders are quite a contrast. Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell averaged about 440 yards per game last year, while LSU's defense allowed only 289 yards a game - total. Wow. Glenn Dorsey is gone from Baton Rouge, but I still see LSU's defense winning out.

WINNER: LSU

KANSAS (16.67) at TENNESSEE (15): Kansas has fallen from its lofty standing from late last season, even though they return nine starters from a defense that gave up 318 yards a game. Tennessee, for as long as I can remember, has been a Clemson-like underachiever to me, and this instance would be no different.

WINNER: Kansas

OKLAHOMA STATE (35) at ALABAMA (28): The meeting of two of the most loathsome coaches in the history of history, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State and Nick Saban of Alabama.

Winner: None, especially fans and players

NEBRASKA (39) at SOUTH CAROLINA (29.67): South Carolina

MISSISSIPPI STATE (44) at COLORADO (39.67): Colorado

OLE MISS (55.33) at TEXAS A&M (49.33): Texas A&M

KENTUCKY (63.33) at KANSAS STATE (53.67): Kansas State

IOWA STATE (79.33) at ARKANSAS (63.67): Arkansas

BAYLOR (89.33) at VANDERBILT (82.33): Vanderbilt

There ya have it: The Big XII IS better than the SEC. Thanks to some of the middle-of-the-road teams, the new guy in town takes a 6-5-1 barnburner.

Take THAT, SEC!