Recently it was revealed that Auburn had paid Arkansas State $1 million to guarantee their game in 2010. The big-spending beat must go on in major college athletics but one million dollars for these gimme games is sort of a magical threshold.Worse, it's evidence of Auburn going back to its bad habits. At times the Tigers have played USC, Georgia Tech, South Florida and Kansas State in non-conference games this decade with Clemson on the 2010 slate, but they're absolutely addicted to these tomato cans. That 2010 schedule also includes Louisiana-Monroe and Chattanooga which isn't even an upper division program.
The upcoming 2009 season promises dances with Louisiana Tech, Ball State and Furman wrapped around a home date with West Virginia. One step forward, three steps back.
Auburn of all programs should know better, having been left out of the 2004 BCS Championship Game in part due to their questionable non-conference schedule of Louisiana-Monroe, Citadel and Louisiana Tech. They're in no danger of threatening for a championship this year but still, this is stupid and they're paying a premium for it.
The Sagarin Predictor ratings placed Arkansas State 108th among college football teams last year, behind 14 lower-division programs as well as most of the first division. Thats not the pool Auburn, even at 5-7 last year, should be swimming in. There are more than enough upper-level MAC, Mountain West and WAC teams to defeat while actually working up a sweat. Plus its better for college football with so much of the national debate focusing on scheduling.
It can be done, and it won't cost them a million dollars.
(Via College Football Talk)
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