First off all conferences play cupcake opponents, SEC doesn't have that market cornered. Secondly they already have a high SOS, with quality conference opponents, and some big rivalry games with the ACC, so loading up with tougher opponents does way more harm then good. Beating Washington St by 21 compared to beating Georgia Southern by 35 will not improved the SOS and BCS standing as much as people like to think. If you already sitting at the top why let some other conference try to make a name off of you when crushing them gains you nothing.
One slip up ends your chances for a National Championship and ruins most teams chances of playing in a BCS game. This isn't college basketball where having a quality losses can boost your tournament resume. One or two slip ups and you're done. Now with that said if you were Bama or Georgia and already have a strong SOS in the best conference in football, would you risk messing that up by playing Arizona, or bring in a cupcake which saves you money and doesn't harm your SOS much, if at all.
As a football fan I don't like this strategy but I can't knock it. They are doing what is in the best interest of their programs. Playing some of these other conferences outside of rivalry and season kickoff games nets them nothing in most cases.
