You may be right. I have some questions. How closely are UNC and UVa tied relative to ties to Maryland. How could the SEC outbid the Big 10 for UNC? Which league can offer more money?
I don't know if a this exact moment the SEC can offer more money but this is what it can offer:
1) A new SEC Network similar to the BTN and likely to pull in as much, if not more, money than the BTN. Especially if they add North Carolina.
2) Instant access to the new bowl setup. Every year, a team from the SEC has played for the National Championship. Since 2006, a team from the SEC has been in the game. 8 of the last 10 games have had a SEC team. The Big Ten....they've had 3 teams represented in the entire history of the BCS. With the new setup not limiting or forcing a team from each conference, there's a strong chance the B1G will not have a team represented some years while the SEC will have two.
3) A Geographical fit. I know a lot of teams don't really seem to care about this anymore but eventually all this long distance travel is going to eat up programs. NC in the SEC allows them to stay in their geographic area and not having to have them fly their olympic sprot teams to places like Madison, Wisconsin or Lincoln, Nebraska.
I think UNC would be better off going to the SEC. However, you can't turn the B1G down and hope the SEC comes calling. To be honest, the SEC doesn't seem to be in a rush to expand, unlike the B1G. So if the B1G does expand and everyone else stands pat (Big12 mainly) than I don't see a need for the SEC to move first. That's a risky play for UNC to turn down the B1G and hope the SEC comes calling once everything starts to crumble.