The role of underdogs is being assumed by the Gator team and they have responded: http://www.gatorsports.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061212/GATORS01/612120346 This is a much better situation to be in for Florida's chances I think.
:idea: I agree with George here. I see the game as a huge mismatch. I just can't picture Florida doing anything with that Ohio State defense...
Lay that money George...bet a bundle... NCAA defensive stats show the following: Total Defense Fla 10th OSU 13th Scoring Defense OSU 2nd 10.4 ppg Fla 6th 13.5 ppg UF has the #1 ranked schedule vs OSU with the #20 ranked schedule. Go ahead George and throw in the car and the boat along with the house when you make that bet. I happen to think that this year the SEC is a better conference top to bottom than the Big 10 and UF's defense has done pretty well by the comparison above to what OSU has done given the schedule differences.
.....MCG, you forgot the part about the offenses and kicking game. I think they may show up in Glendale also..... I have been impressed with the Gator defense. I think the defenses are a push. The offenses and the kicking games however are not, imho.
Something I saw elsewhere, and found a bit surprising. Comparison of running games yds/carry - atts-yards-average UF Off 433 2084 4.81 Def 347 968 2.79 OSU Off 457 2161 4.73 Def 341 1122 3.29 Comparison of passing game yds/att - atts-yards-average UF Off 362 3091 8.54 Def 444 2526 5.69 OSU Off 326 2756 8.45 Def 378 2154 5.70 Interesting that UF has a better yards/attempt average in the run game even after all of the sacks given up.
Net punting: UF #8 OSU #28 Punt returns: UF James #19 OSU Ginn #26 Kick Off return def UF #19 OSU #20 Blocked kicks: UF has blocked a lot of kicks this year. Don't have the comparison #s but UF should fare well in this category.
MCG, field goals? Gaterz, yes they do happen.....to some more than others. Yes, I could.....but I don't think that is necessary, is it? You guys are doing a great job of editing the data in such a way to portray your Gators in the best possible light without the slightest hint of weakness or warts.......you should be in sales! 8) Unfortunately the teams will have to take the field Jan 8 warts and all so denying their existence is just.....comfort food. :wink:
T Don't be so defensive of that great progam of which you are a fan. Take it easy ........... it's only "data"!! The information I presented are rush and passing stats taken from the NCAA's own site ... you can check it out ..... and the analysis only shows how, over the course of their respective 12 and 13 game seasons, the two teams performed on an average per play basis. Nothing more. What I found interesting was the fact the averages are so very similar .... and that UF had a higher run offense per play average even when QB sacks (pass plays) are considered in the run game analysis. I didn't expect that to be the case .... and I don't think many others do. Did you?
I musta missed somethin'...... I've been a data junkie all my life.....I'm not surprised at much that can be parsed from the numbers. The challenge is to understand what, if anything, that can be learned from them......in their entirety - without ignoring those that don't make us quite so happy.Often, those are where the most valuable of lessons are to be had, imho.
Recalculate the Stats without the W.Carolina game, that was a 1AA school! Sort of like having to toss out triple bogeys and above when calculating your handicap.
I'll take it a step further. Fla scored 24 points ppg vs. SEC defenses. Mich scored 26.7 ppg vs. Big Ten defenses. Michigan runs up 39 on OSU at Columbus and yet these stats tell you UF can't manage 27 in Glendale?
.....I think what I said stands on its own. Further, given the spread and the over/under, it would seem that I'm not the only one with such a view...... rever/under at 48.5 - thus far the heavy dollar volume has been on the under pushing the futures down to a 45% chance of over 48.5 points.
T Throw out BG, N ILL, and Cincin ... and what was OSU's scoring average against teams with a record above .500? Probably pretty good with the 42 against UMich.
N Illinois & Cincinatti had winning records. Cincy played 4 or 5 top 10 teams this year and were in every game except WVU.