Advantage | Conf | National | Actual | Category | Actual | National | Conf |
Rank | Rank | Rank | Rank | ||||
10 | 105 | 110.83 | Rushing Offense | 165.67 | 62 | 6 | |
9 | 76 | 216.50 | Passing Offense | 249.50 | 50 | 6 | |
10 | 103 | 327.33 | Total Offense | 415.17 | 57 | 7 | |
12 | 103 | 20.83 | Scoring Offense | 32.33 | 48 | 4 | |
10 | 83 | 181.50 | Rushing Defense | 110.67 | 23 | 3 | |
12 | 118 | 162.10 | Pass Efficiency Defense | 114.74 | 29 | 4 | |
12 | 113 | 494.17 | Total Defense | 331.50 | 25 | 2 | |
12 | 117 | 41.33 | Scoring Defense | 18.50 | 27 | 3 | |
3 | 23 | 39.93 | Net Punting | 38.45 | 42 | 7 | |
12 | 96 | 5.50 | Punt Returns | 10.54 | 41 | 5 | |
8 | 79 | 20.08 | Kickoff Returns | 25.62 | 19 | 2 | |
11 | 88 | -.50 | Turnover Margin | .83 | 26 | 3 | |
12 | 117 | 312.67 | Pass Defense | 220.83 | 54 | 3 | |
12 | 107 | 112.39 | Passing Efficiency | 148.27 | 31 | 3 | |
9 | 38 | 2.33 | Sacks | 3.67 | 5 | 2 | |
6 | 28 | 7 | Tackles For Loss | 7.67 | 16 | 4 | |
12 | 120 | 4.50 | Sacks Allowed | 1.67 | 52 | 3 |
Well, just looking at the little helmets, it's the exact same as last week. However, the numbers tell a lightly different story.
USC is a very solid, but not spectacular team if we are just going by their statistical rankings. A lot of conference ranks in the 3-5 range. Their schedule hasn't been too top-loaded, so it can be assumed that this is a pretty fair picture at this point in the season. There aren't a lot of weaknesses with this Trojans team, very strong across the board.
After last weekends debacle with the opening kick-off of the second half, USC's return numbers have to be a huge worry. They have some very talented athletes returning their kick-offs and the Buffaloes will have to play very sound coverage.
If you look at the national rankings instead of the conference rankings, you will see that the Buffalo pass rush has been a very impressive unit this year. 28th nationally in tackles for loss and 38th nationally in sacks. Not bad, not bad at all. Unfortunately USC still ranks higher in both so Jordan Webb could be running for his life once again.
The national rankings are out of 120 D-1 college football teams. In NINE out of 17 categories listed here the Buffs rank in the bottom 20. They have given up more sacks than every single other team. Woof.