Here's another post to argue over. I took a look at seven teams (Bama, ND, Clemson, Ohio State, TAM, Cincy, and threw in USC). I compared each to eight statistical categories, 4 team defense and 4 team offense (scoring D/scoring O, rush D/rush O, pass D/pass O, third down D/third down O). I left out Florida, Iowa State, Oklahoma, any other G5 team (Coastal Carolina), and any other P5 team with two losses. I ranked each of the teams 1 through 7 in each of the 8 categories and then ranked them 1 through 7 (lowest total is my current number 1 and highest total is my current number 7). But first some observations on each of the teams:
- Alabama: By far the best on offense, but their run offense is pedestrian. Their rush, pass, and third down defense leaves a lot to be desired.
- Notre Dame: Pretty solid across the board, but they don't have the scoring offense or passing offense to win it all IMO.
- Clemson: Not as overrated as TAM. Clemson's defense is solid, but not so much their rush D. On offense, their rushing game is awful and they are the worst of the 7 on third down conversions.
- Ohio State: Suprise, surprise. Best of the 7 in the rushing offense, but middle of the pack passing offense. Best rush D, second worst scoring D, and worst by far pass D, but good on third down D. I think the statistics are saying Ohio State isn't as bad on D, including pass D, as we think, but we've given up too many big plays.
- Texas A&M: The most overrated. They are bottom half in all of the categories, except rush D and third down O. There's a reason they were blown out by Alabama.
- Cincinnati: Another surprise. Number one of the seven in scoring D and pass D. By comparison, none of the other six teams are very good at all at pass D. But on offense, Cincy is just sort of meh (number 3 in rush O, number 6 in pass O, number 5 in third down conversions).
- USC: Confirmed. They don't belong. Number 3 in pass O, but number 6 or 7 in every other of the remaining seven categories.
And now for my rankings:
1- Notre Dame
2- Alabama
3- Ohio State
4- Cincinnati
5- Clemson
6- Texas A&M
