i ripped the differentials from Dornstar on BN (or whatever it will be called.) these numbers are with the games against Ohio State and Floida factored OUT:
okay, crunched some of those numbers.
based on the AVERAGE of what Ohio State scores, and what Florida allows, the prediction is 25.6 points for Ohio State
based on SUBTRACTING the point differential that Florida allows from what Ohio State scores predicts 25.5 points for Ohio State
based on ADDING the average of what Ohio State scores
above what their opponents average allowed, versus what Florida allows predicts 29.7 points for Ohio State.
based on ADDING what Ohio State averages
over what their opponents allow, MINUS the differential that Florida allows, predicts 17.9 points for Ohio State.
average of those totals: 24.6 points for Ohio State.
based on the AVERAGE of what Florida scores and what Ohio State allows, the prediction is 18.3 points for Florida.
based on SUBTRACTING what the point differential that Ohio State allows from what Florida scores predicts 10.7 points for Florida.
based on ADDING what Florida scores
over what their opponents allow versus what Ohio State allows predicts 17.6 points for Florida.
based on ADDING what Florida averages
over what their opponents allow, MINUS the differential that Ohio State allows predicts-- get this-- 2.7 points for Florida.
average of those totals: 12.3 points for Florida.
side note: i KNEW it would be the lowest total, but that last one REALLY threw me off... i thought i did it wrong at first, but the math is pretty straightforward... WOW, that puts a damper in the numbers.
if you eliminate that last step from the equation and just use the first three predictors, the totals are Ohio State 26.9 and Florida 15.5.
of course, there is the relative strength of schedule to factor in. the Gators faced 4 top 25 scoring defenses, and the average scoring D they faced was 40.83. the Gators faced 2 top 25 scoring offenses, and the average O they faced ranked 50.3
the Buckeyes faced 3 top 25 scoring defenses, and the average scoring D they faced was 60.5. the Buckeyes faced 2 top 25 scoring offenses, and the average O they faced ranked 55.5.
Florida clearly faced a tougher schedule, though
some of those stats of the Buckeyes' opponents could be skewed due to the fact that playing Ohio State ruined their average...
FWIW.
edit: something always strikes me when i step outside for a cig after a marathon hour+ long post. what struck me was this: the formula that predicted the
lowest score for the Buckeyes also predicted the
lowest score for the Gators... (seemed like a revelation at the time, not so much now.)
as the nicotine starts my synapses firing away, the numbers usually distill into a more managable form. basically, the Buckeyes have been 2 TDs better on O than their opponents allow, and 2 TDs better on D than their opponents score. the Gators are basically 1 TD better on O than their opponents allow, and 2 TDs better on D than their opponents score.
that basic formula predicts a range of 22-28 points for Ohio State and a range of 12-18 points for Florida...
okay, i'm done for now.