ESPN
Week 6: Defensive numbers key in SEC, Big 12
By Dave Revsine
Special to ESPN.com
It's a huge week approaching in the SEC: three games involving five teams ranked in the top 13, and the sixth, while not ranked, is 2-0 in conference play. There are plenty of great numbers to get to on those games, but let's pause for a quick reflection on Week 5, and specifically on Ohio State.
Todd McShay, Gerry DiNardo and I did our "College GameDay" radio show from Iowa City Saturday. You'd be hard-pressed to find better conditions for an upset -- night game, national TV, a crowd that's raucous on normal Saturdays at a fever pitch. Everything set up perfectly for Iowa. One problem: Ohio State is really, really good.
I've seen the Buckeyes in person twice now, and I'm definitely sold. They're completely impervious to what's going on around them. They're workmanlike, methodical. It's really impressive to watch.
It's clear the Buckeyes feed off Troy Smith, who, as good as he was last year, is a completely different QB this year. And the numbers reflect that:
Stephen Mally/Icon SMI
Troy Smith has thrown 12 touchdown passes through five games.
12.4: Smith averaged 12.4 rushing attempts per game last year.
4.4: The Buckeyes QB is averaging 4.4 rushing attempts this year. You could argue that's a negative, because Smith's willingness to stay in the pocket has diminished one dimension of his game significantly, but consider this:
12: Smith has already thrown 12 TD passes this year. He had 16 all of last season. His top two targets -- Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez -- have already exceeded their TD totals from last year. Smith is making the players around him better and using the weapons at his disposal -- and it's worked wonders for Ohio State.
13: But the most amazing number of all concerning the Buckeyes is that they've already forced 13 turnovers this season. That's one more than they forced all of last season. Remember, this is a defense that lost nine starters from last year, including six NFL draft picks, and yet they really haven't missed a beat. Remarkable.
Now that the Hawkeyes are out of the way for Ohio State, it's beginning to look like smooth sailing for OSU and Michigan as they head on a collision course for what should be a battle of unbeatens on Nov. 18 in Columbus with the Big Ten title on the line. Especially when you consider these two numbers:
0-8: The teams remaining on OSU's and Michigan's schedules before their meeting are a combined 0-8 this year against teams that are currently ranked.
274-115: In those eight games, those teams have been outscored 274-115.
Week 6: Defensive numbers key in SEC, Big 12
By Dave Revsine
Special to ESPN.com
It's a huge week approaching in the SEC: three games involving five teams ranked in the top 13, and the sixth, while not ranked, is 2-0 in conference play. There are plenty of great numbers to get to on those games, but let's pause for a quick reflection on Week 5, and specifically on Ohio State.
Todd McShay, Gerry DiNardo and I did our "College GameDay" radio show from Iowa City Saturday. You'd be hard-pressed to find better conditions for an upset -- night game, national TV, a crowd that's raucous on normal Saturdays at a fever pitch. Everything set up perfectly for Iowa. One problem: Ohio State is really, really good.
I've seen the Buckeyes in person twice now, and I'm definitely sold. They're completely impervious to what's going on around them. They're workmanlike, methodical. It's really impressive to watch.
It's clear the Buckeyes feed off Troy Smith, who, as good as he was last year, is a completely different QB this year. And the numbers reflect that:
Stephen Mally/Icon SMI
Troy Smith has thrown 12 touchdown passes through five games.
12.4: Smith averaged 12.4 rushing attempts per game last year.
4.4: The Buckeyes QB is averaging 4.4 rushing attempts this year. You could argue that's a negative, because Smith's willingness to stay in the pocket has diminished one dimension of his game significantly, but consider this:
12: Smith has already thrown 12 TD passes this year. He had 16 all of last season. His top two targets -- Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez -- have already exceeded their TD totals from last year. Smith is making the players around him better and using the weapons at his disposal -- and it's worked wonders for Ohio State.
13: But the most amazing number of all concerning the Buckeyes is that they've already forced 13 turnovers this season. That's one more than they forced all of last season. Remember, this is a defense that lost nine starters from last year, including six NFL draft picks, and yet they really haven't missed a beat. Remarkable.
Now that the Hawkeyes are out of the way for Ohio State, it's beginning to look like smooth sailing for OSU and Michigan as they head on a collision course for what should be a battle of unbeatens on Nov. 18 in Columbus with the Big Ten title on the line. Especially when you consider these two numbers:
0-8: The teams remaining on OSU's and Michigan's schedules before their meeting are a combined 0-8 this year against teams that are currently ranked.
274-115: In those eight games, those teams have been outscored 274-115.
