Under The Hood: Statistical Comparison for Nebraska vs. Texas Tech
by Jon Johnston on Oct 15, 2009 10:57 AM CDT
in Football
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We're nearly midway through the 2009 season and there is still so much we don't know about a lot of teams. You'd like to think we know a lot about Nebraska, but other than our defense being impressive, I'm not sure you could say that much that's definitive. The offense has done well against mediocre (being kind) opposition, and it just so happens that those games have also been at home. You could say that Nebraska's offense has struggled on the road, but you could also throw out the Missouri game due to flash-food conditions that hurt both offenses.
If you're feeling the same way about Nebraska (unsure), then what can you say about Texas Tech? My initial reaction would be that they haven't really played anybody, but that statement is completely off the mark. They played a top five-ranked team at Texas, and another ranked opponent, Houston.
If the two teams have similarities, it's that both offenses have played extremely well against mediocre opponents at home. It just so happens that both teams have lost to a top five opponent on the road, but Nebraska beat a ranked team on the road at Missouri, while Tech lost to ranked Houston.
Let's take a quick look at some key statistics for both offenses:
Offensive Comparisons
| Nebraska | Texas Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush YPG | 168 | 78 | |
| Rush YPC | 5.15 | 3.55 | |
| Rush TDs | 11 | 11 | |
| Pass YPG | 236.6 | 443.5 | |
| Pass YPA | 7.63 | 8.45 | |
| Pass TDs | 11 | 25 | |
| Pass Efficiency | 144.31 | 161.27 | |
| Total Offense | 404.6 | 521.5 | |
| Scoring Offense | 36.8 | 43.2 |
Defensive Comparisons
| Nebraska | Texas Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush YPG | 108.8 | 107.17 | |
| Rush YPC | 2.99 | 3.15 | |
| Rush TDs | 3 | 7 | |
| Pass YPG | 162.6 | 242.5 | |
| Pass YPA | 5.1 | 6 | |
| Pass TDs | 1 | 5 | |
| Total Defense | 271.4 | 349.7 | |
| Scoring Defense | 6.4 | 21.3 |
Nebraska vs Texas Tech Opponent Positional Ranks
| Total Offense Rank | Nebraska Opponent | Total Defense Rank | Total Offense Rank | Texas Tech Opponent | Total Defense Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | Florida Atlantic | 110 | xx | North Dakota | xx | |
| 83 | Arkansas State | 71 | 109 | Rice | 115 | |
| 54 | @Virginia Tech | 35 | 7 | @Texas | 4 | |
| 98 | UL-Lafayette | 92 | 1 | @Houston | 111 | |
| 38 | @Missouri | 45 | 108 | New Mexico | 109 | |
| 75 | Kansas State | 53 | ||||
| 65.8 | Average | 70.6 | 60 | Average | 78.4 |
*North Dakota not included because they're not a FBS team.
- Like I said earlier, both teams have played tough opponents on the road which allowed them to inflate their statistics against mediocre competition at home.
- Could Tech have possibly played two worse opponents statistically than Rice and New Mexico? Holy Cow!
- Surprising number of rushing touchdowns on the ground for Tech. So much so that I went back and verified that number. Baron Batch has five, Harrison Jeffers has four, and quarterback Taylor Potts has two. All of these no doubt come from everyone worrying about Tech throwing the ball that they're leaving the run open in the red zone.
- Midway through the season, the Blackshirts have given up only one passing TD and allowed under seven points per game ought to have fans freaking out (like they are).
- Big advantage Nebraska - the front four defending the run while the back seven defend the pass in the red zone, ala the high number of rushing TDs reference for Tech.
- The fact that Texas Tech lost both road games to ranked teams ought to stick out in your mind. A lot.
- Thoughts?
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Leach's teams against ranked teams on the road
2-21. That’s a pretty large sample size as well.
This could be Sheffield’s first road start. Lincoln could be rocking again.
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation
by JLew on Oct 15, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
These statistics are very interesting. Tech is hard to gauge because they have played some really bad teams and done very well, but also have done well against good competition. Statistically speaking, Texas Tech is one of the best teams in the country. But then again, so is Nebraska.
The best defense they played so far was Texas, and they only put up 24 points against them. Twenty-four points isn’t a whole lot to match, even for our offense.
What it comes down to is this: Can Nebraska control the clock like they did last year, and can Nebraska’s offense find the endzone on long, time-consuming drives? Our defense won’t likely yield more than 24 points, so our offense has to score more than 24.
by Billgrip on Oct 15, 2009 11:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
More concerned about the defense
The offense is playing against an average Big 12 defense at home. I think they’ll show up to play.
Can the secondary play even better than last week? They’ll have to. Last year they were absolutely shredded by Tech.
by awolfson on Oct 15, 2009 3:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed....
I think that for Nebraska to have a shot at winning this game, they need to put the clamps down in the secondary. It’s one thing to have some good, tall, athletic receivers but a QB who can’t get them the ball (Missouri). It’s another thing entirely if that QB can deliver the ball on time and on target. If Tech is allowed to do that, we have no chance at matching their offense.
But, if that secondary can just hang with guys for 3-4 seconds, I think Suh and Company will be in their backfield wreaking havoc.
If that happens, Tech doesn’t stand a chance…..
As long as a monsoon isn’t in the forecast, we should be okay. NU 31-21
by Mr. Corn on Oct 15, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Texas Tech game
I am a Tech fan. This is a curious game and reciprocal to last year. Last year I posted and warned the Tech fans that Nebraska was the scary game, and it was. (I was under the name Lakem last year). This year the roles are reversed. Nebraska is riding high and they don’t know what is coming.
Tech has nine offensive linemen who dress for the games. Every one of them has played most of a game or else has started. There is no comparison between this offensive line and the one that lined up against Houston.
Nebraska has a great defensive line. This is the single most interesting battle to contemplate.
The stats given above for Tech are misleading. Mr. Sheffield has a rating somewhere over 200. This is an entirely different team with him. Besides that, he is mobile, an important quality when contemplating the Nebraska D.
I think Tech wins (but I am biased), because this team has only played six quarters with Mr. Sheffield at quarterback, and what quarters they were!
Respectfully,
Lakum
by lakum on Oct 16, 2009 7:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
By the Numbers
Numbers can say whatever you want them to say, so as a Red Raider…
The best offense Tech has played: 1 & 7
The best offense Nebraska has played: 38 & 54 (and 38 was limited by weather)
This week Nebraska gets to see the #2 Offense…
The best defense Tech has faced: 4 & 53 (although K-state was about #36 previously)
The best defense Nebraska has: 35 & 45
By the numbers Tech has seen #1 offense and #4 Defense, so we are not seeing anything new, relatively speaking…
Whereas, on the other hand our offense will be a step-up and our defense may be somewhat of a surprise…should be a good game…Big12 football at its best…
by RedRaiderMesquite on Oct 16, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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