#BoxscoreReview Week 3 College Football
Every week there are misleading scores that the bookmaking industry is forced to respond to before setting the following week’s numbers. Perception creates value in the market if you’re adept separating fact from fiction. Here are some of the most intriguing tidbits from last week’s games.
Navy at Penn St: Despite a stat sheet that showed a strong Navy performance, the final score was much more indicative of how the game actually played out for the Middies. Navy outgained the Nittany Lions and ran 24 more plays despite losing 34-7 with most of their offense coming in the 2nd half.
Boston College at Northwestern: Over bettors were a tad disgruntled to know these teams compiled 876 yards, 56 first downs, and 165 plays but only saw 35 on the scoreboard. Totals players might find value as a result the next time these teams step on the field. Even more embarrassing? NU averaged 26 Yards per point, well below the normal college football average.
Northern Illinois at Army: Talk about a game full of interesting stats. NIU only held the ball for 17:27 compared to Army’2 42:33. The teams combined to go 17 of 26 on 3rd down (NIU 8 of 9, Army 9 of 17). The Cadets ran 90 plays, 89 of them on the ground and had 3 ball carriers with 20+ carries, each going over the 100 yard threshold.
Utah St at Wisconsin: Sure, the Badgers never flirted with a cover but they were fortunate to just win in their own building. Wisky gained 234 yards and the offense looked abysmal for the 2nd time in as many weeks. Danny O’Brien was 5 for 10, 63 yards and one time Heisman candidate Montee Ball grinded out 137 yards on 37 carries.
NMSU at UTEP: The aggies 402 in total yardage wasn’t a bad output however when you consider 171 came on their final 2 TD drives when the game was out of reach you have cause for concern.
New Mexico at Texas Tech: 49-14 is a route: however this game could have been much uglier. TTU outgained UNM 702-127 and took their foot off the gas at the break when they were already up 42-14.
Uconn at Maryland: Anyone who watched the BC vs NU game stay under the total had to feel sick when this game went over. Two inept offenses combined for 428 TOTAL yards but somehow scored 45 pts aided by turnovers and short fields.
USC at Stanford: They hardly looked like a national title contender Saturday on the Farm as USC was 1 for 8 on 3rd downs against the Cardinal. Matt Barkley probably killed his Heisman chances going 20-41 and getting intercepted twice against an underrated Stanford defense.
East Carolina at Southern Miss: Fumble returns and 4 play 19 yard drives help get you to the window when you only muster 228 yards. ECU was more smoke than substance in their upset of So Miss and might explain why we’re seeing UNC money flood the market for their game this week.
California at Ohio St: Outgained, out rushed, our first downed yet not outscored was the mantra for OSU on Saturday. The Buckeyes were fortunate to win outright as 17 pt chalk considering Cal did as they wished on offense all afternoon.
Virginia at Georgia Tech: I’d imagine coach London had nightmares about the option after GT rolled up 461 yards on 50 carries, a ypc of 9.2 en route to their 56-20 victory.
Houston at UCLA: The Bruins 31 pt win wasn’t nearly as lopsided as it could have been. The boys in powder blue held their opponents time of possession to 18:46 and intercepted Cougar QB David Piland 5 times. Maybe Mora does have something brewing in Westwood
South Alabama at NC State: The Wolfpack should have easily covered as 30 pt chalk against USA but after leading 28-0 at the break, took their foot off the gas. Jaguar nation cant be too excited about the team’s prospects in 2012; 0-11 on 3rd downs wont get the job done
North Texas at Kansas St: KSU only ran 48 plays in their 35-21 win over UNT. Yardage was extremely tight with the Cats posting 373 to the Mean Green’s 353. The most impressive stat of all was UNT’s QB D Thompson who was 25-28 on the afternoon.
