Inside The Stats... Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

LOOKING INSIDE THE STATS

Here are the teams who won phony games ‘inside-out’ ITS (In The Stats) but were out-gained by 100 or more yards in their last game.  This week includes:

• College Football: Army, and Rutgers (200 yards).

• NFL: Chicago Bears.

PUTTIN’ ON THE STATS

Keeping up with our look at teams who have either dominated, or been dominated, In The Stats (ITS) this season, let’s turn to the teams that will potentially qualify on our ‘Puttin’ On The Stats’ list when November rolls around.

From our sister statistical publication – the PLAYBOOK MIDWEEK ALERT – here is a list of the “spotless” candidates and their respective ITS records in games played through October 9:

ITS dominators: Alabama 8-0, Central Florida 5-0, Georgia 7-0, Oklahoma 7-0, Oklahoma State 7-0, South Florida 7-0, and Wisconsin 7-0.  

ITS virgins: East Carolina 0-7-1. 

YES, RUSHING STILL MATTERS

The NFL has turned into a pass-happy league but the truth of the matter is running the football – or in this case stopping the run - still counts in college football.

Consider: there are only six FBS teams are allowing less than 3 Yards Per Rush per game on the season. They are Alabama, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Ohio State, TCU, and Troy.

Collectively these teams are 37-6 SU and 24-15-1 ATS in the season. Just saying.

LEAKING OIL

Each week on the football card each we isolate favorites that have been out-gained in each of their last three games.

We call them ‘leaking oil’ favorites for reasons that are self-explanatory.  Here are this week’s Pennzoil favorites and their current ITS losing skein record.

• College Football:  Colorado 0-5, Indiana 0-3, Iowa 0-4, Kansas State 0-4, and Kentucky 0-5

NFL: Buffalo Bills 0-5

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING

Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins is 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS in his career on weekdays. Remember that when the Skins face the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day later this year.

STAT OF THE WEEK

From ESPN Stats & Info: For the first time in team history the New Orleans Saints have won 4 straight games immediately after starting the season 0-2.  

For more of Marc Lawrence click here.