College Football Official Week 8 Thread

[Brian Swartz]

I don't pretend numbers can solve this debate, but the S&P+ is better than any other advanced metric I know of IMO. Top defenses according to them so far:

1. Michigan
2. Clemson
3. Florida
4. Alabama
5. Wisconsin
6. Virginia Tech
7. Ohio State
8. LSU
9. Washington
10. Auburn

I think that's as good as any list at this point in the season.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by HomerSimpson98

Guilty. I had Arky and the points so once I saw Auburn go up early, I was done. But I know the pigs can play defense - I've seen them do it. But there is something fundamentally wrong with what Tech and OU are doing. Ive ever seen WRs just running around all over the field with a defender barely on the screen. How many 2nd or 3rd and longs (over 20 yards) get 30? Or go for a TD? Its comical.

Tackling fundamentals are atrocious, & the practice time restrictions limit how much you can put in defensively, but if the O Line can hold up and you have fast WR's 4 verticals with option routes is basically impossible to stop. Even Saban with a full offseason of focus had no answer for Johnny Manziel buying time & lobbing jump balls to Mike Evans.

Instead of forcing safeties etc to make the correct decisions in tight areas or on East/West plays, you're forcing them to do so with players at full speed and no help defender within 15 yards.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

I don't pretend numbers can solve this debate, but the S&P+ is better than any other advanced metric I know of IMO. Top defenses according to them so far:

1. Michigan
2. Clemson
3. Florida
4. Alabama
5. Wisconsin
6. Virginia Tech
7. Ohio State
8. LSU
9. Washington
10. Auburn

I think that's as good as any list at this point in the season.

WVU has given up 17 and 16 in back-to-back weeks against Texas Tech and TCU. They've got to be on the list somewhere.

[Brian Swartz]

Well, everyone's on the list somewhere :P.

West Virginia is 33rd. My completely amateur arm-chair analysis would say they've played a lot of bad teams, gave up over 500 yards to BYU, and they've got opportunities to improve their standing with OSU, Texas, and most obviously Okahoma(#1 offense so far).

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

WVU has given up 17 and 16 in back-to-back weeks against Texas Tech and TCU. They've got to be on the list somewhere.

FEI has WVU 15

S&P+ has them 33