Found this on NationalChamps.net http://www.inside99.net/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=63499 Posted By: Jim Rossman Date: Thursday, 11 December 2003, at 5:53 p.m. Lots of statistics so I apologize to those who don't like to work with numbers in advance ... Total Offense: Oklahoma 5998 (461.4 per game), 587 pts/45.2 per game LSU 5545 (426.5 per game), 454 pts/34.9 per game Rushing: Oklahoma 506 carries, 2002 yards, 25 TDs, 4 per rush (154 yds per game) LSU 553 carries, 2441 yards, 22 TDs, 4.4 per rush (187.8 yds per game) Passing: Oklahoma 285 of 442 for 3996 yds (307 yds per game), 43 TDs, 9 picks, 23 sacks, (64.5% completion) LSU 241 of 377 for 3104 yds (238.8 yds per game), 30 TDs, 13 picks, 17 sacks, (63.9% completion) Total Defense: Oklahoma 3323 (255.6 per game), 193 pts/14.8 per game LSU 3374 (259.5 per game), 140 pts/10.8 per game Rushing: Oklahoma 422 rushes for 1426 yds (109.7 per game), 9 TDs, 3.4 per rush LSU 367 rushes for 886 yds (68.2 per game), 3 TDs, 2.4 per rush Passing: Oklahoma 204 of 395 for 1897 yds (145.9 per game), 11 TDs, 20 picks and 40 sacks (51.6% completion) LSU 200 of 440 for 2488 yds (191.4 per game), 12 TDs, 19 picks, 39 sacks (45.5% completion) What I see here is LSU as the slightly better defensive team in all categories except yards given up passing. Slightly harder to complete a pass on LSU but the completions yield more yards. Very close on total defense but LSU yields a full yard less per rush than Oklahoma. Offensively they are quite close as well. While LSU has better rushing statistics, Oklahoma has a clear advantage through the air. Both are very close in percentage completions however. What Oklahoma lacks in a running game LSU appears to lack in a passing game. Since both teams are just 453 total yards apart on offense we'll have to say that 34 yds per game isn't really noteworthy. Strength of schedule heavily favors Oklahoma but you have to remember that teams evolve and either are running with momentum or have peaked and in a decline. I'd say that Oklahoma peaked in their games with Oklahoma State and Texas A&M whereas LSU's rise began with South Carolina and has steadily improved. When you can go to Atlanta to play a very good Georgia team on their turf with a revenge factor clearly in place, and pound them into the carpet I'd say you're totally focused and clearly one of the two teams (USC being the other) that is operating as a totally functioning machine. Oklahoma, like I've pointed out in other posts, has been looking ahead. This trend began when they played Baylor in Norman. The offense struggled even though they won 41-3. Against Baylor and Texas Tech they played without emotion and seemed to be on auto-pilot. Unfortunately for them they carried this same persona into the title game where they got what they deserved. LSU is at home. With no disrespect intended, they are like a new rising star who just got their first taste of the really big time. LSU has made 2003 a magic year like 2000 was for Oklahoma. They're totally excited as a team and full of emotion and commitment. Oklahoma, on the other hand, has no support from the media. Most regard the Sooners as an undeserving participant. The magic that was taking place in Norman this year was crushed out of them in an evening. I'll bet they're still trying to get over their devistating loss to KSU. I hope that the Nebraska Syndrome (Huskers played like they knew a loss was inevitable) hasn't landed in Norman. We'll see what Bob Stoops is made of now. If he can resurrect this team like a Phoenix from the ashes and have them shake off/forget what happened then he'll have made his greatest stride since coming to Norman. So, after all of this, what does anybody else think about this game to be played in teh SUgar Bowl on 1/4/04?
Thanks for the great post. As most people probably know already, I am a numbers person. I love analyzing statistics. But I will throw out a few more numbers for people to digest. In the last 7 games of the season, against the toughest competition, LSU's offense put up 460 yards per game and 235 yards rushing. Had LSU put up those kind of numbers all year long, then LSU would be in the top 10 in total offense and rushing. Remember, in those early games where LSU put the game away by the end of the first half, Saban called the dogs off early and the 2nd string did not do very well in padding our stats. Stoops, on the other hand, called off the troops midway through the 4th quarter, sometimes later than that. LSU could have averaged 100-125 yards more per game in those first 4 out of 5 games had he played his 1st string into the 4th quarter. The 154 ypg rushing for OU against this 235 average LSU had the last 7 games is the big thing I am banking on for an LSU victory.
I've been amazing my friends with my knowlege of the BCS and ability to project future results. I didn't want to confuse them by giving credit to "isselstull".
UL-Lafayette pass defense better than 8 teams in the PAC-10 people (inlcuding USC who is #110 in the nation)......sorry to get off the subject.
I disagree with you there. Rarely were the starters playing in the fourth quarter this year in games that were well in hand. White was usually pulled in the third quarter along with most of the defense. We play a D-line rotation and were very thin at LB all year so often times our starters were rotating for depth reasons, but rarely, if ever, was the entire first team package on the field in these instances. The only reason FSU and UCLA scored as many points as they did against us was the fact that the second and third D was in the game. White didn't even see the field after half-time against ATM and Stoops had our offense taking a knee or running half-speed dives deep in their territory with most of the fourth quarter left to play.
Well I remember the Texas A&M game and the announcers complaining about how your starters were still in the game late in the 4th quarter with the score 77-0.
There may have been SOME starters in the mix, I can't remember specifically down to a man but like I said, we weren't running the first team package on either side of the ball by a long shot. If you heard the announcers then you must have seen the game. OU could have picked their score that day. That last TD was an was a gimmie fumble return and that was half way through the third.
Nothing is as dangerous as an LSU team with something to prove. 2001 Sugar Bowl............. LSU has set offensive records in championship games against Illinois and Georgia under Saban and Jimbo Fisher.
Re: Dangrerous Sooners don't eat much Tiger's do. Re quote, Nothing is as dangerous as a Hungry Tiger At HOMe with something to prove. Mon neg, you come on down here an git you some of dis cajun tigers. We ( LSU ) gonna put something on you dat Boudreaux's homemade lye soap can't git off you, yeah. Then we gonna have some HOT Boudin and cold cous cous wit some plenty of beer on Bourbon St. Come on down sha!
