Tale of the Tape: LSU vs Arkansas (all the stats you could ever want)

Scoring:
LSU Offense 37.9 ppg (14th nationally)
Arkansas Offense 39.3 ppg (13th nationally)
vs.
Arkansas Defense 21.1 ppg (30th nationally)
LSU Defense 10.0 ppg (2nd nationally)

Rushing:
LSU Offense 209.5 yards/game (21st nationally) 29 touchdowns
Arkansas Offense 146.4 yards/game (73rd nationally) 25 touchdowns
vs.
Arkansas Defense 164.2 yards/game (70th nationally) 17 touchdowns
LSU Defense 89.6 yards/game (4th nationally) 6 touchdowns

Passing:
LSU Offense QB Rating of 159.36 (10th nationally) and 167.6 yards (103rd nationally)
Arkansas Offense QB Rating of 148.75 (25th nationally) and 317.0 yards (10th nationally)
vs.
Arkansas Defense QB Rating Against 112.69 (17th nationally) and 196.1 yards (28th nationally)
LSU Defense QB Rating Against 92.35 (2nd nationally) and 158.2 yards (5th nationally)

Sacks:
LSU Offense 11 sacks allowed (14th nationally)
Arkansas Offense 20 sacks allowed (58th nationally)
vs.
Arkansas Defense 20 sacks (61st nationally)
LSU Defense 27 sacks (23rd nationally)

Tackles for Loss:
LSU Offense allowed 47 tackles for loss (12th nationally)
Arkansas Offense allowed 65 tackles for loss (71st nationally)
vs.
Arkansas Defense with 64 tackles for loss (53rd nationally)
LSU Defense with 80 tackles for loss (15th nationally)

Turnover Margin:
LSU +18 (1st nationally)
vs.
Arkansas +1 (53rd nationally)

3rd Down Conversion:
LSU Offense 47.4 % (21st nationally)
Arkansas Offense 41.6 % (59th nationally)
vs.
Arkansas Defense 35.3 % (26th nationally)
LSU Defense 34.2 % (21st nationally)

Redzone Touchdown Conversion:
LSU Offense 74.5 % (7th nationally) 51 trips
Arkansas Offense 63.5 % (29th nationally) 52 trips
vs.
Arkansas Defense 61.5 % (72nd nationally) 26 trips
LSU Defense 52.6 % (27th nationally) 19 trips

Time of Possession:
LSU 32:20 (15th)
vs.
Arkansas 28:44 (86th)

Punt Returns:
LSU 9.7 yards per return (41st nationally) and 0 touchdowns
Arkansas 12.79 yards per return (16th nationally) and 3 touchdowns
vs.
Arkansas has allowed 11.0 yards per return (98th nationally) 21 returns, 1 touchdown
LSU has allowed 0.5 yards per return (4th nationally) 13 returns, 0 touchdowns

Kickoff Returns:
LSU 22.4 yards per return (48th nationally) and 1 touchdown
Arkansas 24.3 yards per return (16th nationally) and 2 touchdowns
vs.
Arkansas allowing 22.6 yards per return (79th nationally) and 0 touchdowns
LSU allowing 20.4 yards per return (40th nationally) and 0 touchdowns

Field Goals:
LSU 87.5 % (4th nationally) 14 of 16
vs.
Arkansas 73.9 % (42nd nationally) 17 of 23

Commentary:
What I gleen from this information is that the few categories where Arkansas has a strength, it is counteracted by an even stronger force by LSU (e.g., Arkansas passing game vs LSU defense, Arkansas punt returns vs Brad Wing).

Arkansas' pass defense is actually quite good, but LSU won't pass it enough to be a factor. Conversely, LSU has such a huge advantage in the ball control aspect of this game, taking Arkansas' vaunted passing game out of rhythm.

If I am an Arkansas fan, these stats are depressing.

 

Two teams actually have allowed -2 yards on only 6 returns. The 3rd team has allowed 5 yards on 11 returns. I still remember the 7 yard return in the Kentucky game. We missed the first tackle that would have resulted in no gain. Otherwise LSU might be looking at -1 yards total on the season.

LSU has scored only 1.4 points less per game than Arkansas.

This is what I think will be the telling part of the game and what makes it a comfortable win for LSU.

Time of possession. This year, LSU is much better than Arkansas in that regard. Works to LSU's favor, especially in the 4th quarter.

 

they lost 10 fumbles on the year, so that would have to be a concern of theirs with LSU's defense being turnover hungry and very good at stripping the ball from you

Wilson does a very good job protecting the ball, with only 6 interceptions on the season. They were 7th in the nation in interception percentage (1.44 %) behind only Houston (0.8 %), N. Illinois (1.25 %), LSU (1.36 %), W. Virginia (1.40 %), Wyoming (1.42 %) and Michigan State (1.43 %).

Notice WVU is on the list in 4th place. They had only 6 interceptions on the year, but LSU had 2 of them.

Same thing with Arkansas and Alabama. Arkansas with only 6 interceptions on the year, but 2 big ones thrown to Alabama.

Even as great as these guys were at protecting the ball (less than 1 percent against everyone else except LSU/Alabama), they were forced into bad throws that turned those games around.

 

It's a fraudulent team when you're talking #3 team in the nation.

Top 15, sure.

Top 10, maybe.

Top 3, good God no.