IRON BOWL 2009: The Numbers Game

(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Anytime a “big game” is on the countdown clock, many fans and “experts” will turn to key players or common opponents in order to decide the outcome of the game in question. However, the ultimate comparisons will always be found in statistics.

Even though the “numbers game” is deemed an irrelevant issue by a sizeable faction of people, statistical "evidence" can be vital. Eleven games can offer some insight in terms of what a given team can seize upon in respect to the other teams deficiencies.


(AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

To kickoff "Iron Bowl 2009," I’ve taken the liberty to dissect Alabama and Auburn in the mathematical sense. No common opponents or key players in this
breakdown…this is strictly the numbers game.

Some stats are glaring and obviously favor Alabama. Judging by the statistical breakdown it’s very easy to see why the betting line favors 'Bama by 11-12 points.

Let’s play the numbers game…Iron Bowl style!

**The numbers 1-12 dictate where each team ranks in a given category in respect to other SEC teams. "1" being FIRST and "12" being LAST.**

SCORING OFFENSE:

1-Auburn 34.0 Points Per Game
4-‘Bama 32.2 Points Per Game

SCORING DEFENSE:

2-‘Bama 9.9 Points Per Game
12-Auburn 27.0 Points Per Game

TOTAL OFFENSE:

3-Auburn 441.5 Yards Per Game
4-‘Bama 418 Yards Per Game

TOTAL DEFENSE:

1-‘Bama 225 Yards Per Game
9-Auburn 359.2 Yards Per Game

RUSHING OFFENSE:

2-‘Bama 225.6 Yards Per Game
3-Auburn 219.5 Yards Per Game


(AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

RUSHING DEFENSE:

1-‘Bama 70.4 Yards Per Game
10-Auburn 169.7 Yards Per Game

PASS OFFENSE:

4-Auburn 221.9 Yards Per Game
8-‘Bama 192.4 Yards Per Game

PASS DEFENSE:

2-‘Bama 154.6 Yards Per Game
9-Auburn 189.5 Yards Per Game

TEAM INTERCEPTIONS: (Made…Not Thrown)

1-‘Bama 18 INTs
5-Auburn 12 INTs

TIME OF POSSESSION:

1-‘Bama 32:56 Per Game
10-Auburn 28:26 Per Game

Individual Stats of Note:

RUSHING:

1-Mark Ingram (UA) 127.2 Yards Per Game
3-Ben Tate (AU) 109.9 Yards Per Game

PASSING:

5-Chris Todd (AU) 199.6 Yards Per Game
7-Greg McElroy (UA) 181.2 Yards Per Game


(AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

ALL PURPOSE YARDS:

3-Mark Ingram (UA) 147.6 Yards Per Game
6-Ben Tate (AU) 130.5 Yards Per Game

As you glance at the stats, four VITAL things stand alone from the rest.

1) The Alabama defense only allows 9.9 points per contest, and the Auburn defense allows 27 points per contest. If you want to find a "glaring" stat...that would certainly be the one. If stats could ever predict a final score...27-9 could very well be the final.

2) Alabama allows only 225 yards per game and Auburn allows 359.
3) Couple that with the fact Auburn is 10th in the SEC in rushing defense (169.7) and 4) 9th in the conference in pass defense (189.5), and you begin to see massive holes on the defensive side of the ball for Auburn.

Mark Ingram will face the 10th "best" defense in the conference in respect to the run (as mentioned above), on Friday afternoon. Auburn gives up an average of 169.7 yards on the ground. Don't be shocked if Ingram has a 200 yard game based on those stats.

This has been IRON BOWL MATH 101...class dismissed.

NOTE: Coming soon...THE "IRON BOWL" vs ALABAMA/AUBURN