[Husker] Fw: SEC and Big 12 defenses (was "Big 12 bowl lines")

[David Strong]

>To: matthew.a.phillips at gmail.com; husker at tssi.com
>Sent: Monday, December 8, 2008 4:16:21 PM
>Subject: RE: [Husker] Big 12 bowl lines
>
>The knock on the Big 12 has been the lack of defense in the conference
>but I actually see it the opposite, that there are some pretty good
>offenses in the conference, and I'd have to think (at least right now)
>OU is at the top of that list.
>
>I don't think Florida has any idea what they may be in for against OU,
>but odds makers certainly know a heckuva lot more about this stuff than
>I do.
>
>Scott in NY

You're right that Big 12 defenses get no respect.  If you look just at the rankings (total defense only), it's not good.
These are the conference teams Oklahoma played:

Texas - 50
Nebraska - 66
Texas Tech - 72
Missouri - 86
Kansas - 94
Oklahoma State - 99
Texas A&M - 113
Kansas State - 117

Oklahoma's own defense is ranked 65.  The highest ranked defenses OK played were TCU at 2 (w 35-10) and Cincinnatti at 26 (w 52-26)

Florida's conference opponents look like this:

Alabama - 3
Tennessee - 4
South Carolina - 11
Mississippi - 15 (L 31-30)
Georgia - 28
Vanderbilt - 29
LSU - 36
Kentucky - 37
Arkansas - 73

Florida's own defense is ranked 9.  They also played Miami - 25 and Florida State 13.

Now these are only stats and we all know stats can be made to tell whatever story you want.  I watched both teams several times this year.  If I was betting on the game, I would take Florida to cover the 3.

Dave