[NU Sports] Fantastic statistical analysis

[Alan Abrahamson]

While I research further the efficacy of grief counseling in the aftermath
of the Penn State loss, here is a fantastic statistical comparison from
sippinonpurple.com.

Here's the post and if you feel inclined to comment the link --
http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2010/11/9/1803995/2009-v-2010-which-northwestern-team-is-better-or-why-i-have-some
:

2009 v. 2010? Which Northwestern team is better? (Or why I have some faith
against Iowa/Illinois/Wisconsin...)


"Lately, it seems that Wildcat Nation (well, maybe more like Wildcat
City-State, or Wildcat Vatican/Liechtenstein-esque Principality) has
developed a sense of collective amnesia.  Based on the comments here and
elsewhere, we're terrible and regressing from 2009.

"Quick quiz -- which team is better:

   - Record (thru 9 games, with Iowa/Illinois/Wisconsin remaining):
      - Team A: 5-4
      - Team B: 6-3
   - QBs:
      - Team A: 65% completion rate, 129.3 QB rating, 6.97 yards per passing
      attempt, 16 TD, 12 INTs, 299 yards rushing with 5 rushing TDs (thru 13
      games)
      - Team B: 73% completion rate, 161.0 QB rating, 8.74 yards per passing
      attempt, 13 TDs, 3 INTs, 469 yards rushing with 8 rushing TDs
(thru 9 games)
   - Rushing
      - Team A: 117.8 ypg, leading rusher has 302 yards on the season (13
      games)
      - Team B: 150.3 ypg, leading rusher has 469 yards on the season (9
      games) - 2nd leading rusher has 350 yards on the season
   - Offense:
      - Team A: 25.8 points per game, 404.4 yards per game
      - Team B: 26.0 points per game, 409.8 yards per game
   - Scoring Defense:
      - Team A: Allowing 24.5 points per game
      - Team B: Allowing 21.9 points per game
   - Special Teams
      - Team A: 20.6 yards per kick return, 6.3 yards per punt return, 72.0%
      on FG, 94.6% on XP, 33.0 net yards per punt average
      - Team B: 20.8 yards per kick return, 7.2 yards per punt return, 66.7%
      on FG, 88.9% on XP, 36.8 net yards per punt average

"So, obviously, you've probably figured out that Team A is Northwestern in
2009, and Team B is Northwestern in 2010.

"So why do we think we're terrible this year?  We're DEMONSTRABLY better in
almost EVERY category that matters (save FGs/XPs, where it's not as bad as
it looks), while playing a schedule that is equal to or TOUGHER than last
year's.

"Thoughts? Predictions? Dissenting voices?"