Daily Blog •Tuesday, December 15th
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Each and every day at PhilSteele.com I will be giving you more information and stats on all 34 bowl games so you can become an expert on each bowl matchup. Today’s blog will go over net yards for each of the 68 bowl teams.

Last year the top 3 teams with the biggest net yard ranking advantage all won their bowl game.

1. Armed Forces: Houston (8) vs Air Force (63) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 55 Final: Houston 34-28 Win
2. International: Connecticut (16) vs Buffalo (65) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 49 Final: Uconn 38-20 Win
3. Capital One: Georgia (11) vs Michigan St (56) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 45 Final Georgia 24-12 Win

Below is a list of statistical averages for all of this season’s bowl teams when they faced other bowl eligible teams. They are ranked in order of net yard differential. (Net yards are figured by taking the total offense yards per game-total defense yards per game)

Bowl Teams vs Bowl Teams

  TEAM
OFF
RUSH
RUSH
PASS
PASS
DEF
RUSH
RUSH
PASS
PASS
NET
PTS
YPG
YPC
YPG
%
PTS
YPG
YPC
YPG
%
YDS
1 TCU
35.2
235
4.9
212.2
58.5
14.3
98.2
3.02
165.2
46.9
183.8
2 Florida
30.1
215.4
5.3
205.9
66.1
13.6
110.1
3.24
151.1
51.3
160.1
3 Texas
33.8
134.5
3.7
261
65.7
15.3
75.4
2.3
204.3
57.5
115.9
4 Alabama
27
189.6
4.6
196.4
57.7
13.2
89.6
3.2
183.9
47.8
112.6
5 Pittsburgh
29
188
4.7
218.1
63.5
21.7
105
3.4
196.1
55.8
105
6 Texas Tech
33.9
91.7
3.7
382.9
69.3
25.1
153.9
3.8
231
61.5
89.7
7 Penn St
24
149.8
4.1
230.2
57.8
13
114.5
3.5
176.2
53.1
89.3
8 Oregon
34.4
224.4
5.4
203.4
57.9
25.1
128.8
3.5
213.5
55.3
85.5
9 Boise St
45.2
208.6
5.7
242.4
64.9
22.8
179
5
188.6
52.7
83.4
10 Cincinnati
36.1
143.7
5.2
320.4
65.1
25.7
172.6
4
209.9
59.5
81.7
11 Houston
37.7
119.7
4.1
416.2
69.9
32.7
184.2
4.6
270.7
63.9
81
12 Oklahoma
24.5
117.3
3.4
259.9
55.8
17.8
110.3
3.2
189.3
57.3
77.6
13 Miami, Fl
27.3
134.5
3.7
254.6
60.7
24
128.3
3.5
188.1
53.8
72.8
14 BYU
27.5
121.5
3.7
284.2
65.7
24.8
163.2
4.2
172.2
54.3
70.3
15 Mississippi
21.7
200.5
4.9
187
51.2
21.3
104
3.3
213.3
47.8
70.2
16 Virginia Tech
28.4
201.6
4.8
150.6
51.9
16.4
163.1
4.2
138.6
44.7
50.5
17 Idaho
31.3
184
5.1
304.8
63.9
48.8
235.3
6.2
207.8
72.8
45.8
18 West Virginia
25
181.3
4.6
203.5
62.8
22.9
119.9
3.5
223.4
50.6
41.5
19 Oregon St
30.6
122.1
3.5
304.1
68.5
29.3
137.7
4.3
248.3
60.8
40.3
20 Arizona
27.6
144.6
4.5
247.1
63.3
25.1
126.9
3.9
225.6
57.1
39.3
21 Missouri
23.7
118.4
3.5
254.1
57.2
25.4
125.9
3.4
214.9
63.2
31.9
22 Ohio St
27.7
177.5
4.4
155.2
54.8
16
114.7
3.2
187
54.4
31
23 Wisconsin
26.4
161.7
3.9
219.4
62.4
27.6
94.4
3.1
257
58.6
29.7
24 Iowa
20.5
109.5
3.1
187.1
51.7
12.1
128.3
3.5
142.4
47
26
25 Tennessee
24.1
146.9
4
197.8
54.2
22.3
149.8
4.4
175
55.3
19.9
26 South Carolina
20.5
96.6
3
244.8
52.9
25.3
147.3
4.1
179.9
56.8
14.3
27 Central Michigan
22.3
145.8
4.2
222.5
65.9
21.3
125.2
4
232.5
59.7
10.7
28 Georgia Tech
30.1
280.1
5
113.1
42.5
28.3
191.9
5.8
193.3
61
8.1
29 Clemson
28.8
161.4
4.5
198.1
53.3
24.9
180.6
4.2
174.5
50.5
4.4
30 Northwestern
20.2
93
2.8
265
66.8
26.8
117.4
3.4
238.4
58.4
2.2
31 Fresno St
26
216.4
5.1
230
62.5
37.2
247
7.5
198.2
60.7
1.2
32 Stanford
38.4
217.1
5.2
232.3
54.2
33.1
161.3
5
287.7
67.2
0.4
33 Air Force
17.9
223.7
3.8
75
43
17.7
141.3
3.7
159.3
60.1
-1.9
34 S Mississippi
29
167.8
4.5
267.3
57.2
28.5
101
3.4
336
65
-2
35 Nebraska
14
115
3.2
143
49.2
12.4
82.4
2.3
177.7
48
-2.1
36 Oklahoma St
25
178.6
4
162.9
56.2
24.5
95.5
3.1
252.9
57.3
-6.9
37 North Carolina
23
118.7
3.4
182.3
61.5
19.3
113.6
3.2
197.3
59
-9.9
38 USC
26.3
148.3
4.4
224.1
58.9
26.4
167.6
4.7
222.9
53.5
-18.1
39 Arkansas
32.8
123.7
3.9
287
54.8
27.9
144.8
4
287.8
60.6
-21.9
40 Connecticut
26.1
153.4
4.1
228.3
55.4
26.5
148
4
255.6
64.8
-22
41 Bowling Green
20.3
61.8
2.3
308.3
62.2
29.2
201.7
5.6
191.2
64
-22.7
42 Georgia
26.7
146.2
4.4
202.7
53.8
32.2
148.2
3.8
228
61.1
-27.3
43 Utah
24
106.6
3.4
195.2
53
27.6
199
4.2
130.2
50.8
-27.4
44 Nevada
35.2
311.6
7
132.8
55
33.8
124.6
3.7
354.8
64.8
-35
45 California
22.6
153.1
4.1
200.3
50.7
27.7
134.1
4
259.3
60.1
-40
46 Auburn
24
167.4
4.1
186.1
55.2
28.1
180.5
4.7
216.3
55.3
-43.3
47 Florida St
28
118.4
3.8
288.3
68.4
33
216.3
5.7
235.1
59.8
-44.8
48 Rutgers
23.2
88.5
2.6
211.8
51.4
21.5
148
3.9
197.2
54.9
-44.8
49 Michigan St
24.6
99
3.7
278
59
30.4
126.6
3.4
295.4
65.2
-45
50 LSU
20.8
104.3
3.1
191.5
60.5
19.2
144.5
3.8
196.7
55.2
-45.3
51 Marshall
17.9
136.1
3.8
184.1
51.6
26.6
146.3
4.4
228.4
59.1
-54.4
52 Temple
19.3
163.8
4.4
120
38.2
25.8
191
4.2
149.8
64.6
-57
53 Navy*
23.7
232.3
4.3
72
44.8
25.7
162
4.7
199.8
58.9
-57.5
54 Texas A&M
28.6
149.4
3.7
273.3
56.9
42.7
191.1
4.9
292.7
65.1
-61.1
55 UCLA
16.6
100.8
3.3
200.5
52.6
24.8
168.9
4.2
193.6
63.1
-61.3
56 Ohio
27.7
113.2
3.8
223.8
57.4
27
169.2
4.1
237.3
53.6
-69.5
57 USF
16.4
142.6
3.8
158.7
45.9
27.4
152.4
4.1
219.7
59.2
-70.9
58 East Carolina
20.5
123.9
3.6
208.8
57
24.1
129.5
4.1
275.9
63.9
-72.8
59 Boston College
18.2
97.8
3.1
164.7
46
25.8
125.2
3.2
215.8
62.9
-78.5
60 Middle Tennessee
10.5
100.5
3.1
226
50.1
34
233
4.9
175
52.9
-81.5
61 Northern Illinois
28.3
117
3.6
217.8
64
36.3
179.8
4.8
237.5
67.2
-82.5
62 SMU
24.6
98.2
3.8
226.2
52.4
34
231.8
4.7
176.8
61.2
-84.2
63 Minnesota
19.1
83.1
2.8
217.8
53.5
25.9
176
4.2
215.5
60.1
-90.6
64 Iowa St
15.4
148.1
4.1
164.9
55.2
25.6
206.4
4.7
218.9
63.8
-112
65 UCF
16.8
70.7
2.2
213.3
56.1
26.5
84.2
2.5
320.5
65.4
-121
66 Kentucky
22
165
4
121.3
47.7
29.7
222.7
5
186.7
53.1
-123
67 Troy
17.8
120
3.7
218.3
56.6
37.5
159.3
4.6
340.3
67.5
-161
68 Wyoming
6
86.4
2.7
124
49.4
34
239.2
4.9
209.2
66.9
-238

Here are this year’s top 10 differences in net yard rankings

1. Alamo: Texas Tech (6) vs Michigan St (49) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 43
1. Capital One: Penn St (7) vs LSU (50) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 43
3. GMAC: Central Michigan (27) vs Troy (67) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 40
4. New Mexico: Fresno St (31) vs Wyoming (68) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 37
4. Music City: Clemson (29) vs Kentucky (66) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 37
6. Meinke Car Car: Pitt (5) vs North Carolina (37) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 32
6. Texas: Missouri (21) vs Navy (53) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 32
8. Gator: West Virginia (18) vs Florida St (47) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 29
9. New Orleans: Southern Miss (34) vs Middle Tennessee (60) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 26
10. Humanitarian: Idaho (17) vs Bowling Green (41) Net Yard Ranking Difference: 24

The Alamo Bowl has the biggest net yard difference ranking as the Red Raiders rank #6 having outgained their bowl opponents by 89.7 ypg while the Spartans rank #49 having been outgained by their opponents by 45.0 ypg. Despite the matchup between two storied schools coming from BCS conferences, the Nittany Lions are #7 outgaining opponents by 89.3 ypg while LSU at #50 has actually been outgained by its bowl opponents by 45.3 ypg.  Central Michigan at #27 has been very impressive vs bowl teams including a 418-316 advantage over Michigan St in their 29-27 win. The Chippewas outgained their opponents by 10.7 ypg while Troy who is second to last among bowl teams were outgained by 161.3 ypg.

Sometimes the difference in ranking is not enough when evaluating the difference. Last year USC was #1 in Net Yards and they took on Penn St who was #9 in Net yards and while there was only a ranking difference of 8, USC actually had a 123.9 net yard advantage which was the fifth biggest difference.

Last year the top five teams with the biggest net yard differences went 4-1 in their bowl game.  Net Yards in ()

  1. Armed Forces: Houston (86.7) vs Air Force (-89.5) Net Yard Difference: 176.2 Final: Houston 34-28 Win
  2. International: Connecticut (45.0) vs Buffalo (-102.8) Net Yard Difference: 147.8 Final: Uconn 38-20 Win
  3. Capital One: Georgia (74.5) vs Michigan St (-62.0) Net Yard Difference: 136.5 Final: Georgia 24-12 Win
  4. Liberty: East Carolina (-20.1) vs Kentucky (-147.2) Net Yard Difference: 127.1 Final: Kentucky 25-19 Loss
  5. Rose: USC (208.3) vs Penn St (84.4) Net Yard Difference: 123.9 Final: USC 38-24 Win

Each of the bowl teams who came in to the game with a significant net yard advantage outgained their opponent. Houston had a 415-352 yard advantage in their win over Air Force. Connecticut dominated with a 407-237 yard advantage over Buffalo including a 358-24 yard rush edge. Georgia had a 331-236 yard edge over the Spartans and despite the loss East Carolina had a 397-310 yard advantage  over Kentucky. USC dominated Penn St early with a 31-7 lead at the half until Penn St got a couple of TDs late.

This year there are 7 teams who have a Net Yard Difference advantage of 100+. Net Yards in ()

  1. New Mexico: Fresno St (1.2) vs Wyoming (-238.0) Net Yard Difference: 239.2
  2. GMAC: Central Michigan (10.7) vs Troy (-161.3) Net Yard Difference: 172
  3. Alamo: Texas Tech (89.7) vs Michigan St (-45.0) Net Yard Difference: 134.7
  4. Capital One: Penn St (89.3) vs LSU (-45.3) Net Yard Difference: 134.6
  5. Music City: Clemson (4.4) vs Kentucky (-123.0) Net Yard Difference: 127.4
  6. Meineke Car Care: Pittsburgh (105.0) vs North Carolina (-9.9) Net Yard Difference: 114.9
  7. Fiesta: TCU (183.8) vs Boise St (83.4) Net Yard Difference: 100.4

In the December 8 Blog, I mentioned that many of Wyomings stats are not typical of most bowl teams and here they face the biggest net yard difference disadvantage of any bowl team. Central Michigan despite playing in the MAC has fared well against bowl teams and has a 172 net yard advantage over Troy. Pittsburgh has an impressive 114.9 net yard advantage over North Carolina as the Panthers have outgained their bowl opponents by 105.0 ypg. Despite both teams being 12-0, the Fiesta Bowl has the #7 Net Yard difference with TCU outgaining their bowl opponents by an NCAA best 183.8 ypg while Boise St has outgained their bowl opponents by 83.4 ypg.

Don’t forget to join my “Bowl Confidence Contest”that has great cash prizes!! Check out the homepage for more details. Picks are due by Saturday December 19th at 4:30 pm EST.

Also make sure to check PhilSteele.com everyday for complete information and coverage on all the bowl matchups. On the homepage click on the Bowl matchups link, where you will find all 34 bowl games. Click on the bowl logo for each game to get all the information you need to become an expert!