SEC Stats: Scoring Efficiency Rankings, Week Twelve

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Let’s start with our weekly update on the SEC’s best (and worst) defenses.  As usual, we track only in-conference games to avoid skewing the numbers with non-conference games.

To determine which defenses force opponents to work the hardest to score touchdowns, we tally up all the of the defensive snaps run by each squad, divide that number by the total number of rushing/passing TDs they have allowed, which gives us a simple plays-per-touchdown allowed ratio.

Below are the numbers through Week Twelve of the season.



Pure Defensive Efficiency

Now let’s check out the league’s most productive and least productive offenses.  Again, we’re looking only at the touchdowns tallied in SEC games.

This stat is similar to the one above: total offensive plays run, divided by the total number of passing/rushing touchdowns scored.  That gives us a “pure” plays-per-touchdown number for each team.

Below you’ll find those numbers through Week Twelve of the season.



Pure Offensive Efficiency

Observations:

* Arkansas’ offense is scary good at this point of the season.  The Razorbacks’ big play passing attack is racking up a touchdown every 17 snaps.  That’s an impressive number in any conference, but in the SEC… it’s almost hard to believe.

* Vanderbilt’s offense is just the opposite.  The Commodores finished their season scoring one touchdown every 102 plays in the SEC action.  Again, that’s almost hard to believe.

* Tennessee is just 3-4 in SEC play, but they rank third in the league in offensive and defensive efficiency.  Go figure.

* As good as Arkansas’ offense is, check out that woeful defense.  The Hogs give up scores almost as quickly as the tally them.

* The same goes for Georgia.

* Alabama (#6) and Auburn (#7) have similar offenses, but Bama has a huge advantage on defense.  The Tide’s D ranks #1 in the league while Auburn’s is just #9. 

* Arkansas and LSU should be a pretty good matchup — if LSU can get over last week’s loss at Ole Miss.  The Tigers are #9 in the league on offense, but they should score against Arkansas’ #12 defense.  On the other side of the ball, the Razorbacks’ top-ranked offense will match up with LSU’s #4 defense.

* Tennessee’s banged up #3 defense will be matched up with Kentucky’s #4 offense (which has been aided greatly by the short fields provided by UK’s turnover-forcing defense).  But the Vols hold the advantage when they have the ball.  UT is #3 in offense, while UK is just #8 in the league.

* The Ole Miss offense (#8) should be evenly matched with MSU’s defense (#10).  But the Rebel defense should be the difference.  UM ranks #5 on that side of the ball… while State is just #10 on offense.

* Already looking ahead to the SEC Championship Game?  Alabama is #6 on offense.  Florida is #5.  On defense, the Tide is #1 in the league.  Florida is #2.  Looks like another barnburner in Atlanta this year.

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