LSU v Clemson - 2012 Team Rankings In Off & Def Categories

Here is a quick glimpse of the 2012 regular season NCAA rankings of LSU & Clemson.

The format below lists the Category, then the NCAA Ranking/Stat for each team with LSU listed first, followed by Clemson. The stat uses a per game number.

*****OFFENSE*****
CAT..............LSU....CLEM
RUSH O.....45/179.....34/198
PASS O......90/207.....13/319
TOT O........78/387.....9/518
SCOR O......T-54/30.....6/42
O SACKS....T-77/2.1.....T-77/2.1

*****DEFENSE*****
CAT..............LSU....CLEM
RUSH D.....9/101.....62/160
PASS D......19/194.....81/250
TOT D........8/296.....74/411
SCOR D.....11/16.9.....47/24.9
D SACKS.....T-29/2.5.....T-36/2.3
TFL*..........T-30/6.5.....T-30/6.5
T/O**.........8/+1.25.......48/+.25

* TACKLE FOR LOSS
** TURNOVER MARGIN

To no ones surprise, Clemson leads LSU big in all of the offensive categories except sacks allowed, where we are tied. LSU leads even bigger in all of the defensive categories except TFLs, where we are also tied.

inb4 Captain Obvious: Per Sagarin poll, LSUs schedule outclassed Clemsons schedule by a 28-68 margin. So Clemsons offensive output could be deflated by playing a much softer schedule.

LSU averages +1.25 TOs per game to Clemsons +.25.

If LSU ends up with at least a +1 TO margin in this game, I think we win easily.

The real unknown is whether or not our draft eligble players - and there are alot - decide to use this game as a "showcase game" or a "try not to get hurt game".

I think that they will attempt to put some skins on the wall, like Ricky Jean-Francois & Marquise Hill did in their final games.

Should be fun!