Started By
Message
locked post

Going for 2-pt When Down by 2 TDs

Posted on 9/9/22 at 12:19 pm
Posted by Non Cajun Tiger
Georgia
Member since Jul 2019
25 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 12:19 pm
A lot of conversation has been dedicated to the last play of the game, but the decision not to go for the 2-pt conversion was much more aggravating to me when LSU scored the second to last touchdown. If you're down by 14 in the 4th quarter and score a touchdown, THAT is when it's logical to go for 2. If you make it, then you just need a PAT to win the game. If you miss it, you still have a chance to go for 2 again and send it to OT.

Brian Kelly brought up analytics when addressing his decision to kick the PAT, so this analytical oversight is even more bothersome.
Posted by Tigerinasia
Natchitoches
Member since Jan 2008
1994 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 12:27 pm to
He was playing for overtime even down two tds.
Posted by hashtag
Comfy, AF
Member since Aug 2005
32493 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 12:48 pm to
quote:

Brian Kelly brought up analytics when addressing his decision to kick the PAT, so this analytical oversight is even more bothersome.

Is it more likely to make 2 extra points, or to make 1 of 2 2pt conversion attempts? Seems like it has to be a fairly high, say 95+ percentile to make 2 extra points. Is it more likely than that to go 1 for 2 on 2pt attempts?
Posted by Box Geauxrilla
Member since Jun 2013
19194 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 1:02 pm to
Making 2 extra points doesn’t allow you to win in regulation. Making 1 of 2 two-point conversions allows you to win in regulation.
Posted by yimbeaux
Texas
Member since Nov 2014
1927 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 1:28 pm to
there is no analytical statistic to back up going for two when down 8. you kick the xpt and cut the lead to 7
Posted by ExpoTiger
Member since Jul 2014
7217 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:14 pm to
quote:

Making 2 extra points doesn’t allow you to win in regulation. Making 1 of 2 two-point conversions allows you to win in regulation.


Lol wut
Posted by Hurricane Rick
Member since Jul 2022
12 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:16 pm to
This is correct. You’re starting to see this often in the NFL, but I’ve yet to see a college coach do this.
Posted by OvertheDwayneBowe
Member since Sep 2016
3454 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:17 pm to
quote:


Is it more likely to make 2 extra points, or to make 1 of 2 2pt conversion attempts? Seems like it has to be a fairly high, say 95+ percentile to make 2 extra points. Is it more likely than that to go 1 for 2 on 2pt attempts?


It's just analytics.

Assumptions:
55% 2 pt conversion rate
99% XP
Call it 50% Overtime win chance since analytics doesn't take momentum into account.

Scenarios:
1. Kick both XPs and play for OT - .99 * .99 * .50 = 49% chance to win.
2. Go for 2 after first TD:

.45 * .45 = 20% chance to lose in regulation
.55 * .99 = 55% chance to win in regulation
.45 * .55 * .50 = 12.5% chance to win in overtime
.45 * .55 * .5 = 12.5% chance to lose in OT


Again. It's in a bubble, but given the assumptions of scoring two TDs in the final minutes down 14 points, the stats show you are more likely to win going for two down 8.

I honestly didn't even think about it at the time.
This post was edited on 9/9/22 at 2:20 pm
Posted by Gabe Rippen
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2016
597 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:17 pm to
he meant to say converting on the first 2 point conversion allows you to win in regulation. you cut it to 6 and just need to make the 2nd XP to win
Posted by bigbenlsu
New Orleans
Member since May 2005
1124 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:18 pm to
LINK

The analytics folks have been saying this for a while, mostly during NFL broadcasts. There are legitimate statistics to back it up. Kelly was never going to do it though.
Posted by Non Cajun Tiger
Georgia
Member since Jul 2019
25 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:21 pm to
True, the safer bet is kicking the extra points. A statistic I would be curious to see is how well teams do in overtime after tying the game from being down by multiple touchdowns.

If the team that was losing has to expend more energy to catch up or use their better plays to score the must-have points, then maybe the tend to do worse in overtime. If the numbers back that up, then I think that impacts the decision of "safe bet to tie vs not-terrible bet to win"
Posted by Broham
Member since Feb 2005
18931 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:22 pm to
quote:

Making 1 of 2 two-point conversions allows you to win in regulation.

Not if you miss the first attempt.
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
60582 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:45 pm to
In a week of shite takes, we waited till Friday to crown the champ.
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:53 pm to
quote:

Going for 2-pt When Down by 2 TDs


that is the dumbest take ever

you want to risk going down an extra score just to avoid a tie that keeps you alive and still in the game

you never go for 2 unless you need the 2 pointers to tie the game
Posted by doubleb
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2006
41636 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 2:56 pm to
quote:

The analytics folks have been saying this for a while, mostly during NFL broadcasts. There are legitimate statistics to back it up. Kelly was never going to do it though.


Doesn’t college scrimmage from the three yard line; while the pros scrimmage from the two on a two point try?

It’s not the same.
Posted by Bjorn Cyborg
Member since Sep 2016
33792 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 3:11 pm to
quote:

there is no analytical statistic to back up going for two when down 8. you kick the xpt and cut the lead to 7


LOL


Going for 2 down 8 points: Why NFL teams keep doing it, and why analytics backs them up


An NFL team is down by 14 points in the fourth quarter, and it scores a touchdown to pull within 8. The consensus says the team should kick the extra point, right? Not so fast.

In analytics circles, attempting a 2-point conversion when down 8 points late in the game has long been discussed as a slam-dunk decision that NFL coaches should make. Recently, it has become a choice that some coaches actually do make.

quote:

Between 2000 and 2017, there were only two instances in which a team was down 14 points, scored a touchdown to cut the deficit to 8 and went for 2 on purpose (excluding aborted PAT attempts). And one was in a snowstorm, when kicking can be adventurous. Since the start of 2018, it has happened 12 times, including the Colts' attempt on Saturday.




Reasonable people can disagree, but to say there is no basis is moronic.
Posted by GoldenGuy
Member since Oct 2015
12694 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 3:12 pm to
quote:

Making 2 extra points doesn’t allow you to win in regulation. Making 1 of 2 two-point conversions allows you to win in regulation.


Only if you win the first.

If you lose the first, you are then playing for a tie, needing a 2 Point to get said tie.
Posted by Non Cajun Tiger
Georgia
Member since Jul 2019
25 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 3:33 pm to
quote:

In a week of shite takes, we waited till Friday to crown the champ.


in a week's worth of takes on Tiger Rant, you think an analytically-backed criticism of Brian Kelly's decision in a pivotal moment of the game is the worst one?

I've heard of babies being dropped on their head, but you clearly were thrown against a wall.
This post was edited on 9/9/22 at 3:43 pm
Posted by Tigers4Lyfe
Member since Nov 2010
6162 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 3:40 pm to
quote:

hat is the dumbest take ever you want to risk going down an extra score just to avoid a tie that keeps you alive and still in the game you never go for 2 unless you need the 2 pointers to tie the game
Actually it's not. What the OP said is accurate and you are starting to see it more and more in the NFL. Because if you are going to go for 2 then you do it on the first touchdown of the two that are needed and not on the second needed touchdown. Doing so that way let's you know how you need to play the rest of the game (by either making or missing the conversion) when there is still time on the clock as opposed to doing it late with little to no time left.
Posted by Non Cajun Tiger
Georgia
Member since Jul 2019
25 posts
Posted on 9/9/22 at 3:41 pm to
quote:

you want to risk going down an extra score just to avoid a tie that keeps you alive and still in the game


you're not risking going down by an extra score, you're risking going down by 8 points instead of 7. Just as many scores away from tying.

Don't feel bad though, I frequently have to clarify the rules of football to my wife who, like you, has struggles keeping up with all the nuances.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram