How untested is Alabama relative to LSU? A look at some statistics.

So, I've gone and compiled "important" statistics to get a snapshot of each team's season to this point. (FBS ranks are out of 129 teams, FCS ranks are out of 124.)

In the below image you will see Bama's and LSU's opponents with their total offense, scoring offense, total defense, and scoring defense rankings next to them. Then there is the average of all these rankings for each team's schedule. I have also included an average number for LSU excluding the Southeastern stats in case anyone was curious since they are a FCS team. Finally, there are the numbers for the next team on their schedule, which will be LSU for Bama and Bama for LSU.

Clearly, Texas A&M has been the best all around team Bama has played so far, and is really the only team with a pulse on defense. Alabama looks to have played better offensive teams, on paper and by yardage, than LSU has, but these arguments can always be "chicken or the egg" arguments (i.e. LSU has played way better defenses, so that may affect LSU's offensive numbers). Though, Alabama has still put up good defensive numbers against some statistically good offenses. On the flip side, LSU has faced far better defenses than Alabama has, once again "chicken or the egg."

I usually like to take these numbers, well the average yardages and whatnot, then compare to a game by game result to see how LSU did vs. the opponent's average. Meaning, did LSU hold them below their averge, etc.?

Anyway, thought I'd start a by the numbers talk. Feel free to include stats that you feel are important or provide a better picture of how the teams stack up.



Source: NCAA stats page

Edit to add: I had a goof in the original run, as I included a "T" for those that were tied in the rankings, which meant those numbers weren't averaged. Seems I also had a goof when excluding Southeastern. All table images should be up to date with those numbers now.

Updated to include pass efficiency defense and passing yards allowed.