NDSU vs JMU

[KNOW IT ALL]

JMU pass defense this, JMU pass defense that...ok. NDSU's pass defense is just as good, if not better.

Book it predictions:

1. NDSU 24 - JMU 10.
2. Tatemosersneighbor will have an encounter with Frisco/Plano/DFW police.
3. JMU fans are going to start complaining Sunday on message boards about "it was ridiculous how the Frisco bars/restaurants/hotels were all about NDSU."
4. JUM fans will say "those obnoxious NDSU fans weren't BS'ing about their tailgating."
5. Most JMU fans will also say "we played our worst game of the year" while not giving NDSU any credit into forcing them into their worst game of the year.
6. NDSU guys will continue to go to Tight Ends and Wild Pitch, and other NDSU guys will call them creepy. This will continue, until forever.
7. I will get more pissed off today and tomorrow with every FB, Twitter, and Bisonville update about how much fun everyone is having in Frisco.
8. The Bisonville gameday thread will have a couple of people having complete meltdowns and saying "RUN THE DAMN BALL."

Your are aware that JMU fans will most likely cheer for JMU, Right?

[NoDak]

Statistical Comparison

Statistic: NDSU rank/JMU rank
Total Offense 8/21
Rushing Offense: 4/19
Passing Offense: 88/41
Passing Efficiency: 4/18
Scoring Offense: 2/8

Total Defense: 1/3
Rushing Defense: 7/6
Passing Yds Allowed: 3/12
Passing Effic Def: 2/1
Scoring Defense: 2/1

Turnover Margin: 7/1
3rd Down Pct: 8/29
4th Down Pct: 5/43
3rd Down Pct Def: 3/8
4th Down Pct Def: 22/42

Red Zone Offense: 21/22
Red Zone Defense: 22/10

Net Punting: 43/11
Punt Returns: 83/14
Kickoff Returns: 14/36

First Down Offense: 5/4
First Down Defense: 9/44
Fewest Penalties/Game: 17/75
Fewest Penalty yds/Game: 8/94

Summary: That's pretty dang even.

How big are the actual differences? For instance, I remember one time where in a 30 team league in one stat the difference between #1 and #2 was MORE THAN the difference between #2 and #27. Not saying that is necessarily the case here, but dealing strictly in comparing "rankings" can be tricky.

[tony]

Kansas St. -- Worst game of the year
Iowa St. -- Worst game of the year
Iowa -- Worst game of the year
JSU -- Worst game of the year
SHSU -- Worst game of the year everytime they play NDSU

Minnesota (respectively): Worst game of the year, Worst game in the history of the program, Worst game in the history of football.

[bcp_JMu]

I come in peace... good to be in TX!

Your turnout is impressive... purple is headed this way despite the storm...

Gonna be one hell of a game - hoping for OTs that never end... nobody is winning by more than 10 - good luck and go Dukes!

[NoDak]

Kansas St. -- Worst game of the year
Iowa St. -- Worst game of the year
Iowa -- Worst game of the year
JSU -- Worst game of the year
SHSU -- Worst game of the year everytime they play NDSU

EXACTLY! I actually got into a conversation with an Iowa fan who insisted "That's probably how NDSU wins all their FBS games. The team is looking ahead to playing their next opponent and goes out and has their worst game of the year. It is the ONLY POSSIBLE explanation for how NDSU can beat an FBS team."

[NoDak]

Minnesota (respectively): Worst game of the year, Worst game in the history of the program, Worst game in the history of football.

Good thing it went in that order. If it had been "Worst game in the history of Football, Worst game in the history of the program" would have been awkward. Kind of the "Best donuts in town, best donuts in the state, best donuts in the country, best donuts on the block" thing going on.

[NoDak]

I come in peace... good to be in TX!

Your turnout is impressive... purple is headed this way despite the storm...

Gonna be one hell of a game - hoping for OTs that never end... nobody is winning by more than 10 - good luck and go Dukes!

Good luck to you as well. Predicting final scores is tricky. I didn't think JMU would beat SDSU by more than 2 scores. Weird things happen sometimes.

[Milkman]

Minnesota (respectively): Worst game of the year, Worst game in the history of the program, Worst game in the history of football.

Wait, are you describing UM's football program in general?

[moosbah]

JMU pass defense this, JMU pass defense that...ok. NDSU's pass defense is just as good, if not better.

Book it predictions:

1. NDSU 24 - JMU 10.
2. Tatemosersneighbor will have an encounter with Frisco AND Plano AND DFW police.
3. JMU fans are going to start complaining Sunday on message boards about "it was ridiculous how the Frisco bars/restaurants/hotels were all about NDSU."
4. JUM fans will say "those obnoxious NDSU fans weren't BS'ing about their tailgating."
5. Most JMU fans will also say "we played our worst game of the year" while not giving NDSU any credit into forcing them into their worst game of the year.
6. NDSU guys will continue to go to Tight Ends and Wild Pitch, and other NDSU guys will call them creepy. This will continue, until forever.
7. I will get more pissed off today and tomorrow with every FB, Twitter, and Bisonville update about how much fun everyone is having in Frisco.
8. The Bisonville gameday thread will have a couple of people having complete meltdowns and saying "RUN THE DAMN BALL."

FIFY 10 char***

[tony]

How big are the actual differences? For instance, I remember one time where in a 30 team league in one stat the difference between #1 and #2 was MORE THAN the difference between #2 and #27. Not saying that is necessarily the case here, but dealing strictly in comparing "rankings" can be tricky.

Well, with 123 teams, the differences are much finer.

Take the scoring stuff: NDSU's average game has been 40.3-11.5, JMU's has been 35.93-10.71. That's the difference between 2nd/2nd for NDSU and 8th/1st for JMU. Pretty much a wash when you are top 10 in anything playing a CAA or MVFC schedule.

The difference in rushing defense is 1.8 yards per game in JMU's favor but the "per rush" difference is almost .3 yards per carry in their favor (which seems more significant to me.)