Alabama Football: Statistical Proof Tide Should Play KSU in the BCS Title Game

Now that Alabama has escaped what many believed to be the most difficult game on the schedule, the chances of a third BCS title in four years is considerably more realistic.

Three remaining home games and the SEC title game against what will likely be the Georgia Bulldogs are all that stands between the Tide and the title game. Alabama hosts Texas A&M this weekend.

Along with the Tide, Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame also have unblemished records and hope to reach the title game.

If all four manage to complete the regular season undefeated, it is Kansas State that should be facing the Tide in January.

The banter that can be found on various social media sites and message boards over who truly deserves to be ranked at the top of this group has been endless.

Therefore, it feels like a good time to delve deep into the statistics and see how they measure up against each other.

What you are about to see is a list of 38 statistical categories. Within each category, we will list the four teams and their national ranking in that particular department.

Please keep in mind that this is in no way scientific, nor is it meant to be. It is simply a comprehensive list that covers every relevant statistic. Do with it what you will.

At the end, you will see that Alabama and Kansas State have distinct statistical advantages over the Irish and the Ducks, provided that they run the table.

Here goes:

Statistic	Oregon	Kansas State	Alabama	Notre Dame
Scoring Offense	1	5	17	72
Rushing Offense	2	18	24	30
Passing Offense	76	82	81	90
Total Offense	4	41	48	61
Punt Return Avg.	8	2	34	117
KO Ret. Avg	123	4	11	103
Punting Average	113	91	37	71
Field Goal %	110	9	41	42
First Downs/Game	6	27	66	46
Penalty Yards	114	2	14	25
Turnover Margin	18	1	4	20
Sacks	18	41	24	15
Tackles For Loss	22	53	42	76
Interceptions	2	10	8	10
Fumble Recoveries	20	4	39	93
3rd Down %	9	7	50	38
Red Zone %	13	22	3	96
Kickoff Touchback	114	48	32	46
Plays for +10 Yards	2	28	44	69
Runs for +10 Yards	1	12	16	61
Passes +20 Yards	90	30	72	72
Scoring Defense	40	21	1	2
Rushing Defense	38	9	2	11
Passing Defense	69	96	8	21
Total Defense	51	36	2	10
Opp. Punt Returns	11	15	54	74
Opp. Kick Returns	65	95	99	97
1st Down Def.	74	55	1	10
Time of Poss.	101	13	24	11
Sacks Allowed	36	11	72	54
TFL Allowed	109	7	46	35
Passes Defended	3	33	17	77
Fumbles Lost	90	2	61	19
Opp. 3rd Down %	16	59	11	36
Opp. Red Zone %	2	19	3	5
Plays +10 Allowed	52	69	1	17
Runs +10 Allowed	66	12	2	8
Passes +20 Allow	40	24	120	8
Total Score	1729	1113	1231	1748

So what does all of this tell us?

Well, if you look at the bottom row, entitled "total score", you will see that both Alabama and Kansas State are light years ahead of the other two based solely on their cumulative national rankings in individual categories.

Now this does not mention anything at all about strength of schedule. That is certainly another factor to consider, but all four of these teams play quality schedules and determining which is truly the most difficult is a daunting task. It is also worthy of its own article.

Again, for what it is worth, this information tells us that based on the statistics Alabama and Kansas State should play each other for the BCS title if they both end the regular season without a loss.

Before any of this matters, though, there are still some difficult games left on the slate for both of them. Texas A&M and TCU would love to blow up our plans this Saturday by beating 'Bama and Kansas State, respectively.

One game at a time, men, one game at a time.