BCS Championship Preview: Are Sam Bradford's Numbers Legitimate?

Throughout the course of the 2008 football year, Oklahoma has scorched their opponents for an NCAA record 702 points. Sam Bradford has thrown 48 touchdowns and to the end the season had five straight games of scoring at least 60 points. 

However, when you look at their schedule you have to wonder how much of a feat it really is and how will they fair when they face a good defense.

Here is a list in order of games played (minus Chattanooga) and the corresponding defense.

Cincinnati No. 26
Washington No. 111
TCU No. 2
Baylor No. 88
Texas No. 51
Kansas No. 95
Kansas St No. 118
Nebraska No. 66
Texas A&M No. 114
Texas Tech No. 72
Oklahoma St No. 87
Missouri No. 101

Outside of the TCU game, in which Oklahoma scored 35 points, the highest ranked defense was ranked 26.  That wonderful 60 point run, in which Bradford stayed in most of the fourth quarter: 66, 114, 72, 87, and 101.

While I will not take anything away from Sam Bradford and his Heisman trophy it is hard to look at his statistics and look at the inflation of his numbers.

468 yards passing against number No. 95 Kansas? 370 against No. 87 Oklahoma State? 372 against No. 88 Baylor?

Those numbers become easier in blowouts right? Sam Bradford played in the 4th quarter for each of the following games: Chattanooga (57-2), Cincinnati (52-26), Washington (55-14), TCU (35-10), Baylor (49-17), Texas (35-45), Kansas (45-31), Kansas State (58-35), Texas Tech (65-21), Oklahoma State (61-41) and Missouri (62-21).  I wonder what Randy Shannon would have said about them running up the score?

Sure Sam Bradford had 4,464 yards passing, but other Big XII quarterbacks had similar numbers.  Graham Harrell had 4,747 yards. Chase Daniel had 4,135. Colt McCoy had 3,445.

Moreover, the Big XII completed an average a 65.4 percent of his passes, seven percent higher than the FBS average. Texas completes 77.6% of their passes, Missouri 72.4%, Texas Tech 71% and Nebraska 69.5%. Matthew Stafford by comparison only completed 61.3 percent of his passes.  

What does all of this prove?

That while Sam Bradford did perfom remarkably this season his numbers were highly inflated against poor defenses.  While Oklahoma averaged 54 points a game the average defense was ranked only 77.58.

The Florida Gators will provide quite the challenge for Sam Bradford.  UF is ranked No. 9 in total defense and No. 3 in total offense. 

But Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 in total offense!

Yeah, but UF has played:

Alabama No. 3
Tennessee No. 4
South Carolina No. 12
FSU No. 14
Miss No. 15
Miami No. 23
UGA No. 28
Vandy No. 29
LSU No. 35
Kentuck No. 37
Arkansas No. 73

In the end we won't know until January 8th how Sam Bradford and the Oklahoma Sooners will perform against the Florida Gators.  But can we guess? Sure.

Gators 48

Oklahoma 24