Week 3 in the SEC (NCAAF Week 6)

[Escambia94]

It sucks losing a winnable game, but need I remind all three fans on this site (thanks, Mom) that pre-season pundits predicted this game to be a loss for the Gators. The statistics show that the defense is an absolute liability for the Gators. On offense, the Gators have the #3 most efficient offense in the nation this week, but the defense is #75 of 76 this week, #72 of 76 teams cumulative to this point!

In terms of offensive efficiency, the rankings would be as follows (points per play):

1. Alabama
2. Coastal Carolina
3. Florida
4. BYU
5. Texas
6. Houston
7. Virginia Tech
8. North Carolina
9. Ole Miss
10. SMU

The bad news is that in terms of defense inefficiency the rankings would be as follows (points per play allowed):

1. Ole Miss
2. North Texas
3. Kansas
4. Texas A&M
5. ULM
6. Missouri
7. East Carolina
8. Southern Miss
9. Virginia Tech
10. Navy
11. Louisville
12. TCU
13. Temple
14. FSU
15. Vanderbilt
16. Texas Tech
17. Oklahoma
18. Louisiana Tech
19. MTSU
20. Arkansas State
21. South Alabama
22. Western Kentucky
23. Houston
24. USF
25. LSU
26. South Carolina
27. Charlotte
28. Virginia
29. Tulane
30. Florida

The combined offensive and defensive efficiency rankings are as follows:

1. Georgia
2. South Carolina
3. Alabama
4. Kentucky
5. Tennessee
6. Florida
   
7. Mississippi State
8. Ole Miss
9. Texas A&M
10. LSU

The official NCAA statistical rankings for Total Offense in SEC are as follows:

1. Ole Miss 2
   
2. Alabama 3
   
3. LSU 17
   
4. Florida 18
   
5. Texas A&M 19
   
6. Mississippi State 25
   
7. Georgia 34
   
8. Missouri 36
   
9. South Carolina 48
   
10. Kentucky 56
11. Tennessee 63
12. Arkansas 66
13. Auburn 67
14. Vanderbilt 75

The official NCAA statistical rankings for Total Defense in SEC are as follows:

1. Georgia 2
   
2. Mississippi State 12
   
3. South Carolina 18
   
4. Kentucky 23
   
5. Tennessee 31
   
6. Texas A&M 39
   
7. Arkansas 43
   
8. Auburn 48
   
9. Missouri 53
   
10. Vanderbilt 58
    
11. Alabama 65
    
12. LSU 71
    
13. Florida 72
    
14. Ole Miss 76

All of this analysis really does show how much the defense is hurting Florida; however, there are some comparisons that show how there is hope for Florida. Texas A&M's schedule was front-loaded, so expect their statistical rankings to increase. Texas' talent and expected offensive/defensive performance are comparable to Florida's, and Texas's stats have gone from being top-3 to middle-of-the-pack.

Florida will learn a lot about its ability to compete for the SEC East and a CFP playoff spot in its next two home games against LSU and Missouri--two teams heading in opposite directions--before the Gators meet up against Georgia in the WLOCP.