BCS Time for Talk

[Wesley]

Defense optional for top two as we hit stretch run - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com

Oregon is currently 35th in total defense. Auburn is worse, 57th. If those rankings hold, it would mark the worst pair of defenses to have played in a BCS title game. In each of the previous 12 games, at least one participant finished in the top 10 in total defense. In five of those games, both teams finished in the top eight. You don't have to be told again that offense has taken over the game, but this year's numbers suggest that trend has become dominance.
To date this season, teams have averaged 27.8 points per game, according to the NCAA. That number would mark the second-highest scoring season in history. The record of 28.4 was set in 2007. After a brief two-season lull, we're back. The current numbers suggest we're also headed for all-time highs in average yards per rush (4.33), yards per play (5.62) and pass completion percentage (59.99).
Yards per completion and touchdowns per game are headed for the second-highest in history.
First, the dual-threat quarterback changed the game. This year the run-pass quarterback revolutionized it, if you consider Michigan's plight alone. Rich Rodriguez can game plan all he wants. Michigan's chances each week come down to the effectiveness of one-man team Denard Robinson. Oregon is more of a complete team, but would the Ducks be at this point if Darron Thomas hadn't turned out to be, arguably, better than the man he replaced, Jeremiah Masoli? You don't have to be told about War Cam Eagle at Auburn.

And then there was the son of a former ISU player.

 

[Gonzo]

Defense optional for top two as we hit stretch run - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com



And then there was the son of a former ISU player.

Typical Dennis Dodd genius. Michigan's problems have nothing to do with Denard Robinson. Michigan's problem is that my nephew's middle school team could drive the ball and score on them consistently. Their defense is an absolute joke.

I think the fact that the last five national champions have ranked #2, #4, #17, #7, and #8 in scoring defense is evidence enough that defense does and likely will always matter. It's not as if the running QB is something new. Congrats to Oregon and Auburn for their current rankings, but there's a lot of football to be played. To take a snapshot of the current rankings two-thirds of the way through a single season and draw the conclusion that since the top two teams have mediocre defenses and average yards per play are up fractionally, the game has undergone a monumental shift away from the defensive side of the ball is pretty stupid.

 

[Wesley]

Not that much tough football left.

Auburn can cruise until the Alabama game and then the SEC championship which may be a rout.

Ducks have a game at Cal.

Boise plays at Nevada.

TCU plays this week at Utah.

Utah also plays BYU at home.

We may have a tougher three game schedule.

 

[Ceek82]

We may have a tougher three game schedule.

I'd say you definitely have a tougher three game schedule.

 

[CyJack13]

Oregon's defense is actually pretty good. Using yards allowed and points per game allowed is not the best metric for measuring defensive ability. Oregon's defense ranks 20th in the nation in yards allowed per play at 4.7, for some comparison Iowa is 19th and Alabama is 16th both at about 4.6.

Auburn also isn't terrible ranking 32nd at 5.0, ahead of Missouri and Virginia Tech.