ACC stats ... and losers

They say statistics are for losers, so it's fitting that this blog is about statistics.

Was perusing some of the ACC stats last night, and there are some interesting ones that tell a story better than the generic quotes you see all the time from coaches.

So join me in a venture to loserdom:

-- At the risk of giving away a recurrence of Paul Johnson man-crush, Georgia Tech has totaled six plays of 70 yards or more this season. Just three other teams in Division I-A football have totaled more than one play of 70 yards or more (Clemson, Washington State and Florida International all have two).

I know Georgia Tech hasn't really played anyone yet, but ... yikes.

The Jackets also have 28 plays of 20 yards or more, most in the nation.

-- So much for that stout Boston College run defense. The Eagles allowed 227 yards on the ground to Northwestern and 235 to Central Florida. Duke only rushed for 85 yards last week in a win at B.C., but the Blue Devils ignore the run game in favor of the pass (they threw it 55 times in that game, completing 43).

And the Eagles can't run it, either. Their rushing totals are 104 against Northwestern, 57 against Central Florida, and 81 against Duke. Ugh.

-- I'm viewing N.C. State with some skepticism. The Wolfies have gained 11 turnovers (seven interceptions and four fumbles) through three games, and the final scores haven't been resounding. On top of that, they haven't been able to run the ball. Give me Cincy over N.C. State on Thursday.

-- Speaking of turnovers, Georgia Tech has lost just three fumbles in three games. Not bad considering how often they put it on the ground last year.

-- Speaking of Georgia Tech (I promise, this is the last time), the Jackets rank first in the ACC in third-down conversions on offense (70.6 percent) but last in third-down defense (47.9). Still very skeptical of The Chessmaster's chess pieces.

-- Speaking of third-down defense, Wake Forest ranks first in the ACC with a 26.2-percent clip. Can't say I expected that.

-- On 13 red-zone trips this season, Florida State has scored just seven touchdowns and turned it over twice. That doesn't bode well going into Death Valley with, at best, a banged-up starter at QB.

-- Speaking of red zone, check this out: Duke has 10 appearances but has come up empty six times. Ouch.

-- Virginia Tech's opponents have ventured into the red zone just five times in three games. Yep, sounds like Bud Foster is getting things turned around in Blacksburg. He always does.

-- Clemson is allowing 5.1 yards per carry, highest in the ACC. Tigers are allowing 7.8 yards per pass, tied with Duke for the highest. Tigers allowing 6.1 yards per play, second-highest behind Duke's 6.2.

-- Lamar Miller is averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Stud.

-- And speaking of statistics, want a good laugh? Check out this New York Times piece and its attempt to quantify passion.

1. Clemson (1,761,162 fans), ranked 10th overall in the nation
2. Georgia Tech (1,664,088), ranked 11th overall
3. Georgia (1,098,957), ranked 22nd overall
4. South Carolina (1,067,499), ranked 24th overall



LW