Cold Look at Statistics Only

[DC_Area_Panther]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

 

[Burgh15]

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

If you watched the game, the score was much closer than the game actually was. Pitt was outclassed in every aspect of the game. Not even competitive.

 

[Pitt2009]

If you watched the game, the score was much closer than the game actually was. Pitt was outclassed in every aspect of the game. Not even competitive.

Probably a good thing it was on ACC Network so nobody watched.

 

[pittbb80]

Yeah Most of Pitt’s points came when the game was no longer in doubt.

The biggest issues were tackling and OL play. They generally only rushed four and got a lot of pressure which allowed them to have 7 in coverage. For the most part it didn’t appear as though there were any open options.

For the offense to get better the OL has to play much better

 

[CJsE]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

I watched the first half, then decided it'd be less painful to pull out my toenails and shut it off. It wasn't even so much the score as the complete domination being shown and Eli skipping an easy 1-yard 1st down pass off the turf before Saul's missed goal and the immediate 71-yard SMU touchdown on the next play.

Pitt was down 48-11 until the final 5 minutes of the game and I'm sure the "comeback" was the result of 2nd strings coming into the game.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

Stats and data have value. But so do peoples’ eyes. Pitt was inferior in every way shape and form last night and appeared they were in over their heads. It was a total and complete dismantling.

 

[Saboteur II]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

And oddsmakers ostensibly do not consider turnovers. But final scores do.

 

[Chairman Moe]

I watched the first half, then decided it'd be less painful to pull out my toenails and shut it off. It wasn't even so much the score as the complete domination being shown and Eli skipping an easy 1-yard 1st down pass off the turf before Saul's missed goal and the immediate 71-yard SMU touchdown on the next play.

Pitt was down 48-11 until the final 5 minutes of the game and I'm sure the "comeback" was the result of 2nd strings coming into the game.

Pitt's "JV" team won 14-0 vs SMU's "JV" team ... definitely the second stringers playing for both sides

Pitt lost the game in all three phases last night. Not a lot to take away from the game other than maybe it's a good thing that it wasn't a close game lost by one or two costly mistakes. We just sucked. Period. OL / DL / LB's / CB's / QB / Punter / heck, even Sauls missed ... Des Reid seemed like the one "bright" spot

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

I never felt Pitt was in the game. SMU just appeared to be so much more talented. I guess maybe they could have made some mistakes and kept us in it but they were so much better. The talent disparity was as big as I've ever seen under Narduzzi.

 

[jivecat]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

Good objective post. I know there is some doom and gloom on the board but your assessment is not that far off. Bad tackling extended drives and created scoring opportunities for SMU. A bad PITT turnover and some inexperience by a young QB (it happens...he is still very good) cost PITT another 10 points. I think the delta is about 17 points. The final score should have been closer like 41-35 SMU.

SMU is a good team at home at Homecoming weekend. This was a tough game. We will bounce back against Virginia.

 

[cashisking884]

Good objective post. I know there is some doom and gloom on the board but your assessment is not that far off. Bad tackling extended drives and created scoring opportunities for SMU. A bad PITT turnover and some inexperience by a young QB (it happens...he is still very good) cost PITT another 10 points. I think the delta is about 17 points. The final score should have been closer like 41-35 SMU.

SMU is a good team at home at Homecoming weekend. This was a tough game. We will bounce back against Virginia.

You’re including Yarnell’s garbage time TDs in your reassessment of what the actual score should have been?

 

[jivecat]

You’re including Yarnell’s garbage time TDs in your reassessment of what the actual score should have been?

Might as well...we included some insane catches by SMU that would not happen if they threw the same ball 9 more times. Not much went our way on Saturday night.

 

[cashisking884]

Might as well...we included some insane catches by SMU that would not happen if they threw the same ball 9 more times. Not much went our way on Saturday night.

I agree for adjusting for fluke plays or explosive plays beyond the season average.

But not adjusting for garbage time is silly.

And Adjusting for the former but not adjusting for the latter to get a better indicator of how the game was played? Certifiably insane.

 

[TD_6082]

By any objective analysis, it was a beatdown.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

In the end--it was only one game. Each game is different.

 

[upj87]

Did not watch last night's game so the views below are solely based on examining the box score for the game's stats--without being influenced by emotions from having actually watched the game.

1. Terrible 2nd Quarter that began to really go down hill with Saul's missed FG which would have made the score at the time 14-6 vs keeping it at 14-3.

2. Other than the 2nd quarter scoring was roughly even over the other 3 quarters---Pitt 25 pts, SMU 24 pts. The 3rd and 4th quarter results suggest Pitt players did not quit.

3. Total offense SMU 467 yds to Pitt's 453 yds. Based on the theory that an efficient team should score about 1 TD for every 100 yards of offense---Hypothetically the score should have/could have been something more like Pitt 31 -- SMU 34. Obviously, SMU exceeded that 34 by 14 and Pitt failed by 6 of scoring 31.

4. Four fumbles with 1 lost and 1 interception thrown obviously standout as big negatives for Pitt.

5. The two long scoring plays were big for SMU as Pitt won time of possession.

Overall, based on the stats, and given that it was a road game, the loss doesn't look quite as bad to me as the score indicates.

reminds me of the box scores of the local high school team here in Mechanicsburg that mercy ruled 7 out of 10 teams they played this year...there are 21 point wins and there are 21 point wins after being up 35-0 early in the 3rd battling it out with 22 10th graders....