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Auburn Football: Scouting Alabama, By the Numbers

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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The Auburn football team travels to Tuscaloosa this week for the 79th edition of the Iron Bowl against Alabama.

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The Tigers are 8-3 this season, 4-3 in SEC play, and ranked 14th in the nation in the most recent College Football Playoff committee rankings. Auburn is currently ranked 16th in the Amway Coaches Poll and the Associated Press has them 15th overall.

Alabama is ranked No. 1 in both the coaches poll and the College Football Playoff Rankings (though an updated set of committee rankings will be released tonight), and are ranked second in the AP Top 25.

It’s one of the greatest rivalries in college football, but it’s also an intriguing matchup of two quality opponents. With that in mind, here’s an examination of the Alabama Crimson Tide, by the numbers:

Offense:

  • Alabama ranks second in the SEC and 20th nationally with 484.8 yards of total offense per game.

    • The squad has amassed 600-plus yards of offense in four separate games, including 612 last week against Western Carolina. The Tide has been held under 400 yards four times as well, including two of the last three games they have played. The worst performance of the season came against Arkansas, who held Alabama to only 227 yards.

  • The Crimson Tide have averaged 204.9 yards on the ground this season, which is the fifth best mark in the SEC and 32nd in the nation. They average five yards per carry.

    • Nov 22, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims (6) scrambles during the game against the Western Carolina Catamounts at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

    Alabama averages 279.9 passing yards per game in 2014, which ranks third in the Southeastern Conference and 25th in the country. Quarterbacks have tossed 24 touchdowns and four interceptions.

    Lane Kiffin’s offense has scored 35 points per game this season, which ranks 30th in the nation.

    The offense has outscored their opponents 385-159 this season, including a 163-43 edge in the second quarters of games. The Tide have scored 73 more points in the second quarter of game than any other this season, and have also allowed more points in the second fifteen minutes than any other period.

    Alabama ranks third in the nation in third down conversions. Through the first eleven games of the season, the offense has converted 52.8 percent of the time. Only the Georgia Tech and Auburn football teams have been better at 58.3% and 54.7%, respectively.

    Amari Cooper is Alabama’s all-time leader in receptions (194, tied with DJ Hall), Receiving yards (3,085) and touchdown catches (26).

    Alabama has fumbled 15 times this year and has lost 12 of them.

    The offensive line has allowed only ten sacks this season.

    The Alabama offense has a 49-17 edge in touchdowns scored this season.

    Defense and Special Teams:

    Alabama has allowed 14.5 points per game this season, which is second to Ole Miss in the SEC and the country.

    The Tide has given up 198.3 passing yards per game in 2014, which is the third best average in the league and 28th among FBS schools.

    Alabama has allowed 85.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks first in the Southeastern Conference and second nationally.

    The Crimson Tide has the best defense in the SEC, statistically speaking, and ranks fifth in the nation having allowed 283.1 yards per game in 2014.

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    • The Alabama defense has held all but one opponent under 400 yards of total offense. Mississippi State had 428 yards in the Tide’s last SEC game, and West Virginia had 393 in the season opener. The Tide has held two opponents – Florida Atlantic and Texas A&M – under 200 total yards, and Florida had 200 exactly. Last week, Western Carolina managed just 213 yards.

    The Crimson Tide has 27 sacks this season

    J.K. Scott is the SEC’s leader in punting average and net punting with 46.8 yards per punt and 43.3 net, mark that also rank second in the nation. He leads all punters with a 53.5% rate of pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line.

    Alabama is 14-for-21 kicking field goals (67%), but opponents have hit 14 field goals in 16 attempts (88%). The Crimson Tide has missed at least one field goal in three straight games, and in five of the last six in which they have attempted one.

    Miscellaneous:

  • Auburn has the best winning percentage at Bryant-Denny Stadium of any Alabama opponent that has played there more than twice. The Tigers have won five of seven games (.713) played there since 2000, and also won the only two games played in Tuscaloosa in the 19th Century.

    • Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide kicker Adam Griffith (99) reacts after missing a 57 yard field goal that was returned for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn Tigers won 34-28. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

    The Crimson Tide has won 15 straight games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which is tied with Baylor for the longest home winning streak in the nation. Alabama is 6-0 at home this season.

  • ESPN’s hit college football morning show, College GameDay, will be in Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl this season. It’s the 32nd time Alabama has been featured during a GameDay game, the 23rd since Nick Saban became head coach and the third this season.
  • Alabama has clinched double-digit wins for the seventh straight season, and for the 34th time in program history. Only Oklahoma (35) has more ten-win seasons.

    • Fifteen members of the Alabama roster have already graduated, which is tied with Boston College for tops among FBS football programs.

    Since 2008, no FBS team has more wins than Alabama’s 82. Boise State (78), Oregon (77), LSU and TCU (68 each) make up the top five.

    Next: The Five Greatest Auburn Iron Bowl Victories

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