Careful with naively using Stats

by Frank
(Birmingham, AL)

One can get statistics, particularly ones like these, to tell any story they want. The interesting stuff is often hidden and ignored (intentionally or unintentionally).

Not that anyone will believe me or care (these credibility arguments hold no water), but I am both a Big 10 (Michigan) and SEC (Georgia) fan.

In any event, consider the following things you never hear about:

- Compare the Big 10 in recent years to the SEC without Ohio State. Yeh, do the same for the loser of the SEC as well (I don't know who that would be).

The Big 10 sans OSU fares quite well (see my later point), particularly Michigan (and yes, I am biased). Michigan is 7-1 in their last 8 match-ups.

- Look at the details of the bowl match-ups. The Big 10 is typically ranked lower than it's opponent, often way lower. I won't go into the details as to why, but if the rankings have any explanatory power, then it makes it difficult to draw reasonable conclusions just looking at the results.

- The Big 10 plays virtually all their bowl games 'away' and they are often in their opponents home field or back yard (Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, any bowl in Florida, etc.). Indeed, Michigan beat Florida twice in Florida's own back yard (and they were ranked lower, substantially lower).

Just some food for thought...