The Brady Cook Week: CFB Week 8 Advanced Stats Recap & Week 9 Look Ahead
A hospital visit is NOT stopping the Missouri QB from winning the homecoming game
The passion of college football is unmatched by any other American sport. I will stand by that statement any day of the week. Whether its fans tailgating for 12+ hours in the day before watching their team play football, or its a player taking a trip to the hospital mid game only to return because its his last homecoming game and he isn’t going to miss time if he can’t help it. We all love this beautiful silly game, and this weekends games had a little bit of everything. Let’s do some recapping and looking ahead!
During the season if you would like to see an advanced box score of a certain game, simply email (CFBNumbers@gmail.com) or DM on Twitter (@CFBNumbers) and I will happily provide you any number related thing you desire.
Most Exciting Games Of Week 8
Was the Tennesee-Alabama game exciting for Volunteers fans? Im sure it was at the end. Was the game exciting for me, who bet Nico Iamaleava passing overs? It was not as fun im not going to lie! Nevertheless, a back and forth affair with some of the better teams in the SEC earns the top spot on our most exciting games list this week.
Expectations vs. Reality
Here are the points for and against over expectation from betting lines. The key as always is to be in the top right. Our biggest winner of the week is WINdiana, who beat Nebraska 56-7 despite only being 6.5 point favorites coming into the game. Other winners include Baylor, who were 4.5 point underdogs but came away 59-35 winners against Texas Tech, and Florida who won 48-20 despite being 2.5 point underdogs heading into their game against Kentucky.
QB Play: Power 5
Here are the power 5 QBs and their play this week. Its been a struggle for quite some time but we FINALLY see Jalon Daniels back in that top right spot we saw him frequent two years ago. Other QBs include John Mateer (yes, this newsletter will continue to put Washington State/Oregon State in the Power 5), Ethan Garbers and Avery Johnson. Not too far off of them was Cam Ward and his shootout performance against Louisville.
QB Play: Group of 5
Another week, another Bryson Daily G5 QB king of the week spot. This man is playing like the actual Captain America for West Point. Other Group of 5 QBs include Ben Wooldridge (who is quietly 19th in ESPN QBR this season) and Gio Lopez of South Alabama.
Stat of the Week: Brady Cook Mid Game Hospital Visit
Missouri trailed as much as 17-3 in the game, but were able to rally in the 4th quarter with a pair of TD’s to eventually steal the game from Auburn. In terms of win probability added from 2nd half vs. what they did in the 1st half, Missouri had the 2nd biggest difference trailing only BYU’s 2nd half against Oklahoma State.
You might be asking “Ok, pretty standard comeback, why is this the stat of the week” Well, while Auburn was building its lead in the middle of the game, Missouri QB Brady Cook was off to the hospital getting an MRI on a lower body injury that knocked him out of the game. You might think that knocked him out of the whole game right?
HE CAME BACK INTO THE GAME! Leads the Tigers on two 4th quarter TD drives, and Missouri wins their homecoming game. Legendary performance for a QB who will remembered fondly by the Tiger faithful. That earns our stat of the week.
Week 9 Implied Points
In the first run of the implied points for the week, Texas A&M is expected to win the top 25 SEC matchup against LSU 28.25-25.75. Despite being undefeated and one of the best offensives in the nation, the books still think Notre Dame is a much stronger roster than Navy, and they expect the Irish to win 32.75 to 19.75. Its also interesting the total is as high as it is (52.5) for an option team and a run first offense. Nevertheless, if you like some good ole fashion ground and pound, thats the game for you this week.
Week 9 QB Matchups
Speaking of Notre Dame Navy, their QB matchup leads us off as the most interesting QB matchup of the week. If you enjoy yourself a good QB run, again that is your game of the week. Other matchups to note: Dillion Gabriel takes on an aggressive Illinois defense with Luke Altmyer providing support with the Illini offense. Brady Cook and Jalen Milroe square off in another top 25 SEC matchup, and MR NEW MEXICO HIMSELF Diego Pavia gets a shot at a Texas team coming off a brutal loss to Georgia.
Week 9 Mismatches
Based off of EPA mismatches, its safe to say it might be a struggle for Duke to run the football against a solid SMU run defense. USC is 3-4 on the season, but could be in for a get right game if they can exploit this run matchup against Rutgers. YES I SEE THE MATCHUP AT THE BOTTOM PLEASE STOP REMINDING ME!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend of college football!
Lily Donation Fund
The other week turned our lives upside down for a moment as our little cat was sick. After some extensive care and a really rough surgery, she has been recovering well and back to being our tubby little girl.
I hate that I have to do this but this whole ordeal was rough financially for us. If you enjoy the articles and wish to help (which you 10000% do not have to if you do not want to) I left the link to the GoFundMe up above.
If you want to dive in to the data like I do, check out @CFB_Data and @cfbfastR on Twitter, where you can learn how to get started in the world of College Football data analysis!
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