Ongoing Comparison of Point Differential among Common Opponents

[BuffaloChuck]

Boyd, I'm not convinced that point-total differential is valid outside of picking up a bar-tab. It's like claiming a 3-game baseball series "has the same two teams playing" when we know that the pitcher's ability and his on-game/off-game condition are the far more important factors than the sameness of the uniform colors.

The lineups, year to year, can be so different. Injuries, skill-sets and coaching changes - I think these factors are simply too important to base "year to year scoring margins" as your important litmus test.

Can you argue your point for me?

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

Boyd, I'm not convinced that point-total differential is valid outside of picking up a bar-tab. It's like claiming a 3-game baseball series "has the same two teams playing" when we know that the pitcher's ability and his on-game/off-game condition are the far more important factors than the sameness of the uniform colors.

The lineups, year to year, can be so different. Injuries, skill-sets and coaching changes - I think these factors are simply too important to base "year to year scoring margins" as your important litmus test.

Can you argue your point for me?

This exercise operates under the assumption that the teams in conference are as good or improved from last year. That is not always the case, obviously, but I believe this year the conference has improved as a whole from top to bottom. So the exercise does show a very nice progression for the buffs.

 

[absinthe]

Boyd, I'm not convinced that point-total differential is valid outside of picking up a bar-tab. It's like claiming a 3-game baseball series "has the same two teams playing" when we know that the pitcher's ability and his on-game/off-game condition are the far more important factors than the sameness of the uniform colors.

The lineups, year to year, can be so different. Injuries, skill-sets and coaching changes - I think these factors are simply too important to base "year to year scoring margins" as your important litmus test.

Can you argue your point for me?

Case-in-point Giants with MadBum in the playoffs vs Giants w/out MadBum.

 

[FlatironsBuff]

This certainly puts the point differential in perspective last year to this year:

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Ryan Koenigsberg @RyanKoenigsberg
Last season the #CUBuffs lost their first 5 Pac-12 games by a total of 154 points. This year they have lost their first 5 by a total of 54.

Especially since the Pac 12 is better top to bottom this year. And starters played all four quarters against us, instead of being pulled at half.

 

[FlatironsBuff]

Boyd, I'm not convinced that point-total differential is valid outside of picking up a bar-tab. It's like claiming a 3-game baseball series "has the same two teams playing" when we know that the pitcher's ability and his on-game/off-game condition are the far more important factors than the sameness of the uniform colors.

The lineups, year to year, can be so different. Injuries, skill-sets and coaching changes - I think these factors are simply too important to base "year to year scoring margins" as your important litmus test.

Can you argue your point for me?

How about how many Pac teams we played that are ranked top 25 compared to last year? Pac is better this year. And still, we played 100 points closer.