Numbers are vital to what we do here at The Action Network. In fact, we'd be nothing without them.
Trouble is, it's tough to sift through every box score and find the most interesting ones. So we'll do it for you.
Here are the college football stats and numbers you need to know for Week 2 to help you bet more smartly down the line (or to laugh at the expense of UConn and Rutgers).
1. The under went 29-19 in games involving FBS teams, thanks in part to sloppy conditions. Hurricane Florence could cause more chaos on the East Coast this weekend.
2. Remember when UConn actually hung with UCF despite the scoreboard saying otherwise? About that …
Boise State outgained the Huskies 818-193 in a 62-7 win. EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTEEN YARDS. A school record.
The Broncos play at Oklahoma State as 3.5-point underdogs Saturday, almost certainly the last time they'll be a dog this season.
3. Rutgers vs. Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State since the start of 2016:
- 140 yards per game
- Outscored 49-3 on average
- 2-7 against the spread
The Scarlet Knights had 134 yards in a 52-3 loss to Ohio State on Saturday, the first time they scored on the Buckeyes in 11 quarters.
Rutgers plays Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State in the final four weeks of the season.
4. Underdogs on the first-half line are 91-71-2 so far this season, good for an 8.5% ROI.
5. Ole Miss allowed 38 points in the first half to FCS Southern Illinois. This week, the Rebels (+20.5) host Alabama, which ranks 10th in the country in yards per play and points per game and has looked absolutely unstoppable against Louisville and Arkansas State, the Sun Belt favorite. Those defenses weren't FCS level.
Since Nick Saban took over in 2007, Alabama has never had a total close higher than 65. That will change this week.
6. Of quarterbacks who have played at least two games, Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa ranks first in the country in yards per attempt and passer rating.
7. Texas A&M's Kellen Mond had 430 yards passing against Clemson, the second-most against the Tigers since 2013 (Jameis Winston was first). His 10.8 yards per attempt was the fourth-best against Clemson in that same span.
8.
Herm Edwards now has as many wins over Michigan State as Jim Harbaugh does
— Connor Tapp (@ConnorTapp247) September 9, 2018
9. Duke quarterback Daniel Jones is out indefinitely with a collarbone injury. The quarterbacks behind him on the Blue Devils' roster have a combined 15 career pass attempts.
Duke is a 1.5-point favorite at Baylor on Saturday.
10. Florida State got unlucky against Virginia Tech with turnovers, but had an expected turnover margin of plus-5 against Samford, per Football Study Hall.
The Seminoles got outgained by almost 75 yards and would not have won 36-26 (as 31-point favorites) without those turnovers.
11. Mississippi State had eight tackles for loss and four sacks against Kansas State. Add that to the 17 tackles for loss the Bulldogs had against Stephen F. Austin, and they lead the country.
MSU is a 32.5-point favorite against Louisiana-Lafayette, which ranked 99th of 130 FBS teams in adjusted sack rate last season.
12. Welp, Kevin Sumlin has found a way to ruin Khalil Tate. The Arizona quarterback had eight yards on seven carries against Houston in a 45-18 loss. He averaged 9.2 yards per rush in 2017.
13. Memphis outgained Navy by 62 yards in a 22-21 loss, and did it in 30 fewer plays. The Midshipmen averaged a pedestrian 4.0 yards per play against a Tigers defense they've routinely carved up.
14. Nebraska outgained Colorado by 170 yards in its 33-28 loss and had a 93.7% win probability, per Football Study Hall. That's how often the Huskers would normally win that game, based on the box score.
Nebraska (-8.5) hosts Troy this weekend and could be without starting quarterback Adrian Martinez. It lost both backup quarterbacks to transfer this offseason and would likely roll with former walk-on Andrew Bunch.
15. Wisconsin allowed a touchdown to New Mexico on its first possession, the first time that's happened to the Badgers since 2014, per ESPN Stats and Info. They're only 17-20-1 on the first-half spread since that season, though.
