Inside The Stats: Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

Stats don't lie. People who interpret them do.

Looking inside the stats on each football game tells the truth. See our updated review of the 2019 football season from a statistical perspective below. 

LET'S GO BOWLING

As we approach the final few weeks of the 2019 college football season there are a total of 27 teams that will need wins in each of their final two games of the season to become bowl eligible.

They include: Arizona, Army, Ball State, Coastal Carolina, Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Duke, Kent State, Michigan State, Mississippi State, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, North Texas, Ohio U, Purdue, San Jose State, Stanford, Syracuse, Texas Tech, UCLA, UL Monroe, USF, UTSA and West Virginia.

In addition there are 15 teams that will need at least one win in their final two games to earn bowl eligibility.

They include: Arizona State, Boston College, Buffalo, California, Charlotte, Eastern Michigan, Florida International, Liberty, Kentucky, Missouri*, Oregon State, TCU, Tennessee, Troy and Washington State.

Note: Missouri is currently appealing a bowl ban with the NCAA.           

INSIDE-OUT STAT WINNERS

A total of 14 FBS teams won games but were outgained in the contest last week. In addition there were 3 more teams in the NFL that also won games 'inside-out'. From top to bottom in total negative yardage they include:

Cincinnati -160

Iowa -141

West Virginia -100

Kent State -95

Penn State -91

Rice -81

Georgia -78

UL Lafayette -76

Northern Illinois -64

Louisville -51

Arkansas State - 36

Air Force -36

Oregon State -13

Wisconsin -11

Chiefs -128

Vikings -78

Saints -06

LEAKING OIL 

From our MIDWEEK ALERT statistical newsletter, the following seven teams on this week's football card are 'leaking oil', five in college football two in the NFL. These are favorites who have been outgained in each of their last three straight games or more (number in parenthesis indicates how many stat loses in a row they own).

• Ball State (3)
• Fresno State (4)
• Georgia Tech (4)
• Missouri (4)
• Texas Tech (5)
• Bears (3)
• Steelers (3)

We're back next week with our next view INSIDE THE STATS. Good luck this week.