Marcus Fuller blog: Are the Gophers the worst BCS conference team?

[BleedGopher]

Are the Gophers the worst BCS conference team?
By Marcus Fuller on September 26, 2010 8:40 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The Gophers made their case to be one of the worst BCS conference teams in the nation after the first four weeks of the college season. They are the only three-loss BCS conference team to lose to a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

Mississippi lost to Jacksonville State, but picked up wins against Tulane and Fresno State. Kansas lost to North Dakota State, but beat No. 15 Georgia Tech and New Mexico State. Virginia Tech lost to James Madison, but beat East Carolina and Boston College.

Clearly, these above teams don't belong in the conversation with the Gophers as the worst among BCS conference teams so far. But these programs below do. This is how they matchup with Minnesota. Keep in mind, though, Duke and Washington State played a tougher schedule.

Gophers 1-3
Schedule
W 24-17 at Middle Tennessee State
L 41-38 vs. South Dakota (FCS)
L 32-21 vs. No. 18 USC
L 34-23 vs. Northern Illinois

Stats
37th Passing offense 251.3 yards
43rd Total offense 417.5 yards
52nd Rushing offense 166.3 yards
65th Scoring offense 26.5 points
85th Total defense 387.0 yards
94th Scoring defense 31.0 points

Worst stats
110th Net Punting 30.5 yards
113th Pass Efficiency Defense 159.69
119th Sacks gained 2.0 in four games (Only New Mexico State is worse with zero)

Duke 1-3
Schedule
W 41-27 vs. Elon
L 54-48 vs. Wake Forest
L 62-13 vs. No. 1 Alabama
L 35-21 vs. Army
Best Stats
20th Passing offense 281.3 yards
50th Scoring offense 30.8 points
38th Total offense 425.8 yards

Worst stats
110th Total defense 466.3 yards
114th Rushing defense 229.3 yards
115th Pass Efficiency defense 161.8
118th Scoring defense 44.5 points

Washington State 1-3
L 65-17 vs. Oklahoma State
W 23-22 vs. Montana State
L 35-21 at SMU
L 50-16 vs. No. 20 USC

Best stats
43rd Passing yards 239.0
90th Total offense 328.25

Worst stats
101st Scoring offense 19.3 points
108th Rushing offense 89.3 yards
108th Rushing defense 209.8 points
108th Sacks allowed 3.3 per game
112th Pass Effic. Defense 157.9
116th Scoring defense 43.0 points
117th Total defense 496.0 yards

http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/09/how-bad-are-the-gophers.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Husker in Gopherland]

No. Washington State is awful. They still haven't recovered from the Bill Doba-era.

The Gophers may not be able to stop the run, but they can score and would put up at least 40 on WSU.

 

[SickAndTiredOfLosingToWI]

So, we are only the 2nd worst then... phew. What a relief.

 

[PapaHawk21]

No. Washington State is awful. They still haven't recovered from the Bill Doba-era.

The Gophers may not be able to stop the run, but they can score and would put up at least 40 on WSU.

Agreed, Washington State under Paul Wulff is arguably the worst team in Pac-10 history. All stats aside, the eye-test tells me that Minnesota is better than Duke and Washington State. With Purdue sustaining injuries to their 3 best players (Marve, Smith and Bolden) on offense I would argue Minnesota is an equal or better.

 

[dex8425]

washington state's gotta be the worst bcs team.