Alabama football is at the midway point of its regular season. See how the Crimson Tide ranks statistically compared against the rest of the SEC.
At the Alabama football midseason, a No. 1 national poll ranking is business as usual. But the 2019 season is far from being the norm for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Injuries, youth and inexperience have hampered some areas of performance.
Tracking the progress of potential CFB Playoff opponents is part of every season for Tide fans. We should not lose sight of what it will take to get there. LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Missouri can be formidable obstacles on a championship track. Like the Crimson Tide, all those teams have flaws and weaknesses. Comparing the current stats of those five teams against the Crimson Tide could be a peek into the future.
Stats comparisons during a season are hampered by a small sample. Six games, or seven in the case of Florida, is a small sample, statistically. Disparity in schedule strength is also a factor. Below are the national SOS rankings of the six teams, according to the ESPN FPI.
- LSU Tigers – No. 2
- Florida Gators – No. 5
- Georgia Bulldogs – No. 14
- Missouri Tigers – No. 30
- Auburn Tigers – No. 34
- Alabama Crimson Tide – No. 49
We have no quibbles with the ranking of the Tide. However, totally subjectively, our take is the LSU ranking and possibly the Georgia rankings are too high. That conclusion is based on a belief Texas, Florida and Notre Dame are not as good as their national poll rankings.
SEC Offensive Stats
Total Offense – 1. LSU; 2. BAMA; 3. Georgia; 4. Missouri; 6. Florida; 7. Auburn
Rushing Offense – 1. UGA; 3. Auburn; 4. Missouri; 8. BAMA; 9. LSU; 12. Florida
Passing Offense – 1. LSU; 2. BAMA; 3. Florida; 5. Missouri; 6. UGA; 12. Auburn
Scoring Offense – 1. LSU; 2. BAMA; 3. Missouri; 4. UGA; 5. Auburn; 7. Florida
First Downs – 1. LSU; 2. Florida; 3. BAMA; 5. UGA; 6. Missouri; 10. Auburn
Third Down Conversion – 1. LSU; 2. BAMA; 3. UGA; 4. Florida; 5. Missouri; 6. Auburn
Passing Efficiency – 1. LSU; 2. BAMA; 3. Florida; 4. UGA; 5. Missouri; 10. Auburn
Completion Percentage – 1. LSU; 2. BAMA; 3. UGA; 4. Florida; 5. Missouri; 12. Auburn
Red Zone Success – 1. LSU; 2. UGA; 3. BAMA; 6. Auburn; 8. Florida; 12. Missouri
Interceptions Allowed- 1. BAMA; 3. LSU, Georgia, Missouri; 8. Auburn; 11. Florida
Sacks Allowed – 1. UGA; 2. BAMA; 3. Auburn; 4. LSU; 5. Missouri; 7. Florida
SEC Defensive Stats
Total Defense – 1. Missouri; 2. UGA; 3. Florida; 4. LSU; 6. Auburn; 7. BAMA
Rushing Defense – 1. UGA; 2. LSU; 3. Auburn; 4. Missouri; 5. Florida; 8. BAMA
Pass Efficiency – 1. Missouri; 2. UGA; 3. BAMA; 6. Florida; 7. LSU; 8. Auburn
Passing Yards – 1. Missouri; 3. Florida; 4. BAMA; 6. UGA; 8. LSU; 12. Auburn
Passes Intercepted – 1. Florida; 4. Missouri; 6. BAMA, LSU; 10. UGA; 14. Auburn
Scoring Defense – 1. UGA; 2. Florida; 3. Missouri; 4. BAMA; 5. Auburn; 6. LSU
First Downs Allowed – 1. Missouri; 2. UGA; 3. LSU; 4. Auburn; 5. Florida; 8. BAMA
Third Down Stops – 1. Auburn; 2. Missouri; 3. UGA; 4. BAMA; 5. Florida; 6. LSU
Red Zone Defense – 1. Florida; 2. UGA; 3. LSU; 4. Missouri; 5. Auburn; 9. BAMA
Sacks – 1. Florida; 2. Auburn; 5. BAMA, LSU, UGA; 11. Missouri
Tackles-for-Loss – 1. Auburn; 2. Florida; 5. LSU; 7. UGA; 9. BAMA; 10. Missouri
SEC Special Teams and Penalties
Punt Return – 1. BAMA; 3. Missouri; 4. LSU; 6. UGA; 7. Auburn; 13. Florida
Kickoff Return – 1. LSU; 3. BAMA; 6. Florida; 11. Auburn; 13. UGA; 14. Missouri
Net Punting – 3. LSU; 4. Florida; 5. UGA; 7. Missouri; 11. Auburn; 14, BAMA
Fewest Penalties – 3. LSU; 5. Florida; 9. Missouri; 12. UGA; 13. Auburn; 14. BAMA
Most Alabama football fans will find few surprises in these stats – at least in the Crimson Tide stats. How well Missouri looks statistically might be a bit of a surprise. Those Tigers might be a bigger threat to Georgia than Florida.
All stats in this post were provided by the NCAA.
Looking at the stats, the Alabama football weaknesses on defense and special teams are obvious. So are the Alabama football strengths and those strengths may be enough for championships.