Alabama Football: At midseason Tide vs SEC statistically

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.