You can take statistics and show any point you want to prove and take common opponents and prove either side of an argument in some cases. Such is the case with Alabama and Florida.


Common Opponents -


Florida beat Tennessee by ten points and Alabama beat them by only two. Therefore Florida must be the better team. But wait, Alabama beat Arkansas by by28 points and Florida just squeaked by with a three point win, so Alabama must be better.


They both had a similar game against LSU so they must the same. But wait, Florida beat Kentucky by 34 points and Alabama only beat them by 18, so does that give the edge to Florida?


By adding the scores of common opponents, Alabama beat them 109-52 and Florida beat them 100-43. Alabama scored nine more points and Florida nine less points to be scored. Boy that sounds like two pretty evenly matched teams.


The casual fan may be shocked to see that Alabama actually scored more points against common opponents and that Florida allowed less points, since Florida is primarily known as a points making Juggernaut and Alabama is known for defense. It's funny that these stats are flipped in the other order.


Each Team has beaten the common opponents so far by 57 points. Isn't that quite a facinating statistic? Apparently there is no edge in common opponents.


How the Figures Will Change -


There will be two other common opponents before the meeting in Atlanta. Florida will play South Carolina, a team Alabama beat handily 20-6 and Alabama will play Mississippi State, a team Florida struggled with before winning 29-19.


Florida has recently had a blowout win, but usually seems to have a tough game with South Carolina and Steve Spurrier will give his old team his best shot. I do not look for Florida to win it by more than Alabama's 14 point margin.


Alabama is looking to continue to break out the offense and they will beat Mississippi State by more than Florida 10 point margin.


Passing and Rushing -
You think you know these two teams, but once again get ready to be shocked.


So far this year Alabama has passed for 1815 yards and Florida has passed for 1782. What a minute, Greg McElroy, a first year starter playing against a tougher strength of schedule than Florida has thrown for more yards than a Heisman Trophy winner? Yes that's the tale of the tape so far.


And it only get better ... The rest of the story is at: Alabama and Florida, Shocking Statistics and How They Will Change | Bleacher Report

I thought something smelled funny. Then I got to the end of the post and saw the Bleacher Report link and found the source.

The idea that McElroy throwing for more yards than a "Heisman winner" would be so shocking really is an asinine assertion. Tebow didn't win the Heisman based on passing yards alone. Let me know when G-Mac leads the squad in rushing yardage, then you can knock me over with a feather. Until then this article merely proves its own statement that you can prove whatever you want with some cherry-picked statistics.

Exactly. G-Mac doesn't exactly have 9 rushing TD's.

Comparing games... Not a big fan of it.

Not that it matters anyway. Of all the trophies Tebow possesses I don't think the Heisman is really at the top of G-Mac's wishlist.

Have to agree, comparing games is about as useful as paying up front...stupid as hell.

What are we paying up front for?

the glory of victory

Well Barry Badrinath said it best in Beer Fest my friend, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

UF will beat USC worse than the Tide did because their Defense is a Mash Unit at this point

We can't do that, we have a potential Heisman Running Back named Mark Ingram. Call it greed, but I doubt he allows McElroy to rush that much.

And USC is in their annual mid season breakdown.

Hey it will be one heck of a game and I bet the spread is more even this year. Hey Vegas should have some odds out, what are they? Last year those fools were dead on. I like Alabama's chances this year. I don't need any twisted statistics to tell me that.

If we've learned anything thoughout the course of this season, it's that either team could win the game. Both teams have strengths and have weaknesses, but it will end up coming down to the things you can't see on paper. Penalties, injuries, turnovers, refs, and the kicking game.