Numbers never lie.
Well, sometimes they do, but when previewing a matchup like Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, they’re a pretty good indication of how the game will play out.
Both storied programs put together strong resumes this season, but just came short of the playoffs. Notre Dame missed out by a total four points, with two-point losses to Clemson and Stanford. Ohio State missed out on the party by three against Michigan State.
Now, all that’s left to do this season is go out with a New Year’s Six bowl victory and bragging rights over a program they hardly ever see. The two teams have played just five times despite their relative proximity.
Here’s a look at some of the stats that are going to tell the story of this game along with a prediction for what the score will ultimately be.
The Advanced Metrics
Metrics that seek to quantify team performance continue to become a better barometer for which teams are the best in college football. Rather than stats that are easily swayed by pace of play and garbage time like total yardage, these stats seek to measure teams on either a play-by-play or drive-by-drive basis.
The result is a more accurate depiction of just how well a team is playing. Both Notre Dame and Ohio State have been favorites of most metrics. Here’s how they measure up in ESPN’s FPI, TeamRankings’ predictive rankings and FEI and S&P+ from Football Outsiders.
Looking at the metrics two…
Continue Reading: Fiesta Bowl 2016: Key Stats to Know for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
