I feel like yards per play is an underappreciated stat in trying to figure out the relative strength of two teams. Let's take a look, using SEC games only to try to even things up. Also wanted to look at how the teams and QBs specifically have fared against their 4 common SEC opponents this year:
UGA
Offensive YPP- 7.18 (4th in FBS)
Defensive YPP- 5.08 (25th)
Difference- 2.10 YPP
Alabama
Offensive YPP- 6.36 (29th in FBS)
Defensive YPP- 5.20 (32nd)
Difference- 1.16 YPP
Games against common opponents
Auburn (both at Auburn)
UGA 27- Auburn 20
UGA- 6.7 YPP; Allowed 4.9 YPP (1.8 YPP difference)
Alabama 27, Auburn 24
ALA- 6.6 YPP; Allowed 5.7 YPP (0.9 YPP difference)
Kentucky (UGA at home; Bama at UK)
UGA 51- Kentucky 13
UGA- 8.3 YPP; Allowed 3.7 YPP (4.6 YPP difference)
Alabama 49- Kentucky 21
ALA- 6.9 YPP; Allowed 4.6 YPP (2.3 YPP difference)
Ole Miss (both at home)
UGA 52- Ole Miss 17
UGA- 10.0 YPP; Allowed 5.1 YPP (4.9 YPP difference)
Alabama 24, Ole Miss 10
ALA- 5.4 YPP; Allowed 4.6 YPP (0.8 YPP difference)
Tennessee (UGA at UTK; Bama at home)
UGA 38- Tennessee 10
UGA- 6.6 YPP; Allowed 5.0 YPP (1.6 YPP difference)
Alabama 34, Tennessee 20
ALA- 5.7 YPP; Allowed 5.1 YPP (0.6 YPP difference)
QB stats against common opponents
Carson Beck- 93 for 123 (75.6%) for 1,306 yards; 10 TD; 2 INT; 48 yards rushing, 0 TD
Jalen Milroe- 62 for 88 (70.5%) for 938 yards; 8 TD; 3 INT; 174 yards rushing, 3 TD (all short runs vs. Kentucky)
UGA
Offensive YPP- 7.18 (4th in FBS)
Defensive YPP- 5.08 (25th)
Difference- 2.10 YPP
Alabama
Offensive YPP- 6.36 (29th in FBS)
Defensive YPP- 5.20 (32nd)
Difference- 1.16 YPP
Games against common opponents
Auburn (both at Auburn)
UGA 27- Auburn 20
UGA- 6.7 YPP; Allowed 4.9 YPP (1.8 YPP difference)
Alabama 27, Auburn 24
ALA- 6.6 YPP; Allowed 5.7 YPP (0.9 YPP difference)
Kentucky (UGA at home; Bama at UK)
UGA 51- Kentucky 13
UGA- 8.3 YPP; Allowed 3.7 YPP (4.6 YPP difference)
Alabama 49- Kentucky 21
ALA- 6.9 YPP; Allowed 4.6 YPP (2.3 YPP difference)
Ole Miss (both at home)
UGA 52- Ole Miss 17
UGA- 10.0 YPP; Allowed 5.1 YPP (4.9 YPP difference)
Alabama 24, Ole Miss 10
ALA- 5.4 YPP; Allowed 4.6 YPP (0.8 YPP difference)
Tennessee (UGA at UTK; Bama at home)
UGA 38- Tennessee 10
UGA- 6.6 YPP; Allowed 5.0 YPP (1.6 YPP difference)
Alabama 34, Tennessee 20
ALA- 5.7 YPP; Allowed 5.1 YPP (0.6 YPP difference)
QB stats against common opponents
Carson Beck- 93 for 123 (75.6%) for 1,306 yards; 10 TD; 2 INT; 48 yards rushing, 0 TD
Jalen Milroe- 62 for 88 (70.5%) for 938 yards; 8 TD; 3 INT; 174 yards rushing, 3 TD (all short runs vs. Kentucky)
