UConn vs. Boston College: College Football Week 9 Odds & Picks

This week there are fewer games than our normal eight because a decent amount of rush-oriented teams are on bye. Let’s dive in into our College Football Week 9 Rush Rate picks! And below is a closer look at UConn vs. Boston College.

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College Football Week 9 Picks: UConn vs. Boston College

UConn vs. Boston College

Boston College

• 29th in RROE on Standard Downs (+5.3%)
• 5th in EPA/Rush Att on Standard Downs
• 29th in RROE on Passing Downs (+5.6%)
• 39th in EPA/Rush Att on Passing Downs

UCONN

• 90th in Def Power Success Rate
• 34th in Def Stuff Rate
• 41st in Def Line Yards
• 100th in Def Standard Downs Rate
• 66th in Def Rush Success Rate
• 94th in Def Rush IsoPPP
• 25th in PFF Grade
• 79th in EPA/Rush Att on Standard Downs
• 64th in EPA/Rush Att on Passing Downs

On the surface, UCONN is decent against the run. What worries me is their inability to force passing downs. If Boston College is constantly in Standard Downs, this could be a long day for UCONN. I just do not see this defense holding up over the entirety of the game.

Bet: Boston College -14.5 (-108)

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Overview

The thought process for anyone reading this for the first time is simple:  We target teams with a top-30 RROE in Standard Downs and Passing Downs. We will look at six main advanced defensive statistics to measure how successful the matchup is: Defensive Stuff Rate, Defensive Line Yards, Defensive Rush Success Rate, Defensive Power Success Rate, Defensive IsoPPP (explosiveness), Standard Downs Rate and PFF Rush Defense.

There are several angles at play:

• An underdog with a high RROE vs. an opponent who is below average in the defensive rush categories. They will have the opportunity to limit possessions and control the game script.
• A favorite with a top-30 RROE vs. an opponent who is stout against the run. They will be forced to employ a game plan that does not fit their overall identity. A favorite’s plan B strategy will never be as dangerous as its preferred method of offense.
• An underdog with a top-30 RROE vs. a stout defense. The favorite in this scenario has the opportunity to blow a game out of reach and leave the underdog behind the proverbial eight-ball.
• A favorite with a top-30 RROE vs. an opponent that is lackluster in the aforementioned categories. In this scenario, we prefer the favorite to be, at most, a 10-point favorite.

The reason for this thinking is that high RROE will always lead to fewer possessions and overall points. The overall margin for error will be slimmer. This allows us to simplify the handicapping perspective and focus on unbalanced teams.

Here’s a summary of the teams we are looking for:

• Underdogs with a top-30 RROE vs. below-average defenses
• Underdogs with a stout defense vs. a top-30 RROE favorite
• Favorites with a stout defense vs. a top-30 RROE underdog
• Favorites with a top-30 RROE (not greater than -10) vs. a below-average defense

Glossary

• Stuff Rate: Tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage
• Def Line Yards: Yards directly influenced by the defensive line
• Def Rush Success Rate: 50% of yards needed on 1st down, 70% of yards needed on second down and 100% on third and fourth down.
• Rush IsoPPP: Explosive rush plays allowed (15 yards or more)
• Def Power Success Rate: The percentage of running plays on third or fourth down from two yards or less in which an offense either converted into a first down or scored a TD. First and second down and goal plays within the two-yard line are also included.
• PFF Rush Defense: PFF film-graded metric
• Standard Downs: First down, second and six or less, third/fourth and four or less (Average rush rate is 60%)
• Passing Downs: Second and seven or more, and third/fourth down and five or more (Average rush rate is 40%)
• RROE: Rush Rate Over Expectancy (Percentage over expected rush rate in situations)
• EPA/Att: Expected Points Added per rushing attempt