Spiff's Spots of Observation and Other Statistical Nonsense

[SpiffCoug]

What a fun game! And unlike the Arizona game, I wasn't nearly as worried about Almod making this FG as I was Oldroyd making his. Has anyone posited that maybe BYU let Toledo score at the end to preserve time? Just a thought.

So here are my observations from the box score and game viewing.

• BYU won by two points. Since 1991, it was the Cougars eighth game decided by two points. BYU is 7-1 (.750) in those games and have won six straight two-point games.
• The 55 points were the most BYU has scored against an FBS opponent since they dropped 55 on UNLV in 2010.
• Toledo threw for 505 yards. The last time BYU gave up 500 passing yards was when Hawaii threw for 543 in 2001.
• The 5 TD passes by Toledo were the most since Utah also threw 5 in 2008.
• Toledo's Passer Efficiency Rating (PER) was 223.47 was the first time BYU won game in which the opponent had a 200 or higher PER since Mississippi St was at 203.44 in 2001.
• Taysom Hill's PER of 167.30 was the third highest of his career.
• While I've long held that BYU QBs should be held to a 135 PER Standard, perhaps Taysom's should be 120. BYU is 14-2 (.875) when Taysom's PER is 120 or higher. They are 3-7 (.300) when he is below that.
• Toledo won the PER battle but lost the game. It was the first time the team with the better PER lost in 15 games. PER is now 4-1 (.800) on the year but is 50-7 (.877) since the start of 2012.
• Taysom also had 3 yards rushing it was his second game this year being held to single digits in rushing yards.
• BYU failed to cover the spread against Toledo. They have now covered in four of five games
• BYU kicked two field goals and scored a touchdown on its three fourth quarter drives. On the season, BYU has five touchdowns and three field goals on its 14 fourth quarter drives.
• The Cougar offense has scored on every blue zone possession this year. They have 11 touchdowns and 7 field goals on their 18 possessions.
• Even though Toledo was sporting a two-toned helmet, I'm going to call it a blue helmet. BYU improved to 18-16 (.529) against blue helmeted opponents since 1989. Sitake is now 1-1 (.500).

Receiver Efficiency Rating

• Trinnaman, WR, 353.33 (152.59)
• Balderee, TE, 273.60 (212.56)
• El-Bakri, RB, 259.60 (19.87)
• Brown, RB, 255.40 (182.10)
• Pearson, WR, 181.47 (139.00)
• Hifo, WR, 158.80 (61.14)
• Kurtz, WR, 0.00 (130.43)
• TE, 205.20 (145.07)
• RBs, 192.60 (113.20)
• WR, 147.85 (121.29)