Here we are in the third week of the season and the much anticipated match-up between Oklahoma and Florida State is already upon us.
After getting drilled last year in Norman by a score of 47-14, the Seminoles are hoping that a second year under Jimbo Fisher coupled with the game being in Tallahassee will change the outcome in 2011.
After going 2-11 in BCS Bowl games, the ACC desperately needs to win a big non-conference matchup or at the very least be competitive.
As is the norm, we like to break down the match-up to see who might have the advantage “by the numbers”.
If the Seminoles are going to pull the upset, they have a daunting task at hand. A quick look at some of the statistics on Bob Stoops do not exact paint a pretty picture for Florida State.
Here are some other key statistics looking ahead to this match-up.
| Away Record (since 2001) | 31-13 (70%) |
|---|---|
| Non-Conference Record | 40-10 (80%) |
| Against Top 25 (time of game) | 33-16 (67%) |
| Against ACC Record | 3-1 (75%) |
So, looking at these numbers, the Seminoles have their hands full in terms of pulling off the upset. Now let’s take a look at statistics for Jimbo Fisher that may be pertinent to this match-up:
| Home Record | 8-1 (89%) |
|---|---|
| Non-Conference Record | 6-1 (86%) |
| Against Top 25 (time of game) | 2-2 (50%) |
Although a small sample size, Jimbo Fisher does have some impressive numbers that may be pertinent to this match-up with Oklahoma. Also of note is the fact that Fisher is 3-1 against the Big 12 as an offensive coordinator, with one of those wins coming against Oklahoma in the 2004 Sugar Bowl.
The contrast of established veteran versus an up-and-coming head coach, as well as the fact that this game is being played at FSU, add some intrigue in this case. We will be watching this game closely to see if Jimbo Fisher can help get the ACC back on the map or to see if Bob Stoops will continue is dominance as one of the best coaches in college football.
Check out Coaches By The Numbers for outstanding quantitative analysis of coaching in the college football ranks. Follow the CBTN crew on Twitter at @CoachesBTN.
