football

I read an interesting article posted at SI.com by the folks from Cold, Hard, Football Facts:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/kerry_byrne/06/23/most.important.stat.passer.rating.differential/index.html?sct=nfl_wr_a1 

I am curious whether there is any of the stats minded guys (or gals) around here who could be cajoled into seeing if the Passer Differential Rating correlation between winners and their ability to pass the ball and defend the pass transfers from the pros to college football.  I find it fascinating that the single biggest predictor of success in the NFL is a team's ability to both pass the ball and defend the pass.

With the greater diversity of offenses in the college game that include both run first offenses as well as pass happy attacks there may be less predictive value for Passer Differential Rating in the NCAA, but it might provide anothe point in the debate over which offensive system is the "best." 

Important also is the defensive component.  Dominant defenses may be able to make up for a lack of a world beating pass attack.  What is most interesting about this stat is that it is a team's ability to pass the ball and defend the pass that is most important (think recent Michigan secondary doom) predictor of success.  Its not about running the ball or stopping the run, but rather passing the ball and stopping the pass.  Its not overall offense or defense that is most important as a predictor, but just passing success and passing defense.

I wonder if there is someone here willing to take up the challenge of seeing if this correlates at the college level... 

I haven't followed recruiting closely until the last couple years.  My recollection is that RR was getting recruits much closer to signing day and I guess I felt that was more normal.  I have no idea what it was like under Carr (i.e. - early or late or even).

Insight appreciated.

Not that its really that special since there is a long way to go, but I thought it was kind of nice to see Michigan holding down the #1 spot on MaxPreps.com, which is the CBS Sports recruiting site.

Link:
http://www.cbssports.com/#!/collegefootball/recruiting

Does anybody have any information on the deal that was offered last year on Dell.com for pre-ordering NCAA Football 12?  Is this something that they do every year, and does anyone know if they are planning to do it again this year?  I took advantage of pre-ordering through Dell.com last year and got the game for $39.99 instead of $59.99.  The only drawback was that I didn't recieve the game in the mail until a week after it was released, but that was okay with me.  I wanna pre-order it again, but was kinda waiting to see if they'd do the deal again.  As of today, the Dell website says the pre-order is not available yet.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&sku=a4998776

Does anybody have any more info on this?

Any updates/pics from our MGoBloggers on the ground in Ann Arbor on Michigan Stadium's scoreboards steel going up?

according to Bruce Feldman:

RT @SportsCenter: Former NC State QB Russell Wilson will transfer to Wisconsin, sources told ESPN.

I know there's a thread below, but figured his actual decision merited a new one.  If I'm wrong, please remove.