ESPN Team Efficiencies Update, 2017 Week 3

Submitted by Ecky Pting on

The updated ESPN team efficiency ratings have been posted, and as you might not expect after managing to not lose to Cincinnati Air Force, Michigan holds steady at #31 overall. So, there's still plenty of room for improvement heading into the B1G conference season. The U-M splits are offense, #87 (down from #68); defense, #12 (same as last week); and special teams, tied for #25 (up from #65). The #87 rating on offense comes from a 37.5% efficiency rating, which sounds about right.

Of U-M's other 2017 opponents, idle MARYLAND remains the strongest at #5 overall, followed by Penn State at #8. Next week's matchup, Purdue, is at #18 (up from #40 last week), which is only 3 below what the rating for Air Force was last week (AF is now #32, one behind UM). After pummeling Army, OSU climbs 7 spots to #16. Oh yea, Sparty backslides 8 spots to #42, but stills holds onto the title of Best Little Brother Team in the State of Michigan. Sparty still has both a more efficient-rated offense and defense than Michigan. Meanwhile, Indiana has moved ahead of UM overall to the #29 spot.

Overall, Michigan is rated lower than half of its opponents this season. Two are in the top ten, 7 are in the upper quartile of the ratings (up from 4); ten are in the upper half (up from 9); and none are in the lowest quartile (down from one).

Here's a brief synopsis of the ratings, or click the link above to see the whole list &/or sort by category:

RK TEAM OFF DEF S/T O'ALL
1 Oklahoma State, Big 12 97.8 92.5 28.8 98.0
2 Miss St, SEC 82.4 95.9 72.6 95.6
3 Oklahoma, Big 12 97.1 78.5 22.2 93.8
4 Alabama, SEC 87.7 82.2 82.9 93.0
5 Maryland, Big Ten 96.9 73.9 66.5 92.8
6 Washington, Pac-12 85.3 76.7 97.1 92.8
7 Clemson, ACC 83.4 94.1 34.6 92.4
8 Penn State, Big Ten 84.0 82.3 81.4 91.4
9 Wake Forest, ACC 69.6 89.8 59.5 86.7
10 Houston, American 53.6 95.1 59.2 86.3
16 OSU, Big Ten 78.4 69.2 72.5 81.8
17 Wisconsin, Big Ten 77.3 79.3 41.6 81.8
18 Purdue, Big Ten 76.0 83.2 23.8 80.9
28 Notre Dame, FBS Indep. 70.8 70.6 45.9 73.5
29 Indiana, Big Ten 58.5 70.1 76.5 72.9
31 Michigan, Big Ten 37.5 86.9 71.4 71.9
32 Air Force, MW 76.5 78.5 11.7 71.8
35 Minnesota, Big Ten 41.8 83.2 66.2 69.9
42 Michigan State, Big Ten 44.2 89.9 23.8 66.9
55 Florida, SEC 21.2 78.6 64.8 60.5
69 E Michigan, MAC 32.5 77.0 31.5 51.7
78 W Michigan, MAC 46.9 29.8 83.3 44.5
80 Cincinnati, American 31.8 57.2 54.7 43.9
94 Rutgers, Big Ten 28.6 55.5 47.1 38.0
95 Cent Michigan, MAC 35.7 47.3 40.3 37.4

 

LSAClassOf2000

September 18th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^

Well, to be absolutely fair, it isn't as if Purdue has been in a game yet where they really needed a stellar performance from their special teams, but yeah, that's pretty low even at that. Another thing that can make this coming Saturday all the more interesting, I would imagine. 

rc15

September 18th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^

Agreed, if we are going to analyze an ESPN stat, why not at least do FPI? That seems to make a lot more sense.

Also, measuring efficiencies on a "per-play basis" is just stupid. Is it more efficient to alternate INTs and 75 yrs TD passes OR 15 play TD drives every time?

Ecky Pting

September 18th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^

The FPI ratings are analyzed thoroughly elsewhere - just not in this post - because this post is about the efficiency ratings, hence the title. One probably shouldn't expect to learn German vocabulary in a French class, but one does have every right to complain regardless. But, if one complains and nothing happens, one may as well not bother.