re: Since the division split name the best offenses and defenses.

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You could make the argument 2013 Auburn offense was actually overall better than 2010.

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I think it was better. I don't know about statistically (too lazy to look) but the 2013 team led the nation in rushing.

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92 Bama defense

96 florida offense

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My answer as well.

Also agree with poster above that us AU fans look thru AU colored glasses when it comes to the 2010 offense and that 2013 was even better.

Cam being able to will the team to wins in close games, and there were several of them in 2010 season, does not equate to dominance.

In 2013 Nick Marshall and Tre Mason were a machine. Hell Auburn went on a streak where they only threw the ball about a dozen times over the course of 3 games due to the running game being so dominate.

The 1999 Mississippi State Defense is up there I think

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4. 2009 Alabama

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LSU's 2011 defense was better, IMO. It's not a wide margin, and an argument can be made that they were practically equal.


YPG:
2009 Bama - 245.4
2011 LSU - 261.5

YPP (Yards Per Play):
2009 Bama - 4.08
2011 LSU - 4.08

PPG:
2009 Bama - 11.7
2011 LSU - 11.3

Turnovers Forced:
2009 Bama - 31
2011 LSU - 30

Sacks:
2009 Bama - 31
2011 LSU - 38

TFL:
2009 Bama - 96
2011 LSU - 106

This is mostly a moot point, since you are not looking at competition the teams played those seasons. Bama had a great Defense in 2011, but their secondary was their weak link. The problem was that the league didn't have a QB to exploit that weakness.

2011 LSU defense played against more potent offenses than Bama did in 2011.

LSU played against WVU, Oregon. Bama's best OOC team was Penn St and beat offense was North Texas at 76. LSU also played against UGA.

These are the non common opponents between the two that year (remember, only 120 FBS teams in 2011).

LSU opponents PPG rank/total O rank
Oregon - 3rd/4th
WVU - 13th/15th
Bama - 20th/31st
Bama - 20th/31st
UGA - 33rd/39th
WKU - 89th/89th
UK - 114th/118th
FCS team - (N/A)

Bama Opponents PPG rank/total O rank
LSU - 17th/86th
LSU - 17th/86th
Vandy - 61st/98th
North Texas - 76th/96th
Penn St - 110th/95th
Kent St - 114th/119th
FCS team - (N/A)


LSU played by far the better offenses and their defensive stats weren't far off from Bama's. LSU's defense was in fact better than Bama's that year and is one of the best defenses of the past 25 years at least.

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No, just saying you are comparing apples and oranges by throwing up stats. That holds true firmly with the college game.

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So, the only way to determine who's the better team when they are from different years is the eye test, in your opinion?

Also, I don't think you understand the term "apples to oranges". The scoring average of all opponents and total offense average of all opponents are within 1 point and 5 yards, respectively. That most certainly is not "apples to oranges". It's as even a comparison as you're ever going to get with two teams from different years.


I'm genuinely curious what your method of comparing two teams is now, from different years of course.

Best defense:
Tie - 2011 Alabama / 2011 LSU

Best offense:
Hmm... I'd probably lean to 1996 Florida or 2008 Florida. 2012 Texas A&M is certainly in the discussion.

2001 Florida had a very good offense. I believe Rex Grossman passed for over 300 yards in every game except one (and in that one it was like 295 yards). He was robbed of the Heisman that year, because he had the Sophomore stigma that still existed back then.