Is there a Rivalvy Underdog Advantage?
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:59 pm
This is just from my experiences and some ovservations of some scores around the league, but I think there may be a boost for the underdog in a rivalry game.
I had Texas A&M this season and when I played Texas and Texas Tech (both rivals), I really felt like team just WAS so much better than they usually are. I imagine you know the feeling I'm talking about, because everyone I've talked about it with has known that feeling. For example, in the stat line after my game with Texas, my OL (which averages 78) had 7 pancakes, while his had none. His team is talent and ratings-wise far superior. That has nothing to do with a user, but the game itself. My players just made plays they don't normally make, and that game was IN Austin. I had no business beating either team and I didn't make any amazing plays to overcome any lack of talent.
Conversely, when I played at Baylor (my third rival) after those two games, I didn't feel like I could do anything on offense. Credit to Matt and his gameplan, which was great, but every time I tried to run the ball the LB's filled into the holes before my RB could even get there. Their DL were getting through like nobody's business, and the DB's were making breaks on the ball I could only wish for. It just seemed really odd.
Then, when I played Oklahoma (not a rival), my team played like itself and so did his. He dominated me. He said against Oklahoma State the game before he felt similarly to the way I did against my other rivals.
In looking at Rivalry games across the league, there were many, many upsets and just as many tight games. It seems like something like this might contribute..
Anyway, it could just be my specific games and the way they played out, but I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing something similar, or if they might have, thinking back on it. Just wanted to post and see what's up.
I had Texas A&M this season and when I played Texas and Texas Tech (both rivals), I really felt like team just WAS so much better than they usually are. I imagine you know the feeling I'm talking about, because everyone I've talked about it with has known that feeling. For example, in the stat line after my game with Texas, my OL (which averages 78) had 7 pancakes, while his had none. His team is talent and ratings-wise far superior. That has nothing to do with a user, but the game itself. My players just made plays they don't normally make, and that game was IN Austin. I had no business beating either team and I didn't make any amazing plays to overcome any lack of talent.
Conversely, when I played at Baylor (my third rival) after those two games, I didn't feel like I could do anything on offense. Credit to Matt and his gameplan, which was great, but every time I tried to run the ball the LB's filled into the holes before my RB could even get there. Their DL were getting through like nobody's business, and the DB's were making breaks on the ball I could only wish for. It just seemed really odd.
Then, when I played Oklahoma (not a rival), my team played like itself and so did his. He dominated me. He said against Oklahoma State the game before he felt similarly to the way I did against my other rivals.
In looking at Rivalry games across the league, there were many, many upsets and just as many tight games. It seems like something like this might contribute..
Anyway, it could just be my specific games and the way they played out, but I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing something similar, or if they might have, thinking back on it. Just wanted to post and see what's up.
