The College Football Playoff is shaking things up this weekend. The expansion to 12 teams means exciting matchups on home turf for teams like Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. They’re set to face off against James Madison, Tulane, Miami, and Alabama, respectively.
But how much of an edge do these teams have playing at home? To find out, we looked at several statistics dating back to 2015, excluding data from the 2020 season due to pandemic-related attendance issues. We wanted to see which team really makes the most of its home advantage.
Home Records
Here’s how the home teams stack up against powerhouse opponents:
- Oklahoma: 37 wins, 7 losses (84.1% win rate)
- Oregon: 42 wins, 9 losses (82.4%)
- Ole Miss: 26 wins, 17 losses (60.5%)
- Texas A&M: 24 wins, 16 losses (60.0%)
Home vs. Road Performance
We also examined how teams performed at home compared to the road. Oregon wins 24.2% more at home, while Oklahoma comes in at 20.8%. Texas A&M and Ole Miss lag behind with smaller margins.
Betting Against the Spread
In betting, home teams typically start with a 2.5 to 3-point advantage. Despite that, Oregon has covered around 53% of their games, while Ole Miss struggles with a losing record against the spread. Oklahoma shines with a solid home record.
Close Games
Other insights come from competitive matchups. In games where the spread was within 7 points, Oregon excels with a 10-4 record, showing they thrive under pressure at home.
Pre-Snap Penalties
Home crowd noise plays a role, too. Oregon leads with an average of 2.45 forced penalties per game, indicating how effective their fans are in creating a challenging atmosphere for visiting teams.
Final Thoughts
Oregon comes out on top overall, but each venue has its unique challenges. This weekend’s games will be telling. Will home-field advantage play a significant role in these crucial matchups? Only time will tell, but every fan will be on the edge of their seat.
For more information, check out ESPN’s coverage on College Football.
Source link
Oklahoma Sooners, Oregon Ducks, Ole Miss Rebels, Texas A&M Aggies, College Football
