📡 Alabama now leads nation in one of Nick Saban’s favorite stats - AL.com

[Bama News]

Alabama now leads nation in one of Nick Saban’s favorite stats

Alabama enters the open week with some momentum in key stat measures.

www.al.com

Arkansas’ carelessness and Alabama’s opportunism made an unbalanced matchup a true blowout.

The four lost turnovers for the Razorbacks led to half of Alabama’s points in a 48-7 win on Saturday night. It also helped push Alabama into the national lead in turnover margin, getting 13 more takeaways than giveaways in the first eight games of the season.

San Jose State is No. 2 at plus-12 while no other SEC team ranks even in the top 25 of that category in the national rankings. The next-best from the league is Alabama’s next opponent, LSU, with a plus-4 margin to rank 29th in the country.

Nick Saban has consistently called turnover differential one of the three most indicative stats tied to success in the game. Third-down conversions and big plays also make the list and Alabama’s offense is ranked in the top 10 of those categories as well.

The Tide is now outscoring opponents 79-19 in points off turnovers this season while continuing the steady stream of takeaways. It has at least one in 62 of the last 67 games in a span that’s produced 111 turnovers (73 interceptions and 38 fumbles).

Isolating this season, the Tide has taken 18 possessions while losing just five. Interceptions total 10 with eight fumble recoveries.

Razorback quarterback Nick Starkel connected with Alabama players nearly as many times as his own teammates. His 5-for-19 night included three interceptions and just 58 passing yards before being replaced by John Stephen Jones.

“I know (Starkel’s) got several of those throws he wishes he had back,” Arkansas coach Chad Morris said. “Again, you can’t go out and spot a team of this caliber with a short field and expect to be in the ball game and we weren’t. It got away from us early on in the first half and it was turnovers and short fields.”

The Arkansas game also broke a streak of four straight games in which Alabama lost one turnover in every outing.

LSU is coming off its third game with a negative turnover margin after losing two and gaining one in a win over Auburn on Saturday. The Tigers have lost five interceptions this season and three fumbles while taking 12 turnovers from opponents.

 

[rick4bama]

 

[OldPlayer]

It should be better, but Tua and his interceptions

 

[Rolltide24]

This is pretty incredible. Especially considering we’ve got a lot of younger guys playing D. Also speaks well of our O holding on the the ball.

what’s out +/- on net penalties and net penalty yards this year?

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I don't listen to the broadcast of the games (even when Greg is doing the talking) but what was the deal that #21 wasn't playing vs The Hogs. #3 looked to be in position most of his snaps. I will hang up now and listen.

 

[Secondand26]

I don't listen to the broadcast of the games (even when Greg is doing the talking) but what was the deal that #21 wasn't playing vs The Hogs. #3 looked to be in position most of his snaps. I will hang up now and listen.

According to Coach - Mayden had a pulled groin. He could have played in an emergency, but decided to hold him out.