Phil Steele's Power Plays Newsletter (not Power Sweep) has these rankings and improves them.
These Power Play Forecasts are the most unique in the country because they are based on Northcoast Sports’ Private Power Ratings. Our ratings are unlike any computer
rating, as we take into account all of the following: Strength of Opponents Individual Units (Rushing Defense, Passing Offense, & Passing Defense, Garbage Yards, Weather,
Injuries, Home Field Edge, and Successful Unbalanced Attacks). Here is how each is refl ected:
Strength of Opponent: Our ratings do not just take the opposing team’s overall power rating into account. For example, in 1992, Washington’s defense vs the rush was
rated at a “110” (From 1-100). They faced Colorado and allowed 183 yds rushing and dropped 12 spots in the national rushing defense ratings. However, Power Plays took
into account the potent Buffalo run attack and had forecasted the Huskies yielding 225 yds. Due to the fact they did better than the forecast, Power Plays raised their rating to
112 even though they slipped in the national (straight yardage) rankings.
Another example was Michigan vs Purdue in 1989. Michigan held Purdue to just 45 yards rushing and improved their ratings in rushing defense in the national statistics. However, our
ratings had them rated at a 102 and moved them down to 99, as they should have yielded just 32 yards to an impotent Purdue rush attack. Next time an announcer on TV tells you that a
certain team is #3 in the country vs the run you better check Northcoast Sports’ Power Ratings and see how good a rush defense they really have! The top twenty ratings in Power
Ratings for each offensive and defensive category will be listed in each week’s issue of Power Plays.
Garbage yards: These are yards that a team gains or allows in the fi nal minutes of a game when it has been decided. For example, Team A is ahead 63-0 and allows 93 yards
passing for a TD vs its fourth string defense. These yards are counted into national ratings, but not in Northcoast Sports’ Power Ratings!
Weather: If a game is played in miserable weather conditions and is low scoring, the straight statistics credit the defense with outstanding performances. Our Power Ratings
refl ect the conditions and do not give excess credit to the defenses.
Injuries: When South Carolina played NC State in 1989, South Carolina QB Todd Ellis was injured on the third play of the game. His backup, who had seen very little action all year, was not
prepared and hit on just 4 of 13 passes for 65 yards. The offensive coordinator did not risk any passes. In the national statistic’s NC State’s pass defense MOVED UP 14 NOTCHES. In Phil’s
Power Ratings they stayed the same, as the low yardage WAS NOT refl ective of an outstanding performance by the defense.
Home Field Edges: The weekly projection of yards and points is weighted with the home fi eld factored in.
Successful Unbalanced Attacks: In 1989, Ohio St was held to 127 yards passing vs Northwestern. This dropped OSU in the national passing offense ratings & RAISED the
Wildcats in the pass defense ratings. In our ratings the two units remained rated the same. Why? OSU rushed for 456 yards & DID NOT HAVE TO PASS & when they did they hit
9 of 11 passes, which is VERY effective. While Northwestern’s pass defense looked good in the national ratings, only Northcoast Sports’ Power Ratings refl ected the TRUTH!
There you have it. More than just numbers, THESE RATINGS REFLECT the true strength of each unit and allow them to have the most accurate forecast of yards gained
and points allowed in the country! No other rating system takes into account all the previous factors. Next time you hear that a team is rated third in the country in pass defense,
just remember, yards are not everything and Northcoast Sports’ Power Plays will show you how strong the team really is.
These Power Play Forecasts are the most unique in the country because they are based on Northcoast Sports’ Private Power Ratings. Our ratings are unlike any computer
rating, as we take into account all of the following: Strength of Opponents Individual Units (Rushing Defense, Passing Offense, & Passing Defense, Garbage Yards, Weather,
Injuries, Home Field Edge, and Successful Unbalanced Attacks). Here is how each is refl ected:
Strength of Opponent: Our ratings do not just take the opposing team’s overall power rating into account. For example, in 1992, Washington’s defense vs the rush was
rated at a “110” (From 1-100). They faced Colorado and allowed 183 yds rushing and dropped 12 spots in the national rushing defense ratings. However, Power Plays took
into account the potent Buffalo run attack and had forecasted the Huskies yielding 225 yds. Due to the fact they did better than the forecast, Power Plays raised their rating to
112 even though they slipped in the national (straight yardage) rankings.
Another example was Michigan vs Purdue in 1989. Michigan held Purdue to just 45 yards rushing and improved their ratings in rushing defense in the national statistics. However, our
ratings had them rated at a 102 and moved them down to 99, as they should have yielded just 32 yards to an impotent Purdue rush attack. Next time an announcer on TV tells you that a
certain team is #3 in the country vs the run you better check Northcoast Sports’ Power Ratings and see how good a rush defense they really have! The top twenty ratings in Power
Ratings for each offensive and defensive category will be listed in each week’s issue of Power Plays.
Garbage yards: These are yards that a team gains or allows in the fi nal minutes of a game when it has been decided. For example, Team A is ahead 63-0 and allows 93 yards
passing for a TD vs its fourth string defense. These yards are counted into national ratings, but not in Northcoast Sports’ Power Ratings!
Weather: If a game is played in miserable weather conditions and is low scoring, the straight statistics credit the defense with outstanding performances. Our Power Ratings
refl ect the conditions and do not give excess credit to the defenses.
Injuries: When South Carolina played NC State in 1989, South Carolina QB Todd Ellis was injured on the third play of the game. His backup, who had seen very little action all year, was not
prepared and hit on just 4 of 13 passes for 65 yards. The offensive coordinator did not risk any passes. In the national statistic’s NC State’s pass defense MOVED UP 14 NOTCHES. In Phil’s
Power Ratings they stayed the same, as the low yardage WAS NOT refl ective of an outstanding performance by the defense.
Home Field Edges: The weekly projection of yards and points is weighted with the home fi eld factored in.
Successful Unbalanced Attacks: In 1989, Ohio St was held to 127 yards passing vs Northwestern. This dropped OSU in the national passing offense ratings & RAISED the
Wildcats in the pass defense ratings. In our ratings the two units remained rated the same. Why? OSU rushed for 456 yards & DID NOT HAVE TO PASS & when they did they hit
9 of 11 passes, which is VERY effective. While Northwestern’s pass defense looked good in the national ratings, only Northcoast Sports’ Power Ratings refl ected the TRUTH!
There you have it. More than just numbers, THESE RATINGS REFLECT the true strength of each unit and allow them to have the most accurate forecast of yards gained
and points allowed in the country! No other rating system takes into account all the previous factors. Next time you hear that a team is rated third in the country in pass defense,
just remember, yards are not everything and Northcoast Sports’ Power Plays will show you how strong the team really is.
