Alcorn State vs. Grambling: A statistical comparison, SWAC championship game preview

Who: Alcorn State vs. Grambling

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m. (CT)

TV: ESPNU

Alcorn State (7-4, 5-2 SWAC) and Grambling State (10-1, 7-0 SWAC) will be squaring off in Saturday’s SWAC championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston for the sixth time in three years.

The Braves, winners of the championship game in 2014 and 2015, will be making an unprecedented fourth-consecutive SWAC championship game appearance and will be seeking their third title in four seasons.

Grambling, the defending conference champion, will be participating in its 10th conference championship game, the most appearances of any SWAC team.

When the two teams met back on Oct. 21 in Grambling, La., the Tigers won that game convincingly, 44-21. It was a contest that resulted in the Braves committing seven turnovers against a GSU team that’s currently ranked No. 2 in FCS in turnover margin.

Statistics will likely mean nothing when the two teams face-off Saturday at 3:30 p.m., but with both teams completing an 11-game regular season schedule, the data could give us some insight on what we could experience during the game.

Below, we’ve provided some data (via the SWAC’s website) to see how both teams stack up statistically within critical categories heading into the final conference championship game. Line items in bold print indicate the team with the statistical advantage and even denotes where both teams rank respectfully among other SWAC teams.

Scoring Offense

Total Offense

Rushing Offense

Pass Offense

Pass Efficiency

Scoring Defense

Total Defense

Rushing Defense

Pass Defense

Interceptions

Sacks By

Sacks Against

Penalties 

Turnover Margin