Sobering thoughts regarding years we lose B10 opener

[Jaxbuck]

I posted this just for shits and giggles way back on the the NU game thread. Wish I never looked it up now.

http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=825&page=1

FWIW on OSU B10 openers

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B10 opener and corresponding season records 1953-2003(50 years)

Overall OSU record 1953-2003: 419 131 13 (.756)

B10 Openers
overall: 40-10 (.800)
record in seasons with win: 453 games 355-89-9 (.784)
record in seasons with a loss: 110 games 64-42-4 (.582)

So at quick glance, winning the B10 opener means we will normally enjoy a better than average year while losing is usually a harbinger of disaster. In 2004 it would roughly be the difference between 9-2 or 6-5.

For further reinforcement of this, here are the records for the seasons in which we lost our B10 opener since '53:
1999:6-6
1992:8-3-1
1990:7-4-1
1989:8-4
1988:4-6-1
1985:9-3
1983:9-3
1967:6-3
1966:4-5
1959:3-5-1


Now here is the part that throws it off a bit. Look at what happens when we start the year on the road in our B10 opener:

B10 opener on the road
overall:15-5 (.750)
record in W seasons: 120-39-5 (.732)
record in L seasons: 38-18-1 (.667)

The wining seasons aren't as good but the losing isn't as bad. If this pattern holds we would finish either 8-3 or 7-4 this year.

Take it all fwiw, but the numbers kinda jumped out at me when I started looking at B10 openers. I dont need any stats to tell me that losing a B10 opener to Northwestern would be a very bad thing.

The stat freak in me keeps thinking just one thing-they are due but please God don't let it be in my lifetime.