Thoughts on Boise vs Va Tech(+3)

Thoughts on Boise vs Va Tech(+3) I think this is an interesting line. I went to the Va Tech USC game at Fedex Field in 2004 and it was the loudest game I've ever attended. This includes some significant night games at LSU, a number of Texas OU games, etc. Virginia Tech has a significant almuni base in the DC area. Any thoughts on a play here? Boise comes in with all the pressure, basically their entire season on the line, no more nothing to lose mentality in this one.

Does anyone have any evidence in support or against crowd noise being a factor in college football? It clearly makes no difference in the NFL, but college players and referees are less experienced.

Boise St. returning 20 starters and I have no doubt they will be in the championship game this year. V'tech usually has good a defense but only returns 5 starters on D and I think Boise St lights them up with an early season wake-up call. Boise St fun fact: Boise St installed a new blue turf this year said to be "softer on the eyes"

[QUOTE=custer;25781]Does anyone have any evidence in support or against crowd noise being a factor in college football? [B]It clearly makes no difference in the NFL[/B], but college players and referees are less experienced.[/QUOTE] You can't be serious?

[QUOTE=custer;25781]Does anyone have any evidence in support or against crowd noise being a factor in college football? It clearly makes no difference in the NFL, but college players and referees are less experienced.[/QUOTE] If crowd noise makes no difference, then why do college and pro coaches bring "artificial noise" into practices sometimes to replicate crowd noise? Just a thought...

Do either of you have any data supporting the crowd noise theory in college or the pros? CC5, perhaps crowd noise isn't an issue in the NFL because the coaches properly prepare their players for it. Or, maybe coaches are errant in thinking that the crowd noise is a factor.

[QUOTE=custer;25791]Do either of you have any data supporting the crowd noise theory in college or the pros? CC5, perhaps crowd noise isn't an issue in the NFL because the coaches properly prepare their players for it. Or, maybe coaches are errant in thinking that the crowd noise is a factor.[/QUOTE] How do you explain road NFL teams averaging more false starts on the road in domes during playoff games than at any other venue?

What is the avg difference per game? How many games are we talking? I've certainly heard people say that crowd noise causes false starts, and that road teams in Seattle have had the most false starts over recent years, and that stadium is supposed to be loud (its also the furthest avg travel for road teams), but I've never seen the numbers. Do you have them for the playoff dome stat you refer to?

It's not just false starts, it's the quickness in which your O-line can fire off the ball if they can't hear the cadence. I'm not saying this is a significant factor, but yes louder stadiums have to be more difficult to play in to some degree.

I agree that it makes sense. But if you lump all the NFL teams with historically shitty crowds together and look at home vs. road win % over the past 20 years, you get almost exactly the league average. Try it yourself with teams like AZ, JAX, BUF (big open stadium and they don't fill it).