NCAA New Rule for 2007
Earlier this year, in February, the NCAA Football Rules committee decided to get rid of their new-change-clock-rules-shorten-game experiment from last year and in place of the we-have-shorter-game rule comes the don’t-kick-ball-into-endzone experimental rule. So, teams will be kicking off from the 30 yard line rather than the 35. On the outside, this is really a better rule to have in place then messing with two minute drills (a football favorite strategy for some coaches) and simply taking away plays from the game. From the field this could mean spreading the gap between top teams and teams that have a chance to take them on. From a handicapping perspective, it’s going to add a new twist in measuring games. Here is some research we've compiled.
A few coaches have already given their opinion on the matter. Kentucky Head coach Rich Brooks is quoted as saying “It’s going to be one of the most significant rule changes to come about in maybe a decade.” At first look, one might agree with this, but the line-makers of the world have predicted that this is really going to change over-unders by about one point. In a nutshell, games will score one point more per game than last year.
Some coaches believe that this will give small time teams a chance
to score with field goals, which may make sense considering the four
strongest kick-returners last year were on losing teams.
The biggest impact we may see here is excessive celebrating, leaving
a team to kick off from the 15 yard line. Essentially, this will give
the opposing team a real shot at getting into field goal range and
taking the lead back after their two minute drills.
All in all, we should see more field goal attempts and possible overall aggressive play on the field. The hard core thinkers in the world may want to agree that more fumbles will ensue, and with an increase in aggressive play, more turnovers in general may take place. We will certainly keep an eye on this as the first few games play out. We don’t feel this new rule will have any kind of major impact like last years new-change-clock-rules-shorten-game experiment did.
-AG
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