I did some research on ISU, and on paper, EWU and ISU are pretty similar both offensively and defensively. Here's the bulk of my posts from over on AGS:
Both teams run a 4-3 defense and are good at keeping points off the board. ISU has 16 INTs and 8 fumble recoveries for 24 turnovers, EWU has 10 INTs and 12 fumble recoveries for 22 turnovers. EWU allows 23 points per game, ISU allows 24. Both have active MLBs with 117/118 tackles... well above the 2nd leading tackler. ISU tends to blitz more with their LBs I assume from looking at their stats... they have about 10 more sacks than EWU's LBs, which accounts for ISU's 38 total sacks, and EWU's 29... almost all of ours come from the DL. Both have a very successful DE... EWU with Jerry Ceja and his 11 sacks, ISU with Colton Underwood with his 10.5. ISU has more TFL's, so either they're better at getting penetration, or it's because teams in the MVFC run a lot more. ISU allows 3.5 ypc for 129 ypg on the ground, EWU 3.9 and 159, so the Redbirds are definitely better at stopping the run, but not by a lot. ISU and EWU are also similar against the pass... EWU gives up 30 yards more per game, and have allowed 2 more TDs (12) than INTs (10). ISU has 16 INTs to 13 TDs allowed.
MVFC offenses average 23.7 ppg, BSC offenses average 29.7 ppg. So while ISU has marginally better defensive statistics, they're also against less high-powered offenses. EWU and ISU are pretty similar overall though. Should be a great matchup.
I would assume the offenses in the MVFC are lower scoring and move the ball less than in the BSC because they keep it on the ground a lot more. Here's a look at the points and scoring %'s, which definitely favor EWU reaching or exceeding our normal numbers, while ISU might struggle to reach theirs.
ISU O: 29.8 ppg, 91% redzone scores, 71% redzone TDs.
EWU D: 23 ppg, 84% redzone scores, 58% redzone TDs.
EWU O: 31.6 ppg, 89% redzone scores, 61% redzone TDs.
ISU D: 24 ppg, 89% redzone scores, 70% redzone TDs.
Offensively, ISU and EWU have efficient QBs who move the ball with both their arm and feet. ISU's Matt Brown has 25 TDs and 10 INTs, and is ranked 19th in pass eff. at 143.05. EWU's Kyle Padron and Vernon Adams have combined to pass for 25 TDs and 11 INTs, and rank 30th (139.13) and 9th (152.15) respectively in pass eff. rating. EWU does pass for about 50 yards more per game, 300 to 250. Matt Brown has 140 yards on 50 rushing attempts (2.8 ypc), but 6 rush TDs. KP and VA have 372 yards on 95 attempts (3.9 ypc) and 3 rush TDs. Both teams rush for almost exactly 132 yards per game, and both teams' RBs have a combined 15 rush TDs. ISU has a primary back in Darrelynn Dunn who gets the bulk of the carries, yardage, and TDs and a supplemental back in Cameron Hunt who only gets about 25 yards a game, but averages 4.2 ypc. EWU splits pretty evenly between Quincy Forte and Demetrius Bronson, since Jordan Talley has been held out 5 weeks or so with a concussion. Bronson of course gets the bulk of the carries in goal to go situations, as he's the bigger, more physical back, hence 10 TDs to Forte's 2.
