Turnover margins: It really is all about the ball

By Jordan Moore on August 13, 2009 12:13 PM | No Comments

Seemingly every day of every season, Coach Carroll places a monstrous emphasis on turnovers and the Trojans' turnover margin.

A look at the stats shows exactly why.

In the last seven seasons, USC is 50-2 when recording a plus turnover margin -- including winning the last 47 games when that happens. Conversely, when the Trojans have a minus turnover margin, they're 16-5. That's a winning-percentage difference of 20 percent.

"It's a simply fascinating stat that proves how important this whole turnover emphasis is to the success of our team," Carroll said. "It couldn't be more obvious."

Take a look at the Trojans' record as compared to their turnover margin in the last seven seasons (2002-08), when they've won seven consecutive Pac-10 titles, made seven straight BCS bowls, logged seven 11-win seasons in a row and finished the year in the top-4 seven consecutive times:

- Plus turnover margin: 50-2 (.962) • 47-0 in the last 47 games when in the plus
- Even turnover margin: 16-2 (.889) • Losses came in '03 vs. Cal and '06 vs. UCLA
- Minus turnover margin: 16-5 (.762) • 13-5 (.722) in the last five seasons with a minus turnover margin
- Overall record ('02-'08): 82-9 (.901) • Nine losses have come by an average of four points

- Research by Ricky Cambier, USCRipsIt student assistant

University Southern California Trojans

Turnover margins: It really is all about the ball

Turnover margins: It really is all about the ball

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