Links at Lunch: Statistics, NCAA 12 Launch, Bo Jackson

Baseball’s Midsummer Classic takes sport’s center stage this week, for better or worse. The MLB All-Star Game determining the World Series’ home field advantage is roughly equivalent to the BCS, in that both are reviled among opposing sects of the games’ pundits. Allowing an Oriole to determine the playoff fate of a Yankee is a logical fallacy traditionalists and sabermetricians can agree upon, if it’s their only agreement.

Sabermetricians and traditionalists are baseball’s Democrats and Republicans. Neither side will concede an inch to the other, even if value can be found in elements of the other’s argument. Advanced statistics are finding their way to football, but fortunately are not to the convoluted and fact skewing levels some of the more nuanced baseball stats have reached (I’m looking at you, VORP).

two of the more interesting advanced statistical analyzers out there are InTheBleachers’ and Big East Coast Bias’ Patrick Johnston with his Positive Impact Factor quarterback breakdowns, and Coaches By The Numbers. CBTN is always a great read, and most recently breaks down the success of the BCS conferences’ coaches.

More links after the jump.

• The Washington Huskies lose a first rounder quarterback selection, but should actually be much improved with one of the nation’s best kept secrets in tailback Chris Polk and stud freshman wideout Kasen Williams (via The Victory Formation)
• Robert Griffin III has been Baylor’s quarterback since approximately the Jimmy Carter presidency. He again leads the Bears into Big 12 competition (via Zoulogy.com)
• Georgia’s SEC championship hopes took a serious hit over the weekend, as news of Caleb King’s ineligibility became public. Freshman Isaiah Crowell now has even greater expectations to meet, but that’s not all to anticipate from this major Bulldog shake-up (via College Football Zealots)
• Christmas comes early for college football fans and video gaming enthusiasts. This week marks the release of EA Sports’ NCAA Football 12, still the only college football game on the market after 2K Sports pulled the plug on its underrated series back in the PS2, XBox days (via CBSsports.com)

TODAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY

Returning to the MLB All-Star Game, on this day in 1989 one of the best tailbacks to ever grace the SEC and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson earned the Midsummer Classic’s top honor. Jackson homered to help the American League to a 5-3 win.