[OutsiderFan]

These numbers are yet more statistical evidence of how silly it is to kick FGs and punt so much.

Case in point, UC the last two weeks before halftime:

UCLA:  UC has ball at midfield, punts, and downs ball inside the UCLA 5.  In less than a minute, UCLA scores a TD with 13 secs left. UC has no chance to score its own points again before half.

Oregon:  UC has ball 4th and 2 from its own 30 or so and punts.  Two plays later, Oregon is scrimmaging from where UC punted, and scored a TD with 33 secs left.  UC moves ball to Oregon 40 before half, but fails to score again before half.

In both cases, had UC gone for it, they would have either:

A. Made a first down and scored points before half
B. Made a first down, not scored points before half, but kept the opponent from scoring more before half
C. Failed to get the first down, but allowed the opponent to score faster so UC could have also had a shot at more points before half

All three of these outcomes were better than the actual outcome that came as a result of punting.  The decision to punt arguably cost UC the UCLA game. 

[OutsiderFan]

These numbers are yet more statistical evidence of how silly it is to kick FGs and punt so much.

Case in point, UC the last two weeks before halftime:

UCLA:  UC has ball at midfield, punts, and downs ball inside the UCLA 5.  In less than a minute, UCLA scores a TD with 13 secs left. UC has no chance to score its own points again before half.

Oregon:  UC has ball 4th and 2 from its own 30 or so and punts.  Two plays later, Oregon is scrimmaging from where UC punted, and scored a TD with 33 secs left.  UC moves ball to Oregon 40 before half, but fails to score again before half.

In both cases, had UC gone for it, they would have either:

A. Made a first down and scored points before half
B. Made a first down, not scored points before half, but kept the opponent from scoring more before half
C. Failed to get the first down, but allowed the opponent to score faster so UC could have also had a shot at more points before half

All three of these outcomes were better than the actual outcome that came as a result of punting.  The decision to punt arguably cost UC the UCLA game.