Ohio State Buckeyes Prepare For November Gauntlet

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It's hard to believe that the 2009 college football season is nearing its ending so soon. We've seen so many exciting moments this season.

But for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the end means the hardest part of the schedule by far.

The month of November begins with a trip up to Happy Valley to play No. 11 Penn State, then a home game the next week against No. 4 Iowa (using BCS standings). The end isn't much easier, as they play in Ann Arbor against an improved Michigan team bent to end a five-game losing streak to their archrivals from the state of Ohio.

Many pundits felt that October would be a quiet month for the Buckeyes, thinking that they would run the table and have a shot to win the Big Ten.

As we hit November, the latter is still possible despite the former not happening, as Purdue shocked the Buckeyes in West Lafayette, 26-18.

Ohio State still controls their own destiny, as they can win out and get to the Rose Bowl in a surprising scenario.

But they will have to do it regardless of what state the offense is in.

They are still as inconsistent as they were at the start of the year, but the last two games where the Buckeyes scored 83 points has to give the unit some confidence.

Terrelle Pryor seems more relaxed on the field, and Brandon Saine is looking more like the player Buckeye fans have waited for since he came to Columbus in 2007.

And the Buckeyes may have found their backup QB in WR DeVier Posey, who threw a pretty decent TD pass off a reverse to WR Dane Sanzenbacher on a trick play in Ohio State's 45-0 win over lowly New Mexico State.

Another positive sign should be the return of a healthy Justin Boren at G, who with C Mike Brewster form a solid corps of interior linemen for the Buckeyes.

And the defense has stepped up as well, as the Silver Bullets have become turnover magnets this season. The unit ranks third in the country behind Iowa and Texas with 15 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns, all in October.

The defense also has 24 sacks on the season, 12th in the country in that department.

But this Saturday, the Buckeyes bring their high-powered squad into Happy Valley against the top offense in the Big Ten and top scoring defense in the nation at 9.3 points per game.

A win on Saturday would not only quench the Buckeyes' thirst for revenge, but would set up a Big Ten title game in all but name against the Hawkeyes if Iowa takes care of business against Northwestern.

And Ohio State cannot afford to sleep on the Wolverines either.

Sure, Michigan is struggling, but they are vastly improved from a year ago and Tate Forcier and the Wolverines will be licking their chops to end their losing streak to the Buckeyes which has gone on since 2003.

Jim Tressel has only lost once to the Wolverines, and past history says he has no reason to overlook Michigan either.

They should be favored, but the outcome will be closer than in 2008.

Is Ohio State still smelling roses? Maybe, but it will take a perfect November to get it done, along with consecutive upsets as well.

They are capable, but the execution will tell the story. And Ohio State will have to execute at a high level on both sides of the ball to reach Pasadena on New Years' Day.

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