Ohio State Football: Rebuilt and Ready for a Real Run
By now everyone knows that Ohio State hasn't had the best of luck in the last two BCS National Championship games.
They were beaten so badly by Florida that the SEC fans immediately began to claim that Ohio State couldn't compete with the big boys in college football.
And last year against LSU, the rebuilding Buckeyes found themselves in another BCS Championship game—one that they probably should not have been in.
They were beaten easily by a very good LSU football team, which again made SEC fans go absolutely crazy claiming that the Big 10 had no speed and couldn't keep up with the teams in the SEC. (Even though a few days earlier the Michigan Wolverines beat Florida...the fastest team in the SEC.)
But as much as some people are mad at the fact that the Buckeyes were in the position to win the National Championship, it's not their fault that every team above them decided to lose their last game of the year and pretty much give Ohio State a bid in the BCS National Championship.
If Ohio State makes it for a third consecutive year, nobody can say they didn't earn it. They have a much better non-conference schedule, and the Big 10 as a whole will be a much better conference to play in than it was last year.
Here is my take on how each game should go.
8/30 vs. Youngstown State
Youngstown State won't be pulling off any miracles like Appalachian State did to Michigan last year. This game is more of a scrimmage for Ohio State.
The starters will only play for about a half. Beanie Wells should pull off a few big runs here and there, and get some stats racked up for his Heisman campaign.
Youngstown State scored six on Ohio State last year, so this year I look for them to probably shut the mighty Penguins out.
Ohio State 52 - Youngstown State 0
9/6 vs. Ohio University
The Bobcats from Ohio University have a great football coach in Frank Solich, and I see them playing their hearts out in this game. However, after about a quarter of football, the talent difference between the two teams will start to set in, and Ohio State will put themselves on cruise control as soon as they take the lead.
I think Ohio will have a surprisingly great season in the MAC, but they are no match for Ohio State.
Ohio State 38 - Ohio University 7
9/13 @ USC
In what could potentially be the most hyped game in Ohio State history, the Buckeyes find themselves traveling out to the West Coast to play in what might be an all-out war.
The Trojans will be coming off a bye week and should be pretty fresh. At the same time, this could play in the Buckeyes' favor because USC quarterback Mark Sanchez will only have one game of experience before playing against the extremely talented and experienced defense of Ohio State.
I see this game being a battle in the trenches as Sanchez won't be able to figure out the defense of the Buckeyes.
This will be the game that will either make or break Beanie Wells' Heisman run, as well as make or break the Buckeyes' National Championship hopes.
In the end this game will come down to who has the better defense and who has more want to.
Ohio State 24 - USC 17
9/20 vs. Troy
This is quite an intriguing game. Troy has shown the last few years that they can compete with some powerhouse teams in college football. What could hurt Ohio State is the fact that they are coming off of a huge high after defeating USC. They could easily not show up for this game and be stunned and upset.
But Jim Tressel will not allow that to happen, and neither will the experienced team that is THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Beanie will run all over Troy. This might also be the first time that Ohio State shows a few packages that include the highly recruited freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Ohio State 37 - Troy 10
9/27 vs. Minnesota
Minnesota might have a bright future ahead of them with their very talented dual threat quarterback Adam Weber. But on this day in Columbus, Ohio State is going to be taking no prisoners.
This is the Big 10 season opener for the Buckeyes, and they will be coming out hitting hard and moving the ball at will. Beanie should rack up pretty nice stats in this one, as well as Todd Boeckman.
Again, look to see a few more packages with Terrelle Pryor in this one.
Ohio State 49 - Minnesota 6
10/4 @ Wisconsin
This will be the toughest test of the year for Ohio State. Some may say USC will be tougher, but the crowd at Camp Randall will be roaring in this primetime matchup. I look for the fans to do a "white out" or something similar in this one to help Wisconsin pull the upset.
Wisconsin will be on a high coming off a nice victory at Michigan the week before, and they better hope they don't have a hangover. This game will be a matchup of pure power and strength.
The Wisconsin running backs will have a good game as they rotate P.J. Hill and Zach Brown. Ohio State will have a tough time handling both running backs and will probably have their worst defensive game of the year.
Beanie Wells might have to carry the team on his back and hope that James Laurinaitis can force some turnovers for the Buckeye defense. Wisconsin will be playing their hearts out, and the game could easily go either way. In the end whoever turns the ball over less will be the winner.
Ohio State 24 - Wisconsin 28
10/11 vs. Purdue
This is the time of the year that the luck of Purdue usually changes. Purdue will probably come into this game with a 4-1 or 3-2 record looking to upset Ohio State.
Curtis Painter will have crazy stats already at this point in the season and will probably throw for quite a few yards on the Ohio State zone defense. But as usual, Purdue will have trouble scoring on the Buckeyes.
Last year Ohio State won with defense and special teams. Boeckman threw three interceptions in last year's match up, so I expect the senior quarterback to redeem himself and have a great game. The play action fake will work well against the inexperienced secondary of Purdue.
This should also be a breakout game for Malcolm Jenkins at corner, as this is the first real passing threat Ohio State will face this season.
Ohio State 34 - Purdue 7
10/18 @ Michigan State
Both teams could be entering this game undefeated and ready for a war.
The 2008 Spartans could very easily be the most underestimated team in the Big 10 this year. Javon Ringer is a great running back and quarterback Brian Hoyer is set to have a great senior campaign as well.
On top of that, ex-defensive coordinator for the 2002 National Champion Ohio State team Mark Dantonio is a great head coach for the Spartans and turning them around fast. Ohio State still runs the same defense he ran with them, and if anyone knows how to beat it, this is the man.
Ultimately this game will come down to who plays the better defense once again. Ringer will shock the Buckeye defense and probably have a pretty good game. If the Michigan State offensive line can play well, there could be an upset in the making.
I look for this to be the first time that Terrelle Pryor gets a significant number of snaps and helps the Buckeye offense with a huge change of pace that fools the Spartan defense. This could be the first highlight game of his career if he can help the Buckeyes escape from being upset against a very dangerous Michigan State squad.
Ohio State 31 - Michigan State 21
10/25 vs. Penn State
In what might be JoePa's last trip to Columbus as head coach of the Nittany Lions, I look for Penn State to come out playing Ohio State pretty tough.
This will be another game for Ohio State that will have to be won in the trenches—Penn State D-line vs. Ohio State O-line.
Beanie will break through the line a few times in this game and reel off some big runs past the slow but powerful defense of Penn State. Boeckman should also put up big numbers throwing to Brian Robiskie for a few scores on the decent but highly overrated secondary of Penn State.
Defensively for Ohio State, they play an absolutely stellar game and shut down everything that Penn State throws at them. Sadly for Paterno, he will leave The Horseshoe for the last time with a beat-up and battered football team.
We will always love you JoePa.
Ohio State 30 - Penn State 10
11/8 @ Northwestern
The only way that Northwestern has a chance in this game is if Ohio State is thinking about the following week against Illinois.
Beanie runs for over 200 yards and three touchdowns in one half. This won't even be a game.
Maybe someday Northwestern will leave the Big 10 to make it a true Big 10 again.
Ohio State 49 - Northwestern 7
11/15 @ Illinois
Last year Illinois upset the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes. Can they have an upset in store again this year?
Everyone seems to be asking if Juice Williams can get it done without Rashard Mendenhall. At this point in the year Juice will have made quite a name for himself and proved he can do it without Mendenhall. But can Juice spread the defense enough to dominate like he did the year before? The answer is no.
Beanie runs wild again in this one, and the defense plays good against Juice and his option spread. Also look for the Buckeye secondary to play a good game because everyone knows the year before they looked like garbage in this game.
The Ohio State team as a whole has something to prove in this matchup and shows it from the minute the ball is kicked off.
I won't go as far as to say Ohio State dominates the game. But they will surely let Illinois know that last year won't happen again anytime soon.
Ohio State 28 - Illinois 14
11/23 vs. Michigan "THE GAME"
Everyone knows that in this game, it does not matter who is the better team. Even Michigan fans will admit Ohio State has a way better team than Michigan this year, but at the same time, no Michigan fan will say their team won't show up for this game.
Me, knowing John Cooper is long gone, I'm not all that scared that someone from Michigan will have a Tim Biakabutuka-like game.
Ohio State has Michigan beat in every phase of the game in this one, especially coaching. I've said it before and I will say it again—Rich Rodriguez does not understand exactly what this rivalry is all about, just like John Cooper didn't quite get it. Michigan made the same stupid mistake Ohio State made and hired a coach that just won't get it.
Beanie Wells has a game like he had last year against the Wolverines and seals the deal to win the Heisman. On top of that, if this isn't a wet game like last year, Robiskie will burn the slightly talented (but not really) secondary of Michigan a few times as Ohio State dominates Michigan once again.
Better days might be ahead of you Michigan...just not against The Ohio State University.
Ohio State 27 - Michigan 9
So overall I have the Buckeyes going 11-1...but can see them going anywhere from 9-3 to 12-0.
If my predictions are correct, could the 11-1 record and a win over USC be enough to give them a third straight BCS Championship game appearance? Only time will tell.
GO BUCKS!!
