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.
Today's Must Reads
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!!
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2 months ago
Great analysis, but I'm having a harder time being optimistic about this team compared to most Buckeye fans. They could go 12-0 but I don't think they'll be any better than 10-2. There's some tough road games (USC, Wisky) a team that always gives them trouble regardless of their record (Illinois), and god-only-knows what'll happen in the scUM game (yeah Cooper's long gone, but don't ever underestimate That School Up North). I still think Boeckman has some issues throwing the ball under pressure, and to compete in college football today, you need a helluva lot more than just a run attack. Beanie should put up some impressive numbers when he has the ball, but I wouldn't at all be surprised if he gets shut down against tougher opponents like USC and Wisky.
I give RichRod more credit than most people, and if he can hit the Bucks hard with a spread attack early in the game, I don't see that game turning out very well for the Buckeyes. Like I said in another thread, we could very well be on the verge of another Ten Years War between Sweater Vest and RichRod.
2 months ago
I live in WI and I know about this UW team and I know that OSU will not lose up here. The Badgers will come out all hped up and be ready but in the end OSU is just way more talented and OSU has more big night game experence. I see this game very much like last years OSU PSU game with all the reporters saying that this game will be a repeat of the 2003 game much as last year reporters said that the PSU game will be a repeat of the 2005 PSU game and OSU came out and won 34-17. I see this game going the exact same way with and OSU victory of 24-13.
from 2 months ago
I hope your right. But also you mentioned that Ohio State has more night game experience. With the exception of a few games Ohio State tends to perform poorly at night.
from 2 months ago
Ohio State performs poorly at night? Says who? I guess if you're only referring to the past two national title games, which were technically played at night, then yeah maybe...but they played 3 road night games last year and won all of them easily. The year before that they played two road night games against tough competition (Texas and Iowa) and won both of them easily as well. You'd have to go back to 2005 to find the last OSU regular season night loss(es) and both of them came against BCS bowl teams (Texas and Penn State) when OSU had an unsteady QB situation. Then of course, if you're counting bowl games as "night games" we'd have to mention OSU's night time thrashing of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl in January 2006 along with their thrashing of Oklahoma State the year prior.
OSU does just fine in road games.
2 months ago
The 05 season against Texas they lost as well as losing to a Penn State team they should have beat.. both under lights. I hardly count the Iowa game because they were overrated. Last years Penn State game was a good one for sure.. but then they played Illinois in a night game and lost.. and the year before they played Illinois in a night game and barely came away with a win. Then yes the two BCS NC games can be put into argument. But I see what your saying.. I was only thinking about the bad games and forgot about a few of the good ones. But as I stated the fans at Camp Randall will do everything they can to make this game hard on the buckeyes... much like the 05 game at Penn State. Hope they can come out with a win though.. should be a tough one.
2 months ago
reposted your article with credit on BuckeyeCountry.net
http://www.buckeyecountry.net/ohio-state-football-rebuilt-and-ready-for-a-real-run
2 months ago
The great thing is that they have almost eveyone back.
The scary thing is they almost have everyone back.
Will Illinois, USC and SEC teams be able to exploit they same problems that Florida '07 and LSU '08 did?
O-H
I-O
about 1 month ago
I agree with most of your games here...but I'm not so sure about that USC game...you seem to just glance over that game as if you dont want it to be there. Also, you say Camp Randall is going to have a better atmosphere than the USC game? My friend, the USC-OSU games gonna be so hyped and on national tv and under the national spotlight in Los Angeles...I don't think games can have much better atmospheres than that
from about 1 month ago
People care more about football in the Big 10... the fans in LA except for students.. really don't care even half as much about their football team compared to pretty much any team in the Big 10 cares. Camp Randall may not be a bigger stadium but it is louder.. and colder.. and Wisconsin won't be taking Ohio State lightly like USC might. Not sure if you have ever seen a prime time Wisconsin game at Camp Randall or not..... but it makes the USC crowd look as if they are sleeping throughout the entire game.
But trust me I know it will be a brutal game and USC can win just as easily as Ohio State.. it is an absolute toss up. It all comes down to the play of the USC offensive line and the quarterback play of Sanchez... Mcknight will have to play a big role as well. Defensively USC is overrated but still very talented.. Do I think they are better than LSU was last year... not even close. Beanie ran all over LSU, just didn't get enough touches. Overall I think Ohio State is the better team and even though they are starting out ranked #1 or #2 in a lot of polls I don't think people understand quite how great this team can be if they play to their potential... Right now they could easily have 4 all americans on offense and 3 all americans on defense before the year is said and done.
about 1 month ago
Adam, I do agree with you on one thing: the USC atmosphere sucks. Just see my article about how much USC sucks. The horrible fans are noted. However, the games still gonna be the focus of the week and on national tv in primetime, that should count for something.
There's not much I can say about your second paragraph, I agree that it will be a toss-up, but I don't think that OSU is the great powerhouse dark-horse team that no one knows about. They are a great team don't get me wrong but I think USC is every bit as good.
from about 1 month ago
USC has great talent and I wasn't trying to take away from that at all when I said that I thought the Buckeyes were better overall. As for this game being the focus of the week.... I think that over the last two years everything about Ohio State has seemed to be a huge focus. Whether it be people saying they suck and have no speed... or rather it that they play in the Big 10 and don't deserve to be in the BCS title game... or rather is just be the big games they have played in. Ohio State is very used to the "hype" factor. In the title games they choked two years in a row sure... but they beat Michigan in the #1 vs #2 game back in 06 and that to them was a much bigger game than what they are about to get into against USC..... only difference is that this is away.. far away.
about 1 month ago
now im sorry im as big of a buckeye fan as anyone but if they lose that late in the season to wisconsin they have no shot at a national championship teams are getting much better and much faster this is not the college football it was a year ago i just dont see it happening ..........ohio state is better off losing to usc or going undefeated if they want a chance for redemption
GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
If USC can bring its very talented, but young and inexperienced offense together so early in the season against Ohio State, I think USC will have a surprisingly easy game against Ohio State. Laurinaitis and company have only encountered the kind of defensive speed they will see in USC a few times and those were the times they lost.
As it is, USC is so strong on defense that they alone will keep the Trojans in the game. It should be a very interesting and exciting game and that's what college football is all about.
from about 1 month ago
Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and Malcolm Jenkins.. the 3 best defensive players have been playing together for 3 years now and have played and won in some pretty big games in their careers. Not only that but Laurinaits comes up BIG in every BIG game they play win or lose... and I can say the same for the USC defense.. they haven't faced an offense as big and powerful as Ohio State with the players that they have on defense... as much as I totally disagree with you about it ever being and "easy game" for either team really.. USC can definitely win it.. it's a toss up.
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