Ohio State Football 2011: Game-By-Game Picks After 5 Player Suspensions
The Ohio State Buckeyes football program took a huge hit as the NCAA ruled that five of their players must sit out the opening five games of the 2011 season due to accepting improper benefits.
Terrelle Pryor, Mike Adams, Daniel Herron, Devier Posey and Solomon Thomas will all be suspended after they were found to have sold awards, gifts and university apparel, plus receive improper benefits in 2009.
In addition to missing five games next season, the players must repay money and benefits ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500. The NCAA made the ruling official on Thursday.
This will mean that the Buckeyes will be forced to play a large chunk of their schedule without four of their top offensive starters in Pryor, Adams, Heron and Posey, as well as Thomas, who is a top-notch defensive lineman sub.
Lets take a look at those five games, and make game-by-game picks to see how these suspensions will affect the Buckeyes in 2011.
Game One: Ohio State Vs. Akron, Sept. 3 2011
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Fortunately for the Buckeyes, they open their season at home against a school like Akron, which only managed one win this season.
This one should not be a problem in any way for the Buckeyes, even if they do have second stringers filling in for the suspended players. Akron might hang around early on as the new Buckeye starters get accustomed to playing in a live game situation. But when it is all said and done, Ohio State will roll in this one and start the season off 1-0.
Make it: Ohio State 38, Akron 10
Game Two: Ohio State Vs. Toledo, Sept. 10 2011
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Certainly a stronger opponent for the Buckeyes in Week 2 when they take on Toledo, who finished this season with an 8-4 record.
Toledo is a strong program that seems to field a solid team year-in and year-out. It is very possible that the Rockets could give Ohio State some trouble in this one, as the inexperience of some of Ohio State's new faces could begin to show.
But even with the suspensions, as will be the case against Akron, Ohio State's superior athleticism will take over this game in the end.
Without Pryor and Herron, the Buckeyes will still rely on their running game, with the likes of Jaamal Berry and Jordan Hall carrying the load. Both Berry and Hall showed they were capable rushers when given the opportunity this season. Berry averaged 8.3 yards per carry in the regular season, while Hall rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns in limited action. Those two will handle the rushing load and propel the Buckeyes to victory in this one.
Make it: Ohio State 31, Toledo 17
Game Three: Ohio State @ Miami, Fla, Sept. 17 2011
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This is the game that fans will certainly be tuned into to. The first true test of how the Buckeyes can respond while being on the road, playing without Pryor and the other suspended players.
This year's game between the Buckeyes and Hurricanes was pretty one sided, and was not as close as the 35-24 score made it seem. But then again, this will be a new look Miami team next year, that will also be facing their first true test of the season in this one.
Jacory Harris will likely be back for the Hurricanes, but he will be without his top rusher and receiver from this year due to graduation. With that said, the Buckeyes might catch the Hurricanes at a good time, seeing that they will have some fresh faces and a new coach still getting used to each other.
By this time, the Buckeyes fresh faces will have some game experience and even more importantly, some confidence under their belts. This one should be closer then last year's game because of Ohio State's suspensions, but even without Pryor and the gang, the Buckeyes are able to pull out a big road win and start the season 3-0.
Make it: Ohio State 27, Miami 24
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Game Four: Ohio State Vs. Colorado, Sept. 24 2011
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Colorado's football program has had some down years as of late, but the Buffaloes move to the Pac-10 next season might help turn things around for this team. They finished 5-7 this year and saw head coach Dan Hawkins be removed of his coaching duties after his team had one of the biggest meltdowns in school history against Kansas, failing to hold onto a 28-point forth quarter lead.
The Buffaloes do return leading rusher Rodney Stewart and quarterback Tyler Hansen, but even with a new coach and new conference, Colorado is in a rebuilding stage and will remain that way for a few years.
With the Buckeyes five suspensions, other players will have a chance to step in and fill the void, which might include some freshmen from another heralded recruiting class. By this game, those players will have a feeling of comfort and will be used to playing a major conference team, having played against Miami the week before.
Keep in mind that four of the five suspended players were offensive players, and the Buckeyes consistently sport one of the toughest defenses in the country every year. That unit will continue to play at a high level throughout the year, and should give the Buffaloes fits in this one, resulting in another OSU victory.
Make it: Ohio State 38, Colorado 20
Game Five: Ohio State Vs. Michigan State, Oct. 1 2011
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Of the five games that Ohio State will be forced to play without these five players, this one will be the toughest.
Michigan State had an outstanding season this year with an 11-1 record and a share of the Big Ten Championship. The Spartans return an abundance to talent on both sides of the field, and should be able to test that Ohio State offense without the likes of Pryor, Herron and Posey in their lineup.
These two teams did not meet this year, but both of them should be amongst the Big Ten favorites heading into 2011. The key for Ohio State on offense will be their ability to establish a run game against the Spartans defense, something that not many big ten schools were able to do successfully this season. Barry and Hall will have to have big games on the ground, and whoever the Buckeyes quarterback is at this point in the season, will have to manage the game.
Now, these two teams will be placed in separate divisions in newly re-figured Big Ten conference, which means they could potentially meet each other again at the end of the season in the conference championship game. But either way, this game will have early season implications in the Big Ten. If the Buckeyes can stick to their style of hard-nose defense and can establish the run on offense, they should be able to pull this one out. But with the absence of their three best offensive weapons as well as one of their top lineman, this looks like it could be the game where those suspensions will come back to bite the Buckeyes.
Make it: Michigan State 27, Ohio State 21
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