Ohio State?

[buckeyebacker]

Can they run the table and play in the NC game again?

I say yes, only if they can take care of the ball unlike they did late in the game versus Michigan St.

Boston College number 2 in the BCS doesnt scare me so much, LSU does a little, but I think Ohio States defense is good enough to slow them down, not stop them but at least slow them down to let our offense maybe feel like they dont have to score every possession....

Your thoughts?

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Yes. Their schedule is softer than my heiny.

 

[NDSMC78]

OSU still has to play Penn St., Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. PSU and Michigan are road games for you. I do not see OSU winning all four of those games. No offense, but your schedule thus far has not been impressive. If you guys can win those four games, I tip my hat to you. I just don't think it will happen.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Yes. Their schedule is softer than my heiny.

Agreed...their piece of crap schedule has put them in wonderful postion. Next year, they might consider playing Ohio Northern, Hiram, Oberlin and Otterbein. It's pretty much the equivalent of what they played this year before playing that garbage conference schedule. Laughable...
__________________

 

[piyachi]

I say no for this reason only: it's the year that the college foobaw gods forgot to wake up. OSU is waaay too obvious a champion team this year. I say Cal-Fullerton comes in and sweeps up through the polls to win it in the end.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

OSU does have a kick butt defense. That alone gives them a chance to go all the way. Hell, our D played USC pretty damn good for a half.

 

[buckeyebacker]

For those of you who say things about Ohio States schedule....Michigan got beat by APP ST and USC got beat by Stanford...You have to be impressed with the business-like approach OSU takes into every game....Play the games on your schedule and win and you cant argue with that.....the out of conference schedule gets tougher next year with USC and Miami after that....you cannot help that if the teams you schedule 3 years in advance get progressively worse after the fact, and you cannot fault Ohio St for playing in the big 10 they dont make their conference schedule

 

[NDSMC78]

you cannot help that if the teams you schedule 3 years in advance get progressively worse after the fact, and you cannot fault Ohio St for playing in the big 10 they dont make their conference schedule

Please. OSU's non-conference schedule consists of Youngstown St., Akron, Washington and Kent St. this year. I just love how you bring up Michigan's loss to Appalachian St. this year. From now on, every AD in America will throw that up when he schedules the worst teams he (or she) can possibly find.

 

[GoshenGipper]

For those of you who say things about Ohio States schedule....Michigan got beat by APP ST and USC got beat by Stanford...You have to be impressed with the business-like approach OSU takes into every game....Play the games on your schedule and win and you cant argue with that.....the out of conference schedule gets tougher next year with USC and Miami after that....you cannot help that if the teams you schedule 3 years in advance get progressively worse after the fact, and you cannot fault Ohio St for playing in the big 10 they dont make their conference schedule

True, but the nonconference is still very weak, as is most of the Big Ten this year. But that actually one of teh reason's I could see OSU running the table. Now do I think they're the best team in the country? No, probably not but if I had a vote I'd still have them ranked #1 right now. If they do make it to the NC game against LSU, Oklahoma or whoever I do think their defense gives them at least a chance to win. Although I think their offense needs to become much more consistant to have a very good chance to win it all.

 

[johnnd05]

I do think you guys have a shot, though what I'd rather see is all the big powers end up with two losses so we have to watch Hawaii vs. Kansas or something of the like. BTW, does anyone have any game-by-game comparison for how Boeckman's (sp?) numbers this year stack up to Troy Smith's from this point in '06?

 

[NDOM]

Ohio State will beat Penn State, Illinois, Wisconsin and........lose to Michigan. Sorry Buckeyes but I think Michigan plays the spoiler on your title hunt this year.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Can they run the table and play in the NC game again?

I say yes, only if they can take care of the ball unlike they did late in the game versus Michigan St.

Boston College number 2 in the BCS doesnt scare me so much, LSU does a little, but I think Ohio States defense is good enough to slow them down, not stop them but at least slow them down to let our offense maybe feel like they dont have to score every possession....

Your thoughts?

I think you will beat the rest of your schedule. But while I thought the team might be better than last year's...I am not so sure now. I think the BigTen is pretty weak...unusually weak to be honest. Normally, they are quite tough, but this is truly a strange year for them...so much parity.

HOWEVER, Tressell is an incredible coach and will not allow them to let down...so I truly believe they will run the table.

What's more interesting is that there is no clear #1 this year, so if they go to the NC they will have a great shot at winning the title.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

For those of you who say things about Ohio States schedule....Michigan got beat by APP ST and USC got beat by Stanford...You have to be impressed with the business-like approach OSU takes into every game....Play the games on your schedule and win and you cant argue with that.....the out of conference schedule gets tougher next year with USC and Miami after that....you cannot help that if the teams you schedule 3 years in advance get progressively worse after the fact, and you cannot fault Ohio St for playing in the big 10 they dont make their conference schedule

Go get the Ohio Athletic Conference on speed dial...yeah, they're Division 3, but so should the rest of your OOC schedule be...

 

[SouthieND04]

Who said that OSU's offense is terrible? Have you seen Beanie Wells? He's AMAZING. The passing game has really come along. I think people are basing their comments on the preseason analysis without actually seeing any games. It looks to me like OSU is the complete package this year.

And really the Big Ten is not that weak...all but 2 of the teams have winning records!

 

[Tennesseeirish]

Can they run the table and play in the NC game again?

I say yes, only if they can take care of the ball unlike they did late in the game versus Michigan St.

Boston College number 2 in the BCS doesnt scare me so much, LSU does a little, but I think Ohio States defense is good enough to slow them down, not stop them but at least slow them down to let our offense maybe feel like they dont have to score every possession....

Your thoughts?

I'm going to say no. I think Michigan will beat them..

 

[KamaraPolice]

Can they run the table and play in the NC game again?

I say yes, only if they can take care of the ball unlike they did late in the game versus Michigan St.

Boston College number 2 in the BCS doesnt scare me so much, LSU does a little, but I think Ohio States defense is good enough to slow them down, not stop them but at least slow them down to let our offense maybe feel like they dont have to score every possession....

Your thoughts?

You got the kid of Animal Laurinaitis out there, what are you worried about?

 

[KamaraPolice]

Like Father

Like Son

Ok, I confess, it's understandable for him not to know better

 

[JeremyND07]

I say OSU wins all there regular season games then gets there a$$ handed to them in the national championship again by LSU...sorry buckeye fan!

 

[buckeyebacker]

I think that the parity in the Big 10, and in college football this season is great. Sure you have the usuals near the top, but you also have some surprises that are great for football, like Illinois, Indiana in the Big Ten, and in football in general teams like Kentucky, South Sarolina, Boston College, Cincinnati, South Florida. Now you not only have to look at the biggies on your schedule you have to pay attention to each and every game, and some teams have got caught overlooking the teams on their schedules!

 

[Moostache]

No, tOSU will NOT run the table.

Seriously...go back to the beginning of the season and think about the prognosis for OSU...they were at least a year or two away and they have played exactly NO ONE this far...beating MSU 24-17 as a 'signature' win on the season is hardly a sure fire sign of imminent MNC status...they are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than ND absolutely no question about that...and I hope that SOMEONE is taking notes at the Gug on "how to handle rebuilding years"; but they are not magically better than they were at season's start simply by virtue of avoiding a "oops, we shit the bed moment" like Michigan and USC and LSU and WVU and on and on have endured this season.

I give them credit for exactly what they have earned to date - nice start to the season by avoiding the losses to teams that they should beat in their sleep with walk ons and students playing the second half...

IF (and that's a big 'IF') they do run the table and go to a BCS title game again, then I would not really like their chances any better this year than last year...in fact, I would expect about the same result...

MNC game this year? Arizona State vs Kansas!! Hawaii screams "not fair, we are unbeaten too!!!!"....

 

[Junkhead]

I have a feeling OSU will lose to UM. OSU has looked good, but their strength of schedule to this point in the season is 107th. (read that somewhere) C'mon, Youngstown St, Akron, and Kent St.? They may (or may not) be worthly of #1, but as of now, they haven't really faced anyone decent.

 

[AZic11]

I think OSU has the potential to run the table. Honestly, I didn't see them doing this well this season, but they have benefited from the losses in front of them. They beat the teams that they should beat and no one can fault them for that. They will have their chances to prove themselves.

Jim Tressel is absolutely one of my favorite coaches. His teams are always prepared (minus the NC game last year).

I think Michigan spoils the dream at the Big House.

 

[kmoose]

If the Buckeyes can get full games out of Chris Wells, instead of him limping off the field and missing time seemingly every game, then they should run the table. It's going to be that one game that Wells goes out lame at a critical juncture that they may end up losing. Their defense is stellar. But, I have always said, "Given a decent amount of talent, Jim Tressel will always field at least a solid D."

 

[Epitome]

They won't lose a game this year. Their defense is pristine. They have allowed 2 1st quarter points in 8 games. They could have ran up the score in the YSU, KENT, AKRON, MSU and Purdue games, but coach Tressel is a stand up guy and pulled in the reigns. I played for him believe me, once he gets out ahead he does not feel the need to embarrass his opponents like Urban or Pete. That's why their offense hasn't put up the gaudy stats like they could have.

 

[AZic11]

They won't lose a game this year. Their defense is pristine. They have allowed 2 1st quarter points in 8 games. They could have ran up the score in the YSU, KENT, AKRON, MSU and Purdue games, but coach Tressel is a stand up guy and pulled in the reigns. I played for him believe me, once he gets out ahead he does not feel the need to embarrass his opponents like Urban or Pete. That's why their offense hasn't put up the gaudy stats like they could have.

Just out of curiosity, where did you play for him? I think thats really cool...

 

[Epitome]

Ysu

 

[KamaraPolice]

Ohio State has demolished every team they've played. Even against MSU; they were driving to go up 31-0 when they got a bad case of the fumbly womblies on three straight possessions (two were returned for touchdowns). I've not seen a 7 point game where the game was never in doubt. The plus side for OSU is, if any, it should help them keep their focus. If you don't finish, any team can come back and bite you.

The question, I believe, is who do they play. I think LSU might lose another game. I think Oklahoma is overrated, and BC won't be there in the end. ASU just lost one of the best runningbacks no ones ever heard of in Ryan Torain, but they could also be 11-1 at the end of the season. Out of those teams, I think OSU has enough fire power on offense; Beanie Wells is THE BEST runningback in the country, and if OSU didnt jump out so early on teams he could be a heisman contender. The defense is said to be better than last year. I think this is OSU's year, I honestly do. I think they've looked better than every other team out there.

 

[WaveDomer]

If they run the table they should be National Champs. I have a feeling that LSU will be there at the end though. You would be very lucky to get BC. As far as the weakness or strength of your schedule goes, I think that college football is just going in this direction now. There really is no downside to having a weak schedule. That is why a playoff would be so great, but I don't want to start a thread about that.

 

[AZic11]

If they run the table they should be National Champs. I have a feeling that LSU will be there at the end though. You would be very lucky to get BC. As far as the weakness or strength of your schedule goes, I think that college football is just going in this direction now. There really is no downside to having a weak schedule. That is why a playoff would be so great, but I don't want to start a thread about that.

I think that you are right....for this season. There might only be 1 or 2 undefeated teams come the end of the season (or maybe even none), and any undefeated team from a power conference will be in the NC game if they are the only one or one of two, so an easy schedule helps if it means that you can run the table.

However, I still think strength of schedule matters, and quite a bit. If you are picking between a group of one-loss teams to play in the NC game, you have to go with the team that did it against the better schedule. I think West Virginia and South Florida are going to be punished come bowl season because their schedules can't match up with those from the Pac 10 or SEC, and could be jumped by one-loss teams like LSU or Oklahoma. Now that they have each lost, those easy schedules are going to come back and hurt them.

 

[WalshND]

My gut tells me that Michigan will be your spoiler this year. Ohio State and Michigan... Who do you root for in that mess.

I still enjoy your posts, bucknut.