Category Archives: ohio state buckeyes

Ohio State: Schedule Ruined Their Season

Oregon and Auburn will meet in the BCS Championship game this season. Both teams were undefeated and even if Ohio State did the same, they wouldn’t made it. They would have been left out with TCU. Their non-conference schedule is to blame, since they finished the season with a worse SOS than Boise State. What can Ohio State do to help their cause in the future? Can they make the big game with their current schedule in 2011 and 2012?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are perennial contenders to win the BCS Championship, but their lone loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, killed that goal this season. Their non-conference schedule was weak compared to other teams and not playing Michigan State this season, made their strength of schedule mediocre. It was the way the schedule fell and out of Ohio State’s control…for the most part.

When your non-conference schedule consists of Marshall, Miami (FL), Ohio, and Eastern Michigan, you know that you need to dominate your Big Ten schedule if you want to jump up the polls. Miami (FL) was supposed to be their marquee matchup this season, but the Hurricanes had a disappointing season, which turned OSU’s win into an average victory. The BCS is part of the checks & balance that the sport needed to keep the playing field more than just a beauty contest of the usual suspects. When Ohio State lost to Wisconsin, they were the #1 team in the country and the Badgers weren’t looking like the team that finished the season scoring 70 points a game. Even if the Buckeyes beat the Badgers and finished the regular season undefeated, they wouldn’t have made the BCS Championship game. Oregon and Auburn would have had a better computer average and left them left out, just like TCU.

Ohio State’s 2011 schedule is a little harder with their non-conference schedule being home games against Akron, Toledo, and Colorado, and a road game at Miami (FL). Colorado and Miami (FL) will have new coaches, so you don’t know what kind of first season those coaches will have. The addition of Nebraska to their conference schedule will definitely help their strength of schedule, but they don’t face Iowa for the next two seasons.

In 2012, Ohio State’s schedule ramps up, all four non-conference games are at home against Miami (OH), Cincinnati, California, and UAB. They hope that Cincinnati and California will be top 25 teams by then.

The schedule is set in stone for the Buckeyes until 2012 and I’m sure the “powers that be” are already hammering away at the schedule for the next four years after that. They need more marquee non-conference games, but it is hard to predict this far out. Miami (FL) home & home were supposed to be huge games, for both teams, but the Buckeyes picked them during the wrong two seasons. You don’t want to schedule all top 25 teams or you will end up with a schedule like Notre Dame did for years and face all contenders with Navy thrown in. Ohio State do need a tune-up game or two in their schedule. The Big Ten schedule is grueling and playing contenders on top of it, could lead to the team tailing off at the end of the season.

The addition of the Big Ten Championship game will help every team try to get into a better bowl game. If Ohio State were undefeated and had a chance to play Wisconsin again or Michigan State at the end of the year, maybe they had a shot at leapfrogging Oregon this year.

The answer for what Ohio State needs is luck. You can only worry about your own team and schedule the best you can. You just cross your fingers that the other teams will take care of their business and when you play them, you come out with a win.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Jared Sullinger Dominates IUPUI

My friend Matthew was kind enough to give me and three of my friends tickets to the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. IUPUI Jaguars men’s basketball game. I was excited to see Jared Sullinger play in person. He came into the season was one of the top two freshman in the nation. The way Harrison Barnes has been playing for North Carolina, many now think that Sullinger is the best in the nation. How did he handle an under-sized IUPUI team with nine days rest? Just look at the boxscore…

First, I want to explain that I hate IUPUI. I went to IPFW and they are our rivals. It isn’t exactly Duke/UNC, but I was hoping for a slaughtering. The game wasn’t supposed to be close, the Buckeyes came into the game #2 in the nation and IUPUI was 4-5 on the season. The Jaguars perimeter shooting kept them in the game in the first half, they shot 50% from behind the arc. Ohio State looked rusty as a team and the game was tied 35-35 at the half. The Jaguars looked very hesitant about trying anything near the paint, since Sullinger was waiting there.
Ohio State started the 2nd half very poor and IUPUI kept shooting well from the perimeter. With ten minutes left in the game, the Jaguars had a nine point lead on the #2 team in the country. Thad Matta kept his starting five in the game and decided to run the offense through Sullinger. They kept pounding the ball inside and Sullinger would either score or get fouled. Sullinger made 16 of 23 free throw attempts on the night, struggled from the line early, but found his stride towards the end of the game. The Jaguars started to double-team him inside and to fight that off, he would kick the ball out to Jon Diebler and he made them pay. He was hitting every open shot in the 2nd-half. Ohio State dominated the last ten minutes and won the game 75-64. Sullinger finished the game with 40 points and 13 rebounds. His 40 points set a freshman scoring record at Ohio State and was only the 4th time since the 1940s that a Buckeye scored 40 points in a game.

What should you take from Sullinger’s 40-point outing? IUPUI’s tallest player on the court was 6’8 Anthony Williams, and he isn’t a Wooden Award nominee, to say the least. You should take from this game that Ohio State will always have Sullinger inside to go to if David Lighty, William Buford, or Diebler is off from the perimeter. Ohio State is a very deep team this year, something they couldn’t say last year. Aaron Craft looks solid at the point and if players get in foul trouble, you have freshman DeShaun Thomas for offense and Dallas Lauderdale as a big man defensively. Ohio State is one of the best teams in the nation and they are built for a run in the tournament. It know it is early, but this team could be better than the team lead by Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. in 2006-07.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2010 NCAA Football – Week 2 Betting Picks

Week 2 of this college football season is looking to be a very entertaining week, especially for the Big Ten. You have three marquee teams facing national powerhouses. Ohio State is at home against University of Miami of Florida, Michigan plays Notre Dame, and Penn State travels to Alabama. Here are my college football picks for week 2 of the 2010 college football season.

Auburn (-2.0) at Mississippi State (+2.0) – My pick is Auburn

Auburn should be able to travel to Mississippi State and handle them. This betting line is trending towards Auburn, so this line may get pushed farther in Auburn’s favor.

West Virginia (-13.5) at Marshall (+13.5) – My pick is West Virginia

The Thundering Herd didn’t have much to cheer about last week when they opened their season in Columbus, Ohio against Ohio State. If it wasn’t for scoring on a blocked field goal, they could have ended up not scoring at all in that game. West Virginia is another well-coached team and blanked Coastal Carolina in their opener. I see the Mountaineers running up this score and 13.5 points should be the spread at the half.

Georgia (+3) at South Carolina (-3) – My pick is South Carolina

South Carolina seems to have trouble with Georgia, but this season, the tables have turned. The Gamecocks are the favorites and have a better squad. Steve Spurrier doesn’t have to worry facing a more talented team, if South Carolina keeps to their gameplan, they should win and cover.

South Florida (+15.5) at Florida (-15.5) – My pick is Florida

Matt Grothe and George Selvie are no longer on South Florida, so the Gators shouldn’t have much trouble covering the 15.5 points. This is a transition year for Florida, but they haven’t slipped that much.

Florida State (+8) at Oklahoma (-8) – My pick is Florida State

Bobby Bowden is no longer strolling the sidelines for Florida State and Jimbo Fisher has them looking pretty good. Bob Stoops is trying to replace some key pieces from their team a year ago. I look for Florida State to score early and keep Oklahoma from controlling the game. If this happens, not only could FSU keep the Sooners from covering, but they could squeak out an upset win.

Michigan (+3.5) at Notre Dame (-3.5) – My pick is Michigan

I tried to stay away from Notre Dame last season, but I feel a little better about them after they beat Purdue last week. I’m not saying that I feel better about them as in they are going to win, but I feel like I got an idea of who they are. They have lack an identity the last few seasons. Michigan looked really good against Connecticut last week and I see them going into South Bend and winning this game.

Iowa State (+13.5) at Iowa (-13.5) – My pick is Iowa

This is a big rivalry game for both of these teams. You usually get the underdogs’ best effort, but the Hawkeyes should roll all over Iowa State in this game, Iowa is a much better team.

BYU (pick) at Air Force (pick) – My pick is BYU

This game rests on only one thing….can BYU stop Air Force’s running attack. I think BYU should be able to do that, since they handled Washington last week and won by a touchdown. This will be Air Force’s first test of the year and BYU will win this game.

Wyoming (+29.5) at Texas (-29.5) – My pick is Wyoming

Let me say first, Wyoming will not win this game. I rode them last season and they were great against the spread last season. I think that they will go down to Texas and not let the Longhorns cover this huge spread. Wyoming is sneaky and this line may even get larger since Texas is a “public” team and people will bet on them with this large of a spread.

Penn State (+11.5) at Alabama (+11.5) – My pick is Alabama

Alabama is one hell of a team, but we all know that they have trouble putting points on the board at times. Penn State lost a few weapons last season, but they still have Evan Royster. Paterno seems concerned about his recent weight gain and his stamina, he will have to have a great game if the Nittany Lions wish to keep this one close. I see the Crimson Tide controlling the tempo of this game with their defense and winning this game 24-6.

Texas Tech (-24.5) at New Mexico (+24.5) – My pick is Texas Tech

The Oregon Ducks blanked New Mexico last week with the score of 72-0. The Texas Tech Red Raiders could probably dress an average intramural squad in Lubbock and cover this 24.5 point spread. They win this game and cover big.

Miami (+9.5) at Ohio State (-9.5) – My pick is Ohio State

This is the first time these two teams have met since Ohio State upset the Hurricanes to win the 2002 BCS Championship. The kids playing in this game were in elementary school when that happened, but revenge is on Miami’s mind. Ohio State has a talented team and they have the advantage this year with the game being played in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State has a reputation for not showing up for big games, well that should change with a big win over a ranked team on National television. The Buckeyes should win this game 34-17.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.

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Is Jim Tressel On The Hot Seat?

Ohio State faces USC this weekend and things could be getting pretty hot under Jim Tressel’s sweater vest. The last top 10 team that Ohio State beat was Michigan in November of 2006. They have been spanked in their last few bowl games and didn’t win at home against Penn State last year. This USC game is more than just a circled game on their schedule, for Jim Tressel, it could be for his job.

Jim Tressel’s approval rating in Columbus has been near 75-80% for nearly his entire tenure as football coach of Ohio State. He won a National Championship right away when he took over and he’s been a good ride. They have been a staple in BCS bowl games since it’s incarnation and he’s kept his nose clean when it comes to NCAA infractions. Why am I saying that he’ll be on the hot seat? It’s not only me, the local ESPN radio affilate here in Columbus has also brought it up. They say if he loses to USC, his approval rating would drop below 50% for the first time. We all know, once the approval rating drops below half, something little can sway people to the most popular side of the argument.

If Ohio State loses to USC and it’s close, even closer than their bowl game against Texas last year, I think he’ll be fine. He’ll be fine until the Buckeyes go to Happy Valley and play Penn State on the road. If they lose both of those games, they could be in danger of not making a BCS bowl game. There are a lot of good teams this year and especially in smaller non-BCS conferences. BYU and Boise State already have a pretty good win on their resume and there’s 12 more weeks of college football left.

I’m not saying that Jim Tressel will get fired if they lose to USC and Penn State this year, but it will be the first time this discussion will be taking place. If they lose to Michigan at the end of the year, the discussion could turn into screaming. The pressure will be turned up to win next season, since Terrelle Pryor could leave after next season, since he would be 3 years removed from high school. If Pryor puts up big numbers, he’ll be taken in the first round because of his athleticism and upside. Tressel would be left with another young quarterback and would have to start over. Troy Smith isn’t walking through that door. Ted Ginn isn’t walking through that door. A.J. Hawk isn’t walking through that door.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Big Ten Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes

I have lived in Columbus, OH for the past 3 years and the fanbase here is rabid. I’m sure there are children here with the first name “Tressel.” With Terrelle Pryor behind the center, they expect big things this season. They are used to winning, but with their anchors on defense graduating and losing Beanie Wells and their entire receiving corps to graduation or draft, can their expectations be high? Joe Pasquali is here with the preview of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who we have finishing #2 in the Big Ten this year.

Finishing #2 in the Big Ten
The Ohio State Buckeyes (Predicted Finish 10-2)

Summary– Ohio State has a great team this season. Really, they do. Anyone who thinks this will be a complete rebuilding season for the boys from Columbus has apparently never watched a Jim Tressel team. This is a team that has depth, great coaching, and explosiveness in all of the right areas. The Achilles heel for this team is scheduling. A game against USC, playing at Penn State and at rebounding Michigan. Not good news for OSU.

Offense (B+)– Hot and Cold was the Buckeyes offense last season and the 2009 season should bring more of the same. Terrelle Pryor is some kind of athlete at the QB position, but questionable decisions in big games was his downfall. He will have three returning starters on the offensive line in front of him which should help his first full year at the helm go fairly smooth. A lot of young talent occupy the RB and WR positions, it will be interesting to see who steps up as a major threat. The Buckeyes had the 104th ranked pass offense last year, and that was WITH Robiskie and Hartline. To be a National Championship contender, OSU has to be more two dimensional.

Defense (A)– I fear for any quarterbacks that have to play against Ohio State this season. The Buckeyes return all 4 starters from a defensive line that was fairly athletic last year, sacking opposing quarterbacks 28 times. Thorpe winner Malcolm Jenkins will be missed, but the other three members of the Buckeye secondary will be back. Also, it’s not like any team in the Big Ten has a huge threat at the WR position. New faces at two of the three LB positions will be the only question mark for this defense, but I expect them to do just fine.

Special Teams (C)– Since Tressel has been in town OSU has always played pretty top notch special teams, but a new kicker and punter always leave folks wondering who is this kid booting the ball around. Also, should be some new faces when it comes to returning kicks and punts as well.

Coaching (A)– Jim Tressel is one of the best coaches in the country and the best coach in the Big Ten. Conservative play calling against Penn State angered the Buckeye faithful, but anyone who really wants to blame losses on Tressel has to have a reality check. Do you remember a guy named Cooper? Yeah, thought so. Shut up.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.