I love Ohio, where everyone is Buckeye Born, Buckeye Bred, and when they’re buried they’ll be Buckeye Dead (for some literally). I’ve been there for a football game more than once or twice. My brother went to Ohio State as an undergrad and graduate student and now lives out there working for the university’s physical therapy center. Columbus is the type of place that makes you a college football fan. Seeing how Buckeye football runs that town makes me feel great about not only The Ohio State (I wish the athletic department would use this name in all references to the school, sounds unique and intimidating) but the sport I choose to love. That said Columbus is a little sheepish after their football team, dominant through the regular season was dominated in the BCS National Championship to Florida 41-14. A lot has to go right for the Buckeyes to return to the National Championship game, but one of those, a win over Michigan, has been par for the course as of late.
Projected Record and Bowl Result: 11-2 Lose to #3 in Fiesta Bowl
Who they’ll beat: Youngstown State (Home), Akron (Home), Washington (Road), Northwestern (Home), Minnesota (Road), Purdue (Road), Kent State (Home), Michigan State (Home), Wisconsin (Home), Illinois (Home), Michigan (Road)
Who’ll beat them: Penn State (Road), #3 (Glendale, AZ)
When they Pass: Gone are Troy Smith and “7-11”, Todd Boeckman (who is actually a year older than Troy Smith) takes over what should be a more conservative passing attack. Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline and Ray Small are more than able to make big plays when needed however.
When they Run: If the Buckeyes are going places in 2007 Chris “Beanie” Wells is taking them there. He will have to be cured of his Freshman fumblitis but Wells is more than capable of taking the lions share of the carries and is more talented than Antonio Pittman ever was. The offensive line will also be a strength as like many things linemen just grow in Ohio.
When their Opponents Run: Vernon Gholston and James Laurinaitis lead one of the most athletic front sevens in the country. Mike Hart might think “there’s nothing special about that defense” (don’t think that’s not up on a bulletin board somewhere) but he might come around by November 18.
When their Opponents Pass: Malcolm Jenkins is among the best the Buckeyes have ever had, its shoring up the rest of the secondary which has been suspect the last few seasons that is the task for Jim Tressel and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock
When they Kick: Aaron Pettrey continues a recent streak of outstanding Buckeye kickers.
When they call Timeout: Jim Tressel and his sweater vest are royalty throughout the state of Ohio, even if he looked outclassed by Urban Meyer last January. There were other disadvantages The Ohio State had in that game besides game planning and Tressel beats Michigan which is almost as important. Tressel holds one of the most prestigious jobs in the entire sport of football and he isn’t letting go of it anytime soon.
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