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LGHL Ohio State vs. Oregon: Land-Grant’s experts make their picks
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Ohio State vs. Oregon: Land-Grant’s experts make their picks
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ray Carlin/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Every week, we will be picking the score, MVP, and major storyline for each Buckeye game.
Being the Buckeye beat’s black sheep blog, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to pat ourselves on the back. So, throughout the season, members of our staff will be making predictions about that day’s game. They will go on the record with what they think the final score will be, who the game’s MVP will be, and what the major storyline will be coming out of the day.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the No. 3 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game to be broadcast on NBC. As of this article’s writing, the Bucks are 3.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. College football’s gold-standard advanced analytics model SP+ is predicting a score of 29-26 in favor of Ohio State.
Check out what our staff members think and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. As we move forward with the season, you will be able to keep up with just how well our prognosticators do on a weekly basis HERE.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s offensive line completes its turnaround.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 13
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s defense proves itself against its tightest competition to date.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 23
Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka on offense, Caleb Downs on defense
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s defense with a late stop to prevent a potential game-tying TD with a 2-point conversion needed.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 30
Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka
Major Storyline: How does Ohio State play if Jeremiah Smith finally has an off game?
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Will Howard
Major Storyline: Howard engineers a gritty game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to win in Autzen.
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Oregon 28
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: Chip Kelly’s offense is the real deal
Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Oregon 13
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ray Carlin/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Every week, we will be picking the score, MVP, and major storyline for each Buckeye game.
Being the Buckeye beat’s black sheep blog, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land like to pat ourselves on the back. So, throughout the season, members of our staff will be making predictions about that day’s game. They will go on the record with what they think the final score will be, who the game’s MVP will be, and what the major storyline will be coming out of the day.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the No. 3 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game to be broadcast on NBC. As of this article’s writing, the Bucks are 3.5-point favorites according to FanDuel Sportsbook. College football’s gold-standard advanced analytics model SP+ is predicting a score of 29-26 in favor of Ohio State.
Check out what our staff members think and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. As we move forward with the season, you will be able to keep up with just how well our prognosticators do on a weekly basis HERE.
Justin Golba
Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s offensive line completes its turnaround.
Dan Hessler
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 13
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s defense proves itself against its tightest competition to date.
Caleb Houser
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 23
Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka on offense, Caleb Downs on defense
Major Storyline: Ohio State’s defense with a late stop to prevent a potential game-tying TD with a 2-point conversion needed.
Connor Lemons
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 30
Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka
Major Storyline: How does Ohio State play if Jeremiah Smith finally has an off game?
Brett Ludwiczak
Score Prediction: Ohio State 31, Oregon 24
Game MVP: Will Howard
Major Storyline: Howard engineers a gritty game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter to win in Autzen.
Gene Ross
Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Oregon 28
Game MVP: Jeremiah Smith
Major Storyline: Chip Kelly’s offense is the real deal
Matt Tamanini
Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Oregon 13
Game MVP: Quinshon Judkins
Major Storyline:
Continue reading...
LGHL Tailgate Podcast: Everything you need to know to watch Ohio State vs. Oregon
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Tailgate Podcast: Everything you need to know to watch Ohio State vs. Oregon
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The only Ohio State game day podcast you need.
Before every Ohio State football game, Matt Tamanini will get you ready with all of the information that you need for that day’s game on the “Land-Grant Tailgate” podcast.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Eugene, Oregon
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM
I have come to the conclusion over the last few weeks that Ohio State is definitively the best team in the country and it is not particularly close. When you look at all of the chaos that has surrounded top teams so far this season, the Buckeyes’ games have been relatively chaos-free. Sure, they haven’t been perfect, but nothing that I have seen from the Scarlet and Gray gives me any reason to suspect that they have a fatal flaw. Instead, they are a team that is still growing and developing but is as solid as any team in the country.
While Oregon struggled against the Potato State teams in the first two games, they have looked sharp ever since, but even in their sharpest moments I haven’t seen them and thought that they look ready to win a national championship. Perhaps it is my scarlet and gray-colored glasses, but I think that there is a relatively significant gap between the Bucks and Ducks, and I believe that we will see that play out on the field tonight.
On the ground, Oregon has shut down FCS Idaho, UCLA, and Michigan State. However, doing so to those latter two, Power 4 teams might not be all that much of an accomplishment. Sparty is currently 108th in the country rushing the ball while UCLA is 132nd out of 134 FBS teams. So, I imagine the Buckeyes’ rushing production will look far more like that of Boise State than Michigan State.
The Broncos rushed for 221 yards against the Ducks, and I think OSU will do something similar; if not in raw numbers, at least in dominance. I think this is a great matchup for Quinshon Judkins who has been showing why he was the No. 1 running back in the transfer portal this offseason. I think that he will go for at least 125 yards and he will have a pair of scores.
On the other side of the ball, I know that the Buckeyes aren’t facing Penn State just yet, but this feels like a J.T. Tuimoloau game. Nearly 74% of Gabriel’s passes are thrown nine yards or shorter; in fact, more than 28% are behind the line of scrimmage and almost 20% have been screens. With those types of tendencies, that seems tailor-made for J.T. to be especially disruptive. And, if Gabriel has to constantly be worried about whose hands are in his throwing windows, that very well might throw off his quick passing rhythm.
Quinshon Judkins: Over 125 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns
J.T. Tuimoloau: Very disruptive game, especially in the short-passing game
Connect with Matt Tamanini
Online Portfolio: authory.com/MattTamanini
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The only Ohio State game day podcast you need.
Before every Ohio State football game, Matt Tamanini will get you ready with all of the information that you need for that day’s game on the “Land-Grant Tailgate” podcast.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (-3.5) vs. Oregon | over/under 54.5
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Eugene, Oregon
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM
I have come to the conclusion over the last few weeks that Ohio State is definitively the best team in the country and it is not particularly close. When you look at all of the chaos that has surrounded top teams so far this season, the Buckeyes’ games have been relatively chaos-free. Sure, they haven’t been perfect, but nothing that I have seen from the Scarlet and Gray gives me any reason to suspect that they have a fatal flaw. Instead, they are a team that is still growing and developing but is as solid as any team in the country.
While Oregon struggled against the Potato State teams in the first two games, they have looked sharp ever since, but even in their sharpest moments I haven’t seen them and thought that they look ready to win a national championship. Perhaps it is my scarlet and gray-colored glasses, but I think that there is a relatively significant gap between the Bucks and Ducks, and I believe that we will see that play out on the field tonight.
On the ground, Oregon has shut down FCS Idaho, UCLA, and Michigan State. However, doing so to those latter two, Power 4 teams might not be all that much of an accomplishment. Sparty is currently 108th in the country rushing the ball while UCLA is 132nd out of 134 FBS teams. So, I imagine the Buckeyes’ rushing production will look far more like that of Boise State than Michigan State.
The Broncos rushed for 221 yards against the Ducks, and I think OSU will do something similar; if not in raw numbers, at least in dominance. I think this is a great matchup for Quinshon Judkins who has been showing why he was the No. 1 running back in the transfer portal this offseason. I think that he will go for at least 125 yards and he will have a pair of scores.
On the other side of the ball, I know that the Buckeyes aren’t facing Penn State just yet, but this feels like a J.T. Tuimoloau game. Nearly 74% of Gabriel’s passes are thrown nine yards or shorter; in fact, more than 28% are behind the line of scrimmage and almost 20% have been screens. With those types of tendencies, that seems tailor-made for J.T. to be especially disruptive. And, if Gabriel has to constantly be worried about whose hands are in his throwing windows, that very well might throw off his quick passing rhythm.
Matt’s Predictions: Ohio State 34, Oregon 13
Quinshon Judkins: Over 125 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns
J.T. Tuimoloau: Very disruptive game, especially in the short-passing game
Connect with Matt Tamanini
Online Portfolio: authory.com/MattTamanini
Music by: epidemicsound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL Streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Oregon for free without cable
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Streaming expert has the best ways to watch Ohio State vs. Oregon for free without cable
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Made with Google AI
You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.
It’s the biggest game of the season as the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes head west to Eugene, Oregon to face the No. 3 Oregon Ducks in prime time on NBC. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET from Autzen Stadium and no self-respecting college football fan will want to miss this matchup. But if you don’t have cable or satellite, how can you watch the game?
This season, the Buckeyes will play on three different broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, and NBC), at least one cable channel (Big Ten Network), and exclusively on a streaming service (Peacock); it can be tough to keep up with where and how to watch your favorite team.
As cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.
And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Broadcasters: Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, Kathryn Tappen
Betting Line: Ohio State -3.5 | 54.5 o/u
Best Streaming Option for Ohio State vs. Oregon and All College Football Games:
If you want to watch the Ohio State and Oregon game and don’t want to pay for it, then Hulu + Live TV is your best option in my expert opinion. The live TV streaming service has one of the few guaranteed multi-day free trials in the industry and provides nearly all of the major cable channels on the market.
The basic package comes with all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. However, if you do want more sports, you can add NFL RedZone, MLB StrikeZone, FanDuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and more.
What’s great about Hulu + Live TV is that in addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels that you could possibly want, it also comes with the Disney Bundle for free. So, you also get the full on-demand Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+, which also has hundreds of college football games every season.
Currently, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month after your three-day free trial. However, that will go up to $82.99 on Oct. 17. But between now and then, this is the best choice for watching college football.
Cheapest Streaming Option for One Month:
While this game is not a Peacock exclusive like the Michigan State game was, you can use the streamer to watch every college football game that airs on NBC on Peacock, including today’s prime-time matchup between the Buckeyes and Ducks.
Fortunately, NBCU has made the service one of the cheapest subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms on the market. You can sign up for the ad-supported Peacock Premium for just $7.99 per month or the ad-free Premium Plus for $13.99. At one point, Comcast offered a version of Peacock for free and a subsidy to Xfinity cable and internet subscribers, but that is no longer the case. Also, there is no free trial to the service, so if you want to watch the Buckeyes and Herky on Peacock, you will need to cough up at least $8.
However, with all of the Big Ten action — and sports in general — on the streamer, it might be worth it keep the subscription moving forward, especially if you are a fan of “That’s what she said” jokes, real housewives, and four-chair turns.
Fubo: $84.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
DIRECTV STREAM: $79.99 per month, five-day free trial
Sling TV: $40 per month, 50% off first month
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
Below is your Ohio State vs. Oregon 2024 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Made with Google AI
You’ve got a number of free trials you can choose from of various lengths and breadths.
It’s the biggest game of the season as the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes head west to Eugene, Oregon to face the No. 3 Oregon Ducks in prime time on NBC. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET from Autzen Stadium and no self-respecting college football fan will want to miss this matchup. But if you don’t have cable or satellite, how can you watch the game?
This season, the Buckeyes will play on three different broadcast networks (CBS, Fox, and NBC), at least one cable channel (Big Ten Network), and exclusively on a streaming service (Peacock); it can be tough to keep up with where and how to watch your favorite team.
As cord-cutting has become far more the norm than the exception across the United States, it would not be a surprise if you gave up cable or a live-streaming service following last year’s season only to realize that it’s the day of the game and you have no way to watch it.
And I know it can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert... no really, I write about streaming services for a living. So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.
How can I watch the No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Oregon college football game?
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Broadcasters: Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, Kathryn Tappen
Betting Line: Ohio State -3.5 | 54.5 o/u
Best Streaming Option for Ohio State vs. Oregon and All College Football Games:
Hulu + Live TV | 3-Day Free Trial
If you want to watch the Ohio State and Oregon game and don’t want to pay for it, then Hulu + Live TV is your best option in my expert opinion. The live TV streaming service has one of the few guaranteed multi-day free trials in the industry and provides nearly all of the major cable channels on the market.
The basic package comes with all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. However, if you do want more sports, you can add NFL RedZone, MLB StrikeZone, FanDuel TV, the Tennis Channel, and more.
What’s great about Hulu + Live TV is that in addition to all of the broadcast and cable channels that you could possibly want, it also comes with the Disney Bundle for free. So, you also get the full on-demand Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+, which also has hundreds of college football games every season.
Currently, a subscription to Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 per month after your three-day free trial. However, that will go up to $82.99 on Oct. 17. But between now and then, this is the best choice for watching college football.
Cheapest Streaming Option for One Month:
Peacock
While this game is not a Peacock exclusive like the Michigan State game was, you can use the streamer to watch every college football game that airs on NBC on Peacock, including today’s prime-time matchup between the Buckeyes and Ducks.
Fortunately, NBCU has made the service one of the cheapest subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms on the market. You can sign up for the ad-supported Peacock Premium for just $7.99 per month or the ad-free Premium Plus for $13.99. At one point, Comcast offered a version of Peacock for free and a subsidy to Xfinity cable and internet subscribers, but that is no longer the case. Also, there is no free trial to the service, so if you want to watch the Buckeyes and Herky on Peacock, you will need to cough up at least $8.
However, with all of the Big Ten action — and sports in general — on the streamer, it might be worth it keep the subscription moving forward, especially if you are a fan of “That’s what she said” jokes, real housewives, and four-chair turns.
Other Streaming Options for the Ohio State and Oregon Game:
Fubo: $84.99 per month, at least a one-day free trial
DIRECTV STREAM: $79.99 per month, five-day free trial
Sling TV: $40 per month, 50% off first month
YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
Join the conversation
Below is your Ohio State vs. Oregon 2024 game thread. Be respectful, be kind and — as always — keep it classy, BuckeyeNation. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s finish the season strong!
Continue reading...
Aurora from my yard
- By Drubuck
- Open Discussion (Work-safe)
- 3 Replies
Few pics from Aurora from my backyard 10/10/24. Was amazing. Near Alexandria Bay NY
LGHL MC&J: The spotlight shines brightly on Ohio State-Oregon in Week 7 Big Ten action
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MC&J: The spotlight shines brightly on Ohio State-Oregon in Week 7 Big Ten action
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Plus, Will Penn State stay undefeated when they take on USC? Picks for the week’s B1G games.
Last week ATS: 7-8 (3-4 National, 4-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 55-55 (18-21 National, 37-34 B1G)
My picks for a stacked national slate this weekend can be found here.
Northwestern v. Maryland (-9.5) - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Northwestern had a bit of an offensive explosion last week in their 41-24 loss to Indiana. Entering the game against the Hoosiers, the Wildcats had scored 45 points in the first four games of the season, so scoring 24 points in one game wasn’t expected. Quarterback Jack Lausch has founded a trusted target in Bryce Kirtz, with the receiver hauling in 10 passes for 128 yards in last week’s loss.
Prior to Northwestern playing the Hoosiers, Maryland battled Indiana in Bloomington, falling 42-28 two weeks ago. Last week Mike Locksley team had a bye to try and assess their 0-2 start to their Big Ten campaign. Quarterback Billy Edward’s Jr. has been a fun watch this year, throwing for at least 250 yards in each game.
Even though Northwestern has a stout defense, they do struggle against the pass, which is the strength of the Terrapins. I like a fresh Maryland squad to kickoff back-to-back games in College Park with a double digit win.
Maryland 27, Northwestern 13
Washington v. Iowa (-2.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
If you like points, this game isn’t for you. Washington has scored 30 points just once this season, while we all know how the Hawkeyes operate. At least offensive coordinator Tim Lester has Iowa making progress when they have the football. Running back Kaleb Johnson is likely going to be running angry after Ohio State held him in check last week.
The Michigan game felt a bit like Washington’s Super Bowl. The Huskies were able to extract a little bit of revenge on the Wolverines for the loss in the title game in January. Will Rogers has limited mistakes so far this season, tossing only one interception.
It’s not easy to win in Iowa City. Washington expended a lot of energy in Saturday night’s victory over Michigan. Also, the Huskies might not be used to such an early kick, so they might come out sluggish. The Hawkeyes are grittier than Washington in this one.
Iowa 24, Washington 14
Wisconsin v. Rutgers (-2.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
I’m not putting much stock in last week’s 52-6 win by Wisconsin over Purdue since the Boilermakers have made it a habit of getting smoked this year. I still don’t think Luke Fickell and Phil Longo have a clue on what they are doing with the Badgers. Their job became even tougher when Tyler Van Dyke was injured early in the Alabama game. Quarterback Braedyn Locke can make plays against bad defenses, the problem is Rutgers has a really good defense.
Our hopes of an undefeated regular season from Rutgers were dashed when the Scarlet Knights lost 14-7 at Nebraska last week. Athan Kaliakmanis looked more like the quarterback we saw at Minnesota, which isn’t a good thing. At least the defense of Rutgers kept fighting until the end, not giving up much to Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers.
These are two programs that are heading in opposite directions. I expect Rutgers to bounce back after a loss on the road to a tough team, while Wisconsin might be overconfident coming in after beating up on a hapless Purdue squad.
Rutgers 28, Wisconsin 17
No. 4 Penn State (-4.5) v. USC - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
I bet James Franklin wishes he was coaching on the other side in this game. When the USC job came open a couple years ago, Franklin was a hot candidate for the job. Instead, the Trojans went with Lincoln Riley. To me, Franklin in Los Angeles seems like a weird fit just because he is so strange.
The Nittany Lions are still undefeated this year, but they haven’t been all that convincing lately. It seems like Penn State doesn’t trust quarterback Drew Allar to throw the ball down the field, which is odd since we have seen glimpses of how good he can be. It almost feels like the Nittany Lions are doing some bizarro Tresselball.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25670189/2176115750.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 05 UCLA at Penn State")
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
To start the season it looked like USC might be in for a big year after beating LSU in Las Vegas. Losses on the road to Michigan and Minnesota have derailed the playoff hopes of the Trojans. Unlike when USC came back to Los Angeles after the Michigan game and beat Wisconsin, Penn State is going to make the mistakes in the second half the Badgers did.
Miller Moss some plays but the Nittany Lions tighten up in crunch time, which is something the Trojans have failed to do consistently after Riley took the job.
Penn State 31, USC 20
Purdue v. No. 23 Illinois (-19.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
Over the last four games, Purdue has been outscored 184-44 and fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Do you really think they are going to magically fix things against an Illinois team that is steady under Bret Bielema and is coming off a bye? I don’t. The Fighting Illini should be able to name their score in this one.
Illinois 38, Purdue 14
Minnesota (-5.5) v. UCLA - 9:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Speaking of bad teams, we are now on to UCLA. The only win for the Bruins this year came against Hawai’i in the season opener, and they had to work hard to get that one. Last week Justyn Martin started against Penn State in the 27-11. No starter has been named yet by Deshaun Foster for this week’s game, but it’s not like it matters all that much because both Martin and Ethan Garbers are pretty mediocre. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Bruins can’t run the ball to save their life.
Running the football has been P.J. Fleck’s bread and butter this. Well that and being really weird are staples of Fleck. Darius Taylor bounced back from a couple tough outings with 144 yards last week. The Golden Gophers complete the sweep of Los Angeles with a win over the Bruins.
Minnesota 23, UCLA 10
No. 2 Ohio State (-3.5) v. No. 3 Oregon - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
I’m so excited for this game that I went all the way to Oregon for it and I’m not even going to the game. Just don’t tell my dad and uncle that live in Medford that they are playing second fiddle to my Buckeyes. I still want them to feed me while I’m out here!
Honestly though, this game has Game of the Year potential, and we could see it two more times this season! This could be an even better watch than those showdowns between Washington and Oregon last year. Chip Kelly and Carlos Locklyn returning to Eugene, veteran transfer quarterbacks on both sides, dynamic playmakers all over the field on both teams, and even the weather will probably be perfect for the game. What more could you ask for?
If you want a more in-depth breakdown of the game, check out the game preview. In most cases I try to bet with my head and not my heart. That won’t be the case for this game. I just feel like the Buckeyes are a little deeper and tougher, plus I’m sure the 2021 loss to the Ducks is eating at Ryan Day since he was outcoached in the game.
He redeems himself on Saturday night by beating Oregon in the first matchup between top-five teams at Autzen Stadium.
Ohio State 31, Oregon 24
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Plus, Will Penn State stay undefeated when they take on USC? Picks for the week’s B1G games.
Last week ATS: 7-8 (3-4 National, 4-4 B1G)
Season ATS: 55-55 (18-21 National, 37-34 B1G)
My picks for a stacked national slate this weekend can be found here.
Big Ten games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted)
Northwestern v. Maryland (-9.5) - Friday 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
Northwestern had a bit of an offensive explosion last week in their 41-24 loss to Indiana. Entering the game against the Hoosiers, the Wildcats had scored 45 points in the first four games of the season, so scoring 24 points in one game wasn’t expected. Quarterback Jack Lausch has founded a trusted target in Bryce Kirtz, with the receiver hauling in 10 passes for 128 yards in last week’s loss.
Prior to Northwestern playing the Hoosiers, Maryland battled Indiana in Bloomington, falling 42-28 two weeks ago. Last week Mike Locksley team had a bye to try and assess their 0-2 start to their Big Ten campaign. Quarterback Billy Edward’s Jr. has been a fun watch this year, throwing for at least 250 yards in each game.
Even though Northwestern has a stout defense, they do struggle against the pass, which is the strength of the Terrapins. I like a fresh Maryland squad to kickoff back-to-back games in College Park with a double digit win.
Maryland 27, Northwestern 13
Washington v. Iowa (-2.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - FOX
If you like points, this game isn’t for you. Washington has scored 30 points just once this season, while we all know how the Hawkeyes operate. At least offensive coordinator Tim Lester has Iowa making progress when they have the football. Running back Kaleb Johnson is likely going to be running angry after Ohio State held him in check last week.
The Michigan game felt a bit like Washington’s Super Bowl. The Huskies were able to extract a little bit of revenge on the Wolverines for the loss in the title game in January. Will Rogers has limited mistakes so far this season, tossing only one interception.
It’s not easy to win in Iowa City. Washington expended a lot of energy in Saturday night’s victory over Michigan. Also, the Huskies might not be used to such an early kick, so they might come out sluggish. The Hawkeyes are grittier than Washington in this one.
Iowa 24, Washington 14
Wisconsin v. Rutgers (-2.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
I’m not putting much stock in last week’s 52-6 win by Wisconsin over Purdue since the Boilermakers have made it a habit of getting smoked this year. I still don’t think Luke Fickell and Phil Longo have a clue on what they are doing with the Badgers. Their job became even tougher when Tyler Van Dyke was injured early in the Alabama game. Quarterback Braedyn Locke can make plays against bad defenses, the problem is Rutgers has a really good defense.
Our hopes of an undefeated regular season from Rutgers were dashed when the Scarlet Knights lost 14-7 at Nebraska last week. Athan Kaliakmanis looked more like the quarterback we saw at Minnesota, which isn’t a good thing. At least the defense of Rutgers kept fighting until the end, not giving up much to Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers.
These are two programs that are heading in opposite directions. I expect Rutgers to bounce back after a loss on the road to a tough team, while Wisconsin might be overconfident coming in after beating up on a hapless Purdue squad.
Rutgers 28, Wisconsin 17
No. 4 Penn State (-4.5) v. USC - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
I bet James Franklin wishes he was coaching on the other side in this game. When the USC job came open a couple years ago, Franklin was a hot candidate for the job. Instead, the Trojans went with Lincoln Riley. To me, Franklin in Los Angeles seems like a weird fit just because he is so strange.
The Nittany Lions are still undefeated this year, but they haven’t been all that convincing lately. It seems like Penn State doesn’t trust quarterback Drew Allar to throw the ball down the field, which is odd since we have seen glimpses of how good he can be. It almost feels like the Nittany Lions are doing some bizarro Tresselball.
To start the season it looked like USC might be in for a big year after beating LSU in Las Vegas. Losses on the road to Michigan and Minnesota have derailed the playoff hopes of the Trojans. Unlike when USC came back to Los Angeles after the Michigan game and beat Wisconsin, Penn State is going to make the mistakes in the second half the Badgers did.
Miller Moss some plays but the Nittany Lions tighten up in crunch time, which is something the Trojans have failed to do consistently after Riley took the job.
Penn State 31, USC 20
Purdue v. No. 23 Illinois (-19.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
Over the last four games, Purdue has been outscored 184-44 and fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. Do you really think they are going to magically fix things against an Illinois team that is steady under Bret Bielema and is coming off a bye? I don’t. The Fighting Illini should be able to name their score in this one.
Illinois 38, Purdue 14
Minnesota (-5.5) v. UCLA - 9:00 p.m. ET - Big Ten Network
Speaking of bad teams, we are now on to UCLA. The only win for the Bruins this year came against Hawai’i in the season opener, and they had to work hard to get that one. Last week Justyn Martin started against Penn State in the 27-11. No starter has been named yet by Deshaun Foster for this week’s game, but it’s not like it matters all that much because both Martin and Ethan Garbers are pretty mediocre. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Bruins can’t run the ball to save their life.
Running the football has been P.J. Fleck’s bread and butter this. Well that and being really weird are staples of Fleck. Darius Taylor bounced back from a couple tough outings with 144 yards last week. The Golden Gophers complete the sweep of Los Angeles with a win over the Bruins.
Minnesota 23, UCLA 10
No. 2 Ohio State (-3.5) v. No. 3 Oregon - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
I’m so excited for this game that I went all the way to Oregon for it and I’m not even going to the game. Just don’t tell my dad and uncle that live in Medford that they are playing second fiddle to my Buckeyes. I still want them to feed me while I’m out here!
Honestly though, this game has Game of the Year potential, and we could see it two more times this season! This could be an even better watch than those showdowns between Washington and Oregon last year. Chip Kelly and Carlos Locklyn returning to Eugene, veteran transfer quarterbacks on both sides, dynamic playmakers all over the field on both teams, and even the weather will probably be perfect for the game. What more could you ask for?
If you want a more in-depth breakdown of the game, check out the game preview. In most cases I try to bet with my head and not my heart. That won’t be the case for this game. I just feel like the Buckeyes are a little deeper and tougher, plus I’m sure the 2021 loss to the Ducks is eating at Ryan Day since he was outcoached in the game.
He redeems himself on Saturday night by beating Oregon in the first matchup between top-five teams at Autzen Stadium.
Ohio State 31, Oregon 24
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Who will win Big Ten men’s basketball player of the year?
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You’re Nuts: Who will win Big Ten men’s basketball player of the year?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Who do you think will be honored as the best player in the new 18-team Big Ten at season’s end?
Big Ten media day has come and gone, as well as Ohio State’s own media day. The Buckeyes will play real, live basketball in one week against Cincinnati in an exhibition game, and the season opener will come 17 days later in Sin City against the Texas Longhorns. For all intents and purposes, we are back.
With college basketball returning in a matter of weeks, we’ve shifted into season preview season. Last week, we debated who would win Big Ten Freshman of the Year. This week, we’re picking conference player of the year in the new-look, 18-team Big Ten.
Justin picked electric Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey to win Big Ten freshman of the week, while Connor went with Purdue’s next behemoth center, Daniel Jacobsen. The readers agreed with... neither of us? The most popular choice was “someone else” at 57%, followed by Justin/Ace Bailey at 39% and Jacobsen at 4%.
Connor- 81
We’ll give our picks for B1G POY shortly, but as a refresher, here are the players who were picked in the pre-season to be all-conference honorees. Purdue guard Braden Smith was selected as pre-season Big Ten POY.
2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Oumar Ballo, R-Sr.+, C, Indiana
Payton Sandfort, Sr., F, Iowa
Dawson Garcia, Sr., F, Minnesota
Brooks Barnhizer, Sr., G, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Jr., G, Ohio State
Jackson Shelstad, So., G, Oregon
Ace Baldwin Jr., Sr+, G, Penn State
BRADEN SMITH, Jr., G, Purdue
Dylan Harper, Fr., G, Rutgers
Great Osobor, Sr., F, Washington
I think the Iowa Hawkeyes are going to surprise some people this season, and a big reason will be Sandfort picking up Zach Edey’s crown as the best player in the conference.
He’s gotten better each season, going from five points per game as a freshman to 10.3 as a sophomore, and then 16.4 last year, when he led Iowa in scoring and was named third-team All-Big Ten. He finished eighth in the conference in scoring and also led the Big Ten with 2.8 three-pointers made per game.
Another reason Sandfort is going to be set up for success? He plays for a team and a coach that’s going to get him plenty of good shots. Fran McCaffery is the best offensive coach in the Big Ten, and when he finds himself a star player (think Luka Garza, both Murray brothers, etc.), he makes sure to put that guy front and center and find ways to get them plenty of shots.
As a team, Iowa led the Big Ten in points per game each year from 2018-2023. This past season, they finished second behind Illinois. So, while their brutal defensive has held the program back for a long time (Iowa has not made it to a single Sweet Sixteen since McCaffery took the job in 2010), the Hawkeyes have been elite offensively for the better part of a decade.
Because of the situation he’s in — and because he’s an all-around great player — I think Sandfort will win Big Ten Player of the Year. He’s increased his scoring every year, and if he keeps on that same pace, we could see him push it to 21 or 22 points per game this year. Not to mention, he’s 6-foot-8 and pulled down 6.6 rebounds per game last season, which was top-15 in the Big Ten.
Sandfort put his name into the NBA Draft in the spring, but withdrew to play his senior season at Iowa with his younger brother, Pryce. I think Sandfort will have a huge year and get Iowa back into the NCAA Tournament.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25641002/usa_today_23710272.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I am picking Bruce Thornton to win the Big Ten Player of the Year for three reasons.
The first one is I think the Buckeyes are going to make a huge jump as a team, and Thornton will get a majority of that credit as the best player on the team and the only returner from the past couple of years. The Buckeyes have missed the tournament for the last two years, and if they make it back this year, which I think they will do fairly easily, whoever leads the team will get a ton of credit. I think that will be Thornton.
The second reason is production. Thornton has always been able to produce for the Buckeyes, and with Meechie Johnson now being his running mate, teams can’t lock in on Thornton and take him out of the offense. I think Thornton will score at his highest and most efficient level and average 16-19 points a game and 5-6 assists per game. He is also a good rebounder and solid shooter, so his stat line should be good enough.
The third reason is Zach Edey is gone, and the award is ready to be taken by someone new. It might as well be Thornton.
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Who do you think will be honored as the best player in the new 18-team Big Ten at season’s end?
Big Ten media day has come and gone, as well as Ohio State’s own media day. The Buckeyes will play real, live basketball in one week against Cincinnati in an exhibition game, and the season opener will come 17 days later in Sin City against the Texas Longhorns. For all intents and purposes, we are back.
With college basketball returning in a matter of weeks, we’ve shifted into season preview season. Last week, we debated who would win Big Ten Freshman of the Year. This week, we’re picking conference player of the year in the new-look, 18-team Big Ten.
Justin picked electric Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey to win Big Ten freshman of the week, while Connor went with Purdue’s next behemoth center, Daniel Jacobsen. The readers agreed with... neither of us? The most popular choice was “someone else” at 57%, followed by Justin/Ace Bailey at 39% and Jacobsen at 4%.
After 173 weeks:
Connor- 81
Justin- 70
Other- 18
(There have been four ties)
We’ll give our picks for B1G POY shortly, but as a refresher, here are the players who were picked in the pre-season to be all-conference honorees. Purdue guard Braden Smith was selected as pre-season Big Ten POY.
2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Oumar Ballo, R-Sr.+, C, Indiana
Payton Sandfort, Sr., F, Iowa
Dawson Garcia, Sr., F, Minnesota
Brooks Barnhizer, Sr., G, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Jr., G, Ohio State
Jackson Shelstad, So., G, Oregon
Ace Baldwin Jr., Sr+, G, Penn State
BRADEN SMITH, Jr., G, Purdue
Dylan Harper, Fr., G, Rutgers
Great Osobor, Sr., F, Washington
This week’s question: Who will win Big Ten Player of the Year?
Connor: Payton Sandfort (Iowa)
I think the Iowa Hawkeyes are going to surprise some people this season, and a big reason will be Sandfort picking up Zach Edey’s crown as the best player in the conference.
He’s gotten better each season, going from five points per game as a freshman to 10.3 as a sophomore, and then 16.4 last year, when he led Iowa in scoring and was named third-team All-Big Ten. He finished eighth in the conference in scoring and also led the Big Ten with 2.8 three-pointers made per game.
Another reason Sandfort is going to be set up for success? He plays for a team and a coach that’s going to get him plenty of good shots. Fran McCaffery is the best offensive coach in the Big Ten, and when he finds himself a star player (think Luka Garza, both Murray brothers, etc.), he makes sure to put that guy front and center and find ways to get them plenty of shots.
As a team, Iowa led the Big Ten in points per game each year from 2018-2023. This past season, they finished second behind Illinois. So, while their brutal defensive has held the program back for a long time (Iowa has not made it to a single Sweet Sixteen since McCaffery took the job in 2010), the Hawkeyes have been elite offensively for the better part of a decade.
Because of the situation he’s in — and because he’s an all-around great player — I think Sandfort will win Big Ten Player of the Year. He’s increased his scoring every year, and if he keeps on that same pace, we could see him push it to 21 or 22 points per game this year. Not to mention, he’s 6-foot-8 and pulled down 6.6 rebounds per game last season, which was top-15 in the Big Ten.
Sandfort put his name into the NBA Draft in the spring, but withdrew to play his senior season at Iowa with his younger brother, Pryce. I think Sandfort will have a huge year and get Iowa back into the NCAA Tournament.
Justin: Bruce Thornton
I am picking Bruce Thornton to win the Big Ten Player of the Year for three reasons.
The first one is I think the Buckeyes are going to make a huge jump as a team, and Thornton will get a majority of that credit as the best player on the team and the only returner from the past couple of years. The Buckeyes have missed the tournament for the last two years, and if they make it back this year, which I think they will do fairly easily, whoever leads the team will get a ton of credit. I think that will be Thornton.
The second reason is production. Thornton has always been able to produce for the Buckeyes, and with Meechie Johnson now being his running mate, teams can’t lock in on Thornton and take him out of the offense. I think Thornton will score at his highest and most efficient level and average 16-19 points a game and 5-6 assists per game. He is also a good rebounder and solid shooter, so his stat line should be good enough.
The third reason is Zach Edey is gone, and the award is ready to be taken by someone new. It might as well be Thornton.
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LGHL A look at the most crucial members of Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class
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A look at the most crucial members of Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State has plenty of talent in this class, but who stands out above the rest?
Currently Ohio State still boasts the top ranked recruiting class for the 2025 cycle. A 26-member haul thus far, the Buckeyes are thrilled to have the players they do, and still have a few open spots they are hoping to fill.
Among those guys, who are the most crucial to the Buckeyes’ future success? Debatable for sure, this is just one opinion on who rounds out the most important guys Ohio State is bringing in and how different their class would look without them.
Likely the most obvious choice here, you can’t understate how important it is to have St. Clair in this 2025 recruiting class. The No. 6 player nationally and second best quarterback in the country per the 247Sports Composite, the rankings alone would be enough reason to covet his commitment, but there’s a whole lot more to St. Clair that the Buckeyes wanted.
First and foremost, a quarterback is a need in every class according to Ryan Day. Landing an elite prospect at the position is something this coaching staff has done more times than not, and when you stockpile the amount of talent at this position like Ohio State has, it increases the hit rate that one or more are likely to lead the team to it’s ultimate goals.
Additionally, being an in-state player, Ohio State has been fortunate to see St. Clair’s abilities early on and watching him develop into what he’s become. Without question, St. Clair is expected to be the next in line to take this team to where it wants to go. As a leader of the class in multiple ways including peer recruiting, you have to list him as the most important member of this class. Without him, this haul would feel much different.
The No. 5 player nationally and the top cornerback in the 2025 cycle per the 247Sports Composite, Sanchez gives Ohio State yet again another top player at his position. A national recruit with offers from every major program in the country, being able to pluck the DB out of Texas is a huge feat, and helps cement position coach Tim Walton among the best in college football at his craft.
In a college football landscape that promotes offense more than anything else, having the lock-down defensive backs is a must have for a defense that has any chances of being a successful unit. Sanchez does that and more. Standing at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, the frame is everything coaches are looking for as an eraser on the back end of their defense who can not only defend the pass, but also be a run stopping threat in contain.
The top-ranked player on the defensive side of the ball for Ohio State, Sanchez is on this list for his talent of course, but also for what his family has meant to this recruiting class. A member who has been nothing but solid since his commitment, his parents have gone out of their way to pitch Ohio State time and time again, being true ambassadors of the program their son will soon be part of.
You’re not going to find many players more well-rounded than Devin and all that he’s brought to Ohio State in this 2025 class. For that, he’s an absolute must have and in the top three players the Buckeyes are destined to sign.
Lowe is the third pick knowing how important the offensive line is, and specifically offensive tackle. A position Ohio State has recruited hard and come up short more times than they’d like with the more national targets, you have to list Lowe here for what this class would be without his pledge.
The No. 54 player nationally and the seventh best tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Lowe really is a top national player with that status. Having him in the class right now makes this offensive line haul, and knowing Frye needs a little more depth in this class it’s hard to imagine what you’d feel without landing an in-state kid like Lowe.
Thus far into the season too, seeing the offensive line playing the way they are gives a lot of trust in Frye that may not have been the case this summer simply in recruiting wins and losses.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State has plenty of talent in this class, but who stands out above the rest?
Currently Ohio State still boasts the top ranked recruiting class for the 2025 cycle. A 26-member haul thus far, the Buckeyes are thrilled to have the players they do, and still have a few open spots they are hoping to fill.
Among those guys, who are the most crucial to the Buckeyes’ future success? Debatable for sure, this is just one opinion on who rounds out the most important guys Ohio State is bringing in and how different their class would look without them.
Tavien St. Clair
Likely the most obvious choice here, you can’t understate how important it is to have St. Clair in this 2025 recruiting class. The No. 6 player nationally and second best quarterback in the country per the 247Sports Composite, the rankings alone would be enough reason to covet his commitment, but there’s a whole lot more to St. Clair that the Buckeyes wanted.
First and foremost, a quarterback is a need in every class according to Ryan Day. Landing an elite prospect at the position is something this coaching staff has done more times than not, and when you stockpile the amount of talent at this position like Ohio State has, it increases the hit rate that one or more are likely to lead the team to it’s ultimate goals.
Additionally, being an in-state player, Ohio State has been fortunate to see St. Clair’s abilities early on and watching him develop into what he’s become. Without question, St. Clair is expected to be the next in line to take this team to where it wants to go. As a leader of the class in multiple ways including peer recruiting, you have to list him as the most important member of this class. Without him, this haul would feel much different.
Devin Sanchez
The No. 5 player nationally and the top cornerback in the 2025 cycle per the 247Sports Composite, Sanchez gives Ohio State yet again another top player at his position. A national recruit with offers from every major program in the country, being able to pluck the DB out of Texas is a huge feat, and helps cement position coach Tim Walton among the best in college football at his craft.
In a college football landscape that promotes offense more than anything else, having the lock-down defensive backs is a must have for a defense that has any chances of being a successful unit. Sanchez does that and more. Standing at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, the frame is everything coaches are looking for as an eraser on the back end of their defense who can not only defend the pass, but also be a run stopping threat in contain.
The top-ranked player on the defensive side of the ball for Ohio State, Sanchez is on this list for his talent of course, but also for what his family has meant to this recruiting class. A member who has been nothing but solid since his commitment, his parents have gone out of their way to pitch Ohio State time and time again, being true ambassadors of the program their son will soon be part of.
You’re not going to find many players more well-rounded than Devin and all that he’s brought to Ohio State in this 2025 class. For that, he’s an absolute must have and in the top three players the Buckeyes are destined to sign.
Carter Lowe
Lowe is the third pick knowing how important the offensive line is, and specifically offensive tackle. A position Ohio State has recruited hard and come up short more times than they’d like with the more national targets, you have to list Lowe here for what this class would be without his pledge.
The No. 54 player nationally and the seventh best tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Lowe really is a top national player with that status. Having him in the class right now makes this offensive line haul, and knowing Frye needs a little more depth in this class it’s hard to imagine what you’d feel without landing an in-state kid like Lowe.
Thus far into the season too, seeing the offensive line playing the way they are gives a lot of trust in Frye that may not have been the case this summer simply in recruiting wins and losses.
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