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LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the sneakiest trap game for Ohio State men’s basketball?
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You’re Nuts: What is the sneakiest trap game for Ohio State men’s basketball?
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-USA TODAY Sports
Which not-hard game on the schdule do our writers think will actually turn into a very-hard game?
On Oct. 3, the Big Ten conference released tip times and TV assignments for men’s basketball. That means we now know which games are going to be nationally televised, which games will be streaming-only, and which games will be in prime time, allowing the home crowd to “prepare” for the game on campus all day long. With that in mind, we’re going to discuss some potential pitfalls on the Buckeyes’ schedule.
Last week, Connor and Justin each made a prediction for Big Ten Coach of the Year. Justin chose Kevin Willard, whose Maryland Terrapins were picked to finish third in the Big Ten in this year’s media poll. Connor went with Greg Gard, whose Wisconsin Badgers were picked to finish fifth in the same poll.
50% of the people who read last week’s piece chose “other,” which means that neither Connor nor Justin won this week. 50% went with the other, while 38% voted with Justin, and the remaining 12% voted with Connor.
Connor- 55
This week, we’re debating the trappiest trap game on the Buckeyes’ schedule. For reference, a “trap game” is a game that, at first glance, doesn’t look too challenging, but for various reasons, could wind up being much harder than you’d think.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24993813/usa_today_20232136.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NIT Tournament First Round - Bradley vs Wisconsin")
Mark Hoffman - USA Today Sports
But Connor, how can a road game against Wisconsin — a team picked to finish higher than Ohio State — be considered a trap game? How could any game at the Kohl Center — where they’ve been rumored to turn down the temperature drastically and where they use “The Rock” brand basketball just to be difficult — be a trap game?
Well, take a look at the few games around this one, and I think you’d agree that the road game at Wisconsin might get overlooked just a bit. The week prior, Ohio State will face Indiana at home on Tuesday night and Maryland at home on Saturday afternoon. Those are two home games against upper-echelon Big Ten teams, the second of which is a weekend home game. Attendance should be great for both games and if Ohio State is able to win both, everyone’s eyes will begin to look down the road to another big matchup... Purdue, that is.
If the Buckeyes are flying high come February and knock off Indiana and Maryland that week, Purdue will be looming just eight days later. The Boilermakers beat the Buckeyes three times last season, have the National Player of the Year on their team, and won the Big Ten outright. People will be very excited about that game, especially if Ohio State is playing well.
However, Ohio State will have to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, that Tuesday night and play the Badgers at the Kohl Center, where they’ve won just one of their last five games at. With Purdue looming, it could be easy to undercut the importance of winning this game. Beating a talented Wisconsin team on the road will do wonders for Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament resume.
I’m just wondering if, after winning two big home games and with Purdue in the distance, could this Wisconsin game turn into a bad, bad time for the Buckeyes? I could see Ohio State winning a few games in a row, but then walking into a buzzsaw in Madison — just to remind OSU who’s won the Big Ten more recently.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24999261/usa_today_20230506.jpg "Syndication: Detroit Free Press")
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
It is funny that we are talking about a trap game for a team that went 5-15 last season in the conference. But that’s the past! This year, we can expect some more wins. I hope.
The trap game I am penciling in is at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor when the Buckeyes play at Michigan on Jan. 15. The reason: it is early in the conference play season, and it is important to get off to a great start in conference play
This can be a trap game as Ohio State will likely be the favorite since Michigan is projected to finish in the bottom part of the Big Ten. The five games the Buckeyes have after this one are at home against Penn State, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at home against Illinois, and at Iowa. All of those games are winnable, with the Illinois game being at Value City Arena. If they can beat Michigan on the road, it can jump-start a huge winning streak to end January.
Plus, it can erase some demons. This was around the same time last season that the losing streak started. The Buckeyes can get some solid momentum going by starting a winning streak instead of a losing streak in the middle of January. But if they lose this one, all of the other games get a little tougher ahead of them.
And besides, it is always fun to beat Michigan.
Continue reading...
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-USA TODAY Sports
Which not-hard game on the schdule do our writers think will actually turn into a very-hard game?
On Oct. 3, the Big Ten conference released tip times and TV assignments for men’s basketball. That means we now know which games are going to be nationally televised, which games will be streaming-only, and which games will be in prime time, allowing the home crowd to “prepare” for the game on campus all day long. With that in mind, we’re going to discuss some potential pitfalls on the Buckeyes’ schedule.
Last week, Connor and Justin each made a prediction for Big Ten Coach of the Year. Justin chose Kevin Willard, whose Maryland Terrapins were picked to finish third in the Big Ten in this year’s media poll. Connor went with Greg Gard, whose Wisconsin Badgers were picked to finish fifth in the same poll.
50% of the people who read last week’s piece chose “other,” which means that neither Connor nor Justin won this week. 50% went with the other, while 38% voted with Justin, and the remaining 12% voted with Connor.
After 121 weeks:
Connor- 55
Justin- 48
Other- 14
(There have been four ties)
This week, we’re debating the trappiest trap game on the Buckeyes’ schedule. For reference, a “trap game” is a game that, at first glance, doesn’t look too challenging, but for various reasons, could wind up being much harder than you’d think.
Today’s Question: What is the sneakiest trap game for Ohio State men’s basketball?
Connor: At Wisconsin (Feb. 13)
But Connor, how can a road game against Wisconsin — a team picked to finish higher than Ohio State — be considered a trap game? How could any game at the Kohl Center — where they’ve been rumored to turn down the temperature drastically and where they use “The Rock” brand basketball just to be difficult — be a trap game?
Well, take a look at the few games around this one, and I think you’d agree that the road game at Wisconsin might get overlooked just a bit. The week prior, Ohio State will face Indiana at home on Tuesday night and Maryland at home on Saturday afternoon. Those are two home games against upper-echelon Big Ten teams, the second of which is a weekend home game. Attendance should be great for both games and if Ohio State is able to win both, everyone’s eyes will begin to look down the road to another big matchup... Purdue, that is.
If the Buckeyes are flying high come February and knock off Indiana and Maryland that week, Purdue will be looming just eight days later. The Boilermakers beat the Buckeyes three times last season, have the National Player of the Year on their team, and won the Big Ten outright. People will be very excited about that game, especially if Ohio State is playing well.
However, Ohio State will have to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, that Tuesday night and play the Badgers at the Kohl Center, where they’ve won just one of their last five games at. With Purdue looming, it could be easy to undercut the importance of winning this game. Beating a talented Wisconsin team on the road will do wonders for Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament resume.
I’m just wondering if, after winning two big home games and with Purdue in the distance, could this Wisconsin game turn into a bad, bad time for the Buckeyes? I could see Ohio State winning a few games in a row, but then walking into a buzzsaw in Madison — just to remind OSU who’s won the Big Ten more recently.
Justin: At Michigan (Jan. 15)
It is funny that we are talking about a trap game for a team that went 5-15 last season in the conference. But that’s the past! This year, we can expect some more wins. I hope.
The trap game I am penciling in is at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor when the Buckeyes play at Michigan on Jan. 15. The reason: it is early in the conference play season, and it is important to get off to a great start in conference play
This can be a trap game as Ohio State will likely be the favorite since Michigan is projected to finish in the bottom part of the Big Ten. The five games the Buckeyes have after this one are at home against Penn State, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at home against Illinois, and at Iowa. All of those games are winnable, with the Illinois game being at Value City Arena. If they can beat Michigan on the road, it can jump-start a huge winning streak to end January.
Plus, it can erase some demons. This was around the same time last season that the losing streak started. The Buckeyes can get some solid momentum going by starting a winning streak instead of a losing streak in the middle of January. But if they lose this one, all of the other games get a little tougher ahead of them.
And besides, it is always fun to beat Michigan.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State vs. Purdue: 2023 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State vs. Purdue: 2023 game preview and prediction
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 Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes will try and handle business against the Boilermakers ahead of next week’s showdown with Penn State.
Following their bye week, Ohio State got back on the field last week, shaking off a sluggish start to beat Maryland 37-17 in Columbus, Now the Buckeyes hit the road to try and exercise some recent demons at Ross-Ade Stadium when they take on Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday. Since 2000, Ohio State is just 3-5 at Ross-Ade Stadium, with their most recent trip to Purdue coming in 2018 when they were blitzed by the Boilermakers 49-20. The last time these two teams met was in 2021 in Columbus, with the Buckeyes winning 59-31.
With their win over the Terrapins, Ohio State continued to handle their business against teams they should beat. The Buckeyes are 33-0 against unranked opponents under Ryan Day, and are now 71-6 in the Big Ten since 2014, which is the best conference record in the country during that span.
Last week Ohio State had a tough time getting their offense going early, recording just 28 yards in the first quarter. While the group looked better in the second half, the Buckeyes still fell short of 400 yards of offense, marking the first time under Day they have failed to record 400 yards of offense in two consecutive games. One reason for some of the offensive struggles was because TreVeyon Henderson wasn’t available to play, as he was still recovering from an injury he suffered against Notre Dame.
Another injury concern the Buckeyes have is with Emeka Egbuka, who left the game last week with a leg injury. Even though Egbuka hasn’t officially been ruled out, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Egbuka on the sidelines this week with a matchup with Penn State looming. With Egbuka hobbled, Marvin Harrison Jr. stepped up last week and showed why he is the best receiver in the country. Harrison earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after catching eight passes for 163 yards and a score.
The junior is now 99 yards away from 2,000 career receiving yards. So far this season, Harrison has reached 100 yards in three of five games the Buckeyes have played. For his career, Harrison has 10 games of at least 100 receiving yards, tying him with Garrett Wilson and Michael Jenkins for third all-time. David Boston’s 14 100-yard games are the most by a Buckeye receiver, while Chris Olave has 11 career games of at least 100 yards.
Another receiver that stepped up in the second half last week was Cade Stover. The tight end finished with two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. Stover’s 44-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter gave the Buckeyes a little breathing room, extending their lead to 27-17. The senior now has 60 career receptions for 786 yards, with both totals ranking seventh all-time amongst Ohio State tight ends. With six catches, Stover will move into a tie with Bruce Jankowski for fifth all-time by tight end in school history.
While at times early in games it has been tough for Kyle McCord to get into a rhythm, what the quarterback has done well is avoid mistakes. McCord has thrown 142 passes so far this year, and the only interception he has thrown came in the season opener against Indiana. Last week against Maryland, McCord threw for 320 yards, and the 275 passing yards per game he is averaging ranks second in the Big Ten.
Last week Chip Trayanum was the feature back for Ohio State since TreVeyon Henderson was sidelined due to injury. Trayanum finished with 61 yards on 20 carries, finding the end zone once. While Trayanum gives the Buckeyes some tough yards, there’s no doubt Henderson is Ohio State’s most dynamic running back. So far this season, Henderson has one less carry than Trayanum, but 88 more yards and two more rushing touchdowns than the Arizona State transfer.
The Ohio State defense has been what has steadied the team during some of the inconsistent performances from the offense. Last week the Buckeyes were able to cut Maryland’s lead to 10-7 in the second quarter when Josh Proctor picked off a Taulia Tagovailoa pass and returned it for a touchdown. Proctor recorded a career-high seven tackles and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The safety is a key part of a pass defense that is sixth in the country, allowing just 158.4 yards per game.
While the last few seasons the pass coverage for Ohio State was a concern, this yar it is one of the strengths of the defense. Last week Denzel Burke had two pass breakups, raising his total on the season to seven PBUs, and his career total is now 24 breakups. On the other corner, Davison Igbinosun has been solid in his first season at Ohio State after transferring from Ole Miss. Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles have been laying the lumber and making key plays throughout the year at safety alongside Proctor.
Following a disappointing start to the season, it feels like the defensive line is starting to come around for the Buckeyes. Last week J.T. Tuimoloau recorded his first full sack of the season. On the interior, Tyleik Williams and Michael Hall Jr. have been disruptive forces, they just haven’t gotten a ton of help from the rushers on the outside. There still is work to do for the defensive line to realize their full potential, but it looks like they are headed in the right direction.
Rounding out the defense are the two reliable rocks at linebacker in the center of the defense. Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers are thee top-two leading tacklers on the team, notching 38 tackles and 32 stops, respectively. The veterans are playmakers that are capable of forcing turnovers to go along with their sure tackling. The Buckeyes have now won 42 consecutive games when they have forced at least two turnovers.
Purdue enters this week’s game coming off a 20-14 loss at Iowa last Saturday. It has been a rough first season in West Lafayette for first-year head coach Ryan Walters, as the Boilermakers are just 2-4. Walters replaces Jeff Brohm, who left Purdue to take the head coaching job at Louisville. Prior to coming to Purdue, Walters was the defensive coordinator at Illinois on Bret Bielema’s staff.
The struggles of the Boilermakers are a little puzzling since there are things they do well on both sides of the football, and they have and experienced quarterback. Hudson Card started his career at Texas but was the odd man out after the Longhorns brought in Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Card leads a Purdue offense that has recorded 140 first downs so far this year, which leads the conference. The former Longhorn has also been good at finding his receivers, as he is averaging 22.7 completions per game.
Purdue continues to churn out quality wide receivers. Currently the Boilermakers have three receivers in the top-10 in the Big Ten in receptions. Abdur Rahmaan Yaseen is third in the conference with 25 grabs, while Deion Burks and TJ Sheffield are tied for sixth with 24 receptions. Tight end Max Klare isn’t far behind the trio, snatching 22 passes so far this season.
The Boilers can also run the football. Purdue is just one of two Big Ten teams to average 240 yards passing per game, and 140 yards rushing game, joining Maryland as the only other team in the conference to reach those marks so far this season. Devin Mockobee leads the team with 372 yards and four touchdowns on 87 carries, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. has rushed for 296 yards and five scores on 50 carries.
On the other side of the football, Purdue has some players that Ohio State will have to keep tabs on. Most notable is reigining Big Ten Freshman of the Week Dillon Thieneman. The safety is the only freshman in the country with three interceptions, and is second in the nation with 6.8 solo tackles per game. The 53 tackles Thieneman has been credited with is the most amongst freshman. The youth of Thieneman is the perfect compliment for senior Sanoussi Kane at safety, who has 42 tackles and five stops for loss so far this year.
Even though Iowa’s passing attack isn’t anywhere close to being as potent as what Purdue will see from Ohio State, the Boilermakers did a great job at giving up very little through the air in last week’s loss. The Hawkeyes were just 6-21 throwing the football, with the 28.6% completion percentage Purdue allowed being their lowest since 2006. Along with what Thieneman and Kane give them at safety, cornerbacks Marquis Wilson has six pass breakups, Cam Allen has picked off two passes, and Markevious Brown is a transfer from Ole Miss.
As a team, the Boilermakers do a great job at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, ranking second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally with 3.0 sacks per game. Leading the charge is linebacker Kydran Jenkins. The senior linebacker leads the Big Ten with four sacks so far this season, and he has six tackles for loss. A familiar name lining up with Jenkins at linebacker for Purdue is Yanni Karlaftis, who is the brother of former Boilermaker menace George Karlaftis.
Up front, Purdue has tried to fill out there defensive line with transfers. Graduate transfer Malik Langham played at both Vanderbilt and Florida before arriving in West Lafayette. At nose tackle, Cole Brevard was a former Penn State player. Defensive end Isaiah Nichols started his career at Arkansas, while Jeffrey M’Ba is another former SEC product, coming to Purdue from Auburn.
Strange things always seem to happen for Ohio State when they play in West Lafayette. This week’s trip could be a little tricky since the Buckeyes have a showdown with Penn State on tap for next week. As if trying not to look past the Boilermakers wasn’t challenge enough, Ohio State could be without Emeka Egbuka after the wide receiver was injured last week. If there was ever a position to have an injury at, luckily for the Buckeyes it is at the position where they have amassed a ton of talent.
What is working in Ohio State’s favor for this trip for Purdue is the Boilermakers aren’t nearly as feared as some of the recent teams the Buckeyes have lined up against in West Lafayette. Purdue is still finding their identity under new head coach Ryan Walters. Hudson Card is a quality quarterback that can make some plays, but it just hasn’t all come together for the offense as they have struggled to replace Aidan O’Connell. Not that the Boilermakers can’t make some noise, they just don’t have guys like Rondale Moore or David Bell that can change the game.
The Buckeyes can’t continue to get off to slow starts. While a slow start on Saturday might not be the death of them, they have to break the habit because slow starts aren’t something that will fly against Penn State or Michigan. What might help Ohio State get going quicker is to simplify things a little more. Sometimes it feels like Ryan Day is trying to get too cute with his play-calling. By this time you know what your team can do well, since we have seen success later in games. Just lean into the strengths of your offense a little earlier and there’s a better chance Ohio State can build a lead early and let some of their starters rest ahead of next week’s game against the Nittany Lions.
This week we see more of a complete performance from Ohio State. The Boilermakers haven’t proved they can hang with the better teams on their schedule, as their two wins have come against a bad Virginia Tech squad and a lost Illinois team. There won’t be any bye week hangover to shake off this week, and there’s no doubt the team has been educated on how things can get weird in West Lafayette.
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 Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes will try and handle business against the Boilermakers ahead of next week’s showdown with Penn State.
Following their bye week, Ohio State got back on the field last week, shaking off a sluggish start to beat Maryland 37-17 in Columbus, Now the Buckeyes hit the road to try and exercise some recent demons at Ross-Ade Stadium when they take on Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday. Since 2000, Ohio State is just 3-5 at Ross-Ade Stadium, with their most recent trip to Purdue coming in 2018 when they were blitzed by the Boilermakers 49-20. The last time these two teams met was in 2021 in Columbus, with the Buckeyes winning 59-31.
With their win over the Terrapins, Ohio State continued to handle their business against teams they should beat. The Buckeyes are 33-0 against unranked opponents under Ryan Day, and are now 71-6 in the Big Ten since 2014, which is the best conference record in the country during that span.
Where the Ohio State offense stands
Last week Ohio State had a tough time getting their offense going early, recording just 28 yards in the first quarter. While the group looked better in the second half, the Buckeyes still fell short of 400 yards of offense, marking the first time under Day they have failed to record 400 yards of offense in two consecutive games. One reason for some of the offensive struggles was because TreVeyon Henderson wasn’t available to play, as he was still recovering from an injury he suffered against Notre Dame.
Another injury concern the Buckeyes have is with Emeka Egbuka, who left the game last week with a leg injury. Even though Egbuka hasn’t officially been ruled out, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Egbuka on the sidelines this week with a matchup with Penn State looming. With Egbuka hobbled, Marvin Harrison Jr. stepped up last week and showed why he is the best receiver in the country. Harrison earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after catching eight passes for 163 yards and a score.
The junior is now 99 yards away from 2,000 career receiving yards. So far this season, Harrison has reached 100 yards in three of five games the Buckeyes have played. For his career, Harrison has 10 games of at least 100 receiving yards, tying him with Garrett Wilson and Michael Jenkins for third all-time. David Boston’s 14 100-yard games are the most by a Buckeye receiver, while Chris Olave has 11 career games of at least 100 yards.
Another receiver that stepped up in the second half last week was Cade Stover. The tight end finished with two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. Stover’s 44-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter gave the Buckeyes a little breathing room, extending their lead to 27-17. The senior now has 60 career receptions for 786 yards, with both totals ranking seventh all-time amongst Ohio State tight ends. With six catches, Stover will move into a tie with Bruce Jankowski for fifth all-time by tight end in school history.
While at times early in games it has been tough for Kyle McCord to get into a rhythm, what the quarterback has done well is avoid mistakes. McCord has thrown 142 passes so far this year, and the only interception he has thrown came in the season opener against Indiana. Last week against Maryland, McCord threw for 320 yards, and the 275 passing yards per game he is averaging ranks second in the Big Ten.
Last week Chip Trayanum was the feature back for Ohio State since TreVeyon Henderson was sidelined due to injury. Trayanum finished with 61 yards on 20 carries, finding the end zone once. While Trayanum gives the Buckeyes some tough yards, there’s no doubt Henderson is Ohio State’s most dynamic running back. So far this season, Henderson has one less carry than Trayanum, but 88 more yards and two more rushing touchdowns than the Arizona State transfer.
The Buckeyes on defense
The Ohio State defense has been what has steadied the team during some of the inconsistent performances from the offense. Last week the Buckeyes were able to cut Maryland’s lead to 10-7 in the second quarter when Josh Proctor picked off a Taulia Tagovailoa pass and returned it for a touchdown. Proctor recorded a career-high seven tackles and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The safety is a key part of a pass defense that is sixth in the country, allowing just 158.4 yards per game.
While the last few seasons the pass coverage for Ohio State was a concern, this yar it is one of the strengths of the defense. Last week Denzel Burke had two pass breakups, raising his total on the season to seven PBUs, and his career total is now 24 breakups. On the other corner, Davison Igbinosun has been solid in his first season at Ohio State after transferring from Ole Miss. Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles have been laying the lumber and making key plays throughout the year at safety alongside Proctor.
Following a disappointing start to the season, it feels like the defensive line is starting to come around for the Buckeyes. Last week J.T. Tuimoloau recorded his first full sack of the season. On the interior, Tyleik Williams and Michael Hall Jr. have been disruptive forces, they just haven’t gotten a ton of help from the rushers on the outside. There still is work to do for the defensive line to realize their full potential, but it looks like they are headed in the right direction.
Rounding out the defense are the two reliable rocks at linebacker in the center of the defense. Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers are thee top-two leading tacklers on the team, notching 38 tackles and 32 stops, respectively. The veterans are playmakers that are capable of forcing turnovers to go along with their sure tackling. The Buckeyes have now won 42 consecutive games when they have forced at least two turnovers.
Purdue this season
Purdue enters this week’s game coming off a 20-14 loss at Iowa last Saturday. It has been a rough first season in West Lafayette for first-year head coach Ryan Walters, as the Boilermakers are just 2-4. Walters replaces Jeff Brohm, who left Purdue to take the head coaching job at Louisville. Prior to coming to Purdue, Walters was the defensive coordinator at Illinois on Bret Bielema’s staff.
The struggles of the Boilermakers are a little puzzling since there are things they do well on both sides of the football, and they have and experienced quarterback. Hudson Card started his career at Texas but was the odd man out after the Longhorns brought in Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Card leads a Purdue offense that has recorded 140 first downs so far this year, which leads the conference. The former Longhorn has also been good at finding his receivers, as he is averaging 22.7 completions per game.
Purdue continues to churn out quality wide receivers. Currently the Boilermakers have three receivers in the top-10 in the Big Ten in receptions. Abdur Rahmaan Yaseen is third in the conference with 25 grabs, while Deion Burks and TJ Sheffield are tied for sixth with 24 receptions. Tight end Max Klare isn’t far behind the trio, snatching 22 passes so far this season.
The Boilers can also run the football. Purdue is just one of two Big Ten teams to average 240 yards passing per game, and 140 yards rushing game, joining Maryland as the only other team in the conference to reach those marks so far this season. Devin Mockobee leads the team with 372 yards and four touchdowns on 87 carries, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. has rushed for 296 yards and five scores on 50 carries.
On the other side of the football, Purdue has some players that Ohio State will have to keep tabs on. Most notable is reigining Big Ten Freshman of the Week Dillon Thieneman. The safety is the only freshman in the country with three interceptions, and is second in the nation with 6.8 solo tackles per game. The 53 tackles Thieneman has been credited with is the most amongst freshman. The youth of Thieneman is the perfect compliment for senior Sanoussi Kane at safety, who has 42 tackles and five stops for loss so far this year.
Even though Iowa’s passing attack isn’t anywhere close to being as potent as what Purdue will see from Ohio State, the Boilermakers did a great job at giving up very little through the air in last week’s loss. The Hawkeyes were just 6-21 throwing the football, with the 28.6% completion percentage Purdue allowed being their lowest since 2006. Along with what Thieneman and Kane give them at safety, cornerbacks Marquis Wilson has six pass breakups, Cam Allen has picked off two passes, and Markevious Brown is a transfer from Ole Miss.
As a team, the Boilermakers do a great job at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, ranking second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally with 3.0 sacks per game. Leading the charge is linebacker Kydran Jenkins. The senior linebacker leads the Big Ten with four sacks so far this season, and he has six tackles for loss. A familiar name lining up with Jenkins at linebacker for Purdue is Yanni Karlaftis, who is the brother of former Boilermaker menace George Karlaftis.
Up front, Purdue has tried to fill out there defensive line with transfers. Graduate transfer Malik Langham played at both Vanderbilt and Florida before arriving in West Lafayette. At nose tackle, Cole Brevard was a former Penn State player. Defensive end Isaiah Nichols started his career at Arkansas, while Jeffrey M’Ba is another former SEC product, coming to Purdue from Auburn.
Summary
Strange things always seem to happen for Ohio State when they play in West Lafayette. This week’s trip could be a little tricky since the Buckeyes have a showdown with Penn State on tap for next week. As if trying not to look past the Boilermakers wasn’t challenge enough, Ohio State could be without Emeka Egbuka after the wide receiver was injured last week. If there was ever a position to have an injury at, luckily for the Buckeyes it is at the position where they have amassed a ton of talent.
What is working in Ohio State’s favor for this trip for Purdue is the Boilermakers aren’t nearly as feared as some of the recent teams the Buckeyes have lined up against in West Lafayette. Purdue is still finding their identity under new head coach Ryan Walters. Hudson Card is a quality quarterback that can make some plays, but it just hasn’t all come together for the offense as they have struggled to replace Aidan O’Connell. Not that the Boilermakers can’t make some noise, they just don’t have guys like Rondale Moore or David Bell that can change the game.
The Buckeyes can’t continue to get off to slow starts. While a slow start on Saturday might not be the death of them, they have to break the habit because slow starts aren’t something that will fly against Penn State or Michigan. What might help Ohio State get going quicker is to simplify things a little more. Sometimes it feels like Ryan Day is trying to get too cute with his play-calling. By this time you know what your team can do well, since we have seen success later in games. Just lean into the strengths of your offense a little earlier and there’s a better chance Ohio State can build a lead early and let some of their starters rest ahead of next week’s game against the Nittany Lions.
This week we see more of a complete performance from Ohio State. The Boilermakers haven’t proved they can hang with the better teams on their schedule, as their two wins have come against a bad Virginia Tech squad and a lost Illinois team. There won’t be any bye week hangover to shake off this week, and there’s no doubt the team has been educated on how things can get weird in West Lafayette.
LGHL prediction: Ohio State 38, Purdue 14
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LGHL Jeremiah Smith named the top player in the country, Buckeyes make the short list for a top hoops target
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Jeremiah Smith named the top player in the country, Buckeyes make the short list for a top hoops target
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Smith tops the charts as the nation’s new No. 1 player in the 2024 class.
The crown jewel of Ohio State’s 2024 class, receiver commit Jeremiah Smith commands as much attention as possible, but it’s deserving. The top receiver in the country for this current cycle, Smith has been turning heads his entire high school career, and this senior season has fallen in line with the rankings as he continues to prove why he’s a notch above the rest not only at his specific position, but as an overall athlete.
Brian Hartline has landed top overall receivers before during his tenure with the Buckeyes, but this addition of Smith feels a bit different. Considering the potential he shows of course, but also the idea that he’s college ready right now and ahead of where most prep targets are at isn’t wrong. Not a ton of players can step on a college campus and contribute immediately, but that is basically expected for Smith as soon as he enrolls.
Another accolade for Smith, on Thursday in the latest 247Sports rankings update Jeremiah was listed not only as the top overall receiver —which he’s been for some time — but now he’s also the No. 1 player in the country overall per the 247Sports Composite. An incredible feat, this puts Smith in the top five all time for highest ranked commits the Buckeyes have been able to land.
Some Ohio State fans haven’t loved Smith’s recruiting process, as he still entertains other schools like the in-state Florida programs, but Smith has been consistent in saying that as long as Hartline and Day are in Columbus, he too will be. So far so good and that shouldn’t change.
A 6-foot-9, 180 pound power forward, Maluk is currently the No. 41 player nationally and the fifth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite in the 2025 class. With double-digit offers to his name and from some bigger programs, Maluk is weighing his options and narrowing it down, as yesterday saw him cut it to just five remaining schools he is deciding between.
Making the cut includes Pitt, Florida State, LSU, Oregon, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have yet to land a commit for their 2025 class, and certainly Alier would be a top addition for Holtmann and crew as they look to land an elite guy in the middle.
Another example of his national status, on Thursday Pierce committed to play in the All-America game later this January. One of the premier events for the top prep players each year, Pierce’s invitation to this game is certainly deserving, and makes him the next in line of many Buckeyes before him to play their last high school contest among the best players in the country.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Smith tops the charts as the nation’s new No. 1 player in the 2024 class.
There’s a new No. 1 player and he’s a Buckeye
The crown jewel of Ohio State’s 2024 class, receiver commit Jeremiah Smith commands as much attention as possible, but it’s deserving. The top receiver in the country for this current cycle, Smith has been turning heads his entire high school career, and this senior season has fallen in line with the rankings as he continues to prove why he’s a notch above the rest not only at his specific position, but as an overall athlete.
Brian Hartline has landed top overall receivers before during his tenure with the Buckeyes, but this addition of Smith feels a bit different. Considering the potential he shows of course, but also the idea that he’s college ready right now and ahead of where most prep targets are at isn’t wrong. Not a ton of players can step on a college campus and contribute immediately, but that is basically expected for Smith as soon as he enrolls.
Another accolade for Smith, on Thursday in the latest 247Sports rankings update Jeremiah was listed not only as the top overall receiver —which he’s been for some time — but now he’s also the No. 1 player in the country overall per the 247Sports Composite. An incredible feat, this puts Smith in the top five all time for highest ranked commits the Buckeyes have been able to land.
Some Ohio State fans haven’t loved Smith’s recruiting process, as he still entertains other schools like the in-state Florida programs, but Smith has been consistent in saying that as long as Hartline and Day are in Columbus, he too will be. So far so good and that shouldn’t change.
Quick Hits
- This time of the year much of the recruiting attention surrounds football, but Ohio State basketball is putting in their own work to build up another impressive class. Staying in the mix for multiple top players, on Thursday Ohio State found its name still in it for 2025 four-star, Alier Maluk.
A 6-foot-9, 180 pound power forward, Maluk is currently the No. 41 player nationally and the fifth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite in the 2025 class. With double-digit offers to his name and from some bigger programs, Maluk is weighing his options and narrowing it down, as yesterday saw him cut it to just five remaining schools he is deciding between.
Making the cut includes Pitt, Florida State, LSU, Oregon, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have yet to land a commit for their 2025 class, and certainly Alier would be a top addition for Holtmann and crew as they look to land an elite guy in the middle.
- Ohio State’s linebacker class in 2024 isn’t a big one, but boasts one of the better players in the country at the position thanks to Texas native, Payton Pierce. The No. 201 player nationally and the 17th best linebacker in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Pierce has been committed to the Buckeyes since April and is one of the key additions of this current defensive haul.
Another example of his national status, on Thursday Pierce committed to play in the All-America game later this January. One of the premier events for the top prep players each year, Pierce’s invitation to this game is certainly deserving, and makes him the next in line of many Buckeyes before him to play their last high school contest among the best players in the country.
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'25 NY C Alier Maluk (Florida St. Verbal)
- By brodybuck21
- 2011 & Beyond Basketball Recruiting
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247
Rivals
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Center
School: Glen Head (NY) Long Island Lutheran
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 180 lbs
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Rivals
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Center
School: Glen Head (NY) Long Island Lutheran
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 180 lbs
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State football is heading to West Lafayette, AKA the scariest place on Earth
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State football is heading to West Lafayette, AKA the scariest place on Earth
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images
Josh and Chuck preview the Buckeyes’ upcoming road game at Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium; a venue that has haunted OSU for decades.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of ‘Hangout in the Holy Land,’ Josh and Chuck reluctantly preview Ohio State’s upcoming road trip to West Lafayette (IN) and Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium. Reluctantly, because it seems like just whispering “Ross-Ade” has a spooky, Beetlejuice-like effect.
The Boilermakers’ home venue has long been a house of horrors for the Buckeyes, with the latter dropping five games in West Lafayette since 2000 — including three of their last four! While Ross-Ade was also the site of ‘Holy Buckeye’, there is no doubt that Purdue’s stadium has been more worrisome than welcoming to the Scarlet and Gray.
So will OSU continue to struggle at Ross-Ade, and deal with the Ghost of Upsets Past? Or is the talent gap between Ryan Day’s and Ryan Walters’ teams just too big this season?
Against their better judgement, the hosts feel pretty good about their Buckeyes this weekend. The look-ahead possibilities are very real for Ohio State, but Day’s squad can ill afford to go into Penn State week with anything less than 100% confidence. So the guys are hoping that OSU will exercise some Ross-Ade demons in dominant fashion.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images
Josh and Chuck preview the Buckeyes’ upcoming road game at Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium; a venue that has haunted OSU for decades.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this episode of ‘Hangout in the Holy Land,’ Josh and Chuck reluctantly preview Ohio State’s upcoming road trip to West Lafayette (IN) and Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium. Reluctantly, because it seems like just whispering “Ross-Ade” has a spooky, Beetlejuice-like effect.
The Boilermakers’ home venue has long been a house of horrors for the Buckeyes, with the latter dropping five games in West Lafayette since 2000 — including three of their last four! While Ross-Ade was also the site of ‘Holy Buckeye’, there is no doubt that Purdue’s stadium has been more worrisome than welcoming to the Scarlet and Gray.
So will OSU continue to struggle at Ross-Ade, and deal with the Ghost of Upsets Past? Or is the talent gap between Ryan Day’s and Ryan Walters’ teams just too big this season?
Against their better judgement, the hosts feel pretty good about their Buckeyes this weekend. The look-ahead possibilities are very real for Ohio State, but Day’s squad can ill afford to go into Penn State week with anything less than 100% confidence. So the guys are hoping that OSU will exercise some Ross-Ade demons in dominant fashion.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Jacy Sheldon
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Ohio State women’s basketball 2023-24 player preview: Jacy Sheldon
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The fifth-year Buckeye has one more season to make an even bigger impact.
The regular season for Ohio State women’s basketball is less than a month away. On Nov. 6, the Buckeyes face a soon-to-be Big Ten foe: The USC Trojans.
Before the ball tips, Land-Grant Holy Land has player previews for all 15 on the scarlet and gray roster. Up first is a career Buckeye entering her fifth and final season in Columbus who’s gone through a tough year of injuries. Guard Jacy Sheldon is a key piece of the 2023 Elite Eight team, and the way she goes could be the way the Buckeyes go in 23-24.
Name: Jacy Sheldon
Position: Guard
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio)
2020-21 Stats: 13.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.5 spg .432 FG%, .237 3FG%, .878FT%
The best word to describe Sheldon for the uninitiated is relentless. Head coach Kevin McGuff likes to run a fast, in your face, defensive press and Sheldon makes it frightening for opponents.
In the first five games of the 22-23 season, Sheldon averaged six steals per game, coming up big against the Tennessee Volunteers to start the campaign. Sheldon had eight steals against the SEC side, on top of 14 points and seven assists. The 87-75 Ohio State win foreshadowed a historic season for the Buckeyes, starting with 19 straight wins.
When the Buckeyes followed up that win with a victory over Boston College, Sheldon had a double-double with 14 points and a program record-tying 11 steals. It looked like the Central Ohio guard was on her way to a National Defensive Player of the Year type of season, but after Sheldon’s fifth appearance on Nov. 30, the guard didn’t see the court again until February.
A foot injury sidelined the star. While the Buckeyes kept their run of wins going, when it came to the biggest conference games of the season against the Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins, her absence was noticeable.
Sheldon’s return was short lived, playing 25 minutes in a blowout 90-54 defeat to Maryland on Feb. 5, sitting again until the Big Ten Tournament.
In the tournament, Sheldon came off the bench for all three games in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After grabbing six steals in three games, four against the Hoosiers where the Buckeyes came back from down 24 points late in the second quarter, Sheldon returned to the lineup for the NCAA Tournament.
While Sheldon wasn’t at the same defensive intensity level as the beginning of the season, still looking impacted by the injury, offensively the guard surged. Sheldon averaged 17.3 points and 5.0 assists per game, including a game-winning shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round.
After four seasons in Columbus, Sheldon’s work doesn’t need much introduction. The guard is two seasons removed from being Ohio State’s top scorer, even passing two-year Buckeye Taylor Mikesell in the process.
Sheldon drives to the hoop, hits midrange jumpers and finds outlets better than almost everyone on the roster. Although three-point shooting isn’t the guard’s forte, her movement off the ball garners more attention from teammates and the issues it causes defenses will give others more opportunities to make an impact.
Defensively, Sheldon’s relentlessness combined with Duke transfer guard, and fellow graduate senior, Celeste Taylor will create the defensive edition of the Mikesell/Sheldon “splash sisters” moniker. Enter the “steal sisters” era of Ohio State basketball.
Position-wise, Sheldon’s the expected point guard, a role she took on in Jan. 2022 when injuries moved her there. Sheldon excelled at it and held it still at the beginning of the 22/23 season, while point guard Madison Greene returned from a preseason knee injury in 2021.
At preseason media availability, Greene’s 2022 knee injury has her on a timeline to return sometime in November. No one on the Buckeyes are rushing her back. When Greene does return, it’ll be interesting how Ohio State moves players around. That could put Sheldon back at shooting guard, the role held for most of her first three seasons of NCAA basketball.
Regardless of position, expect a player with a seemingly endless motor to be on the court a lot. The rare times Sheldon isn’t on the court, she’s in coach McGuff’s ear to get back onto it. So long as the foot injury doesn’t return, it could be a career season.
The 21/22 All-Defensive and First Team Big Ten selection entered 22/23 with warranted hype, and last year’s injury quieted the talk slightly, giving Sheldon the opportunity to remind the basketball world about her impact.
Ohio State and Sheldon can do that, granted they make up for the big offensive gap created by Mikesell’s eligibility running out and her entering the professional ranks. Sheldon will be an important piece of filling that hole.
Let’s run back that game-winning shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels. It shows Sheldon’s ability to dribbling through defenders, getting low to the ground, and stopping in her tracks to hit the shot that sent Ohio State to Seattle and the Sweet Sixteen.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The fifth-year Buckeye has one more season to make an even bigger impact.
The regular season for Ohio State women’s basketball is less than a month away. On Nov. 6, the Buckeyes face a soon-to-be Big Ten foe: The USC Trojans.
Before the ball tips, Land-Grant Holy Land has player previews for all 15 on the scarlet and gray roster. Up first is a career Buckeye entering her fifth and final season in Columbus who’s gone through a tough year of injuries. Guard Jacy Sheldon is a key piece of the 2023 Elite Eight team, and the way she goes could be the way the Buckeyes go in 23-24.
Name: Jacy Sheldon
Position: Guard
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio)
2020-21 Stats: 13.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.5 spg .432 FG%, .237 3FG%, .878FT%
Last Season
The best word to describe Sheldon for the uninitiated is relentless. Head coach Kevin McGuff likes to run a fast, in your face, defensive press and Sheldon makes it frightening for opponents.
In the first five games of the 22-23 season, Sheldon averaged six steals per game, coming up big against the Tennessee Volunteers to start the campaign. Sheldon had eight steals against the SEC side, on top of 14 points and seven assists. The 87-75 Ohio State win foreshadowed a historic season for the Buckeyes, starting with 19 straight wins.
When the Buckeyes followed up that win with a victory over Boston College, Sheldon had a double-double with 14 points and a program record-tying 11 steals. It looked like the Central Ohio guard was on her way to a National Defensive Player of the Year type of season, but after Sheldon’s fifth appearance on Nov. 30, the guard didn’t see the court again until February.
A foot injury sidelined the star. While the Buckeyes kept their run of wins going, when it came to the biggest conference games of the season against the Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins, her absence was noticeable.
Sheldon’s return was short lived, playing 25 minutes in a blowout 90-54 defeat to Maryland on Feb. 5, sitting again until the Big Ten Tournament.
In the tournament, Sheldon came off the bench for all three games in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After grabbing six steals in three games, four against the Hoosiers where the Buckeyes came back from down 24 points late in the second quarter, Sheldon returned to the lineup for the NCAA Tournament.
While Sheldon wasn’t at the same defensive intensity level as the beginning of the season, still looking impacted by the injury, offensively the guard surged. Sheldon averaged 17.3 points and 5.0 assists per game, including a game-winning shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round.
What to Expect
After four seasons in Columbus, Sheldon’s work doesn’t need much introduction. The guard is two seasons removed from being Ohio State’s top scorer, even passing two-year Buckeye Taylor Mikesell in the process.
Sheldon drives to the hoop, hits midrange jumpers and finds outlets better than almost everyone on the roster. Although three-point shooting isn’t the guard’s forte, her movement off the ball garners more attention from teammates and the issues it causes defenses will give others more opportunities to make an impact.
Defensively, Sheldon’s relentlessness combined with Duke transfer guard, and fellow graduate senior, Celeste Taylor will create the defensive edition of the Mikesell/Sheldon “splash sisters” moniker. Enter the “steal sisters” era of Ohio State basketball.
Position-wise, Sheldon’s the expected point guard, a role she took on in Jan. 2022 when injuries moved her there. Sheldon excelled at it and held it still at the beginning of the 22/23 season, while point guard Madison Greene returned from a preseason knee injury in 2021.
At preseason media availability, Greene’s 2022 knee injury has her on a timeline to return sometime in November. No one on the Buckeyes are rushing her back. When Greene does return, it’ll be interesting how Ohio State moves players around. That could put Sheldon back at shooting guard, the role held for most of her first three seasons of NCAA basketball.
Regardless of position, expect a player with a seemingly endless motor to be on the court a lot. The rare times Sheldon isn’t on the court, she’s in coach McGuff’s ear to get back onto it. So long as the foot injury doesn’t return, it could be a career season.
Prediction
The 21/22 All-Defensive and First Team Big Ten selection entered 22/23 with warranted hype, and last year’s injury quieted the talk slightly, giving Sheldon the opportunity to remind the basketball world about her impact.
Ohio State and Sheldon can do that, granted they make up for the big offensive gap created by Mikesell’s eligibility running out and her entering the professional ranks. Sheldon will be an important piece of filling that hole.
Highlights
Let’s run back that game-winning shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels. It shows Sheldon’s ability to dribbling through defenders, getting low to the ground, and stopping in her tracks to hit the shot that sent Ohio State to Seattle and the Sweet Sixteen.
Continue reading...
LGHL Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team Previews: Northwestern Wildcats
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Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team Previews: Northwestern Wildcats
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
How far can Boo Buie take the Wildcats this season?
As we enter the fall season and college football gets underway, college basketball is right around the corner. As always, to prepare you for the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be publishing Big Ten Team Previews and Ohio State Basketball Player Previews, starting now with the Team Previews.
Team: Northwestern Wildcats
Head coach: Chris Collins, 11th Season, 153-161 (66-121)
2022-23 record: 22-12 (12-8)
All-time record against Ohio State: 25-100
Returners: Boo Buie, Ty Berry, Brooks Barnhizer, Matthew Nicholson, Nick Martinelli, Luke Hunger
Departures: Tydus Verhoeven, Chase Audige, Julian Roper, Robbie Beran
Newcomers: Jordan Clayton, Blake Barkley, Parker Strauss, Blake Preston, Justin Mullins, Ryan Langborg
Boo Buie returns to Evanston, and that alone is going to win the Wildcats some games. Buie is not only one of the top guards in the conference, but one of the top guards in the country, and for the Wildcats to have another successful season, they will need him to be the best version of himself.
Buie averaged 17.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 4.5 assists per game. He led the team in points and assists.
However, Chase Audige has graduated, and with him goes his 14.1 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 2.9 assists per game.
Losing Chase Audige is a huge deal for the Wildcats, and it will not be easy to replace his production. Audige was one of the best two-way players in the conference and helped take some of the offensive pressure off of Buie at times.
The Wildcats do return its third-leading scorer, Ty Berry, who averaged 8.5 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. Berry will need to help complement Buie on the offensive end to force teams not only to play to take Buie out of the game.
Northwestern added Ryan Langborg from Princeton in the transfer portal. Langborg averaged 12.7 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game and was one of the stars of the Princeton team that made the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He is an elite shooter who will come in and provide that to Chris Collins, plus some veteran experience.
Justin Mullins, a transfer from Denver, can also be a possible double-digit scorer for the Wildcats.
Matthew Nicholson and Brooks Barnhizer are also promising players from last season and will look to step into larger roles and become double-digit scorers.
As mentioned, Buie is one of the top players in the conference and is a long shot to win Big Ten Player of the Year, but even his floor is likely as high as First Team All-Conference. He is the perfect player to build a team around and
However, losing Buie’s right-hand man in Chase Audige is not going to be easy for the Wildcats.
Julian Roper has gone to Notre Dame, and Robbie Beran has gone to Virginia Tech. Both of those players were supposed to play a significant role for the Wildcats this season.
Northwestern has the star they need, now they have to find the pieces that complement Buie the best and put them in the best positions to succeed. Whether it is a returning player like Berry or Barnhizer or a transfer like Langborg or Mullins, someone is going to have to be the second guy who averages 12-14 points per game. Northwestern can be a tournament team again this season, they just have to hit on the transfers they brought in.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
How far can Boo Buie take the Wildcats this season?
As we enter the fall season and college football gets underway, college basketball is right around the corner. As always, to prepare you for the season, Land-Grant Holy Land will be publishing Big Ten Team Previews and Ohio State Basketball Player Previews, starting now with the Team Previews.
Team: Northwestern Wildcats
Head coach: Chris Collins, 11th Season, 153-161 (66-121)
2022-23 record: 22-12 (12-8)
All-time record against Ohio State: 25-100
Returners: Boo Buie, Ty Berry, Brooks Barnhizer, Matthew Nicholson, Nick Martinelli, Luke Hunger
Departures: Tydus Verhoeven, Chase Audige, Julian Roper, Robbie Beran
Newcomers: Jordan Clayton, Blake Barkley, Parker Strauss, Blake Preston, Justin Mullins, Ryan Langborg
Outlook
Boo Buie returns to Evanston, and that alone is going to win the Wildcats some games. Buie is not only one of the top guards in the conference, but one of the top guards in the country, and for the Wildcats to have another successful season, they will need him to be the best version of himself.
Buie averaged 17.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 4.5 assists per game. He led the team in points and assists.
However, Chase Audige has graduated, and with him goes his 14.1 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 2.9 assists per game.
Losing Chase Audige is a huge deal for the Wildcats, and it will not be easy to replace his production. Audige was one of the best two-way players in the conference and helped take some of the offensive pressure off of Buie at times.
The Wildcats do return its third-leading scorer, Ty Berry, who averaged 8.5 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. Berry will need to help complement Buie on the offensive end to force teams not only to play to take Buie out of the game.
Northwestern added Ryan Langborg from Princeton in the transfer portal. Langborg averaged 12.7 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game and was one of the stars of the Princeton team that made the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He is an elite shooter who will come in and provide that to Chris Collins, plus some veteran experience.
Justin Mullins, a transfer from Denver, can also be a possible double-digit scorer for the Wildcats.
Matthew Nicholson and Brooks Barnhizer are also promising players from last season and will look to step into larger roles and become double-digit scorers.
Prediction
As mentioned, Buie is one of the top players in the conference and is a long shot to win Big Ten Player of the Year, but even his floor is likely as high as First Team All-Conference. He is the perfect player to build a team around and
However, losing Buie’s right-hand man in Chase Audige is not going to be easy for the Wildcats.
Julian Roper has gone to Notre Dame, and Robbie Beran has gone to Virginia Tech. Both of those players were supposed to play a significant role for the Wildcats this season.
Northwestern has the star they need, now they have to find the pieces that complement Buie the best and put them in the best positions to succeed. Whether it is a returning player like Berry or Barnhizer or a transfer like Langborg or Mullins, someone is going to have to be the second guy who averages 12-14 points per game. Northwestern can be a tournament team again this season, they just have to hit on the transfers they brought in.
Continue reading...
LGHL Will Ross-Ade Stadium once again be a house of horrors for Ohio State football in 2023?
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Will Ross-Ade Stadium once again be a house of horrors for Ohio State football in 2023?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I certainly don’t want to jinx the Buckeyes, and Purdue has not been great this season. However, the ghosts of Ross-Ade are very real, and they have haunted OSU for decades.
Ohio State hits the road to take on Purdue this weekend, in a matchup that will feature a top-5 national powerhouse against a 2-4 Big Ten West team with a rookie head coach. But if you know anything about Buckeye football – especially since the year 2000 – then you likely cringed or winced in discomfort while reading the opening sentence.
Because, simply put, Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana has been a spooky house of horrors for the Scarlet and Gray... I’m talking House of Wax, House on Haunted Hill, House of Usher, House of 1000 Corpses-type stuff.
**Yes, there are several much scarier films to reference, but they don’t have ‘House’ in their title. Keep up, people.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24989588/1677401778.jpg)
Photo by Mickey Bernal/Getty Images
Pretty sure this guy directed the 2018 version of the Ohio State-Purdue game
Since the turn of the 21st century (including the 2000 season), OSU has lost five road games played in West Lafayette, which is one more than the number of road games they’ve lost in Ann Arbor (at Michigan Stadium AKA The Big House) during that same period. In fact, the Scarlet and Gray have dropped three of their last four roadies at Purdue, dating back to 2009.
I mean, are you freaking kidding me!? That is legitimate home dominance by the Boilermakers.
Making those losses feel or seem worse (for OSU fans) is the fact that Purdue wasn’t particularly good when they were able to pull off massive upsets of Ohio State in recent years. I would even take it a step further and argue that the Gold and Black actually stunk on all three occasions.
My supporting evidence? The ‘Spoilermakers’ toppled the mighty Buckeyes while possessing a team record of 1-5 (2009), 4-5 (2011), and 3-3 (2018) at the time of each upset. So they were never better than a .500 football team! But it did and does not matter. Because to paraphrase Maya Angelou: “History cannot be unlived.”
2009 and 2018 were especially and exceptionally humiliating for OSU, causing at least one of the Scarlet and Gray’s fans to question his allegiance of 30+ years.
Spoiler alert: That fan was me. I thought about committing fully to the English Premier League on Saturdays after Urban Meyer and his guys were pantsed and given an atomic wedgie in 2018. Ranked No. 2 in the country heading into that ’18 game, the Buckeyes could not stop committing penalties and failed to establish a running game, which forced the late, great Dwayne Haskins to throw 73 (!) times in windy conditions — producing a massive stat line (470 yards passing) but not much else.
A few more scores would not have closed the gap though, as OSU’s defense got their teeth kicked in and could not contain Purdue’s Rondale Moore, resulting in a 49-20 win for the Boilermakers. 29 points was a truly shocking margin of victory, and that outcome may or may not have been the real reason Meyer retired.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24991541/1052759792.jpg)
Meyer on the sideline in ‘18
And don’t get me started on 2009. 1-5... One. And. Five. Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan lived in the Ohio State backfield that day, and Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor committed infinity turnovers. Let’s just move on.
What should we expect in 2023, as OSU makes their first trip back to West Lafayette since being utterly embarrassed five years ago? More nightmare fuel? Another historic upset by the Boilermakers? Documented discovery of an actual haunting in the visitor’s locker room, (which would explain a lot)?
Wellll... I would not recommend holding one’s breath in anticipation of any of the above. I certainly don’t want to jinx the Buckeyes, but this is not a great Purdue squad. Neither were those pulling off upsets in years past, however, in 2009 Ohio State was running on fumes when they got to West Lafayette. In 2011, Luke Fickell was thrown out to sea without a life preserver or dinghy. And in 2018, the Boilermakers had a dynamic offense with multiple playmakers. Not to mention Markus Bailey, who was an absolute savage.
I think the talent gap is too wide between these two teams, but then again, there will always be a part of me that is anxious or nervous for these games at Ross-Ade. Not helping matters is the fact that Purdue has done one thing very well this season, which is rush the passer. The Gold and Black are averaging three sacks per game in 2023, and right now, I do not have the highest level of trust in OSU’s offensive line.
Buckeye Nation could at least point to solid pass protection through their team’s first four games, but then they (we) watched tackles on either side get beat like a drum against Maryland. O-line play is a legitimate concern for the Scarlet and Gray, and Ryan Walters will look to prey on that weakness come Saturday.
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes need Justin Frye’s group to step up
My hope is that Ohio State uses this game as a get-right, confidence-building game before Penn State comes to Columbus. Otherwise, if the Buckeyes ‘play with their food’ this weekend and the O-line continues to underwhelm (putting it nicely), then I might just schedule some dental work for noon on the 21st. But I’ve got my fingers crossed, and I’ve created a nice little Ross-Ade to replica use as a voodoo doll, so I will go into Saturday with at least a little confidence of my own.
Now if I could only find somebody who is willing to share their stupid Peacock password...
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I certainly don’t want to jinx the Buckeyes, and Purdue has not been great this season. However, the ghosts of Ross-Ade are very real, and they have haunted OSU for decades.
Ohio State hits the road to take on Purdue this weekend, in a matchup that will feature a top-5 national powerhouse against a 2-4 Big Ten West team with a rookie head coach. But if you know anything about Buckeye football – especially since the year 2000 – then you likely cringed or winced in discomfort while reading the opening sentence.
Because, simply put, Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana has been a spooky house of horrors for the Scarlet and Gray... I’m talking House of Wax, House on Haunted Hill, House of Usher, House of 1000 Corpses-type stuff.
**Yes, there are several much scarier films to reference, but they don’t have ‘House’ in their title. Keep up, people.
Pretty sure this guy directed the 2018 version of the Ohio State-Purdue game
Since the turn of the 21st century (including the 2000 season), OSU has lost five road games played in West Lafayette, which is one more than the number of road games they’ve lost in Ann Arbor (at Michigan Stadium AKA The Big House) during that same period. In fact, the Scarlet and Gray have dropped three of their last four roadies at Purdue, dating back to 2009.
I mean, are you freaking kidding me!? That is legitimate home dominance by the Boilermakers.
Making those losses feel or seem worse (for OSU fans) is the fact that Purdue wasn’t particularly good when they were able to pull off massive upsets of Ohio State in recent years. I would even take it a step further and argue that the Gold and Black actually stunk on all three occasions.
My supporting evidence? The ‘Spoilermakers’ toppled the mighty Buckeyes while possessing a team record of 1-5 (2009), 4-5 (2011), and 3-3 (2018) at the time of each upset. So they were never better than a .500 football team! But it did and does not matter. Because to paraphrase Maya Angelou: “History cannot be unlived.”
2009 and 2018 were especially and exceptionally humiliating for OSU, causing at least one of the Scarlet and Gray’s fans to question his allegiance of 30+ years.
Spoiler alert: That fan was me. I thought about committing fully to the English Premier League on Saturdays after Urban Meyer and his guys were pantsed and given an atomic wedgie in 2018. Ranked No. 2 in the country heading into that ’18 game, the Buckeyes could not stop committing penalties and failed to establish a running game, which forced the late, great Dwayne Haskins to throw 73 (!) times in windy conditions — producing a massive stat line (470 yards passing) but not much else.
A few more scores would not have closed the gap though, as OSU’s defense got their teeth kicked in and could not contain Purdue’s Rondale Moore, resulting in a 49-20 win for the Boilermakers. 29 points was a truly shocking margin of victory, and that outcome may or may not have been the real reason Meyer retired.
Meyer on the sideline in ‘18
And don’t get me started on 2009. 1-5... One. And. Five. Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan lived in the Ohio State backfield that day, and Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor committed infinity turnovers. Let’s just move on.
What should we expect in 2023, as OSU makes their first trip back to West Lafayette since being utterly embarrassed five years ago? More nightmare fuel? Another historic upset by the Boilermakers? Documented discovery of an actual haunting in the visitor’s locker room, (which would explain a lot)?
Wellll... I would not recommend holding one’s breath in anticipation of any of the above. I certainly don’t want to jinx the Buckeyes, but this is not a great Purdue squad. Neither were those pulling off upsets in years past, however, in 2009 Ohio State was running on fumes when they got to West Lafayette. In 2011, Luke Fickell was thrown out to sea without a life preserver or dinghy. And in 2018, the Boilermakers had a dynamic offense with multiple playmakers. Not to mention Markus Bailey, who was an absolute savage.
I think the talent gap is too wide between these two teams, but then again, there will always be a part of me that is anxious or nervous for these games at Ross-Ade. Not helping matters is the fact that Purdue has done one thing very well this season, which is rush the passer. The Gold and Black are averaging three sacks per game in 2023, and right now, I do not have the highest level of trust in OSU’s offensive line.
Buckeye Nation could at least point to solid pass protection through their team’s first four games, but then they (we) watched tackles on either side get beat like a drum against Maryland. O-line play is a legitimate concern for the Scarlet and Gray, and Ryan Walters will look to prey on that weakness come Saturday.
The Buckeyes need Justin Frye’s group to step up
My hope is that Ohio State uses this game as a get-right, confidence-building game before Penn State comes to Columbus. Otherwise, if the Buckeyes ‘play with their food’ this weekend and the O-line continues to underwhelm (putting it nicely), then I might just schedule some dental work for noon on the 21st. But I’ve got my fingers crossed, and I’ve created a nice little Ross-Ade to replica use as a voodoo doll, so I will go into Saturday with at least a little confidence of my own.
Now if I could only find somebody who is willing to share their stupid Peacock password...
Continue reading...
LGHL MC&J: Week 7 nationally has Oregon-Washington, USC-Notre Dame, and more
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MC&J: Week 7 nationally has Oregon-Washington, USC-Notre Dame, and more
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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Picks for Ducks-Huskies, Trojans-Fighting Irish, and five other important games outside the Big Ten.
I honestly wouldn’t blame anyone if they just went ahead and skipped my national picks and only kept an eye for my Big Ten picks, since I have been dreadful outside the B1G over the last few weeks.
Last week was extremely tough to swallow, especially early on Saturday when LSU got a pick-six late in the game against Missouri. Then Texas A&M had a fourth quarter touchdown overturned after Ainias Smith’s toe dragged out of bounds a couple yards outside the goal line and the Aggies ended up settling for three. Even with the losses, I’ll keep plugging away and try to learn from the setbacks.
No. 8 Oregon v. No. 7 Washington (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC
One of the best rivalries in college football is between Oregon and Washington. Even though there was a stretch where the Ducks won 12 in a row, lately the Huskies have provided a little more resistance, as the teams have split the last six meetings. The last four games between the rivals have been hotly contested, with each of those meetings being decided by 10 points or less.
This year figures to be no different. Both Oregon and Washington have College Football Playoff hopes. Who knows, this might not be the only time these two schools meet before the playoff competitors are announced, since they could end up squaring off in the final Pac-12 Championship Game in early December.
Saturday’s contest is going to feature some great quarterback play. Both Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix have already stated their case to be Heisman Trophy contenders with their play so far this season. The two quarterbacks have combined to throw 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions through 10 total games this year.
This game is so tough to call, and the point spread shows it is pretty much a coin flip since the only reason Washington is favored is because of their home-field advantage. I know Oregon has a more balanced offense, I’m just not sure they’ll be able to slow down Penix and the Washington passing attack in Seattle. The Huskies win a back-and-forth game and make it two in a row over the Ducks.
Washington 41, Oregon 34
Texas A&M v. No. 19 Tennessee (-3.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
Last week the Aggies had a great shot at pulling the upset on Alabama. Instead Texas A&M decided they had no interest in covering Jermaine Burton, which allowed the Crimson Tide to escape College Station with a 26-20 victory. Max Johnson did everything he could stepping in for an injured Connor Weigman at quarterback, the issue was his offensive line didn’t give him nearly enough time to match what Jalen Milroe did for Alabama.
Unlike Texas A&M, Tennessee was able to sit back last weekend and relax. Last time we saw the Vols they were beating up on South Carolina 41-20 in Knoxville. Josh Heupel’s team might not be as explosive as last year’s team, but it feels like they are coming together a little more on offense lately. After throwing the ball all over the yard last year, this year Tennessee is a little more balanced, with their passing and rushing numbers nearly identical.
We’ve seen it plenty of times before how after teams take Ohio State to the limit then they are ripe for a letdown the next week. I see Texas A&M being in that same situation after giving everything they had last week at home against Alabama. Now they have to head to Knoxville and take on a Tennessee team coming off a bye. I’m still not a huge believer in Joe Milton, I just think the Vols are the better team, and they will be well rested for this game.
Tennessee 31, Texas A&M 21
No. 23 Kansas (-3.5) v. Oklahoma State - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
If this was the Kansas of old, the Jayhawks would have let the 39-14 loss to Texas a couple weeks ago spiral into even more losses. Instead, last week Kansas destroyed UCF 51-22, rolling up 399 yards on the ground. The rushing attack was so dominant it didn’t matter that quarterback Jalon Daniels wasn’t available to play as he struggles with a back injury.
Oklahoma State has had their own quarterback issues this year, as there have been three players who have seen some time behind center. Alan Bowman looks to be the starter for now after a solid performance in the upset of Kansas State last week. The Jayhawks will have to keep close tabs on running back OIlie Gordon II, who has run for at least 100 yards in each of the last two games.
I know taking a ranked road favorite over an unranked team is always risky business. I just trust Kansas a lot more than I trust Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State. Last week’s win for the Cowboys was more because of Kansas State beating themselves and not so much about Oklahoma State beating the Wildcats. Lance Leipold won’t let his team have a mental lapse against a team they should beat.
Kansas 34, Oklahoma State 23
Auburn v. No. 22 LSU (-11.5) - 7:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
A week after beating Missouri, LSU is trying to become the Tiger Kings by beating another group of Tigers. Brian Kelly’s team was on their way to a second consecutive loss early on when they trailed Missouri 22-7. Then the LSU offense found their rhythm, and took the lead for good when Jayden Daniels found Malik Nabers with just under three minutes left in the game.
Auburn has had a rough go of it in Hugh Freeze’s first season as head coach, losing their last two games. Prior to their bye week, the Tigers actually did play pretty well against Georgia before Brock Bowers went crazy in the second half and essentially won the game for the Bulldogs. Michigan State transfer Peyton Thorne is Auburn’s starting quarterback, he just doesn’t inspire much confidence.
LSU has an awful defense, I’m just not convinced Auburn has the firepower to take advantage of the weakness. After two games on the road, LSU enjoys some home cooking and pulls away from Auburn in this one.
LSU 37, Auburn 21
No. 25 Miami (FL) v. No. 12 North Carolina (-3.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Can anyone really trust Miami head coach Mario Cristobal after what we saw at the end of the game from the Hurricanes last week? The crazy thing is that wasn’t the first time that has happened to a Cristobal team! Somehow the same situation happened a few years ago when Oregon fumbled against Stanford, leading to a win by the Cardinal in overtime.
I wrongly backed Syracuse last week against North Carolina. Apparently Mack Brown and the Tar Heels heard me talking junk, as they rolled the Orange 40-7 in Chapel Hill. Now I’m just hoping Florida State, Louisville, and North Carolina all finish the regular season undefeated since they don’t play each other and I just want to see how the ACC would deal with that mess. Because I’m rooting for that scenario, I have to pick North Carolina this week. Also, Mack Brown won’t pull a Cristobal if his team is up late.
North Carolina 38, Miami (FL) 27
No. 10 USC v. No. 21 Notre Dame (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
This game feels like it is going to end up being hilarious to everyone watching that isn’t a USC or Notre Dame fan. After throwing three interceptions last week in the loss to Louisville, Sam Hartman has to be licking his chops while watching film of the USC defense. The problem is Notre Dame doesn’t have great receivers, and it doesn’t help that it sounds like conditions in South Bend could be rainy on Saturday night.
On the other side, USC has plenty of skill position threats at the disposal of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. If the Trojans had pretty much anyone other than Alex Grinch coaching the defense, then you could pretty much already write USC in pen in the CFP this year. Instead, you have teams like Arizona pushing the Trojans to the limit.
This is Notre Dame’s fourth consecutive primetime game. The pressure of the spotlight games seems to have really gotten to Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. Had it not been for a late TD against Duke, Notre Dame would be riding a three-game losing streak entering this game. I don’t like how the Fighting Irish are entering this game. In a tight game I could see Williams add a signature moment to his argument to be named the second-ever back-to-back Heisman winner.
USC 31, Notre Dame 28
No. 18 UCLA v. No. 15 Oregon State (-3.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
UCLA showed me a lot when they rallied from a 17-12 deficit to put away Washington State in the fourth quarter last week. Freshman quarterback Dante Moore still has to work on his consistency, but it’s obvious why he was one of the top recruits coming out of high school. It also didn’t hurt that the defense of the Bruins was very tough for Washington State quarterback Cam Ward to crack.
In a way I feel like UCLA is Oregon State Lite. The Beavers have a quarterback that can make some plays, but hang their hat on running the football and playing tough defense. Dante Moore has more upside than D.J. Uiagalelei, I just trust the Clemson transfer a little more since he has so much experience under his belt. Corvallis is such a tough place for the visitor to leave with a win. Just ask Utah. Oregon State grinds out a win over UCLA on Saturday night.
Oregon State 33, UCLA 24
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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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Picks for Ducks-Huskies, Trojans-Fighting Irish, and five other important games outside the Big Ten.
Last week ATS: 5-6 (1-8 National, 4-1 B1G)
Season ATS: 52-58 (20-36 National, 32-22 B1G)
I honestly wouldn’t blame anyone if they just went ahead and skipped my national picks and only kept an eye for my Big Ten picks, since I have been dreadful outside the B1G over the last few weeks.
Last week was extremely tough to swallow, especially early on Saturday when LSU got a pick-six late in the game against Missouri. Then Texas A&M had a fourth quarter touchdown overturned after Ainias Smith’s toe dragged out of bounds a couple yards outside the goal line and the Aggies ended up settling for three. Even with the losses, I’ll keep plugging away and try to learn from the setbacks.
National games
No. 8 Oregon v. No. 7 Washington (-2.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC
One of the best rivalries in college football is between Oregon and Washington. Even though there was a stretch where the Ducks won 12 in a row, lately the Huskies have provided a little more resistance, as the teams have split the last six meetings. The last four games between the rivals have been hotly contested, with each of those meetings being decided by 10 points or less.
This year figures to be no different. Both Oregon and Washington have College Football Playoff hopes. Who knows, this might not be the only time these two schools meet before the playoff competitors are announced, since they could end up squaring off in the final Pac-12 Championship Game in early December.
Saturday’s contest is going to feature some great quarterback play. Both Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix have already stated their case to be Heisman Trophy contenders with their play so far this season. The two quarterbacks have combined to throw 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions through 10 total games this year.
This game is so tough to call, and the point spread shows it is pretty much a coin flip since the only reason Washington is favored is because of their home-field advantage. I know Oregon has a more balanced offense, I’m just not sure they’ll be able to slow down Penix and the Washington passing attack in Seattle. The Huskies win a back-and-forth game and make it two in a row over the Ducks.
Washington 41, Oregon 34
Texas A&M v. No. 19 Tennessee (-3.5) - 3:30 p.m. ET - CBS
Last week the Aggies had a great shot at pulling the upset on Alabama. Instead Texas A&M decided they had no interest in covering Jermaine Burton, which allowed the Crimson Tide to escape College Station with a 26-20 victory. Max Johnson did everything he could stepping in for an injured Connor Weigman at quarterback, the issue was his offensive line didn’t give him nearly enough time to match what Jalen Milroe did for Alabama.
Unlike Texas A&M, Tennessee was able to sit back last weekend and relax. Last time we saw the Vols they were beating up on South Carolina 41-20 in Knoxville. Josh Heupel’s team might not be as explosive as last year’s team, but it feels like they are coming together a little more on offense lately. After throwing the ball all over the yard last year, this year Tennessee is a little more balanced, with their passing and rushing numbers nearly identical.
We’ve seen it plenty of times before how after teams take Ohio State to the limit then they are ripe for a letdown the next week. I see Texas A&M being in that same situation after giving everything they had last week at home against Alabama. Now they have to head to Knoxville and take on a Tennessee team coming off a bye. I’m still not a huge believer in Joe Milton, I just think the Vols are the better team, and they will be well rested for this game.
Tennessee 31, Texas A&M 21
No. 23 Kansas (-3.5) v. Oklahoma State - 3:30 p.m. ET - FS1
If this was the Kansas of old, the Jayhawks would have let the 39-14 loss to Texas a couple weeks ago spiral into even more losses. Instead, last week Kansas destroyed UCF 51-22, rolling up 399 yards on the ground. The rushing attack was so dominant it didn’t matter that quarterback Jalon Daniels wasn’t available to play as he struggles with a back injury.
Oklahoma State has had their own quarterback issues this year, as there have been three players who have seen some time behind center. Alan Bowman looks to be the starter for now after a solid performance in the upset of Kansas State last week. The Jayhawks will have to keep close tabs on running back OIlie Gordon II, who has run for at least 100 yards in each of the last two games.
I know taking a ranked road favorite over an unranked team is always risky business. I just trust Kansas a lot more than I trust Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State. Last week’s win for the Cowboys was more because of Kansas State beating themselves and not so much about Oklahoma State beating the Wildcats. Lance Leipold won’t let his team have a mental lapse against a team they should beat.
Kansas 34, Oklahoma State 23
Auburn v. No. 22 LSU (-11.5) - 7:00 p.m. ET - ESPN
A week after beating Missouri, LSU is trying to become the Tiger Kings by beating another group of Tigers. Brian Kelly’s team was on their way to a second consecutive loss early on when they trailed Missouri 22-7. Then the LSU offense found their rhythm, and took the lead for good when Jayden Daniels found Malik Nabers with just under three minutes left in the game.
Auburn has had a rough go of it in Hugh Freeze’s first season as head coach, losing their last two games. Prior to their bye week, the Tigers actually did play pretty well against Georgia before Brock Bowers went crazy in the second half and essentially won the game for the Bulldogs. Michigan State transfer Peyton Thorne is Auburn’s starting quarterback, he just doesn’t inspire much confidence.
LSU has an awful defense, I’m just not convinced Auburn has the firepower to take advantage of the weakness. After two games on the road, LSU enjoys some home cooking and pulls away from Auburn in this one.
LSU 37, Auburn 21
No. 25 Miami (FL) v. No. 12 North Carolina (-3.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
Can anyone really trust Miami head coach Mario Cristobal after what we saw at the end of the game from the Hurricanes last week? The crazy thing is that wasn’t the first time that has happened to a Cristobal team! Somehow the same situation happened a few years ago when Oregon fumbled against Stanford, leading to a win by the Cardinal in overtime.
I wrongly backed Syracuse last week against North Carolina. Apparently Mack Brown and the Tar Heels heard me talking junk, as they rolled the Orange 40-7 in Chapel Hill. Now I’m just hoping Florida State, Louisville, and North Carolina all finish the regular season undefeated since they don’t play each other and I just want to see how the ACC would deal with that mess. Because I’m rooting for that scenario, I have to pick North Carolina this week. Also, Mack Brown won’t pull a Cristobal if his team is up late.
North Carolina 38, Miami (FL) 27
No. 10 USC v. No. 21 Notre Dame (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - NBC
This game feels like it is going to end up being hilarious to everyone watching that isn’t a USC or Notre Dame fan. After throwing three interceptions last week in the loss to Louisville, Sam Hartman has to be licking his chops while watching film of the USC defense. The problem is Notre Dame doesn’t have great receivers, and it doesn’t help that it sounds like conditions in South Bend could be rainy on Saturday night.
On the other side, USC has plenty of skill position threats at the disposal of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. If the Trojans had pretty much anyone other than Alex Grinch coaching the defense, then you could pretty much already write USC in pen in the CFP this year. Instead, you have teams like Arizona pushing the Trojans to the limit.
This is Notre Dame’s fourth consecutive primetime game. The pressure of the spotlight games seems to have really gotten to Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. Had it not been for a late TD against Duke, Notre Dame would be riding a three-game losing streak entering this game. I don’t like how the Fighting Irish are entering this game. In a tight game I could see Williams add a signature moment to his argument to be named the second-ever back-to-back Heisman winner.
USC 31, Notre Dame 28
No. 18 UCLA v. No. 15 Oregon State (-3.5) - 8:00 p.m. ET - FOX
UCLA showed me a lot when they rallied from a 17-12 deficit to put away Washington State in the fourth quarter last week. Freshman quarterback Dante Moore still has to work on his consistency, but it’s obvious why he was one of the top recruits coming out of high school. It also didn’t hurt that the defense of the Bruins was very tough for Washington State quarterback Cam Ward to crack.
In a way I feel like UCLA is Oregon State Lite. The Beavers have a quarterback that can make some plays, but hang their hat on running the football and playing tough defense. Dante Moore has more upside than D.J. Uiagalelei, I just trust the Clemson transfer a little more since he has so much experience under his belt. Corvallis is such a tough place for the visitor to leave with a win. Just ask Utah. Oregon State grinds out a win over UCLA on Saturday night.
Oregon State 33, UCLA 24
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'25 IN PG Azavier Robinson (Butler Verbal)
- By brodybuck21
- 2011 & Beyond Basketball Recruiting
- 1 Replies
247
Rivals
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 180 lbs
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Rivals
Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 180 lbs
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