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tBBC Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: RSB and Jabril For Heisman?

Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: RSB and Jabril For Heisman?
WVaBuckeye
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Welcome to the daily rewind of the previous days or weekends articles here on the Buckeye Battle Cry with some commentary and links to the author’s twitter account!




Ben van Ooyen with this topic that

“If you are like me, you are sick and tired of hearing about Jabril Peppers and him being a Heisman candidate. Sure he plays on both sides of the ball and is a dynamic play-maker with the ball in his hands, but what really has he done? Is he worthy of all the hype that surrounds him? Is he the next Charles Woodson? My simple answer to these questions is no. Let’s delve into this shall we?”

New at tBBC: Jabril Peppers for Heisman? Are You Kidding Me? https://t.co/nJfufpDZxc

— The BBC (@The_BBC) October 12, 2016


WVaBuckeye puts together this weeks RSB and the staff pitches in . . ,

“The Good, The Bad and the Ugly was an awesome flick and not at all the motivation for this weekly feature, but a certain someone who used a similar phrase during football highlights led me to it with just a little variation on it. I expanded it by defining it in the way the movie introduces the characters and the staff jumps in with their two-bits. Let’s get rolling with the very good.”

New at tBBC: Rumblin', Stumblin', Bumblin': Slobs, JT Running too much and B1G Big Four and Little Ten https://t.co/miGA9fsE2b

— The BBC (@The_BBC) October 12, 2016


Daily Funny


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LGHL The official Ohio State hype video for the Wisconsin game is here

The official Ohio State hype video for the Wisconsin game is here
Harry Lyles Jr.
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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It’s amazing.


The Ohio State Buckeyes are facing their biggest test of the college football season Saturday when they go into Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Buckeyes are coming off of a 38-17 win over the Indiana Hoosiers, and are looking like they could make a deep run this season.

But Wisconsin is a different beast, and will be a huge road test. The Ohio State defense has undoubtedly been the strongest aspect of this year’s team, and should do some great work against the Wisconsin offense.

This hype video should have you primed and ready for Saturday. The Bucks need your support on their way to what hopefully will be a second College Football Playoff National Championship.

Go Bucks.

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MotS&G Preview: #2 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #8 Wisconsin Badgers

Preview: #2 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #8 Wisconsin Badgers
Richard Tongohan
via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Fresh off of a poor passing performance at home against those pesky Indiana Hoosiers, the Buckeyes face a stiff test, with huge College Football Playoffs implications. The Buckeyes are traveling on the road, for just the second time this season, but this time, it will be against BIG 10 foe Wisconsin on their home turf in Madison. The battleground is set, the stakes are at an all-time high (until we play TTUN) and this showdown between two BIG 10 powerhouses will be an epic showdown and possibly one for the ages. Ohio State is coming off of a 21-point win against a Hoosier team that has exposed them a bit. They played to their Ohio State is coming off of a 21-point win against a Hoosier team that has exposed them a bit. They played to their strengths but weren’t fooled by the constant movement by the Buckeye offensive playmakers, essentially shutting off Ohio States ability to pass the football downfield.

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Ohio State is coming off of a 21-point win against a Hoosier team that has exposed them a bit. They played to their strengths, which is the run to make up for their lack of an effective passing attack. The Buckeyes used a lot of eye candy to try to fool the Indiana Defense, but the were prepared. They weren’t fooled by the constant movement by the Buckeye offensive playmakers and the constant shifts along the offensive side of things and it essentially shut off Ohio States ability to pass the football downfield. Their inability to throw the ball is one of the biggest concerns for the Buckeyes and Coach Meyer and we will have to see if they can succeed against an experienced Badgers Secondary that is looking to further entrench themselves into the College Football Playoffs conversation. The Buckeyes have a tall task on their hands because this Badger Defense has a ton of talent left over from the 59-0 shellacking that started the run to becoming the Inaugural College Football Playoff Champions. Most Buckeye sites are claiming that a few still have that bad taste in their mouths and that they believe that it is their turn to embarrass the unbeaten Buckeyes squad that is young in just about every position on offense and on defense. My biggest concern is that the Buckeyes aren’t an elite passing offense and that they will be one-dimensional. The Badgers will do their best to ensure this happens to increase their chances to secure a win, but we will see what Urban Meyer will do because he is a tactician during big games like this. The Silver Bullets will be ready and luckily, they weren’t called out like the backup Oklahoma Quarterback did. The bulletin board material was provided by former Badger Defensive Back Jim Leonhard. He stated that the Buckeyes Receivers, namely Noah Brown “will not run away from you” and that no corner this season has “utlitlized the proper press technique” against him. Basically saying that they run a “simple offense”. I don’t know about you, but I see Coach Meyer mentioning this every chance he gets to J.T. Barrett and company. I would like to see some offensive fireworks just like that BIG 10 Championship Game, but it is easier said than done and we will just have to see it live this Saturday.

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Wisconsin is coming off a bye week and they had two weeks to prepare for the visiting Buckeyes. They suffered their first loss of the season to TTUN in what was a hard-hitting affair with TTUN outlasting the Badgers 14-7. The revamped Badgers Defense looks like a stiff test for the Buckeyes and the crowd will look to get their team into the swing of things. Their offense looked bleh against TTUN, but that might not be the case against the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes play similar to TTUN’s Defense and they could go player for player, at just about every position because both teams recruit well enough to stay dominant. The Quarterback position is the key part and we will have to see if he can withstand the pressure from the Buckeyes Defense, the Silver Bullets. The pressure will surely be turned up because the starter looked uncomfortable for the majority of the game against our Arch Rival. The strength of this Badger team is with their Defense. They match up similarly with the Silver Bullets, but with one major difference, Wisconsin is tied for 22nd in total sacks with 15 total and they average 3 per game. The Buckeyes Defense leads in Defensive Scores, Interceptions and Turnovers Forced. The Art of Defenses. This will be a test for both teams and the chip on the remaining BIG 10 Championship Game players shoulders will play an integral role during this game because it is the first time in two years since that beat down and they will look to return the favor.

Prediction:

One more stiff road test equipped with another hostile crowd and bulletin board material for this resilient Buckeyes team. This will not be a cakewalk by any means, but the Buckeyes and the Badgers need a win to stay in Playoff contention. This will be the Buckeyes first Top-10 battle and this is the Badgers’ third. The Badgers are 1-1 with a win against LSU and a loss to TTUN. This game is valuable to both teams, but I predict that this game will be another hard-hitting clash between two BIG 10 powerhouses. Both defenses are stout and they will both come out with a vengeance. The offenses will be in the ground and pound variety and I think that it will be close for the entirety of the contest. The chess match will be filled with bold moves that will occur throughout the contest until Ohio State makes the key plays to secure the win. J.T. Barrett will lead the Buckeyes toward victory 42-35.

J.T. Barrett: 279 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 100 yards rushing, 1 touchdown

Mike Weber: 126 yards rushing, 1 touchdown

Curtis Samuel: 170 all-purpose yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 rushing touchdown

Dontre Wilson: 47 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Noah Brown: 136 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Silver Bullets: 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles/recoveries

They will come out with their heads on fire and they will double their game average for sacks (2.2). They will add 4 more turnovers to their quest for best defense with 2 interceptions and fumbles recovered, but they will fail to add another defensive score.

Final: 42-21

Recruiting Tidbit: Buckeye Running Back Antonio Williams is a wanted man in Madison. Partly because he was once a prized commit for the Badgers and that he spoke up against the future of the team when Joel Stave was the starting Quarterback. If Williams sees the field, there are a few Badgers that would love to hit him.


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LGHL Wisconsin will be the toughest defensive test for Ohio State so far

Wisconsin will be the toughest defensive test for Ohio State so far
Chad Peltier
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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J.T. and the passing game have to improve this week, but that may be difficult given the weather forecast.

Ohio State enters into a difficult match up with an elite Wisconsin defense. Not only is their defense one of the best in the country, it's a night game at Camp Randall, with rain likely at night, and with Wisconsin coming off a bye week.

The Buckeyes are more talented, but this is the best defense the Buckeyes will have faced so far. The Wisconsin offense hasn't shown much, with a fairly inefficient run game and an inexperienced quarterback, but they've also had an extra week to get healthy and game plan.

Avg team talent Turnover margin Net explosiveness (10+) Net explosiveness (20+) IsoPPP
Ohio State 91.43 +8 (4th) +40 +16 1.21 (94th)
Wisconsin 84.05 0 (56th) +16 +2 1.14 (115th)


Bill C. also recently introduced team volatility -- essentially the standard deviation of opponent-adjusted game adjusted scoring margin (you can find the opponent-unadjusted scoring margins in a team's stat profile). S&P+ (margin) is essentially how well a team should perform against a theoretical average opponent. Ohio State, at third in the overall S&P+ rankings, has an S&P+ margin of 28 points. If you add in their volatility (11.1 points so far this season), then their range is from 39.1-16.9 points better than the average team. That volatility range is the 16th-most consistent of any team so far this season.

Wisconsin's S&P+ margin is 11.9, with a volatility of 17.3 (58th most consistent). So their range is from 29.2 to -5.4. The overlap between the two teams' ranges is essentially where Wisconsin can upset Ohio State -- and the size of that overlap is 12.3 points. That scenario is where Ohio State plays at their theoretical worst and Wisconsin plays at their theoretical best. This more or less suggests that the Buckeyes have to at least have a little better than average performance (28 S&P+ margin) to win against Wisconsin's best (29.2 S&P+ margin).

When Ohio State has the ball

S&P+ Rush S&P+ Rush SR Rush IsoPPP Pass S&P+ Pass SR Pass IsoPPP Avg FP Drives
Ohio State 11 3 62.2% (1) 88 46 42.6% (56) 35 35.6 (6) 6.49 (1)
Wisconsin 6 9 34.5% (22) 5 15 33.9% (20) 59 25.8 (11) 2.9 (3)
  • The Ohio State offense was an unstoppable juggernaut of efficiency both through the air and on the ground until the Indiana game, where the inefficient passing game reappeared. According to CFB Film Room, J.T. was 1-7 on passes thrown 10+ yards downfield against Indiana. That kind of inefficiency would put the Buckeyes in position to lose to the Badgers (and teams like Nebraska, Penn State, and Michigan). J.T.'s passing -- primarily success rate, but also explosive plays -- will be what I watch the most (unless it's a downpour).
  • If the Wisconsin defense has any weaknesses -- and they have few, ranking 9th and 15th in rushing and passing S&P+ -- then it's that the successful passes they do allow tend to be pretty explosive plays. They rank 59th in passing IsoPPP, but this isn't usually a problem considering they allow just a 34% passing success rate; however, if weather isn't a debilitating factor for the passing offense, then I can imagine Curtis Samuel breaking a few receptions for big gains. And Noah Brown won't be short on motivation.
  • The Wisconsin run defense is extremely solid. At ninth overall and 22nd in success rate, they will be a challenge for the Buckeye running backs. I expect the Buckeyes to use tempo and increase Weber and especially Samuel's snaps relative to Barrett to counteract the stout run defense. Ohio State will find success running the ball -- they're top-ranked in every major run-blocking category except for stuff rate, where they're second -- but this is definitely the best run defense that Ohio State has faced this year. Oklahoma's defense will be second-best at 17th in rushing S&P+. Also look for more short-yardage, high-percentage passes and screens as an extension of the run game. This is something we haven't seen much of this year.
  • The first quarter could be slow once again. Ohio State is 42nd in overall offensive S&P+ in the first quarter, while the Wisconsin defense is ninth.
  • The Wisconsin defense thrives on passing downs, ranking second overall on third downs S&P+ and 11th in passing downs S&P+. Their pass rush jumps from 100th in standard downs sack rate to 19th. When the Wisconsin defense puts opposing offenses behind schedule, they are extremely effective. Ohio State's offense is worst in these situations, ranking second in standard downs S&P+ but 48th in passing downs S&P+. Further, they're top overall in first down S&P+ but 59th in third downs S&P+. That means that the Buckeyes must continue to be efficient on early downs to have shorter (and fewer) third down attempts when Wisconsin is at their best. It also means that third-and-longs will likely be rough for Ohio State without significant improvements in passing efficiency.
When Wisconsin has the ball

S&P+ Rush S&P+ Rush SR Rush IsoPPP Pass S&P+ Pass SR Pass IsoPPP Avg FP Drives
Ohio State 7 4 33.3%(16) 9 5 32.4%(11) 68 24.5(5) 3.18(9)
Wisconsin 100 43 37.6%(106) 107 13 43.2%(48) 99 31.6(42) 4.19(104)


  • Quarterback Alex Hornibrook took over for original starter Bart Houston and has had mixed results depending on his opponents. Overall he's completing 56% of his passes at 6.2 yards per attempt, but he's also only played against one defense on Ohio State's level -- Michigan's. Against Michigan, he averaged 3.5 yards per attempt and threw three interceptions. The offense produced only three scoring opportunities and had just a 21% overall success rate. Michigan currently has the top-ranked S&P+ defense while Ohio State's is seventh. So overall Hornibrook has struggled against the only quality competition he's faced, but the passing offense is nevertheless ranked 13th in passing S&P+ -- how is that? I'd imagine it has to do with the at-least average success rate against two elite pass defenses in LSU and Michigan. With that level of defensive competition, the S&P+ opponent-adjusted ranking looks much more favorably on the Badgers' passing offense.
  • Regardless, the Badgers aren't going to be slinging the football around the field. They typically run on standard downs (68.2% of the time) and pass on passing downs (70% of the time). In his last two starts, Hornibrook has had 26 and 25 attempts, however. They're successful throwing on passing downs, however, ranking 18th in passing downs S&P+ despite being dead-last in passing downs line yards per carry. That means that the Badgers really struggle to run on passing downs, but still manage to convert a decent amount of third downs given their defensive competition (41.6%) due to their passing game.
  • There are three Badger receivers to know. Their big-play, low-percentage guy is Jazzy Peavy. Peavy is targeted the most of any receiver (nearly 30%), but has under a 45% catch rate. Robert Wheelwright has been nearly as explosive but much more consistent (64% catch rate). And tight end Troy Fumagalli is third-most targeted on the team, but has the highest receiving success rate. No other receivers have more than ten total targets. The biggest matchup issue for Ohio State is likely the tight end, who has the size (6'6) to go over most defensive backs.
  • The Badgers rushing offense hasn't recovered from losing Melvin Gordon. Corey Clement has struggled with injuries and has just a 25.6% opportunity rate this year. That's well below the three other backs in the committee, who are at 31.8%, 54.2%, and 45%. Overall, the offensive line has been effective preventing negative plays (27th in stuff rate), but they and the backs haven't found much success creating efficient runs over 5+ yards (110th in opportunity rate). I'd be surprised if the running backs find a ton of running room against the Ohio State defense, which is fourth in defensive rushing S&P+ thanks to the stellar play of the front seven. That front seven has a 98.9% tackle success rate according to CFB Film Room.
  • Like last week, unless the Badgers catch some field position breaks from special teams or turnovers, there's not much to suggest that they can move the ball very effectively on the Ohio State defense, but the biggest advantage Ohio State has in finishing drives. Here Wisconsin is 104th, averaging just 4.19 points per scoring opportunity, while the Ohio State defense clamps down, averaging just over a field goal allowed when opponents drive past the Buckeye 40-yard line.
The 3 most important stats

  • Defensive finishing drives. One of Ohio State's biggest defensive advantages is in points allowed per scoring opportunity, where the Buckeyes average a full point less per scoring opportunity than the Wisconsin offense typically scores. If the Badgers put a drive together, look for more field goals from Wisconsin than touchdowns.
  • Standard downs success rate. Ohio State has been the best in the country at efficient standard downs, but has been poor on passing downs. Wisconsin has been elite on passing downs, creating sacks and generating havoc. The Buckeyes must avoid passing downs when possible and not get behind schedule.
  • Passing success rate. The passing game is back to being the biggest concern for this Ohio State team, and Ohio State must be efficient through the air to keep pressure off of the run game. The weather might make this difficult.
Picks


S&P+: Ohio State 30, Wisconsin 16, 78% win probability

My pick: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 13

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LGHL A clash between Alabama and Tennessee tops Week 7’s college football bets, odds

A clash between Alabama and Tennessee tops Week 7’s college football bets, odds
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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SEC showdowns in Knoxville and Fayetteville between ranked teams highlight this week’s national action.

Is there any way we can just forget last week happened? At least the late national games salvaged a little bit of what was an embarrassing week. Aside from a couple matchups between ranked teams in the SEC, there isn’t much else nationally, so it was a stretch to find the best of the rest.

Last week ATS: 3-7-1 (2-2-1 National, 1-5 B1G)

Season ATS: 37-45-3 (15-19-1 National, 22-26-2 B1G)

National games:


North Carolina State v. No. 3 Clemson (-18) - 12:00 PM EST - ABC

After a slow start to the season, Clemson is finally looking like the team that many were expecting to challenge for a national title this year. A big reason for the impressive play as of late has been the performance of Deshaun Watson, who has thrown nine touchdowns over the past two games. Last week the Tigers had little problem with Boston College, using a first quarter in which they had three plays go at least 50 yards to jump all over the Eagles.

NC State is 4-1 so far this season, but a lot of that can be attributed to a weak early schedule. Last week’s 10-3 win over Notre Dame was one of the ugliest games of the 2016 college football season thanks to Hurricane Matthew. Neither team surpassed 200 yards of total offense thanks to the wet and windy conditions.

Clemson has a bye next week followed by a big game against Florida State, so the Tigers will want to head into their week off on a high note. Quarterback Ryan Finley hasn’t played anybody yet this year up to the caliber of the Clemson defense, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Tigers force Finley into his first interception of the season. Clemson by at least three touchdowns in this one.

Clemson 41, NC State 17

Kansas State v. No. 19 Oklahoma (-10.5) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Oklahoma’s offense has righted their schooner after subpar performances against Houston and Ohio State earlier in the year, but the defense still has some work to do. One big reason why the Oklahoma defense has underachieved this year is due to a ridiculous amount of injuries. At least some of those injured players should start to return this week, so I would expect the defense to tighten up a little bit.

The Oklahoma offense needs no help though, as on Saturday against Texas the Sooners became the fifth FBS team to have a 300-yard passer, 200-yard rusher, and 200-yard receiver in the same game. If the Oklahoma offense continues to fire on all cylinders like it has the last two weeks against TCU and Texas, it’s hard to imagine Kansas State being able to keep up.

One thing Oklahoma does really well is win after playing Texas, as the Sooners are 16-1 following the Red River Rivalry under Bob Stoops. Although, the only loss did come to Kansas State two years ago in Norman. Still, even though Bill Snyder teams always find a way to frustrate me, I like Oklahoma to win this one by at least two touchdowns.

Oklahoma 38, Kansas State 23

No. 20 West Virginia (-1) v. Texas Tech - 12:00 PM EST - FS1

Win or lose, it’s not often Texas Tech plays a game that isn’t fun. The Red Raiders are averaging 55.2 points per game, and they are giving up just about as many. If Texas Tech had anything resembling a defense, quarterback Patrick Mahomes might be a Heisman Trophy candidate with the type of numbers he is putting up. Instead, the Red Raiders already have two losses, so it’s unlikely to see Mahomes make it to New York, especially with what some of the other quarterbacks around the country are doing.

It’s sort of weird to see a Dana Holgorsen team that might actually have a better defense than offense, but West Virginia has given up 21 points or less in three of their four games. It’s not like the Mountaineers don’t have any offense at all, as quarterback Skyler Howard has been solid so far this season, throwing for 1,272 yards and seven touchdowns through four games.

While I have plenty of concerns about the Red Raider defense, this team is a completely different animal in Lubbock. In their last nine home games, Texas Tech has scored an average of 66 points per game and rolled up 668 yards per contest. This has the feel of one of those Big 12 contests in which the first team to 60 ends up winning. Kliff Kingsbury’s squad gets there first and hands West Virginia their first loss of the year.

Texas Tech 63, West Virginia 56

No. 1 Alabama (-13) v. No. 9 Tennessee - 3:30 PM EST - CBS

It had to happen sooner or later, but Tennessee’s luck finally ran out last week. The Volunteers turned the football over seven times against Texas A&M but somehow almost found a way to beat the Aggies. One thing is for sure, if Tennessee turns the ball over seven times this week, Alabama surely won’t squander those opportunities and let the Volunteers back into the game. A bonus for Tennessee heading into this rivalry game is they should get Jalen Hurd back after the running back missed last week’s game.

Alabama will be on the road for the second week in a row, and next week will welcome an undefeated Texas A&M squad into Tuscaloosa. For any normal team this would be a perfect spot for a poor performance, but Alabama isn’t any normal team. The Crimson Tide is only allowing opponents 69.2 yards per game on the ground this year, while their offense is extremely balanced, passing for 252.8 yards per game and running for 237 yards per game.

The difference between Alabama and all of Tennessee’s opponents so far this year is Alabama knows how to finish games. The Crimson Tide’s 48-43 victory over Ole Miss earlier this year was the only Alabama game this year that was decided by less than 19 points. I expect Tennessee to come out flat after their tough loss last week and the Volunteers dig themselves into a hole that Alabama won’t let them climb out of.

Alabama 34, Tennessee 14

No. 12 Ole Miss (-7.5) v. No. 22 Arkansas - 7:00 PM EST - ESPN

This will be a little bit of an unfamiliar position for Ole Miss this week, as the Rebels will have to play a true road game. So far this season the only time Ole Miss has had to hit the road was for the season opener against Florida State, which was played in Orlando. The Rebels likely want to forget the last time they were in Fayetteville, which ended with Arkansas shutting out Ole Miss 30-0 in 2014.

My expectations for Arkansas were a little high last week, but that doesn’t mean they are a bad football team. Alabama is just on another level right now. Austin Allen has been impressive at quarterback, and Rawleigh Williams III should have a strong day on the ground against an Ole Miss defense that is giving up 215 yards per game rushing.

We saw that Chad Kelly spent his bye week meticulously studying the Arkansas defense. And by that I mean he nearly got into a fight watching his brother at a high school football game back in Buffalo. I just think these are too many points for Ole Miss to be giving up on the road against an Arkansas team whose only two losses have come to undefeated teams. Give me the home underdog here in a tight game.

Ole Miss 35, Arkansas 31

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tBBC Beyond Buckeye Lines: Is it an Auburn Tiger or an Eagle?

Beyond Buckeye Lines: Is it an Auburn Tiger or an Eagle?
Mike Meals
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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This week, ‘Beyond Buckeye Lines’ makes its triumphant return after a technical mishap. I still don’t know exactly what happened, but I am still Brian Kelly mad that I wasn’t able to bring you my interview with an LSU fan.

Instead, I went a little further east, to the Plains of the state of Alabama, and found someone who is either a War Damn Eagle or a Tiger, and I don’t know how to differentiate the two. Joining me today is a good friend of mine, Houston Native and Auburn die-hard fan Dez, who’s sense of humor and fandom can be found on twitter at @MX5Monroe. As a warning, I know my twitter game is not rated PG, and Ms. Monroe and I get along really well, take that as you will.

As an example, when asked “Who are you,” she replies with Marylin.

As I mentioned before, our guest this week is a Houston native who has found her way right into the heart of SEC country and currently resides in the ATL. When asked about her background and how she became an Auburn fan, Dez tells me “I’d been a moderate NFL fan growing up in Houston during the Oilers era. When I began dating my husband Kelly and he shared his insanity for college football, specifically Auburn and the SEC, I was hooked. I witnessed him shed tears when Auburn battled against LSU in 2005.When that fifth and final missed field goal hit the upright that’s when I knew.

“This is really why I married him.”

Ahh, isn’t college football great? Bringing together people over their shared anguish and heartbreak to better our nation.

How is football life on the Plains?


STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 8: Quarterback Sean White #13 of the Auburn Tigers signals a touchdown as the Auburn Tigers score against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half of an NCAA college football game on October 8, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)


Last week, Auburn did something that nearly no one was predicting possible this year during fall camp. They managed to not only beat an SEC team on the road, but they found their way back into the AP Top 25 poll. The Tigers managed to knock off Mississippi State in Starkville 38-14, and was rewarded for sliding into their current #23 ranking in the AP Poll. And, they did it while getting to enjoy the lovely serenade of the Cowbells at MSU. This week, Auburn has the daunting task of beating up on Auburn, a game they should be able to handle (read: Auburn has a bye week).

I asked Dez about the game last week, and she gives a simple answer. “Last week we won comfortably. We played a lot better than anyone expected us to.”

What a relief that must be, what with our Buckeyes not being able to make the exact same claims. The Tiger faithful have their minds set on their upcoming matchup with every Buckeye’s favorite former B1G coach, Coach Bert of the Fighting Arkansas Karmas.

When pressed for a prediction, Dez tells me “My prediction is that our Offense will continue to get better and our Defense has been rock solid. I say we win by two touchdowns. I see us scoring +30 points again.”

Personally, I don’t think any of our readers here at The Buckeye Battle Cry would be saddened to see Bert get beat down in Auburn. (on the field of course, not with tree poison — the Crimson Tide status quo.)

Thoughts on Ohio State and the B1G​


“I don’t really think about them,” is the answer given to me when asked for her thoughts on Ohio State. What I can say though, through the years, Dez has actually been one of the coolest Auburn fans, being more than willing to send congratulations to her Buckeye friends after big moments. So I think she is just falling behind her SEC fandom here, but I will let it slide. Although she did share a common sentiment on what she thinks most Auburn fans think of OSU.

“We think more often than not that they’re overrated.”

I did get a bit of a laugh though when asked about the Big Ten as a whole.

“You have one or two teams in the conference that are decent/good,” she tells me. “It’s really not exciting until they play each other.”

I had to laugh at this, because this seems to be true of every Power 5 conference, especially this season.

In regards to topics close to the heart of Buckeye Nation, Dez thinks Michigan wins the Big Ten this year, but in typical southern belle style, she did apologize to her Buckeye friends. She also thinks J.T. Barrett’s stats are over-inflated, because in her mind, “…he really hasn’t had any tough competition yet. I think he’ll remain in the Heisman talk but stay in 4th or 5th place until the end of the year when they play Michigan. There just aren’t enough signature games on the schedule where he’s tested.”

When asked about her view on Urban Meyer, a simple “Once an enemy, always an enemy” was given, based on his time beating the snot out of Auburn at Florida. However, I did want to point out that the Auburn fans should be grateful to Urban, for he delivered them Cam Newton.

For the first time this season, I had a guest tell me they would rather play Michigan over Ohio State, not because it would be an easier win, but because they thought it would be a great game. Personally, after watching a little of Auburn this year, I think she’s right, and I think Auburn could slow down the Wolverines. Although when asked if she would rather play Ohio State in the CFP or in the regular season, Dez says she would rather face the Buckeyes in the playoffs.

“…I don’t think they win the big games,” she added. “In 2013, Michigan State upset OSU in the B1G Championship, allowing Auburn to play in the National Championship game.”

Thanks for reminding us of that.


TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 29: The Auburn Tigers lines up against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 29, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Predictions for the rest of the season


I love the eternal optimism of College Football fans. I asked for a prediction for the rest of the year, and was told “We’re only going to lose 2 more games because this is my dream and I’m dreaming it!”. The sad part is when looking at the remainder of Auburn’s season, that’s actually a good prediction. They play Alabama, of course. And then either Georgia or Ole Miss could easily be that second team. If the Tigers get past Arkansas next week, I think she may be on to something here.

When asked about this week’s visit to Camp Randall, Dez tells me “I predict Ohio State loses to Wisconsin in a close game at Wisconsin. I could be wrong and if I am, I take back what I said about Ohio State being overrated.” Unfortunately, this won’t be a correct prediction, and she will have to take it all back. But as we all know, no recent trip to Madison has been easy for OSU.

As for the eventual SEC Champion, we have the chalk answer of Alabama. But I know that went against her religion to even admit it. I also asked for the 4 college football playoff teams, and like any SEC Child, we have “Alabama, Michigan, Clemson, and somehow… some way… another SEC school”. I’m not sure if that 4th team is supposed to be A&M, Florida, or Tennessee, but clearly there is still something in the moonshine water being passed around Atlanta.

That may also be what contributed to her selection of Deshaun Watson to win the Heisman.

Dez went a step further in her predictions for the end of the year, saying there will be two things we should all look forward to. First, Washington will be pissed at the end of the year’s final vote, with them not making the playoff. And second, that, “Tennessee makes it to the SEC Championship against Alabama, gets down by 40 points in the first half to come all the way back and still lose by one from a missed extra point.”

As someone who generally despises Tennessee fans, I couldn’t think of a better ending to their season than that.

Wrapping it up


I still, even after all these years and through all the interaction I have had with Auburn fans, have no idea why they are both the Tigers and War Eagles. I think it is kind of cool though. It’s definitely one of those things that may not be exclusive to Auburn, but it makes them very unique. I also have yet to fully understand calling Auburn fans Barners, but they come from a state where Roll Tide is as common as hello, so who knows. I asked Dez if she had anything in college football that she wants to address, and her biggest complaint is “No one knows what targeting is!”. And that is something we can all agree on…or disagree, I don’t know.

I think I just got a 15-yard penalty for it too. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The post Beyond Buckeye Lines: Is it an Auburn Tiger or an Eagle? appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes are optimistic about the future

Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes are optimistic about the future
Matt Brown
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa-today-9176458.0.jpg

At Big Ten Media Day, the Buckeyes struck a positive tone.

The last season was a discordant and difficult one for Ohio State basketball. A very young roster full of highly regarded freshman failed to gel, and the Buckeyes struggled through the gauntlet of Big Ten play.

When the dust settled, the Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament, and perhaps even worse, four members of Ohio State’s heralded 2015 recruiting classes decided to transfer. Suddenly, the Buckeyes had gaping roster holes to fill, especially at backup point guard, but little time in a recruiting cycle to fill them.

To top it off, longtime top assistant coach Jeff Boals took the head coaching job at Stony Brook.

But nobody was brooding at Big Ten Media Day. Coach Thad Matta, along with team leaders Jae’Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop, were optimistic. And there’s still plenty of reason to be. “I think that we've got a pretty good vibe right now in our program, just in terms of the mindset, the energy in practice, the cohesiveness that we're competing every day”, Matta said from his podium remarks.

“Last year, whenever you lose five seniors and you lose the best guard in college basketball, that's a hard adjustment when you go into practice. We were more along the lines of trying to feel our guys out, get an understanding of what they can do and how they can do it and who plays well together, where this year the mindset is just a heck of a lot different in terms of just do it or you won't play.” This is a much more experienced squad, and now, the expectations and mindset will be totally different.

Here’s some of the highlights we took away from the event:

  • I asked Matta if he was planning on redshirting any of the four players in the 2016 recruiting class, but he said it’s too early to make that decision. “In my mind today I think all of them can contribute in one way or another”, he said, adding that he “ I really, really like what the new guys have brought.”
  • The player that I thought might have the best chance of redshirting is Andre Wesson, a three-star wing. Matta added that he’s working to get himself in better shape, but praised his floor stretching ability, as well as his high basketball IQ, noting that Wesson took three charges in his high school championship game.
  • One under-the-radar player that drew a lot of praise from the players, along with Thad Matta, is JUCO transfer PG C.J. Jackson. Jackson’s ability to hit open shots, play within Ohio State’s offense, and share the basketball were noted by all three. Tate also noted that he’s the best NBA2K player on the team. Don’t be surprised if Jackson ends up being an important rotational player this season.
  • I also asked Matta if the program had reevaluated their recruiting after the 2015 transfers. Matta said that while they are always analyzing recruiting, “One thing that I've found in recruiting, however long I've been recruiting, 20, 25 years, whatever it is, I've never had two recruits go the same way in terms of the process of the recruiting”, which might limit the ability to draw sweeping conclusions from what happened.
  • Matta also added that “You look at the top 50 greatest NBA players of all time. One guy transferred out of the top 50. And I think that there's a commitment level. You know who that was?” (I guessed Larry Bird, which he said was the correct answer). I’m not 100% sure I buy his justification here, but there you go.
  • Many fans, including myself, criticized the Big Ten for moving Media Day and future basketball tournaments to East Coast cities like D.C. and New York. After all, both cities are far away from most schools, and are much more expensive to travel to, especially if you’re young. And to be fair, this event was less attended than other media events I have been to in Chicago. But don’t look for this to change in the future, as Jim Delany added that 20% of the Big Ten’s alumni base lives in this area, and they expect that future events, including, I assume, future basketball tournaments, will be held along the East Coast.
  • I asked Jim Delany if the Big Ten would consider protecting certain rivalry games (like say, Ohio State-Michigan), so they would occur twice every year. He said that those conversations have happened, but there hasn’t been a “groundswell” to support changing the rules. There are competitive reasons, after all, to not want to play Michigan or Indiana twice a year. Don’t expect that, or the number of Big Ten conference games, to change in the near future.
  • Jae’Sean Tate has a very cute puppy. You all need to know this.

You can watch our interviews below, where we discuss Marc Loving, the best places to get pizza on campus, which freshman are looking strong, and more:


Live with Keita Bates-Diop

Posted by Land-Grant Holy Land - For Ohio State fans on Thursday, October 13, 2016

Live with Jae'Sean Tate

Posted by Land-Grant Holy Land - For Ohio State fans on Thursday, October 13, 2016

Live with Ohio State Coach Thad Matta

Posted by Land-Grant Holy Land - For Ohio State fans on Thursday, October 13, 2016​

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Google Introducing the Ohio State secondary, which really needs a nickname - ESPN

Introducing the Ohio State secondary, which really needs a nickname - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Introducing the Ohio State secondary, which really needs a nickname
ESPN
It serves many purposes for the Buckeyes: A challenge to their teammates. a personal motivator, a mantra to recite during rough patches. But perhaps the most important benefit was unintended when a group of young defenders started the routine on the ...


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tBBC tBBC Fans Interact: Gary, Teresa, Ian and Eric Lynch; a Buckeye Family

tBBC Fans Interact: Gary, Teresa, Ian and Eric Lynch; a Buckeye Family
WVaBuckeye
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


fans-interact-150x150.png

One of my favorite families of all time are all Buckeye fans(not the reason) and have graciously agreed to be this weeks guests for Fans Interact. The father and I go quite a ways back through mutual friends and then officiating together for some time. I knew Gary and Teresa as a youth in Belpre, Ohio and they are the family to be friends with.



I got to know the sons, Ian and Eric through officiating too as they came up through high school and they were always respectful and fun to be around. They know their Buckeye football so let’s see what their thoughts are on last weeks game!


Short of being inside #TheShoe, this view is pretty tough to beat.… https://t.co/3ttAWzZQ9B

— Ian Lynch (@lynch258) October 10, 2016



Stealing Mike Weber from Michigan. https://t.co/ir3PmTU4Tr

— Mimz (@the_1st_mimzee) October 4, 2016



Who is your top Buckeye commitment in the Urban era?

(Quote w/ your opinion)

Mine is – Ezekiel Elliott

Go…

— Mr. Buckeye™ (@Soggy_McMuffin) October 4, 2016


What are your thoughts around Ohio State keeping the ball in JT Barrett’s hands so much and why do you think that’s what happened?


Gary – I do not like so many carries for JT . Play calling and JT decision to keep the ball.

Teresa – Way to many carries, coaches are going to get him hurt. Play calling

Ian – It makes me nervous for JT to have so many carries, we’re going to need him as healthy as possible coming down the stretch. I think it’s happening because the coaches feel so comfortable with the ball in his hands. They trust in him and his abilities 100%, so when the going gets tough, they fall back to what they are most comfortable with.

Eric – I don’t like JT getting a lot of carries because I obviously worry about injuries. I think it happens, especially in closer games, because the offensive coaching staff feels comfortable with the ball in his hands. With all the youth on offense they are confident that JT will make the right decision.

The Silver Bullets were thought to have had an “average” day but still didn’t allow a rushing touchdown and had another pick six that was called back. Tell us why you think it was an above average day or don’t.


Gary – Love the fact the silver bullets have not gave up a rushing touchdown, but would like to see more pressure on the QB.

Teresa – Above average, The Silver Bullets are the best damn defense in the land.

Ian – I’d say it was an above average day. We held Indiana to their lowest scoring total of the year and Devine Redding to 3.5 yards/carry. There’s always room for improvement but the defense was solid last week.

Eric – I think the Silver Bullets had an above average day. Had a pick six called back & forced 2 turnovers against a team in Indiana that I think played extremely conservative. I was content with the the way the defense played, especially against the run. It just wasn’t as explosive game as we’ve been seeing this year but I also think it is because Indiana was trying to control the clock & play field position.

Offensive play calling seems to be the whopping post by the fans right now. Tell us why you agree or disagree with that.


Gary – I agree, we need to open it more, No screen, quick slants or curl routes.

Teresa – I agree, no long passes. Not sure what they are waiting on.

Ian – I agree when it comes to last week. I thought the play calling was very good up until the Indiana game. It comes back to their comfort-ability with the ball in JT’s hands when things get a little tighter. I’d like to see Curtis Samuel with the ball in his hands as much as possible this week, he has too much speed/quickness for Wisconsin to contain him all night.

Eric – I think the play calling has been conservative against the teams OSU is supposed to blow out, so every team OSU has faced this year besides Oklahoma. I don’t completely agree that the play calling has been bad. I just think OSU doesn’t show much against teams like BG & Tulsa. Not sure what the problem was last week but I’m confident the coaches will have a good offensive game-plan this week. Have been doing a good job of getting the ball to Curtis Samuel, with the exception of last week. I think he touches it a lot more this week.

Bonus) – With the pulse of THE Rivalry right now and the belief that TTUN is back, what are your thoughts on how they are playing right now?


Gary – TTUN still SUCKS!!!

Teresa – No comment.

Ian – They’ve had one tough game on their schedule that ended in a 14-7 win at home. Speight is still very unproven by my judgement. They’re much better than they were under Hoke, but that isn’t saying much.

Eric – it’s 12:45pm on Wednesday October, 12 & Michigan still sucks!
But seriously, Michigan is an improved football team but I think they’re a little over-hyped, but my opinion may be a little biased.

Bonus 2) – What is your prediction for this weeks trip to Madison?


Gary – 34 – 17 OSU GO BUCKS!!!

Teresa – 34 – 10 OSU O-H

Ian – 27-17, Buckeyes win

Eric – 21-13 Buckeyes

The post tBBC Fans Interact: Gary, Teresa, Ian and Eric Lynch; a Buckeye Family appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL Based off the tape, Ohio State should have no problem with Wisconsin’s offense

Based off the tape, Ohio State should have no problem with Wisconsin’s offense
Christopher Jason
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


611828736.0.jpg

Wisconsin did not show the ability to execute against Michigan.

If there was one word to describe Wisconsin’s offense, it would be... unimpressive. When watching Wisconsin play Michigan — albeit one of the best defenses in the country -- the offense as a whole was underwhelming, inefficient, lacked explosiveness and were unable to execute. The offensive line does not play at a typical Wisconsin-level, the quarterback misses throws on the regular, and although they have a solid running back in Corey Clement, their running game is not well-executed.

Just looking at the statistics, quarterback Alex Hornibrook threw for 88 yards on the day and they rushed for 100 yards on the ground. Hornibrook turned the ball over three times and looked uncomfortable against Don Brown’s Wolverine defense.

Let’s look at the tape:

Alex Hornibrook vs Michigan

Designed Runs
Dropbacks
Completions
Incompletions
Total TD
Scrambles
Overthrows
Throwaways
0​
31​
9​
16​
1​
0​
2​
0
Pressured
Sacked
Hit
Pass Break-Up
Batted at LOS
Drops
Turnovers
Defensive PI
14​
3​
8​
4​
1​
2​
3​
0​

Talk about an extremely poor display by both the quarterback and offensive line. On Hornibrook’s 31 dropbacks, he was pressured an astounding 14 times, was hit eight times and sacked three times. The majority of the pressure came through the interior of the Wisconsin offensive line, where the two guards and the center lost numerous one-on-one battles. Michigan did a good job blitzing off the edge to create pressure, but their interior defensive line was able to whoop Wisconsin inside.

Here’s an example of the right guard, the right tackle and the running back all failing on 3rd down. They got manhandled even though they had a three-on-two personnel advantage on the play.


When looking closer at Hornibrook, his mechanics, arm strength and pocket presence are all pretty underwhelming.

From a throwing standpoint, he has a long, slow throwing motion, which results in limited arm strength. Here’s a throw where Hornibrook tries to complete a 12-yard out to the opposite hash, which easily gets picked off by the defensive back.


There weren’t many bright spots in the quarterback’s 9-of-25 passing effort on the day, but his best play came on a pre-snap recognition, where he dissected Michigan’s safety blitz and took advantage of a switch. Wisconsin had a wheel-route dialed up, which would have been covered by the Wolverine strong safety. Don Brown sent the strong safety on a blitz off the edge, creating a massive mismatch between running back Taiwan Deal and a Michigan middle linebacker. Hornibrook quickly saw the mismatch and lobbed a nice ball over the linebacker and right into his running back’s hands for a score. Nice play.

TD%201.jpg

TD%202.jpg

TD%203.jpg


In regards to the skill positions, Buckeye and Big Ten fans should be very familiar with running back Corey Clement. In the past, he was used as a change-of-pace back. In 2013, he was used sparingly behind Melvin Gordon and James White. In 2014, he was paired with Gordon, and last season, his season was cut short due to injury. He’s a dynamic speedster who like Gordon, tends to bounce runs outside and does most of his damage on the edge.

Even though the interior of the line is a weakness, they continue to dial-up plays in the A-gap. They called three fullback dives (#B1G) and constantly used Clement on dives and power. They do not call many plays to his strength. Because Clement is their only true playmaker at running back, they do not use him like they used Melvin Gordon. In 2014, they were able to put Clement at tailback and Gordon at a flex position, and run jet sweeps. In 2016, Clement is the opposing defense’s main key, so it’s tough to be creative with him and find a way to get him into space. When they do run end-around, it is typically with wide receiver Jazz Peavy (No. 11), who has pretty good speed.

Overall, Ohio State’s defense should completely dominate this offense. Ohio State’s talented defensive line should live in the Wisconsin backfield. Michael Hill and Nick Bosa have been excellent since they have been inserted into the rotation and expect them to make a few plays behind the line of scrimmage.


Ohio State's top 8 DL-men (Hubbard, Jones, Holmes, Lewis, Hill, Bosa, Landers, Hamilton) have combined for 93 tackles and 1 missed tackle.

— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) October 12, 2016

Ohio State freshman DE Nick Bosa has made 8 of his 13 tackles at or behind the LOS this season

— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) October 12, 2016

What will benefit the Buckeye defense is that they won’t have to bring extra pressure to get to the quarterback, and they don’t have to worry about Hornibrook getting out of trouble with his legs. He did not scramble, even though he was pressured 14 times against Michigan. Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley will be able to lock-up their wideouts in man-coverage and not worry about having their back to the quarterback.

Without bias, it will be tough for the Wisconsin offense to rack up 225-plus yards of total offense and/or 17-plus points. The Ohio State defense is too fast and too talented to let Wisconsin beat them through the air or on the ground.

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Google Buckeyes eyeing National Championship - The Daily Cardinal

Buckeyes eyeing National Championship - The Daily Cardinal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes eyeing National Championship
The Daily Cardinal
For the Badgers, though, the schedule only gets harder, as after a one-week hiatus from game action, they prepare for what will likely be their toughest test of the season: Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes. This will be Wisconsin's first matchup with ...

and more »


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Google Wisconsin's very loud secret weapon against Ohio State? Camp Randall Stadium - ESPN

Wisconsin's very loud secret weapon against Ohio State? Camp Randall Stadium - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Wisconsin's very loud secret weapon against Ohio State? Camp Randall Stadium
ESPN
It's more than a football game that gets people there." There's something about a night game at Camp Randall Stadium that makes strange things happen. Last time the Buckeyes visited Wisconsin at night in 2010, the Badgers shocked then No. 1 Ohio State.

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Google Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeyes kicker Aaron Pettrey - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeyes kicker Aaron Pettrey - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeyes kicker Aaron Pettrey
Columbus Dispatch
Some would say, given Aaron Pettrey's role as a kicker under Jim Tressel, that the Kentucky native held down the second most important job -- behind punter -- for the Buckeyes. Pettrey's 15 consecutive field goals over five games ranks second in school ...


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Google BM5: Cam Akers running away from Buckeyes? - 247Sports

BM5: Cam Akers running away from Buckeyes? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Cam Akers running away from Buckeyes?
247Sports
What have the No. 2 Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) done to improve the passing game going into the matchup at No. 8 Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday? That was one of the many questions quarterbacks coach Tim Beck answered after Wednesday's practice.
5-star RB Cam Akers still 'very interested' in Ohio StateLand-Grant Holy Land
The Hurry Up: Father of Cornerback Commit Talks Trip to Alabama, Five-Star Target to Schedule Official Visit and ...Eleven Warriors

all 10 news articles »


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BTN How will they finish? Tom Dienhart offers his Big Ten men’s hoops predictions

How will they finish? Tom Dienhart offers his Big Ten men’s hoops predictions
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The Big Ten officially kicked off the 2016-17 basketball season with media day in Washington, D.C., today. Talent like Denzel Valentine, Caris LeVert, A.J. Hammons, Yogi Ferrell and Jarrod Uthoff is gone. Still, there is a lot to like about the conference, writes BTN.com's Tom Dienhart.
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Google Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Buckeyes football heads to Madison for Badgers showdown - UPI.com

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Buckeyes football heads to Madison for Badgers showdown - UPI.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Buckeyes football heads to Madison for Badgers showdown
UPI.com
One measure of a successful college football program is the nitpicking from fans and media after a 21-point victory. Such was the case after second-ranked Ohio State's 38-17 win over Indiana on Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes were good, but not ...


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Google Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the...

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the Badgers - SB Nation
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the Badgers
SB Nation
The Buckeyes failed to cover the spread for the first time in their last seven games last Saturday against Indiana, winning 38-17 as a 28-point favorite. But it was yet another dominant win for Ohio State, bringing the team's record to 5-0 SU and 4-1 ...
Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorableUniversity of Wisconsin Badgers
New faces, same results for BuckeyesQuad City Times
Buckeyes following their routinesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
MyDaytonDailyNews
all 204 news articles »


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Google It will take some heavy lifting to win the Big Ten - ESPN

It will take some heavy lifting to win the Big Ten - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


It will take some heavy lifting to win the Big Ten
ESPN
The season that just started is pretty much half over. The teams that can still smell a championship no longer can feast on rent-a-victims, which is how we know that No. 2 Ohio State finally must play a Big Ten road game. Say this much for Urban Meyer ...

and more »


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Google Ohio State football | Stats mean little to Raekwon McMillan | Buckeye ... - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State football | Stats mean little to Raekwon McMillan | Buckeye ... - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Stats mean little to Raekwon McMillan | Buckeye ...
Columbus Dispatch
Before the season, Raekwon McMillan was the biggest name on the Ohio State defense. A five-star recruit now in his third season at middle linebacker for the ...
Ohio State Football: Can Wide Receivers Be the Difference?Scarlet and Game

all 7 news articles »


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Google Spartans prepare for Buckeyes - Athens Messenger (registration)

Spartans prepare for Buckeyes - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Spartans prepare for Buckeyes
Athens Messenger (registration)
“What coach Richards has brought to the Nelsonville program is really bringing the Buckeyes back to what we know about and that's just a smash-mouthed football team and get after it defensively,” Penrod said. “That's why I think he was really the ...

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Google Buckeyes aim to continue winning streak - Athens Messenger (registration)

Buckeyes aim to continue winning streak - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes aim to continue winning streak
Athens Messenger (registration)
NELSONVILLE — Back in the spring — when football teams were earnestly working in the weight room for the upcoming season — it was a common site at Nelsonville-York to see assistant coach Thomas Taggart leading a group of Buckeye linemen to the ...

and more »


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LGHL 5-star RB Cam Akers still ‘very interested’ in Ohio State

5-star RB Cam Akers still ‘very interested’ in Ohio State
Bret Favachio
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


4480861.0.jpg

The Buckeyes aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Magnolia State star.

Akers hoping to see OSU


As we all know, when it comes to Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class, running back J.K. Dobbins (La Grange, TX / La Grange) is the lone piece in the backfield for the Buckeyes. However, there was a time not long ago when RB Cam Akers (Clinton, MS / Clinton) also looked to be trending to Columbus.

Make no mistake, things from both parties have seemingly calmed down and many pegged Akers to wind up in Tallahassee as a Florida State Seminole. With that being said, in an interview with 247Sports’ Barton Simmons, Akers did open up about Ohio State and where things stand with him and the Buckeyes.

“I’m definitely very interested in Ohio State,” Akers told Simmons. The 5-foot-11, 213-pounder added that he is trying to set up a visit to Columbus to check out the campus. “I’ve got a good relationship with Coach Meyer and Coach Alford,” Akers concluded.

Simmons did mention something interesting in the piece: Ohio State is still listed as the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite for the five-star prospect. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, three schools have all received predictions since Ohio State’s last and those three are FSU, LSU, and Ole Miss.

Obviously, the good news here is that Akers openly stated that he is still eyeing Ohio State and even hopes to visit soon. With that being said, it definitely seems like it will be an uphill battle for the Buckeyes if they hope to pair Akers with Dobbins in an effort to put together one of the more talented recruiting classes we have ever seen.

Jones receives rankings boost


On Wednesday, 247Sports.com revealed their midseason 2018 updated recruiting rankings and quarterback Emory Jones — a current Ohio State pledge — made a 22 spot jump from his previous ranking. The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder from Heard County (GA) now sits as No. 21 in the class, the second highest graded dual-threat QB, and the fourth best prospect from the Peach State. Despite the big leap for Jones, he is still rated as a four-star prospect, which is something that could certainly motivate him throughout the remainder of his high school career.

The Buckeyes other pledge in the class comes from RB Brian Snead of Armwood (FL). The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder can be spotted No. 68 overall in the newly update rankings. Snead, also a four-star player, is also slotted as the fourth best running back in the class and the ninth highest ranked prospect from the uber-talented state of Florida.

As for the ones that Ohio State is hoping to reel in to join the two aforementioned prospects, here are some notables (with their overall ranking): DE Xavier Thomas (2), RB Zamir White (3), LB Palaie Gaoteote (5), CB Patrick Surtain Jr. (11), OT Jackson Carman (14), TE Zack Kuntz (17), DT Taron Vincent (19), RB Jaelen Gill (32), DT Matthew Jones (35), DT PJ Mustipher (36), TE Jeremy Ruckert (39), TE Leonard Taylor (46), Dallas Gant (58), ATH L’Christian Smith (152), OLB Christopher Oats (193), DT Aeneas Hawkins (223).

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Google Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable - University of Wisconsin...

Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable - University of Wisconsin Badgers
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable
University of Wisconsin Badgers
"That was the start," Bollinger said, "of an interesting rivalry within the rivalry." On Saturday night, the Buckeyes and the Badgers will finally renew their rivalry at Camp Randall Stadium — what former UW tailback Montee Ball once called, "a ...
New faces, same results for BuckeyesQuad City Times
Buckeyes following their routinesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Ohio State Buckeyes expect motivated WisconsinMyDaytonDailyNews
Patch.com
all 167 news articles »


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