Game Preview: Ohio State At Wisconsin
Shannon Sommers via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The eyes of college football world will be on the Big Ten this weekend. ESPN’s College GameDay is going to be on the campus of Wisconsin since the biggest game of the weekend will pit two Top Ten teams. (#2) The Ohio State University Buckeyes go into the hostile confines of Camp Randall to face the (#8) Wisconsin Badgers.

Paul Chryst is in the middle of his second year leading the Badgers. Already having victories over SEC power LSU in Week 1 at Lambeau Field and the mighty Spartans of East Lansing. The lone loss was against the scrappy Wolverines in Ann Arbor the week before their bye. Chryst having an extra week to get his team prepared for this Saturday’s game cannot be dismissed.

Ohio State will step foot on Wisconsin’s campus with an overall record of 57-18-5. The last meeting was in 2014 with a 59-0 thumping for the Buckeyes which helped propel them into the first ever college football playoffs, going on to win the National Championship. The Buckeyes last visit to the Cheese State was in 2012, Urban’s first year defeating Bret Bilelama 21-14.

The Intangible

TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Samantha Ponder)

Radio: Ohio State IMG Network 97.1 WBNS (Paul Keels, Jim Lachey, and Matt Andrews

Online: WatchESPN I Ohio State IMG Network I TuneIn

Social Media: @OhioStAthletics I @UWBadgers

Series Record: 57-18-5 (Last meeting: Big Ten Championship OSU 59 – UW 0, Dec. 6, 2014)

Previewing the Badgers

Wisconsin has one of the toughest schedules if not the toughest one in the Big Ten this season. The #8th ranked team in the country will be playing against their third ranked opponent this season (Sparty not being ranked anymore excluded them from this conversation). This is the tenth time the Badgers will host a match-up of AP Top Ten teams, they are currently 7-2 with six straight wins.

Offensively, Wisconsin isn’t the run the ball down your throat powerhouse that the Big Ten is accustomed to seeing. Corey Clement has been hampered by injuries the last season and a half. Currently, the rushing game for Bucky is ranked 78th in the nation. Even with missing a full game Clement has 3.9 yards per carry average, 319 total rushing yards with five touchdowns. Dare


EAST LANSING, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: Corey Clement #6 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball during the game against the Michigan State Spartns at Spartan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)


Ogunbowale has 185 yards with one touchdown (4.2 ypc) and Bradwick Shaw has the longest run for 35 yards (5.7 ypc, 136 rushing yards with one td).

The Wisconsin offensive line seems to have issues at times not being able to open up lanes for the running backs like they were able to do in years past. Having surrendered eight sacks in five games so far is high especially when you compare being spoiled looking at Ohio State’s numbers. Having an offensive line where everyone is over 6’5″ and average 315 lbs means there is some serious beef there. Left tackle Ryan Ramczyk was described by former Wisconsin linebacker Joe Schobert as the toughest lineman he faced when Ramczyk played offense scout team last season. Next to Ryan is the guard Michael Dieter who started seven games at center and six at left guard. The center is a redshirt freshman Brett Connors, to his right side is Bea Benzchanel who started six games at right tackle plus three at right guard last year. Jacob Maxwell who started three games in 2015 anchors the right tackle spot.

Wisky’s tight end have athleticism but lack experience. Currently, the starter 6’5″, 246 lb redshirt sophomore Troy Fumalli has 16 reception for 181 yards (11.3 ypc) has yet to find the end zone. Back-ups 6’5″ 262 lb Eric Steffes along with 6’4″, 236 lb redshirt freshman Kyle Pennington have both scored once. Steffes has four catches for 12 yards (3 ypc) while Pennington has three receptions for 35 yards (11.7).

The quarterback position has seen a change this season with Bart Houston starting against LSU in Week 1 only to see the redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook take over. Horinbrook at times looks fearless and has great precision as was evident in the Michigan State game. Alex claimed his bad game against UM for their loss was attributed to him being hurt with a broken rib or just general injury to his chest. He said it affected his throws which allowed the Wolverines to get picks off the youngster. Having close to a 60 percent completion rate the biggest issue for him is the wide receivers stepping up.

Jazz Peavy and Rob Wheelwright are the two main wideouts for Wisconsin. They are both averaging over 15 yards per reception. Wheelwright is the only one of the two who has a touchdown (2).

Statistically, Wisconsin’s passing attack is ranked 97th nationally, 88th at scoring along with 106th for total offense.

After reading about their offense, you ask yourself how is it they are ranked so high and only have one loss so far. It’s their defense which is second in red-zone defense behind Ohio State. Bucky’s defensive ranks are #2 in scoring, #4 total defense, #5 passing and #9 rushing. They bring their lunch pail and make you work for everything, even if their best defensive player has missed the last game and will be out for this weekend.

Lead by a defensive line that has four tackles for loss so far this season. Alex James, Conor Sheehy both have 9 tackles (James: 3 sacks, Sheey: 0.5 sack). Olive Sagapoli and Chickwe Obasih are the other two defensive linemen to keep an eye on.

Playing a 3-4 front means the linebackers are crucial to the Badgers. They have a great group of them also. Vince Biegel is the leader along with being the best defensive player for Wisconsin but sadly he will be out of the game due to injury. Have no fear because they have the next man up mentality too. Each linebacker has a minimum of one sack, Jack Cichy leads the team in tackles with 35 (3.5 TFL, .5 Sack), T.J. Watt is a beast and has 29 tackles (7.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks), T.J. Edwards has 28 tackles (2 TFL, 1 sack) along with Garrett Dooley who has 13 tackles (1TFL, 1 sack). This linebacker unit is fast while playing all over the field.

The secondary that Wisconsin has seems to be getting overlooked by some folks around the country. Cornerbacks Derrick Tindal (three INT’s/five PBUs) and Sojourn Shelton (one INT/two PBUs) have both played lights out at times this season. Free safety Leo Mussa has an interception plus a pass breakup and strong safety D’Cota Dixon has chipped in with one INT with two pass breakups.

Previewing the Buckeyes

The Buckeyes enter this match-up at 5-0 after a tough win against Indiana last week. The offense was not where it was in the first four games of the season and will need to find it’s mesh point this week if they want to take out the pesky Badgers.

The Buckeyes are led by junior quarterback J.T. Barrett, who comes into the game right in the thick of the Heisman talk. He is completing 64% of his passes on the season with a 15/3 TD/INT ratio. He has also rushed for 342 yards and four touchdowns. His ability when the play breaks down to find some yardage is uncanny and one thing the Buckeyes rely on from him week to week.

At running back the Buckeyes have thunder and lightning in Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel. Weber comes into the game as the 2nd leading rusher in the Big Ten with 566 yards, only trailing Penn State’s Saquon Barkley who has 582 through six games. Curtis Samuel is a do it all H-Back who has taken snaps at running back, wide receiver and as a wildcat quarterback. He enters the game with 410 yards rushing which is good for 9th in the Big Ten, and 345 yards receiving which is 7th best. The Buckeyes will need to get Samuel more touches this week, as he is averaging more than 10 yards per touch.

The wide receivers for Ohio State have kind of disappeared so far this season outside of Noah Brown’s big game in Norman. Last week the Buckeyes receivers had three total catches for 41 yards, which will not get the job done against the Wisconsin’s and Michigan’s of the world. Guys like Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin and Marcus Baugh need to step up in order to give J.T. Barrett some targets down the field.

One of the biggest surprises so far this year is the play of the offensive line. Led by senior Pat Elflein and junior Billy Price, the young Buckeye line as shown growth and dominance averaging 323 yards per game on the ground. With newcomers Michael Jordan, Isaiah Price and Jamarco Jones it was uncertain what the Buckeyes were going to get out of this group this year. The Buckeyes rank 3rd in the nation in rushing yards per game, and the big fellas up front are the main reason for the running games success.


COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 8: Jalyn Holmes #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Nick Bosa #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after stopping the Indiana Hoosiers on third down in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)


On the defensive side of the ball, the defensive line has been nothing short of spectacular so far this season. After losing Tracy Sprinkle in the first game of the season, guys like Robert Landers, Jalyn Holmes and Dre’Mont Jones have stepped up to provide stability along the line. The Buckeyes enter play as the 9th best rushing defense in the country giving up less than 100 yards per game, but the stat the stands out the most is they have allowed zero rushing touchdowns this season. The defensive line came up huge last week stopping Indiana on a 4th down late in the game that would have given the Hoosiers a 1st down and potentially cut the lead to seven.

Behind the stellar defensive line is one of the best linebacking trio’s in the country in Raekwon McMillan, Chris Worley and Jerome Baker. While McMillan is a known commodity, and is as sure fire a tackler there is, the real surprise comes from Worley and Baker who replaced NFL draftees Darron Lee and Joshua Perry. There has not been much falloff if any from last year production wise. Jerome Baker continues to get the start due to Dante Booker’s nagging injury, but when Booker is healthy we may see him as the backup because of Baker’s great play.

There really is no need to talk about the secondary because they have been amazing so far this season. The back four coming into the season was quite the unknown with only Gareon Conley returning as a starter from last season. Enter Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore and the Buckeye’s have become ball hawks. The Buckeyes have 10 interceptions on the season, and more impressive is that four of them have been returned for touchdowns (should be 11 and 5, but Hooker’s return last week was wiped by a bad penalty call).

Three Key Matchups

1. T.J. Watt vs J.T. Barrett: Does the last name Watt ring a bell at Wisconsin? It should because All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt roamed the field for the Badgers in the 2009-10 seasons and now his younger brother T.J. is doing the same. T.J. plays linebacker instead of defensive end, and will probably be spying on J.T. Barrett most of the night. If the Buckeyes can get blocks on Watt to spring Barrett on QB runs, then look out because we all know what he is capable of once he hits the open field.

1. Ohio State’s Blitz vs Alex Hornibrook: The Badgers enter the game starting redshirt-freshman Alex Hornibrook who took over for Bart Houston during a sluggish game against Georgia State. He comes in completing 56% of his passes but has thrown five interceptions, mostly when he is being pressured. If the Buckeyes can blitz effectively and get pressure on Hornibrook, expect him to make some bad decisions with the football, letting the ball hawks in the secondary make some interceptions happen.

1. Ohio State vs Camp Randall: The Buckeyes have had one road game so far this season, and it was in a rowdy environment in Norman as the Buckeyes battled the Sooners. I heard it was loud there, but the Buckeyes quickly quieted the Sooner Nation. Camp Randall in Madison is a different beast, as it is one of the toughest places to play in all of college football. If the Buckeyes can silence the fans early like they did against the Sooners, then they shouldn’t have an issue “Jumping Around” themselves entering the 4th quarter.

Prediction

This will be a tough match-up no matter how you slice it. I expect Wisconsin to come in and try and run the ball against Ohio State’s defense as I don’t think they have a lot of confidence in Alex Hornibrook. However, I don’t think that the Buckeyes will let Corey Clement run all over them, and will make Wisconsin have to throw the ball 25-30 times. If that is the case the Buckeyes walk out of Madison easy winners. If Wisconsin is able to establish the run or make some key defensive stops then its a whole other ballgame. Final Score: Ohio State 34 – Wisconsin 13

The post Game Preview: Ohio State At Wisconsin appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule and Game Thread
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


In their first true conference test, the Buckeyes head to Madison to face Wisconsin.

While the Ohio State Buckeyes’ win over Indiana wasn’t pretty, it was decisive enough to keep the Buckeyes at the No. 2 spot in the AP Poll. In fact, the Buckeyes have beaten each of their five opponents thus far this season by at least 21 points. But Wisconsin is a different story. Four of the last five meetings between the two teams at Camp Randall have been decided by seven points or fewer. And while the Buckeyes managed a 59-0 shutout of the Badgers in the 2014 Big Ten Championship, it seems unlikely that Wisconsin would allow such a significant beatdown on their own turf.

Despite the double-digit win last week, the Ohio State offense looked stagnant, especially compared to the fireworks we had seen in the Buckeyes’ first four games of the season. Indiana--the nation’s No. 49-ranked defense--held the Buckeyes to just 383 total yards on offense, including a meager 93 passing yards on a windy afternoon. Still, Ohio State, led by J.T. Barrett, made the necessary adjustments to grind out 38 points.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, has limited its opponents (which include Michigan, Michigan State and LSU) to just 291.4 yards per game, and have been as stout and solid as you could expect, allowing just 12.2 points per game (No. 4 nationally). What is perhaps more worrisome, given last week’s run-heavy performance by the Buckeyes, is that the Badgers have allowed a Big Ten-best 90.4 rushing yards per game. And if Ohio State does go to the air, Wisconsin’s secondary has given up just three passing touchdowns through five games.

The deciding factor, then, could be the Ohio State defense, which stands just as stout as Wisconsin’s, allowing fewer points (10.8) and yards per game (246) than the Badgers. Safety Malik Hooker leads the nation with four interceptions on the season, including one returned for a touchdown. With a freshman at quarterback in Alex Hornibrook, whose last outing saw him toss three picks to Michigan, Wisconsin will need to lean on running back Corey Clement, who has been limited to just 3.9 yards per carry this season.

When is the game and how can I watch?


Game Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m.

Location: Madison, WI

TV: ABC

Online: WatchESPN

Radio: 97.1 FM/1460 AM

Where is GameDay this weekend?


The College Gameday crew is headed up to watch the Buckeyes! Gameday is returning to Madison for the first time in 2011, mercifully bypassing yet another Tennessee matchup as the ninth-ranked Vols take on No. 1 Alabama in Knoxville. This week is the second time Gameday has been to a Wisconsin game this year, after opening the season with Wisconsin-LSU at Lambeau Field.

What’s the rest of the Big Ten up to today?


With all eyes on Camp Randall for the night game, the Big Ten opens play with a trio of noon games between Illinois and Rutgers (ESPNN); Iowa and Purdue (ESPN2); and Minnesota and Maryland (ESPNU). At 3:30, No. 10 Nebraska faces Indiana on ABC, while Michigan State takes on Northwestern on BTN.

Join the conversation


Below is your Ohio State-Wisconsin GameThread. Be respectful, be kind and as always, keep it classy. If you like GIFs, lay ‘em on us. In all, be good fans, cheer for your teams, be cool to each other (even if somebody else isn’t) and everyone wins. Let’s keep the season going strong. Go Bucks.

Continue reading...

Will Urban Meyer be the Barry Alvarez of Buckeyes football? Ohio State news and nuggets - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Will Urban Meyer be the Barry Alvarez of Buckeyes football? Ohio State news and nuggets
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes could be playing Meyer football, which would require a run-pass quarterback who can operate the read option and a defense playing man coverage, long after Meyer is gone. Given the way Meyer talked about Alvarez this week, it seems he'd ...

and more »

Continue reading...

A View From the Fan – Wisconsin
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


This article originally appeared at ohiostate.scout.com

Thoughts on Last Week


I worried Ohio State might be in trouble last week when Indiana came out and scored immediately after halftime; needless to say, I was unimpressed with the Buckeyes’ performance. Luckily, Ohio State’s defense was able to rise to the challenge and shut down the Hoosiers the rest of the afternoon, including a huge fourth down stop that would have cut the lead to seven late in the game.

I continue to have concerns about the wide receiver position. They’ve had one good game with Noah Brown against Oklahoma, but other than that, they just aren’t producing. I know the talent level is there, but they’re struggling to find ways to get open or separate from defenders. The passing game has to show up soon if the Buckeyes want to keep winning against other Big Ten opponents like Wisconsin and certainly Michigan.

On Wisconsin


The Buckeyes travel to Madison this weekend to take on the rested Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall. The Badgers come in having lost their last match-up to the Michigan Wolverines 14-7 in a tightly contested defensive battle. They’re now starting redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook after Bart Houston struggled against Georgia State in their third game. Hornibrook hasn’t impressed me so far, and the Buckeyes – forgive the blasphemy – should try to emulate the Wolverines, whose defensive scheme caused him to panic all day and forced three interceptions. Wisconsin’s defense is as stout as always, and they’re led by J.J. Watt’s little brother T.J. He’s accounted for 5.5 sacks already this season, and he makes his presence felt all over the field.

The Buckeyes need to find a rhythm early offensively if they want to come out of Madison with a win. I’m not sure if a performance like last week will get the job done against the Badgers. I expect Wisconsin to load the box and force J.T. Barrett to make passes. Running the ball on them will be difficult, but the Badgers haven’t faced a dual-threat quarterback like J.T. so far this season, so his read-option ability will be something to keep an eye on. If he can find some throws early and get the Badger defense guessing, then that will open up running lanes for Curtis Samuel and Mike Weber. Speaking of Samuel, he needs to get more touches either in the wildcat or some jet sweeps. Ohio State is underutilizing his speed, and when you have a dynamic playmaker like him, you need to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

I see a tough game under the lights this weekend, but I think the Buckeyes will work through their issues this week in practice. They should come out looking much better on offense, and the defense should easily shut down Wisconsin’s anemic attack.

Prediction: Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 13

A Fan’s Playoff Standings

1. Alabama – Moved the Tide back to No. 1 after last week after their win over ranked Arkansas. Jalen Hurts looks like the real deal at QB, and he accounted for four touchdowns to lead Alabama to the 49-30 win. The Crimson Tide travel to Tennessee this weekend in what should be a good match-up.
2. Ohio State – A ho-hum 21-point win over Indiana drops the Buckeyes to No. 2. J.T. Barrett couldn’t seem to get his passes on target, and the entire game seemed a little off. Let’s hope it gets back on track this weekend at Wisconsin.
3. Clemson – I mean, everyone expected Clemson to handle Boston College, so their 56-10 thrashing of the Eagles wasn’t a surprise. Deshaun Watson looked good on the deep ball, and the Tigers are back on track after some early-season struggles.
4. Washington – The Huskies continue to impress me with their juggernaut offense. Jake Browning has 23 touchdowns and only 2 picks this season, and he’s running the offense about as well as anyone in the country right now. If they weren’t a west coast team, I think they’d be getting a lot more press.

A Fan’s Heisman Standings

1. Lamar Jackson – Jackson was on a bye week after their thriller with Clemson. He looks to add to his already impressive touchdown total of 28 this week as Louisville hosts the Duke Blue Devils.
2. J.T. Barrett – J.T. didn’t look very Heismanesque on Saturday throwing the football, as he completed only nine passes. However, he did finish the game as the leading rusher and scored two touchdowns. Let’s see how he does this week at Camp Randall.
3. Deshaun Watson – Watson has put himself right back into the conversation for the Heisman with great back-to-back games against Louisville and Boston College. He had four TD passes as the Tigers beat the Eagles 56-10 on Friday night.
4. Jake Browning – Washington sure seems legit now, don’t they? Led by sophomore Jake Browning, the Huskies are 6-0 and rolling. Browning notched 11 total touchdowns in big wins against Stanford and Oregon.

The post A View From the Fan – Wisconsin appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State football travels to Wisconsin for a Big Ten showdown: Buckeye Breakfast Gameday - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football travels to Wisconsin for a Big Ten showdown: Buckeye Breakfast Gameday
cleveland.com
MADISON, Wisc. -- Ohio State football continues Big Ten play on Saturday night against Wisconsin. Here's everything you need to know before kickoff: GAME INFORMATION. Who: No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers (4-1, ...
Gameday+ | Last matchup with Badgers propelled Buckeyes to gloryColumbus Dispatch
Wisconsin Badgers-Ohio State Buckeyes pregame notesFOXSports.com
The last time Ohio State played Wisconsin, the Buckeyes' beatdown broke the 2014 seasonSB Nation
OregonLive.com -ESPN
all 468 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeyes run wild on Spartans, 63-0 - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes run wild on Spartans, 63-0
Athens Messenger (registration)
It was the fifth straight win for the Buckeyes (6-2, 4-0 Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division), who picked up their third shutout during the winning streak. Nelsonville-York has won the five games by a combined 229-12 count, and bears no resemblance ...


Continue reading...

Women's volleyball: Huskers get revenge on Buckeyes in four-set nailbitter - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Women's volleyball: Huskers get revenge on Buckeyes in four-set nailbitter
OSU - The Lantern
Nearly two weeks ago, it was the Buckeyes celebrating a four-set upset on Nebraska's home turf. The Huskers are the defending national champions and, at the time, stood undefeated. Tonight, Nebraska travelled to Columbus and handed OSU payback.
Huskers Overcome BuckeyesKTIC
Huskers look to avenge loss to BuckeyesFremont Tribune
Win helps Huskers prep for rematch with BuckeyesKearney Hub

all 36 news articles »

Continue reading...

Huskers Overcome Buckeyes - KTIC
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Huskers Overcome Buckeyes
KTIC
The Huskers (15-1, 6-1 Big Ten) beat the Buckeyes (12-7, 2-5 Big Ten) for the first time since 2013, snapping a string of three straight losses to OSU. In doing so, Nebraska won its 12th straight road match, its longest road winning streak since 2003 ...
Huskers look to avenge loss to BuckeyesFremont Tribune
Win helps Huskers prep for rematch with BuckeyesKearney Hub
Women's volleyball: OSU hosting two pivotal Big Ten home matches ...OSU - The Lantern

all 34 news articles »

Continue reading...

Gameday+ | Last matchup with Badgers propelled Buckeyes to glory - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Last matchup with Badgers propelled Buckeyes to glory
Columbus Dispatch
Saturday night, the Buckeyes want to maintain the status quo. The second-ranked Buckeyes (5-0) are 10-point favorites when they invade Camp Randall Stadium to play the No. 8 Badgers in what figures to be Ohio State's toughest road game of the season.
The last time Ohio State played Wisconsin, the Buckeyes' beatdown broke the 2014 seasonSB Nation
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game picks: Can the Buckeyes get a top 10 road win?cleveland.com
Why Alabama should be looking over its shoulder at Ohio StateESPN
FOXSports.com -OregonLive.com
all 441 news articles »

Continue reading...

Gameday+ | Rearview mirror: Oct. 15, 1960 - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Rearview mirror: Oct. 15, 1960
Columbus Dispatch
3 Buckeyes were upset by Purdue in 1960. OSU had entered 3-0, having outscored opponents 78-7, but never found its gear in West Lafayette. Hayes met twice with reporters postgame, neither session lasting even a minute before he stormed off.


Continue reading...

Field position, limiting turnovers will be keys for Ohio State against Wisconsin
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Our latest podcast discusses Saturday’s game from a Badgers perspective.

You’ve almost made it. It’s Friday afternoon, and at this time tomorrow, you’ll be trying to pace yourself on the Busch Lights getting ready for Ohio State’s top-ten showdown against Wisconsin. We here at Land-Grant Holy Land are here to fill a bit more of that time with a new episode of Hangout in the Holy Land.

On this edition, Colton chatted with Jake Kocorowski of Bucky’s Fifth Quarter about all things Buckeyes and Badgers. Before getting into the game, however, Jake takes some time to discuss how Wisconsin has looked so far this season, including:

• Their surprising 4-1 start
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook’s poise
• Why Wisconsin’s offense isn’t the one we’re accustomed to
• What makes the Badger defense so stout, despite losing defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to LSU in the offseason

The guys then get to Saturday’s matchup, and break down Wisconsin’s linebackers holding the key to their defensive success against the Buckeyes, and why the Badgers must control the field position battle and create turnovers to have a legitimate shot at winning.

Finally, Jake talks about his upcoming book, Walk On This Way: The On-Going Legacy of the Wisconsin Football Walk-On Tradition —available for pre-order here— and why the Badgers have been so successful at developing walk-ons since Barry Alvarez’s arrival in 1990.

You can find the podcast on our iTunes page, and we strongly encourage reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. to help us deliver the best possible audio product. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, the SB Nation podcast page, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.

Continue reading...

Friday Night Insights: B1G Four/Little Ten, Politics, iBelieve Charity Spotlight
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


It’s not very often that I pop-off about something without knowing the facts but every couple of weeks I bring you my insights from the hip. Feel free to come back at me with both barrels or at the very least agree with me! Let’s hit things hard with the current state of the B1G in football.

From the Hip


What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here? I am not one of those people that thumps his chest about the conference. I am not a believer that the strength of conference will help the Buckeyes as a whole because when they have been one of the better two teams they played for the title and as recent as the very first CFP showed us they can take care of business.

Did the 59-0 drubbing of the number two team in the conference hurt the Buckeyes in 2014? No! It was the only reason they got into the playoff and Alabama and Oregon has been regretting TCU or Baylor(Speaking of conference strength or lack there of) not being in ever since. The Buckeyes took care of business to get there just like Sparty(Sparty No!) did last season. Conference strength had nothing to do with them getting crushed! The general consensus even after the loss to them was the Buckeyes were the only team that could beat Alabama.

So, let’s pick up in current day and all the foaming at the mouth about the four teams in the top ten of the top 25 from the B1G. All the SEC homers that are proud of the conference strength have been subjected to the same thing. Having four of all of their teams compete year in and year out for the top spot in the conference and almost trying to figure out ways to have two of them make the CFP gets tiring.

I don’t want the same thing for the Buckeyes or the conference because it’s a joke. Does anyone in the fandom world realize that outside those in the top ten the next team receiving votes are the Hawkeyes and it’s only 3 votes? Where are the rest of the teams from the powerful B1G that everyone is depicting? I will tell you where, they are in the basement of the conference where they always are.

I will say this, Indiana has been making big strides since Kevin Wilson’s arrival and they have almost arrived to make the big four a big five but they aren’t quite there. Nobody else in the conference reloads like the Buckeyes, Badgers, Weasels and Spartans. They have to wait and hope that they are developing a great senior class to compete. Hopefully people will come to their senses and realize having those four atop the rankings does not make the B1G a strong conference numbers wise.

It simply makes those four teams part of the elite that is in the top 25 each week. Should be a good battle down the stretch to see who gets in, will it be our Buckeyes?

Straight Shooter


I am not into politics, despise this time of year where all of the dirt about candidate A is all that candidate B cares about. I am always happy to see it end and in the process have a new President. I am a voter but have to be honest and say that I haven’t always voted. Most years I am a straight Republican and don’t have much of a defense for it only to say that I cut my political teeth during one of my heroes runs in President Ronald Reagan.

I won’t ever really vote the straight ticket because the candidates are so different and have their own platforms which I believe just get recycled every election. What I try to base my decision on is their morals and personality. When they have neither, which is the case in the Presidential election this year, I struggle to vote for either.

That’s really what life boils down to for us humans isn’t it? Make the right choices/decisions in life, try to be a good person and treat people as you would like to be treated. I have to admit I don’t always hit my mark and have had my bad times for sure, but I can tell the difference between right and wrong and this election season is very difficult.

Hopefully the rest of America isn’t flipping a coin come November and the election, but I have a feeling that I may be doing the same!

Charity Spotlight


I have become pretty good friends with one of te Buckeye Women’s assistants over the years in Patrick Klein. He played high school basketball just across the river from me in Belpre, Ohio in his almost claim to fame during his teams run for a title is if they had won in the semi-final, he would have gotten Lebron James to guard in the title game.

Patrick has always been a heavily involved person in the community and a lot of that comes from excellent upbringing and wonderful parents he has. After taking a different path than he expected to get where he is, he has used his position to help grow his own efforts to epic proportions.

I am proud to call him a friend, proud of what he has accomplished and will always support his efforts with his foundation. Maybe you can do the same because he is an Ohio State Buckeye?!

The iBelieve Foundation history is breif but can definitely use your help.

From the iBelieve web site


The iBELIEVE Foundation was created in 2011 to help provide more opportunities for Appalachian youth. Today, iBELIEVE provides thousands of students per year educational and learning opportunities to grow their 21st Century Skills and build a network of student-leaders across the region.

Originally, iBELIEVE started out as just a summer camp opportunity for just 36 student-leaders. But the growth of the organization through the donations of many corporations and individuals have allowed the addition of year round programming. This programming focuses on getting Appalachian schools involved in developmental programs for their students. In 2016, iBELIEVE partnered with the Ohio Association of Student Councils to unify their summer camp programming for Appalachian students, Columbus Public students, and outside student leaders.

Thanks to the partnership of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), iBELIEVE has been able to hold a 501(c)3 status as a “field of interest fund” through their organization. FAO continues to serve as iBELIEVE’s back office and money managers as iBELIEVE moves to their own 501(c)3 status in 2016.


There mission statement is simple . . ,


How you can help a high school student attend a summer conference, click the link and do your part!

http://www.theibelievefoundation.com/index.php/donors/our-impact








The post Friday Night Insights: B1G Four/Little Ten, Politics, iBelieve Charity Spotlight appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State looks to be the only team to dethrone Alabama
Geoff Hammersley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


From player development to recruiting efforts, the Buckeyes are fighting to be king of the college football mountain.

“In the span of a little more than four years, Urban Meyer has taken over a program that had a losing record in the season before he arrived and built the Buckeyes into a behemoth capable of standing toe to toe with the Crimson Tide -- and potentially elbowing them off the top of the mountain as the country's top program.”

– Austin Ward, ESPN.com


Since the time Urban Meyer took over for an Ohio State program coming off a 6-7 year in 2011, the Buckeyes have been on a tour de force. Meyer has won 55 of 59 contests as the head coach of the Buckeyes, brought to Columbus a national championship – and defeated Alabama in the process.

That last point is the focal point of Austin Ward’s article at ESPN.com: the Buckeyes are primed to dethrone Nick Saban and the monopoly that Tuscaloosa, Ala. has on national championship crowns.

In the article, Meyer talks about using Alabama as a motivational tool before the 2015 Sugar Bowl – an example of how a team is always in the hunt for a championship, at the top of the football mountain, and how his players can get to the top by beating ‘Bama.

Beating Alabama is only part of the equation. Ward goes into the fact that Meyer’s recruiting efforts has been off the charts. The 2017 Ohio State class is one of the most, if not the most, anticipated classes in college football. The Buckeyes currently hold the No. 1 ranking for 2017’s recruiting efforts, while the Crimson Tide are at No. 2.

But getting talent, again, is only part of the formula to being the best. Developing talent is a necessity at being in the hunt for a national title; that is something Meyer has done exceptionally well in Columbus. This past year, Meyer sent 12 players to the draft, and the team steamrolled their way to a 5-0 start to the 2016 campaign.

Ward closed his article by saying, “the Buckeyes no longer need to come from behind to tap on Alabama's shoulder.”

In a way, it has become a staredown at the top of the mountain for college football supremacy.

“This Ohio State defense, with six juniors, four sophomores and one freshman (tackle Dre'Mont Jones) in the starting lineup, has almost made Buckeyes fans forget about the wealth of talent lost to the NFL.”

– Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune


Part of the reason to why the Buckeyes have been able to win big (and in big games) is due to the defense. The Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein explained that after the Buckeyes’ defensive exodus due to players going to the past NFL draft, OSU is only surrendering 10.8 points per game this season.

Greg Schiano stated in the article that players wanted opportunities to shine, knowing that they could do what their predecessors did. Greenstein also got Raekwon McMillan’s view on how the defense is one of the best in the country. McMillan said that some practices focus on creating turnovers and getting hands up when the quarterback releases the ball.

The drills seem to be working, as the Buckeyes have picked off 10 passes and have one of the best turnover margins in the country. With one of the younger teams in the entire NCAA, Meyer has recreated another dominant force at stopping the opposition.

As the saying goes, “defense wins championships.” If the Buckeyes keep things up, they will certainly be in the middle of a championship hunt when mid-November rolls around.

“Bosa didn’t play every snap Thursday night, but when he was on the field, you knew it — he found himself in Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian’s lap often Thursday in the Chargers’ 21-13 win.”

– Dieter Kurtenbach, FOX Sports


Joey Bosa was part of a defense that won a national title at Ohio State. Now in the NFL, he is bringing a championship attitude to the San Diego Chargers defense. In a Thursday night contest against the Denver Broncos, Bosa was putting pressure on quarterback Trevor Siemian throughout the night.

When Siemian was trying to get the Broncos into the endzone for the first time Thursday, Bosa had other plans.


Bosa played about 75 percent of the snaps and had a handful of QB hurries, according to the FOX sports article. Even after missing four games due to a hamstring injury, Bosa has hit the ground running into the backfield.

With Bosa making an impact in primetime football, No. 99 has made himself known to the masses. Expect Bosa to be in the running for defensive rookie of the year candidacy if he can more sacks and pressure on the QB.

The Chargers next game is on Oct. 23 against the Atlanta Falcons at 4:05 p.m.

Stick to Sports


• The blame game ft. Brian Kelly.

• Cuban rum, cigars are no longer banned in the USA. Thanks, Obama.

• There’s a Marmite shortage in the UK due to the Brexit.

• The aftermath of the recent hurricane in North Carolina.

• Samsung predicts $3 billion dollar hit from Galaxy Note 7 debacle.

Continue reading...

Brian Snow ‏@BSnowScout
Paul Scruggs (@the1paulscruggs) has committed to Xavier

Gameday+ | Ohio State's Curtis Samuel forges special bonds on football journey - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Ohio State's Curtis Samuel forges special bonds on football journey
Columbus Dispatch
The hybrid back sees trips like Ohio State's to Oklahoma four weeks ago or to Wisconsin for a midseason top-10 showdown Saturday night as chances for the team to grow closer as a family. “You get to know each other a little better on road trips, and it ...


Continue reading...

Let’s Get Hype: Official OSU Video
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

“We have to play like it’s our last time! Every time! – Joe Thomas Barrett a.k.a The Captain

Ohio State is getting ready for action on Saturday night when they travel to Madison to take on those Badgers from Wisconsin. I’m throwing on my pads right now to head that way to assist. I plan on running through the nearest Culvers and just smashing everything Wisconsin I see. They don’t know what is about to hit them! Go Bucks!


The post Let’s Get Hype: Official OSU Video appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

SnG Weekly Re-Wind: tBBC Top Articles of the Week
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to the weekly rewind of the this weeks top articles or tweets from the staff here on the Buckeye Battle Cry. I will include some commentary and links to the author’s twitter account!




Ben van Ooyen kick our Saturday off with this good view from him(a fan) and his thoughts around Indiana and the playoff/Heisman race.



Mike Meals brought us some great fact tid-bits prior to the Indiana game and here’s hoping he continues this week with Wisco.









Scott knocked it out of the park with this article that was spurred by a debate in our teams conversation center . . ,



And . . , Mike Meals retort to the discussion, great opinions by all . . ,



Ben van Ooyen had this awesome piece covering the ridiculous notion that Jabril Peppers should be a Heisman candidate.



WVa covers some good topics with the staff in this weeks the Good, the Bad and the Ugly . . ,



WVa brings together family Lynch to sit down with us at the round-table and discuss the Indiana game . . ,



Mike Meals had a little fun with this Beyond Buckeye Lines . . ,



Weekly Funny







The post SnG Weekly Re-Wind: tBBC Top Articles of the Week appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State-Wisconsin is the marquee matchup of Week 7’s Big Ten 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


The Buckeyes and Badgers clash in Camp Randall on Saturday night in a top 10 clash.

This week’s national slate isn’t the greatest, but if you missed this week’s pick you can find them here.

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)

B1G games:


Minnesota v. Maryland (-6.5) - 12:00 PM EST - ESPNU

Does anybody want to play quarterback in this one? We already know Mitch Leidner won’t be suiting up due to a concussion, while Perry Hills has been dealing with a shoulder injury. After injuring his shoulder against Central Florida earlier in the year, and re-injuring it last week, it sounds like Hills will play, but nobody knows how effective he will be.

Minnesota may have lost their last two games, but at least they have shown some fight while doing so, losing those games by a combined 10 points. Even with former walk-on Conor Rhoda at quarterback instead of Leidner, I still like Minnesota’s chances on moving the ball on a Maryland offense that just gave up nearly 400 yards on the ground to Penn State. This just feels like too many points in a game that I think will come down to the wire.

Maryland 27, Minnesota 24

Iowa (-12.5) v. Purdue - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN2

Purdue can win on the road in the Big Ten? What kind of world are we living in? Well that’s exactly what happened last week when the Boilermakers downed Illinois in overtime. I wouldn’t get too cozy with the idea of Purdue starting some kind of win streak though, since they’ll be welcoming Iowa to West Lafayette.

The Hawkeyes have won eight straight road games, and should make it nine in a row on Saturday. The question is will they be able to cover the number? Even though Iowa has been winning on the road, it has been pretty of late, as their two most recent wins have come by the same 14-7 scoreline.

The Hawkeyes have been awful against the run this year, but I’m not sure if the Boilermakers will be able to exploit that. I am looking for reasons to take Purdue here, but even though Iowa hasn’t looked very sharp of late, I still think they are at least two touchdowns better than Purdue.

Iowa 34, Purdue 17

Illinois (-6) v. Rutgers - 12:00 PM EST - ESPNews

No, just no. Do anything besides watch this game. Nothing good will come of it.

Illinois 17, Rutgers 7

No. 10 Nebraska (-3.5) v. Indiana - 3:30 PM EST - ABC/ESPN2

Is Nebraska back? Alright, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, but the Cornhuskers have a shot to start 6-0 for the first time since 2001. The problem for Nebraska heading into this week is it feels like everybody is injured. Wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp, tight end Cethan Carter, and running back Devine Ozigbo are all expected to miss Saturday’s game, while Tommy Armstrong Jr. is dealing with an ankle injury.

Even though they lost by 21 points, Indiana still raised some eyebrows with their performance against Ohio State. The Hoosiers gave the Buckeyes all they could handle, and now they return home where they’ll look to win their second game over a ranked team in three weeks. Richard Lagow has played well at quarterback for the Hoosiers, but he is still turnover prone, and I could see Nebraska grabbing a couple passes.

Indiana might be the trendy pick in this one because of how they’ve performed in the last couple weeks, but you have to wonder how much is left in the tank after tough games against Michigan State and Ohio State. Even though they’re dealing with injuries, Nebraska did have last week off so they’ll come into this game somewhat fresh. Can’t say I’m the biggest fan of siding with a ranked road favorite against an unranked team, but I’ll take my chances.

Nebraska 30, Indiana 23

Northwestern v. Michigan State (-5) - 3:30 PM EST - Big Ten Network

Honestly though, what happened to Michigan State? I knew they might regress a bit due to some of their players graduating, but I don’t know if many people thought it’d be this bad. The Spartans have just been awful to watch the last few weeks. Even worse, it sounds like it might be musical quarterbacks in East Lansing, as Tyler O’Connor will start but who knows when Mark Dantonio will bring in Damion Terry.

Northwestern looked pretty good against Iowa a few weeks ago, but of course they’ll probably fall on their face now after having a bye last week. It probably won’t be that bad, but it seems like a good rule that whenever you are thinking a Northwestern game will go one way, the total opposite will end up happening. It’s scary that I trust Clayton Thorson and Justin Jackson more than anything that Michigan State will trot out there on Saturday.

Even if Michigan State does end their three-game losing streak, I’m not comfortable enough with seeing them win by more than five. If anything this feels like it’ll be a game that comes down to the end and is decided by a field goal. Give me Northwestern in this one to add on to Sparty’s woes.

Northwestern 23, Michigan State 20

No. 2 Ohio State (-10) v. No. 8 Wisconsin - 8:00 PM EST - ABC

It seems like every trip to Madison for Ohio State sees the Buckeyes ranked high in the polls with everything to lose. Saturday’s showdown is no different. The Buckeyes are coming off their worst performance of the season, but they still won by 21 points. If this doesn’t tell you that this team has the possibility to be special I don’t know what will.

At this point of the season not a lot of people expected Wisconsin to be where they are right now. I know I certainly did. This will be the fourth top 10 team that the Badgers have played this year, and they might have won all three of the previous games if they had anything resembling a quarterback. I’m probably being a little hard on Alex Hornibrook, but if his performance against Michigan is anything like how he plays on Saturday night, Wisconsin could be in trouble. Unlike the Wolverines, the Buckeyes likely won’t waste opportunities like Michigan did.

Last week marked the first time since Ohio State lost to Michigan State last year that the Buckeyes didn’t put up 40 points and 400 yards in a game. While against this strong Wisconsin defense I don’t think they’ll score 40, I do think their offense will look better than last week. Mike Weber has been great so far this year, and even though I think he could struggle against the Wisconsin rush defense, just his presence will open up the passing game for J.T. Barrett, who I expect to look better throwing the ball than he did against Indiana.

Wisconsin will give Ohio State quite a test on Saturday night, but I think turnovers and special teams will be the difference here. Cameron Johnston will be able to flip the field position and pin the Badgers back in their own territory, and the defense will bring the pressure to force Hornibrook into some turnovers. It may not look pretty in the first half, but eventually the Buckeyes wear the Badgers down and end up winning by two touchdowns.

Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 17

Continue reading...

BBC Pick’Em: Week 7 Badgers Going Down
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to the newest addition to the Buckeye Battle Cry world. In this weekly article, we will be taking a look at how amazingly smart dumb each of us writers are. As with everything on this site, we are here to entertain you guys so please let us know how stupid we are or if you are silly enough to agree with us.

I recommend you take all of our picks every week and buy a ticket to Las Vegas to place bets immediately! Continue to this each week and donate to our happy little family. Do not even worry about the costs associated with these weekly trips, you are going to win ALL OF THE MONIES!!!

Each week, we will take a look at 10 games. It will always be every Big Ten game and then we will fill it in with other nationally ranked games. Once again, please point fingers and chastise us as much as possible.

Minnesota @ Maryland

Records: Minnesota (3-2), Maryland (4-1)

Last Game: Minnesota lost to Iowa, 7-14; Maryland lost to Penn State, 14-38

Statistical Leaders:

Minn Passing – M. Leidner (1,006 yds) Mary Passing – P. Hillis (622 yds)

Minn Rushing – R. Smith (446 yds) Mary Rushing – L. Harrison (362 yds)

Minn Receiving – D. Wolitarsky (379 yds) Mary Receiving – D.J. Moore (239 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

Minn @ Mary
Brandon Maryland
Mike Maryland
Joe Minnesota
Shannon Maryland
Ben Maryland
Scott Maryland
Chris Maryland
JC Maryland
Chip Maryland



BBC Predicted Winner: Maryland (8 votes to 1 vote)



Iowa @ Purdue

Records: Iowa (4-2), Purdue (3-2)

Last Game: Iowa beat Minnesota, 14-7; Purdue beat Illinois, 34-31

Statistical Leaders:

Iowa Passing – C. J. Beathard (1,087 yds) Purdue Passing – D. Blough (1,298 yds)

Iowa Rushing – L. Daniels (439 yds) Purdue Rushing – M. Jones (339 yds)

Iowa Receiving – M. VandeBerg (284 yds) Purdue Receiving – D. Young (338 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

Iowa @ Purdue
Brandon Iowa
Mike Iowa
Joe Iowa
Shannon Iowa
Ben Iowa
Scott Iowa
Chris Iowa
JC Iowa
Chip Iowa



BBC Predicted Winner: Iowa (9-0)



Illinois @ Rutgers

Records: Illinois (1-4), Rutgers (2-4)

Last Game: Illinois lost to Purdue, 31-34; Rutgers lost to Michigan, 0-78

Statistical Leaders:

Illini Passing – W. Lunt (840 yds) RU Passing – C. Laviano (686 yds)

Illini Rushing – K. Foster (276 yds) RU Rushing – R. Martin (421 yds)

Illini Receiving – M. Turner (409 yds) RU Receiving – J. Grant (210 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

Illini @ Rutgers
Brandon Rutgers
Mike Rutgers
Joe Rutgers
Shannon Illini
Ben Rutgers
Scott Illini
Chris Rutgers
JC Illinois
Chip Illinois



BBC Predicted Winner: Rutgers (5-4)



Nebraska @ Indiana

Records: Nebraska (5-0), Indiana (3-2)

Last Game: Nebraska beat Illinois, 31-16; Indiana lost to Ohio State, 17-38

Statistical Leaders:

Neb Passing – T. Armstrong (1,151 yds) IU Passing – R. Lagow (1,460 yds)

Neb Rushing – T. Newby (327 yds) IU Rushing – D. Redding (491 yds)

Neb Receiving – A. Moore (310 yds) IU Receiving – N. Westbrook (437 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

Nebraska @ Indy
Brandon Indiana
Mike Nebraska
Joe Nebraska
Shannon Indiana
Ben Nebraska
Scott Nebraska
Chris Indiana
JC Nebraska
Chip Indiana



BBC Predicted Winner: Nebraska (5-4)



Northwestern @ Michigan State

Records: Northwestern (2-3), Michigan State (2-3)

Last Game: Northwestern beat Iowa, 38-31; MSU lost to BYU, 14-31

Statistical Leaders:

NU Passing – C. Thorson (1,120 yds) MSU Passing – T. O’Connor (976 yds)

NU Rushing – J. Jackson (510 yds) MSU Rushing – L.J. Scott (311 yds)

NU Receiving – A. Carr (465 yds) MSU Receiving – R.J. Shelton (262 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

N’West @ MSU
Brandon MSU
Mike MSU
Joe MSU
Shannon NW
Ben MSU
Scott MSU
Chris MSU
JC MSU
Chip NW



BBC Predicted Winner: Michigan State (7-2)



Ohio State @ Wisconsin

Records: Ohio State (5-0), Wisconsin (4-1)

Last Game: Ohio State beat Indiana, 38-17; Wisconsin lost to Michigan, 7-14

Statistical Leaders:

OSU Passing – J.T. Barrett (981 yds) UW Passing – B. Houston (527 yds)

OSU Rushing – M. Weber (566 yds) UW Rushing – C. Clement (319 yds)

OSU Receiving – C. Samuel (345 yds) UW Receiving – J. Peavy (281 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

OSU @ Wisky
Brandon OSU
Mike OSU
Joe OSU
Shannon tOSU
Ben Ohio State
Scott Duh
Chris THE
JC THE
Chip OSU



BBC Predicted Winner: Ohio State (9-0)



Alabama @ Tennessee

Records: Alabama (6-0), Tennessee (5-1)

Last Game: Alabama beat Arkansas, 39-20; Tennessee lost to Texas A&M, 38-45

Statistical Leaders:

Bama Passing – J. Hurts (1,242 yds) UT Passing – J. Dobbs (1,433 yds)

Bama Rushing – D. Harris (478 yds) UT Rushing – J. Hurd (407 yds)

Bama Receiving – C. Ridley (412 yds) UT Receiving – J. Malone (341 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

Bama @ Tenn
Brandon Bama
Mike Bama
Joe Bamalamb
Shannon Tennessee
Ben Bama
Scott Tennessee
Chris Bama
JC Bama
Chip Bama



BBC Predicted Winner: Alabama (7-2)



North Carolina @ Miami

Records: UNC (4-2), Miami (4-1)

Last Game: UNC lost to Virginia Tech, 3-34; Miami lost to Florida State, 19-20

Statistical Leaders:

UNC Passing – M. Trubisky (1,769 yds) UM Passing – B. Kaya (1,149 yds)

UNC Rushing – E. Hood (338 yds) UM Rushing – M. Whalton (484 yds)

UNC Receiving – R. Switzer (589 yds) UM Receiving – A. Richards (304 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

UNC @ Miami
Brandon Miami
Mike UNC
Joe Miami
Shannon Miami
Ben Miami
Scott UNC
Chris Miami
JC Miami
Chip Miami



BBC Predicted Winner: Miami (7-2)



Florida State @ Wake Forest

Records: FSU (4-2), Wake Forest (5-1)

Last Game: FSU beat Miami, 20-19; Wake Forest beat Syracuse, 28-9

Statistical Leaders:

FSU Passing – D. Francois (1,557 yds) WF Passing – J. Wolford (826 yds)

FSU Rushing – D. Cook (785 yds) WF Rushing – M. Colburn (361 yds)

FSU Receiving – J. Wilson (388 yds) WF Receiving – T. Hines (226 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

FSU @ Wake
Brandon FSU
Mike FSU
Joe Wake
Shannon Wake
Ben FSU
Scott FSU
Chris FSU
JC FSU
Chip FSU



BBC Predicted Winner: Florida State (7-2)



West Virginia @ Texas Tech

Records: WVU (4-0), Texas Tech (3-2)

Last Game: WVU beat Kansas State, 17-16; Texas Tech lost to Kansas State, 38-44

Statistical Leaders:

WVU Passing – S. Howard (1,272 yds) TT Passing – P. Mahomes (2,274 yds)

WVU Rushing – J. Crawford (331 yds) TT Rushing – D. Felton (270 yds)

WVU Receiving – S. Gibson (458 yds) TT Receiving – J. Giles (614 yds)

BBC Staff Picks:

WVU @ TT
Brandon TT
Mike Tech
Joe TT
Shannon TT
Ben West Virginia
Scott TT
Chris TT
JC WVU
Chip WVU



BBC Predicted Winner: Texas Tech (6-3)



BBC LEADERBOARD

Brandon 0-0
Mike 0-0
Joe 0-0
Shannon 0-0
Ben 0-0
Scott 0-0
Chris 0-0
JC 0-0
Charles 0-0
Clair 0-0
Chip 0-0



The post BBC Pick’Em: Week 7 Badgers Going Down appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State-Northwestern game time moved to 3:30 ET
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


If you have plans that evening, you’re in luck.

Ohio State fans with early bedtimes, rejoice. At least one game over the next month should finish before the wee hours at night.

Ohio State’s battle against Northwestern on Oct.29 was previously scheduled to kick off at 5:30 ET. Now, per a university release, that game has been moved to 3:30. The exact network assignment for that game has yet to be announced.

This may be a positive development, since three of Ohio State’s next four games, at Wisconsin, at Penn State, and home for Nebraska, are scheduled to kick off at 8 PM ET. A slightly earlier kickoff gives fans a chance to do something else in the evening, should they so desire. And it’s not like Ohio State probably needs an electric, evening-ish crowd to beat Northwestern.

Northwestern is currently 2-3 on the year, with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State, but with a win over Iowa. The Buckeyes have won their last five meetings agains the Wildcats, most recently with a 40-30 win in 2013.

Continue reading...

Surveying the field: Who is the Big Ten’s best RB right now?
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

There are many good running backs in the Big Ten in 2016, but who is the best? Think about it for a moment, then read what a a handful of Big Ten writers said in our latest Big Ten survey.

Continue reading...

The last time Ohio State played Wisconsin, the Buckeyes' beatdown broke the 2014 season - SB Nation
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The last time Ohio State played Wisconsin, the Buckeyes' beatdown broke the 2014 season
SB Nation
The Buckeyes had an outside chance at the College Football Playoff, but ranked behind TCU heading in, with Baylor close behind. The result was one of the most impressive, eye-opening, and ruthless destructions in recent memory. Ohio State absolutely ...
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game picks: Can the Buckeyes get a top 10 road win?cleveland.com
Ohio State football | Buckeyes get back to work on passing gameColumbus Dispatch
Big, bad Buckeyes come to townThe Daily Cardinal
UPI.com -Waiting For Next Year
all 378 news articles »

Continue reading...

FPI projections for Week 7's best games - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


FPI projections for Week 7's best games
ESPN
The playoff picture is beginning to take shape, but with the nation's top two teams facing tough road tests against AP top 10 opponents, things could get interesting after Week 7. With the help of ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), we'll break down and ...


Continue reading...

Ohio State looks for another big time road win against Wisconsin
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Special teams, and getting the damn ball to Curtis Samuel will be key.

This offseason, who would have thought that tomorrow’s game between Ohio State and Wisconsin would be one in which both were ranked in the top ten?

Sure, it makes sense that the Buckeyes are ranked 2nd nationally, even despite losing so much talent from last season. With the way they’ve recruited and developed, Ohio State seems to be a lock to be at the forefront of college football until Urban Meyer decides he wants to wash windows every weekend. But Wisconsin? That’s another story.

Coming into the season, the Badgers not only had to find a new quarterback, but also replace their star defensive coordinator, and navigate through a brutal schedule. It wasn’t inconceivable to picture Wisconsin 2-4, heading into Iowa City next week, fighting for the chance to just make a bowl. But, as things would have it, the Badgers are 4-1, with wins over LSU and Michigan State, and a 14-7 loss on the road at Michigan. So, are they primed for a big time upset this week, with College Gameday on hand?

They’re going to have to score more than 10 points, so probably not, but this should still be an excellent test for an Ohio State team that has looked great through five games, but also showed some real flaws for the first time last week against Indiana.

With that in mind, here are five things you should watch for in tomorrow night’s game:

Early and often


A major point of contention this week —including on our podcast— was Curtis Samuel’s lack of involvement against Indiana, especially early in the game. Samuel didn’t touch the ball until the 14:20 mark of the second quarter —Ohio State’s fourth possession— and for the first time all season, was held catchless.

While he did finish the day with 82 yards rushing, his nine touches were far under the 15-per game mark Meyer has mentioned all season. Against an even better defense this week, Ohio State would be wise to trust its best playmaker to open up the offense.

There’s a lot of blame to go around in regards to the Buckeye passing game last week, but one of the more baffling decisions was not making Samuel a focal point. Weather may be an issue again on Saturday, and finding creative ways to get Samuel the ball on short passes seems like a much more viable strategy then trying to launch downfield all day (again).

He’s is going to get his fair share of carries, but getting him easy touches in the pass game not only lets him do what he’s best at — I.E. DUSTING FOOLS — but could also be a nice way to get J.T. Barrett in rhythm.

Keep an eye on Samuel’s usage —especially early— and if he’s getting a chance to make plays in the open field via the short passes. If he is, it should open things up nicely for the Buckeye ground attack.

Stepping up


Also lost amid all the talk surrounding the passing game last week was the almost non-existent wide receiver play. Of J.T. Barrett’s 21 passes, only five were to true wide receivers, with those passes amounting to a pedestrian two catches for 16 yards. Needless to say, that probably won’t cut it against Wisconsin.

While the new receiving corps has had their moments this season, they’ve also been extremely inconsistent. After Noah Brown’s four touchdown day at Oklahoma, the redshirt sophomore has only two catches since. The story has been mostly the same for Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, and Johnnie Dixon. Each has flashed at times, but this game would be a good time to start turning their (very high) potential into production.

While it’s great that Dontre Wilson is healthy and a productive piece to the offense this season, color me skeptical that a successful passing offense includes him leading the non-Curtis Samuel division of Ohio State pass catchers in targets.

Wisconsin’s defense isn’t going to make it easy for them, (15th in Defensive Passing S&P+, 9th in Defensive back Havoc Rate) but with a crowded line of scrimmage once again likely, it’ll be up the the wideouts to make plays downfield. If they even make just a few, the offense will look less like the one dimensional version we saw against Indiana, and more like the complete version against Oklahoma.

Making noise up front


The good news is that if Ohio State’s offense struggles again, the defense should be more than capable of picking up the slack. That starts with the defensive line.

While the pass rush continues to be worrisome (101st in Adj. sack rate) the Buckeyes’ defensive line has been stellar against the run (4th in Adj. line yards) and have made a ton of plays at, or behind, the line scrimmage (4th in stuff rate, 13th in defensive line havoc rate). Doing so again on Saturday could lead to big things for the seven players behind them.

Leveraging Wisconsin into passing downs situations makes it unlikely that redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook will have much success against this secondary. Hornibrook was forced into these situations against Michigan, and was a dismal 9 of 25, with three interceptions. If the Buckeyes control the line on first and second downs similarly, there may be a whole lot of this:


Except without the cut block, this time
3rd phase


After mostly up-and-down play through Meyer’s first four seasons, Ohio State’s special teams unit seems to have finally found their groove. The Buckeyes rank third in Special Teams S&P+, with punter Cameron Johnston being the obvious star (2nd in punt success rate). Against an equally strong Wisconsin group (6th in Special teams S&P+) hidden yards may be one of the biggest factors in the outcome of the game.

Ohio State’s special teams dominance has led to a huge field position advantage for both the offense (6th in average field position) and defense (5th). The Buckeyes have been the best in the country at finishing drives offensively, and another strong day from the return group — looking at you, Parris Campbell — will ease the tough task of scoring on the stout Badgers defense.

Wisconsin’s offense probably won’t score much anyway, but if they’re consistently put at a disadvantage by either Johnston’s punts, or strong kick coverage, it’s hard to see them moving the ball for long stretches. The Badgers aren’t explosive enough to make up for the lost yards in special teams, and dinking and dunking down the field isn’t a wise strategy against this defense.

If Ohio State is once again able to win the special teams battle, it will save the offense the trouble of having to drive the length of the field for points, and keep Wisconsin’s offense in their own end for much of the game.

The point


Top ten matchup. College Gameday on hand. Night game on the road.

You already know whose music that is:



Continue reading...

Week 7: What Tom Dienhart thinks he knows ahead of Saturday
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

BTN.com's Tom Dienhart doesn't know it all, but he does know what he thinks. Here's his weekly look at what he believes heading into Week 7 of the Big Ten football season.

Continue reading...