https://finance.yahoo.com/news/well...ess-that-its-first-mess-caused-141756800.html

WFC announces plans to work with credit bureaus to restore credit histories for victims having a credit account opened in their name without their consent, as well as working with victims directly to adjust or refund money if its determined their credit was affected enough to change their interest rate on a financial product, even if financed with another lender.

Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 10/14/2016
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


Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Ohio State West Pipeline Continues?


While many pundits have all but put Jeffrey Okudah in the Buckeyes 2017 recruiting class, it still isn’t official and the Buckeyes may actually be looking to take more than one safety in this class anyways. That second name would be Bubba Bolden, 4-star safety out of Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas, NV. That high school sounds familiar doesn’t it? It currently is the home to three Buckeye recruiting commitments in Tate Martell, Tyjon Lindsey and Haskell Garrett. Bolden himself earned a Buckeye offer back on September 6th, and immediately they shot to the top of his list because of the connections with his teammates.

Bolden has scheduled his official visit to the Buckeyes for November 5th when the Buckeyes host Nebraska which is shaping up to be one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the year along with the Michigan game on November 26th. Bolden talked with Scout’s ($) Greg Biggins about his visit plans going forward.

“I’m going to visit Ohio State (Nov. 5),” Bolden said. “I’ll also visit UCLA and USC after the season but don’t have any other dates locked in. I’m still looking at Arizona State, Colorado and Florida as well and I’ll figure out my other trip dates later in the year.”

Bolden is shooting up recruiting board rankings nationally, and his play on the field this season is a big reason why. He had a blocked field goal against St. Thomas Aquinas that led the game to overtime in which the Gaels prevailed. He is great in pass coverage as well as in run defense and likes to make big plays along with big hits.


As the Wade Turns:


One of the reasons the Buckeyes have been going hard after Bolden might be because they don’t feel very confident where they stand with Shaun Wade. Can you really blame them? He has said he is committed, but done everything to make it look like he doesn’t want to be a part of the Buckeyes 2017 recruiting class. The most recent event was an impromptu trip to Tuscaloosa to see the campus of Alabama with his dad.



It has always seemed that Wade would end up at either Alabama or Ohio State, and the longer it goes the more I think he ends up with the Crimson Tide. His father spoke to Chris Kirchner at SEC Country and said he isn’t worried about the distance from home factor that his family would have to deal with if he chose Ohio State.

“It’s ultimately about the relationships he has with the coaches,” Randy Wade said. “It’s his decision at the end of the day, and people are going to believe what they want. I understand people are going to say (Alabama) is close, but I just think it’s crazy. His relationships with the Alabama staff is going to be what brings him over there and not just because he was born there.”

He also told Kirchner that he and his wife are closer to the Ohio State staff than the Alabama staff, but the decision is all Shaun’s.

“At the end of the day, it’s just about what he wants more,” Randy Wade said. “He knows the schools that give him the best chance for the NFL. He knows the places that have a better than average education. He just now has to pick which one he wants.

Wade will likely be back on Alabama’s campus for an official visit later on this fall and also plans to be at the Nebraska game on November 5th when the Buckeyes host the Cornhuskers for his official to Ohio State. His final decision will likely come soon after that, as Wade is going to be an early-enrollee.


Ohio Star on the Mend:


In the second game of his season, Westerville running back Jaelen Gill broke his leg, ending his junior season before it hardly started. He has since been letting the the healing process take over, and he spoke with Scout’s Bill Greene about his recovery process so far.

“Last Friday they took my cast off and the x-ray looked good, so I should be able to start my rehab in the next week or so,” Gill stated. “I broke my fibula and the back of my ankle when someone landed on me.”

“I should be fully recovered by late December or early January,” he added. “The injury was frustrating because I was so much better of a player than I was last year. I’m bigger, stronger and faster, so this really disappointing to me.”

Gill holds almost 30 offers to date, but the Buckeyes are the leader if judging by the crystal ball projections that have come in, as all favor Ohio State. Gill talked with Greene about his upcoming trip planning.

“The cast has limited me, but I was at Ohio State for a practice a few weeks ago, and I’m going to Notre Dame this weekend for their game with Stanford,” he explained. “I’m also going to go to Ohio State for their games with Nebraska and Michigan.”

“I’d also like to get to Michigan State or Penn State this year if possible, and maybe LSU or Alabama,” Gill said. “I’m still keeping my options open to see what schools might still offer. LSU is the latest offer, and I’m interested. Alabama has been talking to me and said if I visit, they will offer.”

Even with the injury Gill is still one of the highest ranked recruits for the class of 2018.


DPJ on the Road Again:


Fresh off his visit from Ohio State last week, Donovan Peoples-Jones, the #1 receiver in the country will be visiting Michigan State this weekend as they host the Northwestern Wildcats. While it is still likely that DPJ ends up with the Wolverines in the end, the Spartans still feel like they have a shot with the in-state prospect.



The Buckeyes have a few things working for them on the DPJ front, as he is former teammates with Mike Weber, Joshua Alabi and Damon Webb and the Buckeyes have recruited Michigan pretty well with Urban Meyer at the helm. The Spartans also have a few things going there way, as Peoples-Jones is close friends with Demetric Vance and Donnie Corley who will certainly try and sway the talented star to the Green and White.

In the end though, I think he ends up at Michigan giving them a huge target for whoever is playing quarterback there in the future.


Wyatt Davis Schedules Official Visit:


When the Buckeyes host Northwestern on October 29th they will have a big time visitor (and current commitment) on campus in Wyatt Davis. Davis is a 5-star offensive lineman out of Bellflower, California. He spoke with Landof10.com

“I’ll be there against Northwestern,” Davis told Landof10.com when asked about his official visit plans. “I’m going with my mom and dad.”

Emory Jones Hurt:


In last nights high school football game, Emory Jones the top dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2018 injured his throwing shoulder in the first quarter. While an immediate timetable is not known for his recovery or when he will get back on the field, he told Bill Kurlic that he thinks he will be back this season.



Even though he left the game injured it appears as though he has the leadership qualities that you want in a quarterback as he was back on the sidelines coaching his teammates.



We here at tBBC wish Emory a speedy recovery!

The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 10/14/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Why Alabama should be looking over its shoulder at Ohio State - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Why Alabama should be looking over its shoulder at Ohio State
ESPN
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 ...

and more »

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Richard Sherman sits down when he pees and nobody has more tranny fans than the Seahawks.

Atlanta 57
Seattle 3

Not sure if this should be posted here OR if this post in itself is a jinx. If so, please forgive me and understandably take it down.

As a Tampa Buckeye I looked into getting tickets to the National Championship game should the Buckeyes go & I figured I'd pass along what I found.

It's possible to purchase tickets at face value ($450 & $550) without being stuck with seats for a game in Tampa (ugh) featuring two teams you don't give a shit about. It seems reasonable option verses paying a scalper double the price in December.

1. Go here... https://collegefootballplayoff.teamtix.com/content/home

2. Click on whichever game you're looking to reserve for, then the team

3. As I understand it, you pay the premium (right now it looks like around $80) and if the Buckeyes go to the big game, your card is automatically charged for either $450 or $550. If they don't, you lose your $80.


I'm guessing the fees will go up every week depending on the rankings. Unfortunately, I don't have $1000 to spend on tickets but perhaps you do. And, I hate to see anyone pay scalpers for something they should be able to enjoy without breaking the bank.

Now, the fact that it's here in Tampa baffles me, but that's a whole other posting.

1. Ohio State scored 38 points and gained 383 yards against Indiana, which were far below the Buckeyes' averages in points per game (57.0) and yards per game (576.3). Indiana scored 17 points and 281 total yards, which caused the Buckeyes' defensive numbers to take a slight hit as well:

Category	OSU Statistic	-NCAA Rank-
Scoring Offense	53.2 ppg	3rd
Scoring Defense	10.8 ppg	2nd
Point Differential	42.4 ppg	1st
Total Offense	537.6 ypg	5th
Total Defense	246.4 ypg	4th
Yardage Differential	291.2 ypg	1st
Rushing Offense	323.6 ypg	3rd
Rushing Defense	97.8 ypg	9th
Passing Offense	214.0 ypg	86th
Passing Defense	148.6 ypg	5th
Pass Efficiency Offense	163.54	10th
Pass Efficiency Defense	82.64	2nd
3rd Down Offense	.529	5th
3rd Down Defense	.289	15th
Red Zone Offense	.897	38th
Red Zone Defense	.583	1st
Sacks	2.20 / game	60th
Sacks Allowed	0.60 / game	2nd
Net Punting	46.71 yds	2nd
Turnover Margin	1.60 / game	5th
Time of Possession	36:00	4th

2. Here's how Ohio State and Wisconsin stack up in the major offensive and defensive categories. The Buckeyes are top 5 in all categories, while the Badgers produce sound numbers on defense but are anemic on offense:

Team	Total Offense	NCAA Rank	Score Offense	NCAA Rank	Total Defense	NCAA Rank	Score Defense	NCAA Rank	Turnovers	NCAA Rank
Ohio State	537.6 ypg	5th	53.2 ppg	3rd	246.4 ypg	4th	10.8 ppg	2nd	+10	3rd
Wisconsin	360.2 ypg	106th	26.0 ppg	88th	291.4 ypg	11th	12.2 ppg	4th	0	56th

3. H-back Curtis Samuel is the Buckeyes' leading receiver (23 receptions, 345 yards, 3 touchdowns) and second-leading rusher (50 carries, 410 yards, 3 touchdowns). Samuel is averaging 151.0 all-purpose yards per game and 10.3 yards per touch. Samuel already has eleven plays from scrimmage of 20+ yards (5 rushes, 6 receptions).

4. Running back Mike Weber is the team's leading rusher, with 83 carries for 566 yards (6.8 average) and 4 touchdowns. At his current pace, Weber will rush for over 1,400 yards this season and easily break Ohio State's freshman rushing record (1,237 yards by Maurice Clarett in 2002).

5. In the two games after his breakout performance against Oklahoma (5 receptions, 72 yards, 4 touchdowns), wide receiver Noah Brown has only 3 catches for 31 yards and no touchdowns.

6. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has 1,323 total yards (342 rushing, 981 passing), for an average of 264.6 yards per game. He also has 19 total touchdowns (4 rushing, 15 passing) on the season.

7. Barrett is currently 10th in career passing yards at Ohio State with 4,807. He needs 283 yards to pass Jim Karsatos (5,089 yards) for 9th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 7,547 passing yards.

8. Barrett is in 5th place in career total yards at Ohio State with 6,769. He needs 120 yards to pass Troy Smith (6,888 yards) for 4th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 8,850 total yards.

9. Barrett is in 2nd place at Ohio State in career total touchdowns with 86. He needs three touchdowns to pass Braxton Miller (88 TDs).

10. Barrett entered the 2016 season as Ohio State's career leader in completion percentage, at 64.2%. This season, Barrett has completed 79 of 123 passes (64.2%), which is exactly equal to his career average.

11. H-back Dontre Wilson has 2,696 all-purpose yards for his career, which places him 28th at Ohio State. Wilson needs 13 yards to pass Robert Smith for 27th place; 50 yards to pass Joey Galloway for 26th place; 51 yards to pass Cris Carter for 25th place; and 52 yards to pass Devin Smith for 24th place. Ohio State's career leader in all-purpose yards is Archie Griffin with 6,559.

12. Safety Malik Hooker leads FBS with four interceptions this season (tied with five others), and the team is fourth with ten interceptions (tied with three others). Wisconsin has thrown seven interceptions in just 137 pass attempts for an interception rate of 5.1%, which is the fourth-worst in FBS.

13. Despite limited opportunities, punter Cameron Johnston is having an All American season. Johnston has 17 punts for 852 yards, for an average of 50.1 yards per punt. Eleven of Johnston's punts have been inside the 20-yard line, only two punts have been returned for a total of just 18 yards, and two punts resulted in a touchback. When return yards and touchbacks are factored into the equation, Johnston has a net average of 46.7 yards per punt, which is second in FBS.

14. Ohio State has not had a kick-off return for a touchdown since November 27, 2010 (Jordan Hall, 85 yards, vs Michigan); has not had a punt return for a touchdown since November 22, 2014 (Jalin Marshall, 54 yards, vs Indiana); and has not had a punt block for a touchdown since October 5, 2013 (Bradley Roby, 0 yards, vs Northwestern).

15. Ohio State (5-0) enters the contest as the #2 team in the country (both AP and CP), while Wisconsin (4-1) is ranked #8 in the AP and #10 in the CP. Wisconsin has knocked off a couple of teams that began the season highly-ranked (LSU #5 AP; MSU #12 AP) but are currently struggling and unranked. Wisconsin's sole loss was to #4 Michigan by the score of 14-7.

16. This year's game will be played Saturday, October 15th, at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM, and the game will be televised on ABC. Ohio State enters the contest as a 10-point favorite with a 70.5% chance to win the game according to ESPN's Football Power Index Matchup Predictor.

Wisconsin Hopes To Make Ohio State Wince And Weep
Chip Minnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Embed from Getty Images​

October 13, 2003. Undefeated Ohio State, riding a nineteen game unbeaten streak, comes into Camp Randall to battle the Wisconsin Badgers, led by Barry Alvarez. Jim Tressel’s team battles valiantly, but fall to Ohio native and Wisconsin WR Lee Evans outracing Ohio State’s Chris Gamble to the end zone, 17-10.

October 17, 2010. Undefeated and top-ranked Ohio State come into Camp Randall, eager to demonstrate to the nation and the Wisconsin Badgers, led by Bret Bielema, that the Buckeyes are truly worthy of their status as the BCS frontrunner. Jim Tressel’s team again battles valiantly, but fall to one-time Ohio State recruit and Wisconsin RB John Clay’s two touchdowns, 31-18.

What did those games from the past have in common with this upcoming contest?

• Both games were in Camp Randall Stadium
• Both games were at night

Now that I have your attention, here are three critical areas I will be keeping an eye on when this contest kicks off at 8pm EST on ABC…

1. Can Ohio State Develop Offensive Balance Against Wisconsin? ~ Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett’s passing statistics from his game against Indiana were as follows – 9/21 for 93 yards, with 1 touchdown to Dontre Wilson, and 1 interception that glanced off the hands of Marcus Baugh. Barrett was tremendously successful running the ball against Indiana, leading the Buckeyes with 137 yards on the ground. Look for Wisconsin to do everything possible to bottle up Ohio State’s running game. Will Ohio State be able to counter effectively through the air against the Badgers? Something else to be seen – how the Ohio State wide receivers respond, after this story emerged on ESPN.com earlier this week.
2. Will Curtis Samuel Be Involved Earlier In The Offensive Gameplan Against Wisconsin? ~ Curtis Samuel had a solid game against Indiana, running for 82 yards and a touchdown. The larger point is that Samuel did not actually touch the ball until the second quarter began, and Ohio State was tied 3-3 with Indiana. Will the Ohio State offensive coaches involve Samuel sooner, regardless of whether it involves running or passing?
3. How Will Ohio State Respond To The Camp Randall Challenge? ~ As stated up above, Ohio State has lost to Wisconsin at night on previous occasions. It must also be noted that Ohio State has defeated Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium at night, in 2008, with a true freshman quarterback in Terrelle Pryor. The larger point is Wisconsin truly revels in the night game atmosphere of Camp Randall Stadium, especially when the Buckeyes come to town. Yes, Ohio State’s young team excelled against Oklahoma at night. This is another huge test of the maturity and poise of the 2016 Buckeyes.

Prediction: The player I will keep an eye on throughout is WR Noah Brown. A physical mismatch, look for Barrett to target Brown repeatedly in this game against Wisconsin. If Brown can be a consistent possession receiver, especially in the red zone, it will open up opportunities for other offensive weapons within Ohio State’s arsenal. Look for this game to be a typical Ohio State/Wisconsin slugfest, but I see the Buckeyes pulling away in the fourth quarter, with Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 21.







The post Wisconsin Hopes To Make Ohio State Wince And Weep appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016: Game preview, prediction, and 6 things to know
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State and Wisconsin square off in a top 10 showdown under the lights at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday night.

Ohio State travels to Madison for a showdown on Saturday against Wisconsin under the lights at Camp Randall Stadium, where the Badgers always seem to give the Buckeyes a stern test. Four of the last five games between Ohio State and Wisconsin at Camp Randall have seen the final result be decided by seven points or less. The most recent meeting between the two schools in Madison came back in 2012, where Ohio State squeaked out a 21-14 victory over the Badgers in overtime.

Ohio State is coming off a win last week over Indiana, in which the Buckeyes didn’t look great, but still ended up winning by 21 points. Ohio State didn’t lean as much on J.T. Barrett’s arm against the Hoosiers, but they did rely on the redshirt junior quarterback’s legs, giving Barrett a career-high 26 carries. For many, Ohio State’s offensive output left a lot to be desired, as the Buckeyes failed to score 40 points and amass at least 400 yards of total offense for the first time since last season’s loss to Michigan State.

A lot has changed since the last time these two schools played each other in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis, where Ohio State shutout Wisconsin 59-0. In that blowout victory, Cardale Jones was making his first-ever start, as J.T. Barrett was injured the previous week against Michigan. The lopsided victory over the Badgers helped propel Ohio State into the College Football Playoff, which they eventually won.

When Ohio State last took on Wisconsin, current Badgers head coach Paul Chryst was still coaching at Pittsburgh. But it isn’t like Chryst is unfamiliar with what it means to play Ohio State, since not only did Chryst play for the Badgers from 1986-1988, but he also served as Wisconsin’s tight ends coach in 2002, as well as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator from 2005-2011. This marks Chryst’s second season as the head coach of the Badgers, and so far he has posted a 14-4 record while in charge at his alma mater.

So far this year Chryst has had a lot to deal with, but he has navigated the turbulent waters rather well. Not only has Wisconsin lost linebackers Chris Orr and Vince Biegel to injuries, but they’ve also had to deal with inconsistent quarterback play. Redshirt senior Bart Houston won the starting quarterback job before the season, but was replaced by redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook after the Georgia State game. Add in the tough schedule Wisconsin has faced to start the season, and the fact that the Badgers are sporting a 4-1 record heading into this game speaks volumes of the job Chryst is doing in just his second season.

What is carrying Wisconsin is their defense, which while not flashy, play solid, fundamental defense. What keeps Wisconsin in games is they don’t give up the big play. Through five games this year, the Badgers have only given up five plays of 20 yards or more. Something will have to give against an Ohio State team that has the ability on any given play to break off a huge gain with the athleticism they possess on offense.

Ohio State’s biggest advantages


Silver bullets reloaded. Ohio State’s defense should give redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook plenty of problems on Saturday night. Hornibrook will be making just his third start for the Badgers, and had a pretty rough go of it last time out against Michigan, only completing nine of his 25 passes, and throwing three interceptions. The Buckeyes have intercepted 10 passes through five games this year, with four of those interceptions being made by Malik Hooker.

Ohio State was able to neutralize Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine a few weeks ago in Norman, and Wisconsin doesn’t quite have the explosive talent that the Sooners do. Where Wisconsin has really been struggling of late has been with their running attack. Senior running back Corey Clement is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry this year on 82 carries. After averaging 8.2 yards per carry during his freshman year, Clement’s per carry average has gotten worse each year since. With Ohio State yielding just 97.8 yards per game on the ground to opponents, it’s hard to believe that Clement is going to find much room to run.

If Ohio State is able to bottle up the Wisconsin rushing attack, it’ll put added pressure on Hornibrook, something that he might not be ready for. If Ohio State is able to jump out to a lead, Wisconsin will be forced to do something they aren’t entirely comfortable with, and that’s throwing the football. If the Wisconsin defense isn’t able to slow down the Ohio State offense, the Badgers just aren’t dynamic enough on offense to be able to keep up with Ohio State on the scoreboard.

Keep ‘em on their heels. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, Ohio State’s performance on offense last week wasn’t all that fun to watch, yet the Buckeyes still ended up scoring 38 points. Wisconsin is by far the best defense that Ohio State has squared off against this year, but in the same respect, Ohio State has the best offense that Wisconsin has squared off against this season. The reason the Buckeye offense can have a down game and still scored 38 points is because of who they have taking the snaps for them.

J.T. Barrett commands the respect of his opponents because he can hurt them in multiple ways. Coming into last week’s game against Indiana, Barrett had thrown 14 touchdowns in the first four games of the season, so teams have to respect what he can do with his arm. If Barrett isn’t called on to pass as much, or is just ineffective throwing the football, he still has to be accounted for on the ground. Barrett is just 38 yards away from hitting 2,000 yards rushing for his Ohio State career, and with the way he has the ability to run the football, he could even get to 3,000 rushing yards by the time his career is over.

What makes this Ohio State offense so dangerous at times is that almost everybody is a threat to break a big play. Commit too many people to stopping the run and Barrett can find Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, or a number of other receivers through the air. Try and take away the pass and the Buckeyes can run it with either the power that Mike Weber gives them, or the speed that Curtis Samuel brings to the table. Opposing defenses really have to pick their poison against the Buckeyes, and a lot of the time they end up picking wrong since Ohio State is routinely scoring at least 30 points a game.

Punt to win. In a game like this, where Wisconsin figures to get some stops on the Buckeyes, having a punter like Cameron Johnston could prove to be the difference in the game. Earlier this year when Ohio State was playing Oklahoma, Johnston proved just how valuable he is early in the game. The Sooners had just missed a field goal, and the Buckeyes had just gone three-and-out when Johnston uncorked a 68-yard punt to put Oklahoma at their own 11-yard line. Johnston flipped the field position and Ohio State responded by forcing Oklahoma to put, and the Buckeyes got the ball at Oklahoma’s 45-yard line and followed that up with a touchdown four plays later.

The punter from Australia is averaging 50.1 yards per punt so far this season, with 11 of his 17 punts coming to rest inside the 20-yard line. In a game where Wisconsin is going to be starting a young quarterback, the best offense for the Buckeyes might be to pin Wisconsin deep and try to force them into mistakes. The Badgers are going to want to keep the ball away from Ohio State in this contest, but if they can’t get any traction going because Ohio State is winning the field position battle, the outcome might just play right into Ohio State’s hands.

Wisconsin’s biggest advantages


Badger tested. In just their sixth game of the season, Wisconsin will already be playing their fourth opponent that will be ranked in the top 10. To start of the season, the Badgers played LSU at Lambeau Field, who was ranked fifth in the AP Poll at the time. The Tigers came into the game as a double-digit favorite, but the Badgers kicked a game-winning 47-yard field goal with just under four minutes to go in the game. While the Tigers hasn’t lived up to expectations this year, the win by Wisconsin still snapped LSU’s 52-game regular season winning streak against non-conference opponents.

After a win over Akron, along with a close win over Georgia State, Wisconsin again had their backs against the wall when they traveled to East Lansing to take on Michigan State, who was ranked eighth at the time. The Spartans were just coming off a big road win over Notre Dame and not many gave Wisconsin a chance to win, especially with Alex Hornibrook making his first start at quarterback. The Badgers dominated the game on their way to a 30-6 win.

Wisconsin’s luck finally ran out the next week when they lost to fourth ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor, but the Badgers gave the Wolverines all they could handle, only losing 14-7. There’s no doubt the Badgers have been tested this year, so having to go up against this Ohio State team won’t be something that scares them. If Wisconsin is able to play solid defense early on and get a couple bounces to go their way, they will give the Buckeyes all they can handle.

No swiss cheese defense here. If Wisconsin is going to win this game, there is no question it is going to be because of their defense. What jumps out the most about Wisconsin’s defense is how strong they are against the run. Eight of the last 12 opponents Wisconsin has played have failed to reach 100 yards rushing, and it’s no coincidence that Wisconsin has won all eight of those games.

The strength of the Wisconsin defense lies with their linebackers, and what makes how the Badger linebackers are playing even more impressive is knowing the unit already has lost Chris Orr and Vince Biegel for the season due to injury. Jack Cichy and T.J. Watt have really stepped up as the season has gone on, and the injuries have mounted for Wisconsin. Cichy leads Wisconsin with 35 tackles on the season, while Watt is tied for the Big Ten lead with 5.5 sacks so far this year.

If Wisconsin is going to have any chance in this game, they are going to need their run defense to set the tone early, and put the pressure on Barrett to try and beat the Badgers with his arm. The Badgers have an experienced secondary that is capable of making plays if needed. Whether it be through the air or on the ground, Wisconsin is going to make Ohio State work for every inch in this game.

Home sweet home. Ohio State may have not lost a true road game under Urban Meyer, but Camp Randall Stadium is one of the toughest venues to play at under the lights. Two of the last three times Ohio State has traveled to Wisconsin to play at night, the Buckeyes have left Madison with a loss. In 2010, Ohio State was the top ranked team in the country but Wisconsin dealt them a 31-18 loss. In 2008, Ohio State narrowly earned a 20-17 victory over the Badgers, and in 2003 Wisconsin halted Ohio State’s 19-game winning streak.

Even in Urban Meyer’s only trip to Wisconsin in 2012, the Badgers took Ohio State to the limit before the Buckeyes squeezed out a 21-14 victory in overtime. Since 2004, Wisconsin has posted a 75-9 record at Camp Randall Stadium, which is the second-best home record in the Big Ten, only trailing Ohio State’s 80-9 home record. Something about the Wisconsin crowd at night gives the Badgers a little extra energy on the field, and even though Ohio State has already traveled to Oklahoma this year, the crowd in Madison will be even more intense than what the Buckeyes saw in Norman.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 30, Wisconsin 16

Win Probability: Ohio State 78%

Wisconsin’s defense will hold Ohio State to their lowest point output of the season, but with the inexperience of Alex Hornibrook, the Badgers just won’t be able to put enough points on the board to truly threaten the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s defense will likely bring a lot of pressure and try and force Hornibrook into interceptions like he threw against Michigan, and with how the Buckeyes are forcing turnovers so far this season, the interceptions might not stop at three.

This has the feeling like one of those games where Wisconsin comes out firing and the Ohio State offense looks pretty bad to start, but as the game goes on J.T. Barrett and company start to find their legs and eventually put a little distance on the Badgers. Turnovers and special teams will likely be the difference in this one, as it’s hard to imagine Ohio State going the length of the field very much on this stout Badger defense.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game picks: Can the Buckeyes get a top 10 road win? - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game picks: Can the Buckeyes get a top 10 road win?
cleveland.com
Ohio State 30, Wisconsin 17: A possible blowout for the Buckeyes is on the table, but I think the Badgers defense is too good to let this get out of hand. But don't anticipate the 14-7 Michigan win over the Wisconsin. Even if Ohio State can't throw ...
Ohio State football | Buckeyes get back to work on passing gameColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the BadgersSB Nation
Football: Bumbaca breaks down No. 8 Badgers' matchup with No. 2 BuckeyesThe Badger Herald
The Daily Cardinal -UPI.com
all 338 news articles »

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What Do You Want To See? Wisconsin
Scott via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


I have to admit, I’m having trouble focusing on the OSU-Wisconsin game because my Cubbies are opening the National League Championship Series Saturday at 8 p.m.
But it’s a huge game and by kickoff I’m sure I will be able to multi-task.
Hopefully Ohio State isn’t worried about anything but the Badgers.
I would love to see OSU end all doubt early so I don’t have to watch two things at once. I can barely do one thing at a time without screwing it up.
But aside from a quick ending, what else do I, and my fellow staffers at tBBC, want to see?

Scott
A win: How about settling things in the first quarter?
No false starts: Not gonna stop this one until it happens.
No running Badgers: Let’s keep them out of the end zone and keep the streak alive.
Whatever it takes: At this point in the season it’s all about the Ws. Whether it’s 300 yards on the ground or in the air, a combination of both, whatever the Buckeyes need to do to win is fine with me.

Joe
Jump around: Getting the W in prime time has not been an issue for the Buckeyes, who are 59-13 all-time in evening games. Ohio State has won 12 consecutive games under the lights and getting a major win in the evening has never been an issue in the Urban Meyer era. But Ohio State has won just one of their last three games against Wisconsin under the lights in Camp Randall though and the 2010 game still stings for Ohio State fans.
Weber time: Yes, the Badger defense has been known in the past for its stingy run-stopping ability. This year they are holding opposing rushers to just 2.69 yards per carry in the Badger Box. The only problem is Georgia State and Akron’s rushing attack and ability up front to stop scheme defenses doesn’t come close to matching the Buckeye offensive line and its coaching staff. Look for Weber to gain more than 150 yards for the first time in his career and continue his campaign as the best running back statistically in the B1G.
Houston, we have a problem. It’s Hornibrook: A Sconny quarterback is a problem? Nah, that’s creating drama for the sake of making fun of Sconny QB. Bart Houston? Turnover town. Alex Hornibrook? A last name more arousing than his play on the field. The Ohio State defense will exact a similar performance out of the young signal caller that we saw against Michigan two weeks ago. Less than 100 yards passing and completing just 36 percent or less of his passes.


Look for a big game out of Noah Brown.


Brown Town, USA: The Lord said, “Noah, build an unstoppable performance against those stinkin’ Badgers.” Wait, did Noah even allow Badgers on the Arc? How in the heck are they in existence today? Oh, that’s right — they’re the type of rodent that can survive 40 days and 40 nights of flooding. Noah Brown is about to make the Wisconsin defensive backfield wish they had life preservers while they search for some type of Island. Here comes a touchdown of epic proportion and more than 100 yards receiving.

Ben
A win: Can it really be as simple as wanting to see a win? No, probably not. The Buckeyes performance last week did not impress me even though we won by 21. The offense was out of sync and it has me concerned especially in games like Wisconsin on the road at night.
Better offense: I want to see a fully functional offense like we saw in the first four games of the season. J.T. Barrett needs to get his wide receivers involved more into the game, and they need to help him out by creating separation and making plays down field. Until that happens I expect teams to load the box and dare us to pass.
Sixty minutes of hell: I want to see the defense make life a living hell for Alex Hornibrook and force him into bad throws causing interceptions for this defense full of ball hawks. I think they will give up some big runs to Corey Clement, but they need to keep him in check and not let him go off.
Good, solid effort: All in all I want to see a nice, complete performance and getting out of Madison with a win, no matter what it looks like will be enough for me. The Buckeyes are in a stretch of potential tough games right now, and just need to continue to play a little better every week and keep winning.

Brandon
Noodle-arm dominance: Look, I’m not saying I can throw harder than Hornibrook, but on second thought … I am. Watching this guy play against Michigan had me salivating at the thought of what the Buckeye secondary could do to this kid. He will be a great quarterback some day, but at this point in time he makes Chad Pennington’s arm look like Brett Favre’s. With all this said, I want to see at least three interceptions on Saturday.
Front seven dominance: Wisconsin’s only hope of moving the ball on the Buckeyes defense will fall solely on the Badger offensive line and Clement. So far this season, this approach has not worked as Clement has only managed 319 yards and 3.89 yards-per-carry. This is even with inflated numbers against Akron. Against his three decent defenses (LSU/MSU/UM), Clement has combined for 208 yards on 61 carries which results in a paltry 3.4 yards-per-carry. I would like to see the Buckeyes sell out against the run and hold the Badgers team to under 100 rushing yards on Saturday. As I mentioned above, Hornibrook can’t beat them by himself … force him to try.
Assert offensive force: The Wisconsin defense has carried the Badgers so far in this young football season. So far, they have only given up 90.4 rushing yards per game and 201 passing yards per game. For you non-math people (Hi Chris!) that means they are only giving up 291.4 yards per game. Their dominance has been especially evident stopping the run as they are holding opponents to only 3.1 yards-per-carry. Enter Ohio State, which averages 6.37 yards-per-carry and an amazing 323.6 rushing yards per game. Something has to give and I think it will be the Badger defense. The Buckeye offense is way to versatile. If they focus on stopping Weber … in comes Curtis Samuel. If they focus on stopping Weber and Samuel, Barrett can take over. I want to see the Buckeyes establish the run early and utilize play-action on their way to rushing for more than 300 yards and throwing for more than 200 yards.

WVa
Turn it into Kriss Kross Jump: Leave no doubt as to who is the better team. Hit them hard (and see how they fall) early and often to where all they have left for the end of the third quarter is a different jump. This will be the second week in a row the Buckeyes will be in a slobber knocker.
B1G title game revisit: Show Paul Cryst why his predecessor left in a hurry after the championship game loss. Throw the ball down field because Whisky doesn’t have anyone that can keep up with the Buckeyes wide receivers corp.
Spread the wealth, evenly: After establishing a good aerial attack, spread the wealth as evenly as possible. With the weapons the Buckeyes have, there’s no reason for one player to have more than nine or 10 touches and that includes Barrett. I know he has a chance to set a record on Saturday in half the time the current record holder did it, but that cannot be the focus for a man who doesn’t care that he’s setting the records in passing.

The post What Do You Want To See? Wisconsin appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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2018 Ohio State QB commit injured
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Emory Jones went down with a shoulder injury Thursday night.

Ohio State is on the road this weekend as they head to Madison, Wis. to take on the Badgers in another huge test for the young Buckeyes squad. While Ohio State isn't set to host any prospects this weekend due to being the "away" team, Urban Meyer and staff received some great news as they will play host to one of their remaining top targets in a couple weeks. But, with the good news, there was also some bad news.

Jones injured in Thursday night game


Class of 2018 quarterback Emory Jones (Franklin, GA / Heard County) suffered an injury during a Thursday night contest against Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway. While an AC joint (shoulder) separation appears bad, Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts reported that Jones said he would be able to come back before the end of the season.

Here’s to a speedy recovery for the No. 1 dual QB of 2018.

Bolden sets OSU official visit


It seems every day that passes another connection is being made between Ohio State and the top high school program in the country, Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, Nevada. Yesterday, the connection was made again as Ohio State looks to try and pull another Gorman star to Columbus as a part of the 2017 recruiting class.


It was announced on Twitter that Bubba Bolden, a four-star safety, would be taking his first official visit to Ohio State on Nov. 5, when the Buckeyes host the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Bolden, offered recently by Ohio State on Sept. 6, has thought to be a Buckeye lock due to the relationship Ohio State is building with Gorman. With stars Tyjon Lindsey, Tate Martell and Haskell Garrett already committed to the Buckeyes 2017 class, Bubba Bolden might just be the fourth.

As things currently stand, the Buckeyes are the run away favorite to land Bolden according to the 247sports crystal ball predictions. The one time USC commit looks to be nearly an Ohio State lock, but a successful official visit on Nov. 5, could be the final string needing to be pulled to make it official. Time will tell, but it certainly looks good for Ohio State.

Okudah's latest rumblings


Keeping with the trend of the nation's top defensive back products in the 2017 class, Jeffrey Okudah might just be one of the best. Yesterday, Ohio State landed another infamous 247sports crystal ball prediction for Jeffrey Okudah from Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts. Thought to be a heavy Ohio State lean for sometime now, Okudah has been to Ohio State on more than one occasion, but the last time he saw Ohio State was at Oklahoma in the Buckeyes first road test of the season.

Okudah has done an excellent job at keeping his mouth quiet and not tipping his hat to where he will land, but Ohio State is once again at least at the top for another five-star prospect in the 2017 class. Okudah's recruitment could end tomorrow or very well play out towards national signing day, but Urban Meyer and his staff will certainly be near or at the top of it until the pen hits the paper.

Gill healing up just fine


The top athlete in Ohio for 2018 and the second best in the entire country is none other than Jaelen Gill. Gill, from Westerville South (OH), unfortunately had a season ending injury this fall that derailed what was sure to be another fantastic season for the Wildcats stud. While Jaelen has been recovering and thankfully recovering just fine, his visits are now the focal point of his season.

In an article with scout.com, Gill talks about his latest visits and his upcoming plans. Included in the article, Gill let the readers know that he was at an Ohio State practice just last week and plans to visit Ohio State for their games against not only Nebraska, but the season finale against Michigan.

The Buckeye State five-star currently has every 247sports crystal ball prediction in favor of the home-team Buckeyes – and that has to leave Ohio State recruiting followers excited. There's a long way to go in this recruitment, but things certainly are sitting well for Urban Meyer and his potential for keeping this athlete at home.

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Ohio State football | Buckeyes get back to work on passing game - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Buckeyes get back to work on passing game
Columbus Dispatch
When analyzing what goes wrong with a college football team's passing game, it is natural to start with the quarterback — in the case of Ohio State's J.T. Barrett, “the distributor.” Receivers can run poor routes, tight ends can see passes slip ...
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the BadgersSB Nation
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State 2016: Preview, prediction, pick to win - Big Ten footballUPI.com
Buckeyes eyeing National ChampionshipThe Daily Cardinal
The Badger Herald -ESPN
all 317 news articles »

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin | Wheelwright in good place with Badgers after being spurned by Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin | Wheelwright in good place with Badgers after being spurned by Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch
2 Buckeyes (5-0) in a Big Ten showdown. The 6-foot-3, 211-pound senior from Walnut Ridge is the leading receiver for eighth-ranked Wisconsin (4-1). As one might imagine, Wheelwright has looked forward to this game for some time. “I'm pretty sure I have ...


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Huskers look to avenge loss to Buckeyes - Fremont Tribune
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Huskers look to avenge loss to Buckeyes
Fremont Tribune
Ohio State defeated the Huskers in four sets on Oct. 1, and Nebraska will be playing the Buckeyes for the second time in four matches. Second-ranked Nebraska will need to limit its losses against teams in the bottom half of the league standings to have ...
Win helps Huskers prep for rematch with BuckeyesKearney Hub

all 27 news articles »

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Ohio State football | Redshirt freshman Dre'Mont Jones steps into starting role - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Redshirt freshman Dre'Mont Jones steps into starting role
Columbus Dispatch
The three-technique is a key position for the Buckeyes because that player is expected to provide an inside pass rush as well as hold up against the run. Adolphus Washington and Michael Bennett were standouts at that position the last two years. Jones ...


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Raekwon McMillan isn’t worried about stats as long as Ohio State keeps winning
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 Buckeye defense has been playing so well they haven’t needed the linebacker to rack up as many tackles this year

“As long as we’re at the top of the Big Ten and top of the nation in run defense and not giving up any rushing touchdowns and playing great defense overall, I have no complaints.”

Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


Last year it felt like on almost every play Raekwon McMillan made a tackle. There were six games in 2015 in which McMillan made at least nine tackles in a game. So far in 2016 the most tackles McMillan has recorded in a game has been eight, which he did against both Tulsa and Oklahoma. So why the dip in production? The Buckeye defense hasn’t needed him to do nearly as much since the unit as a whole is playing at such a high level. The 33 tackles McMillan has made so far this year leads the Buckeyes, but the junior linebacker isn’t sweating the drop in his numbers.

What matters most to McMillan is how the Ohio State defense is playing, and right now they are one of the best defenses in the country. McMillan was called upon more last year to make plays since teams were trying to run up the middle on the Buckeyes. This year, teams haven’t had as much success doing so, as evidenced by Ohio State having yet to give up a rushing touchdown. While some of the other players on the defense are getting their names called more this year for the turnovers they are forcing, McMillan is still the captain of the defense. What the linebacker does might not be showing up in the stat sheet as much this year, but he is still what makes the defense tick.

“Guys who succeed at this level do it because their first passion is just being a part of the program, as opposed to guys who get here and then become obsessed with ‘OK, I have to get a scholarship’. Joe didn’t do that. Instead he took joy in the process.”

Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell on Joe Burger via Lindsay Schnell, Campus Rush


When three of his brothers had previously attended Notre Dame, there were many who had thought that Joe Burger would be next up to attend the prestigious Catholic university. After all, Joe did grow up rooting for the Fighting Irish, so it seemed like a given that he would follow in the footsteps of his brothers. That’s why it came as such a surprise to Joe’s father when Joe told him that he would be attending Ohio State. At least if Joe was going to be breaking one family tradition of attending Notre Dame, he would still be keeping alive another. All three of his brothers, as well as his father, all walked on at college but eventually earned a scholarship.

It’s not like Burger had much of a choice in walking on at Ohio State though, as there were already plenty of talented players ahead of him who were deserving of scholarships. Still, Joe caught the eye of the coaches with his toughness. Then again, you don’t grow up having three older brothers without having your skin thicken a little bit. The decision to attend Ohio State eventually paid off, as Burger was a key part of the special teams unit during the 2014 championship season. Now, as he is in the middle of his senior season, Burger continued the family tradition by being awarded a scholarship by Ohio State before the season, as well as being named one of the team captains. While his path may have been a little different from what his father and brothers did, in many ways it was exactly the same.

“I’ve been ready for this. It took me a couple games to get my feet under me, but I think I’m getting better every week. I’m ready to go.”

Ohio State defensive lineman Nick Bosa via Austin Ward, ESPN


No matter who was going to follow Joey Bosa on Ohio State’s defensive line, they were going to have big shoes to fill, but expectations were even higher for Bosa’s younger brother. With the pressure of being expected to come into Ohio State and contribute immediately, as well as coming off the knee injury he suffered during his senior year of high school, it would have been understandable if the younger Bosa’s numbers didn’t quite match up to his brother’s. That hasn’t been the case so far, as Nick has posted better numbers through five games than Joey did his freshman year.

After recording four tackles for loss and two sacks through his first five games, the scary thing is Nick Bosa is only going to get better as the season moves along. A big reason for Bosa’s early success has been defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who has been instrumental in bringing along Bosa at a pace that not only helps him grow, but also takes into account the ACL surgery Bosa underwent last year. It also helps that Ohio State has players like Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis playing on the edge, so they don’t have to overwork Bosa early during his freshman season. Now the biggest question after seeing how Joey and Nick have played, are there any Bosa defensive linemen left for Ohio State to recruit?

“I (visited Ohio State) knowing that it was my favorite school out of any school I was talking to. It seemed like a great opportunity before I even went there, but when I went there it sealed the deal.”

Ohio State basketball commit Braxton Beverly via Bill Landis, Cleveland.com


Ohio State basketball received their latest commitment on Monday night, as Braxton Beverly became part of the 2017 recruiting class. The three-star point guard from Kentucky might be a bit of a surprise to Ohio State fans, but head coach Thad Matta really likes what he sees in terms of the leadership Beverly could bring to the Buckeyes. The point guard took his official visit to Ohio State over the weekend and saw enough to decide that Ohio State was the place for him.

Originally Beverly had signed with Miami (Ohio) in the 2016 recruiting class, but decided that Oxford wasn’t right for him, so he asked for his release before the beginning of his freshman season. After the RedHawks granted Beverly his release, he spent the year at Hargrave Military Academy. Ohio State was already recruiting 2016 recruit Derek Funderburke at Hargrave, and while doing so they became familiar with what Beverly had to offer. Once Beverly was officially released from Miami, Ohio State was free to recruit the point guard. Last year Beverly even dropped 70 points in a game, breaking Terry Rozier’s school record. While Ohio State might not need Beverly to score that much, he’ll certainly be a welcome addition next year.

STICK TO SPORTS

• Next Thursday is The Haunted Hike in Westerville.
• Amazon is hiring hundreds of seasonal workers at its two central Ohio locations.
• Bob Dylan has been awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature.
• Little Caesars is introducing a brisket pizza.

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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


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



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



Daily Funny


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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


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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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



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.

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.

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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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


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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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


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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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



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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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


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:


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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 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


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!







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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