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tBBC What Do You Want To See? Oklahoma

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


It’s the game we have been waiting for since OSU’s schedule came out. Ohio State at Oklahoma.
Should be a fun one.
Early on, “experts” were predicting a Sooner romp. Not so sure now.
I want to see a good effort by OSU, win or lose.
But what else do I and the rest of the staff want to see?
Read on …..

Scott

A win: This is it for the week as far as game flow. I don’t care how. Just win.

Health: No major injuries.

Chip

Good start: The offense cannot be sluggish at the onset against Oklahoma as it was against Tulsa or Ohio State will lose.

Stop the run: Ohio State’s run defense is going to be tested, especially the interior. Need to avoid being in second or third and short yardage.

Let J.T. Rest: Avoiding running J.T. Barrett too much against Oklahoma. I’m fearful of an injury that could derail Ohio State’s season.

Use Curtis right: Figuring out what matchup will be best for Curtis Samuel. It took until the second half against Tulsa.

WVa

Defense, defense, defense: Keep laying the wood and smack them in the mouth early. Big 12 offenses don’t typically do well against faster teams and the Buckeyes have the best speed in the secondary they’ll see.

Mix it up: Take risks on offense but mix it up. Oklahoma already knows who, Buckeyes just need to get it to the others. Multiple touches for five different players besides J.T. and Samuel should do the trick.

Don’t get cocky: We are starting to see some swagger out of the defense unlike we have ever seen. Keeping that from going super cocky where mistakes begin to happen is crucial

Mike Meals

Pressure Baker Mayfield: Coming into this season, everyone wanted to talk about how great of a QB he is (he’s good, don’t get me wrong), but when he is rattled, he’s not nearly as good.

Stop the OU rushing attack: Both of OU’s top RBs are good. We need to show the world that the Silver Bullets can take not just one player out of the game, but they shut down an entire explosive offense.

Have fun: Last season, the Buckeyes tried to be all business during games, and I am all for that, but have fun. Show some swagger. Show some emotion. This is a young team, and they need to have fun. That’s what will carry them to a W this week, being “in” the game, and letting it all hang out.

JC

Good job Mr. Meals: Mike is on target … rattle Mayfield and focus on the running attack. This weekend the “D” must step up. The Buckeyes have a “real” game this week … undoubtedly Urban and crew will step up and assure this young team is ready.

Shine on J.T.: On offense JT needs to be on spot. Mike Weber, too, needs to show his salt. Samuel, I am confident will shine.

A win: I feel the Buckeyes will show step up to the challenge. I look forward to Saturday.

Ben

Shut down D: I want to see the defense continue to shut down opposing offenses. The fact that we shut down Bowling Green and Tulsa, who are notoriously high profile offenses, to only field goals speaks volumes about where this defense is. We need to pressure Baker Mayfield and make sure he stays in the pocket, as when he gets outside of it he is a dangerous playmaker. Bottle up the running back duo of Mixon and Perine and limit their big plays.

Better start: On offense we need to see a more fluid game plan than what we saw last week. The first half was hard to watch offensively and a start like that against Oklahoma could spell trouble from the outset. Barrett needs to get going early and find some throws down field to open up the run game for Weber and Samuel. A solid day on offense should be enough to walk out of Norman with a win.

Brandon

WR who?: I want to see a wide receiver step up and have a major impact in the game. Up until this week, the Buckeyes have done a good job of rotating players in at the WR position. This week, I want to see them settle on Noah Brown and Parris Campbell as their every down wide receiver … for the most part. Give Brown and Campbell a chance to take some pressure off of Samuel and Dontre Wilson in the receiving game.

Go deep J.T.: Barrett needs to throw the ball down field early and often. Oklahoma (and every B12 team) has major problems stopping the pass. The sooners have been killed time and time again with the throws downfield. Houston threw for 321 yards. ULM threw for 272 yards. I want Barrett throwing for 400+.

Dominant D: Don’t just stop the run, I want them in Baker Mayfield’s face every single time he drops back. Hit him in the mouth and make him feel very uncomfortable. If you rattle Mayfield, he will make mistakes.

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

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LGHL Ohio State offers another top ATH

Ohio State offers another top ATH
Caleb Houser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Buckeyes may have their biggest game of the season this weekend, but recruiting efforts never give way.

Tomorrow's game is easily one of the most anticipated games of the entire Ohio State season. With two high profile teams going head to head this early in the season, the recruits on hand and the trash talk that was said yesterday by an Oklahoma backup quarterback, this match up feels like a playoff atmosphere – with playoff implications. The Buckeyes will not only look to impress their fans, but the eyes of several recruits in attendance for this contest.

Bucks offer 4-star ATH


When it comes to recruiting the "athlete" position, Ohio State has struck gold more times than not. Yesterday, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes reached out to a 2018 four-star athlete from the Lone Star State to dish out their latest scholarship offer.

Joshua Moore (Yoakum, TX / Yoakum) announced publicly via his Twitter account that THE Ohio State was the latest to throw their hat into the ring of scholarship offers.


Blessed Beyond Measures!! Just Received An Offer From THE ️hio State University‼️ #Zone6 pic.twitter.com/xLWBbsG8Y7

— JOSHUA MOORE ‼️ (@_TheJoshuaMoore) September 15, 2016

Racking up his tally of offers to 30, Moore ranked out as the 13th best receiver in the 2018 class and the ninth best prospect at any position in Texas for 2018. Standing at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, Moore has the frame for an outside receiver but will look to get his weight up to be a true deep threat with the physicality to take on any defensive back.

As of right now, Texas leads the way followed by Oklahoma for the 247sports crystal ball predictions, but with Ohio State now in the running, anything is possible. Look for Urban Meyer and staff to get Moore on campus in the future for a visit before the recruitment really takes off.

Lindsey - Martell dup back in action


The nation's top ranked high school program has been connected to Ohio State for the better part of a year. Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nev. plays host to several top recruits in the country. The Buckeyes proudly boast three of those prized recruit commitments in Tyjon Lindsey, Tate Martell and Haskell Garrett.

Offensively, Tyjon and Tate make a dynamic duo that connects for incredible numbers. At the start of the 2016 season, it was believed that Tyjon was going to be heading back to his home state of California and returning to his hometown prep school. However, with some mishaps in transfer rules, etc. Tyjon was left to head back to Bishop Gorman and his top ranked team to finish his prep career before heading to Columbus.

On Wednesday, teammate Tate made it known that while Tyjon had not yet been allowed to compete for Gorman, everything was cleared to go and Lindsey would be set and ready to get back onto the field for his national top ranked team.


We're back... #DynamicDuo pic.twitter.com/TRMObYdTkh

— Tate Martell (@TheTateMartell) September 15, 2016

This couldn't come at a better time for Bishop Gorman as they are soon set to face Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas – and of course yet another five-star Buckeye commit, Trevon Grimes.

Woodbey still high on OSU


It's been covered time and time again: Ohio State's graphic design team for the football department is easily one of the best in the country. Their weekly graphics and videos leave recruits and fans speechless on their abilities. Once again, a top ranked recruit the Buckeyes are going hard after expressed his pleasure with the graphic design team by displaying some of the social media "love" he was given.


#Zone6 ⭕pic.twitter.com/hljFrqJc2W

— TheJaidenWoodbey™ (@Jaidenwoodbey) September 15, 2016

Jaiden Woodbey (Upland, CA /St. John Bosco) is not a new name to Ohio State recruiting fans, as he has tried to plan several visits to Columbus to see what the Buckeyes have to offer. Unfortunately for both sides, the trips have fallen through each time. The nation's third best safety overall and third best prospect from California in 2018 is a target Ohio State has made clear they are recruiting very heavily. Both sides will eventually meet up in the future as a trip to Ohio State seems inevitable for Woodbey.

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Google Bulldogs push past Buckeyes - Athens Messenger (registration)

Bulldogs push past Buckeyes - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Bulldogs push past Buckeyes
Athens Messenger (registration)
The Buckeyes (5-6, 4-2 Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division) were trying to spring and upset, and tie Athens (8-2, 5-0 TVC) in the league standings. N-Y came out and led 13-8 in the first set, as well as 21-18 in the second set. The Bucks played well ...


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Google How the Sooners and Buckeyes become preeminent recruiters - Tulsa World

How the Sooners and Buckeyes become preeminent recruiters - Tulsa World
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


How the Sooners and Buckeyes become preeminent recruiters
Tulsa World
14 Oklahoma this weekend, the Buckeyes won't be the only visitors from out of town making the trip to Norman. The Sooners plan to turn Saturday's game into one of their biggest recruiting weekends in years with prospects from seven different states ...
Hating on bulletin board material and flat-brimmed hats: Ohio State football radio show wrapupcleveland.com
Urban Meyer found his next great playmaker Curtis SamuelSporting News
BH: Deep thoughts | Road worriers?247Sports
Las Vegas Review-Journal (blog) -Toledo Blade -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 12 news articles »


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Google River Valley welcomes Buckeyes - Daily Sentinel

River Valley welcomes Buckeyes - Daily Sentinel
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


River Valley welcomes Buckeyes
Daily Sentinel
The Buckeyes' schedule has been anything but easy so far, as the Orange and Brown defeated three-time reigning TVC Hocking champion Trimble, and then lost to Newark Catholic and Liberty Center, who are ranked sixth and second in the AP Division VI ...

and more »


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Google Buckeyes Looking To Add More "Juice" - Scout

Buckeyes Looking To Add More "Juice" - Scout
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes Looking To Add More "Juice"
Scout
Following an impressive summer camp appearance at Ohio State, junior lineman Fredrick Scruggs has been on the radar of the Buckeye coaching staff. Earlier this week Ohio State issued an offer to Scruggs, affectionately known as "Juice" to his friends ...

and more »


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Google Steven M. Sipple: Everyone's chasing Buckeyes. How far behind are Huskers? - Lincoln...

Steven M. Sipple: Everyone's chasing Buckeyes. How far behind are Huskers? - Lincoln Journal Star
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Steven M. Sipple: Everyone's chasing Buckeyes. How far behind are Huskers?
Lincoln Journal Star
Steven, a lifelong Nebraskan, newspaper enthusiast and UNL grad, joined the Journal Star in 1990 and has covered NU football since 1995. Follow Steven M. Sipple | Lincoln Journal Star. Close ...


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Google River Valley welcomes Buckeyes - Point Pleasant Register

River Valley welcomes Buckeyes - Point Pleasant Register
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


River Valley welcomes Buckeyes
Point Pleasant Register
The Buckeyes' schedule has been anything but easy so far, as the Orange and Brown defeated three-time reigning TVC Hocking champion Trimble, and then lost to Newark Catholic and Liberty Center, who are ranked sixth and second in the AP Division VI ...

and more »


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Google Sooners backup QB Austin Kendall: Ohio State's defense 'very basic' - ESPN

Sooners backup QB Austin Kendall: Ohio State's defense 'very basic' - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Sooners backup QB Austin Kendall: Ohio State's defense 'very basic'
ESPN
Have fun with the Buckeyes "Basic D" pic.twitter.com/Ci1WhFFxFP. — Brandon Zimmerman (@bzimmerman9) September 14, 2016. Kendall's remarks quickly drew the attention of Buckeyes players on social media, including defensive end Sam Hubbard and ...
Ohio State vs. Oklahoma 2016 odds: Buckeyes betting favorite, even on the roadSB Nation
Ohio State Buckeyes showing depth at wide receiverMyDaytonDailyNews
Ohio State football | Oklahoma backup QB: Sooners 'will light up' Buckeyes' defenseColumbus Dispatch
UPI.com -WKYC-TV
all 772 news articles »


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Google Sooner backup QB says Baker Mayfield will 'light up' Buckeyes' 'really basic defense' -...

Sooner backup QB says Baker Mayfield will 'light up' Buckeyes' 'really basic defense' - NBCSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Sooner backup QB says Baker Mayfield will 'light up' Buckeyes' 'really basic defense'
NBCSports.com
Ohio State may not necessarily need bulletin-board material for their upcoming game, but, if they do, one member of the opposition has provided it. No. 3 OSU will travel to Norman Saturday to take on No. 14 Oklahoma in one of the most highly ...

and more »


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Google OU football: Sooners, Buckeyes share a similar glorious history - NewsOK.com

OU football: Sooners, Buckeyes share a similar glorious history - NewsOK.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


OU football: Sooners, Buckeyes share a similar glorious history
NewsOK.com
But when the Buckeyes and Sooners meet Saturday night in Norman, they will have much more in common than just consistent excellence. Their histories, in terms of team and individual accolades, are actually quite similar. Here's a comparison of OU and ...

and more »


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tBBC Ohio State Releases Oklahoma Hype Video

Ohio State Releases Oklahoma Hype Video
Shannon Sommers
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State Football has released their weekly hype video. The Buckeyes have their attention set on their Saturday night matchup against Oklahoma Sooners in Norman Oklahoma.

Go Bucks!!!










The post Ohio State Releases Oklahoma Hype Video appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL Urban Meyer pleased with strong start by Ohio State’s secondary

Urban Meyer pleased with strong start by Ohio State’s secondary
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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After losing 3 starters from last year, it’s hard to find fault with 7 interceptions through 2 games.

“Did I think Malik Hooker would be playing at the level he’s at? I wouldn’t be telling you the truth. At this level? I thought he’d be a very good player for us and grow into that position. He’s growing real fast - same with [safety] Damon Webb.”

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer via Nicholas Piotrowicz, The Toledo Blade


It’s hard to blame Urban Meyer if he had concerns about the secondary heading into this year after losing Eli Apple, Vonn Bell, and Tyvis Powell. Through two games Meyer has been able to breathe a little easier since the Buckeyes in the defensive backfield have exceeded expectations. Malik Hooker has intercepted three passes, which is tied for the NCAA lead, and Marshon Lattimore was just named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for his two interception performance against Tulsa.

So far Ohio State’s defense hasn’t given up an offense touchdown and a lot of that is due to the work of the secondary. Meyer knew there was plenty of talent with the new starters, he just wasn’t sure how long it would take for those players to put it all together. This marks the first time in school history that Ohio State has intercepted seven passes through their first two games. Now Meyer is hoping the secondary can continue their hot play as they’ll travel to Oklahoma and be tasked with trying to shutdown Heisman Trophy candidate Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Sooner offense.

“It’s a great situation. We have a lot of depth right now. They’re all performing at a high level. We’re just going to rep them and rotate them until they separate themselves. I’m playing 10 guys right now, which is kind of unheard of, but it’s a great problem to have.”

Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith via David Jablonski, Dayton Daily News


Coming into this season one of the biggest question marks about this Ohio State team was who was going to step up at wide receiver. So far the Buckeyes have had plenty of players trying to make their mark in the passing game, with 11 players having caught at least one pass through two games. Six of those players hadn’t caught a pass coming into this season. With so many players making plays, wide receivers coach Zach Smith is riding the wave until some of the receivers separate themselves from the rest of the group.

One player who has done just that so far is h-back Curtis Samuel, who already has caught 14 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. The junior is also getting it done on the ground as well, rushing for 162 yards in two games. Samuel is on pace for 2,406 total yards, which would fall just short of Keith Byars school record. Wide receivers Noah Brown and Terry McLaurin have each caught four passes, and if the Buckeyes continue to get contributions from guys such as K.J. Hill and Parris Campbell their offense will be tough to slow down.

“I feel way more involved. I feel my role every week is huge. I prepare different. I practice different. I do everything different than I have in the past because I play a lot more plays.”

Ohio State h-back Dontre Wilson via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch


This Dontre Wilson is what Ohio State fans were expecting to see when he came to the Buckeyes as a four-star recruit from Texas. After having to deal with numerous injuries throughout most of his Ohio State career, Wilson is finally healthy, and has put up big numbers in the first two games of the year. Wilson is averaging 10 yards per touch and has already scored three touchdowns. Now the Buckeyes are going to need Wilson to continue to roll up numbers like that this weekend when they head to Oklahoma for a showdown with the Sooners.

Wilson might have a little extra pep in his step on Saturday night since his hometown of DeSoto, Texas is just a three-hour drive from Norman, so he’ll have some family and friends in attendance. So far this year, Wilson and Curtis Samuel are creating a lethal combination at h-back, which defenses haven’t found a way to stop. As a senior, Wilson is one of the elder statesmen of the Ohio State offense and he’s just hoping to stay injury-free and help Ohio State take home another championship this season. While Wilson’s breakthrough for the Buckeyes is coming later than most expected, at least it is better than not coming at all.

“Meyer’s young Buckeyes will take on Bob Stoops’ No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners in Norman on Saturday, a battle between two of the most consistent winners in college football. The schools have combined for 55 top-five finishes (OU 30, OSU 25) and the two coaches have combined for 13 (Meyer seven, Stoops six).”

Bill Connelly, SB Nation



At this point people don’t need to be told just how important Saturday night’s clash between Ohio State and Oklahoma will be in terms of the national title picture, but what will end up deciding the game? With the talent both teams will have playing on Saturday, there isn’t a lot of room for error for either team. If Ohio State has any designs on winning on the road, they’ll have to run the ball with more efficiency than they did against Tulsa. The Buckeyes will need more from Mike Weber, as the redshirt freshman will be going up against the tough defense he has faced in his young career. Even though Houston was able to take down Oklahoma, most of their damage was through the air, as the Sooners were able to bottle up the Cougars rushing attack. An x-factor for Ohio State could be h-back Curtis Samuel, who can not only run the football, but also can catch it out of the backfield if the running game isn’t working.

With Oklahoma having Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon in the backfield, it’s a bit of a surprise they don’t utilize the rushing game that much. With Ohio State’s youth on the defensive line, this might be a prime opportunity for the Sooners to unleash their rushing attack. At least for the Sooners if they are going to look to pass more, they have a quarterback like Baker Mayfield to lean on.

The final key which could decide the game will be field position. If Oklahoma forces Ohio State to punt at least the Buckeyes have a weapon like punter Cam Johnston to try and pin the Sooners deep in their own territory. The Buckeyes can’t afford to give Oklahoma a short field, because the Sooners are too talented not to capitalize. No matter what the outcome ends up being in this game, fans should be in for a treat when they settle in to watch on Saturday night.

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Google Week 3 Big Ten previews: Buckeyes-Sooners, Spartans-Irish, Huskers-Ducks ... oh my! -...

Week 3 Big Ten previews: Buckeyes-Sooners, Spartans-Irish, Huskers-Ducks ... oh my! - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Week 3 Big Ten previews: Buckeyes-Sooners, Spartans-Irish, Huskers-Ducks ... oh my!
Comcast SportsNet Chicago
The Buckeyes have looked pretty flawless in their first two games of the season. Yes, the offense started slow against Tulsa, but a pair of pick sixes (Ohio State's defense has seven picks and three pick sixes this season) jolted the team awake, the ...
Former Ohio State stars have differing views on Buckeyes so far247Sports
Three Questions For The Ohio State BuckeyesBT Powerhouse (blog)
B1G awards race tracker: Ohio State claims top spots after two weeksESPN (blog)

all 39 news articles »


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LGHL Ohio State’s hype video for the Oklahoma game is here, and it’s awesome

Ohio State’s hype video for the Oklahoma game is here, and it’s awesome
Harry Lyles Jr.
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Is it Saturday yet?


The biggest non-conference game of the Ohio State season is this Saturday, when the Bucks take on the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman.

The Buckeyes and Sooners are two of the most storied franchises in the history of college football, and come into this week ranked No. 4 and No. 14 respectively in the AP Poll. The two teams have faced off twice, with one win apiece. The last one went to the Buckeyes back in 1983.

The Ohio State defense looks to replicate what have been a promising first two weeks of the season against an Oklahoma offense led by Baker Mayfield at quarterback. If they’re able to do so along with a resurgence from the Buckeye offense, it could be a fun Saturday for the scarlet and gray. This video certainly has us on the edge of our seats, ready for that opening kickoff.

Go Bucks.

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tBBC Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Non-Rev, Heard Around the SHOE, Fox TV Promo

Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Non-Rev, Heard Around the SHOE, Fox TV Promo
WVaBuckeye
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


SNGDTRW-150x150.png

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!






@ohiostatescott pulls no punches with NCAA

“I’ve often joked that when they go to give the world an enema, one end of the tube should be squarely inserted in Ann Arbor (the city, not some lady nobody knows about).

But I think I have found a better place. How about the NCAA rule book? Nothing is in more dire need of a cleansing right about now.”


New at tBBC: NCAA Rule Book Needs Enema https://t.co/J0zBZeVDoc

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016


@Jcollingsworth3 latest Non-Rev covers men’s Rugby

“The Ohio State University Men’s Rugby Club has started off where they left off last season (2015 BTU Runners-up) – with rapid notice that they deserve mention in any conversation referencing Rugby play.”

New at tBBC: Osu Men's Rugby Start 2016 Season 1-1 https://t.co/DAUdnjcuHy

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016


@Jcollingsworth3 gives Harbaugh some pub

“On Jim Harbaugh’s radio show Tuesday night he seemingly had a need to clear the air. The second segment of his show the TTUN coach was asked if there was anything he wanted to address:

He did – of course!”


New at tBBC: Harbaugh Wants to Clear The Air https://t.co/6pUCEA4vfO

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016


@BuckeyeBVO latest #HeardAroundTheSHOE

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

The Elephant in the Recruiting Class:

I’ve avoided writing about Shaun Wade for as long as I can on here because honestly I was just tired of reading about him myself. He has been committed to the Buckeyes for a year and eight months now, and he resembles the closest thing to a non-commit that you can see. He has said all the right things, making the 100% committed declaration, and saying OSU is his leader still.”

New at tBBC: Heard Around the 'Shoe – 9/14/2016 https://t.co/6C2ddqrS0h

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016




@bzimmerman9 brings it in this One Moment in Time

“Life is full of moments in time. In many instances, it is that one moment which you will be judged by. It’s the one interaction with a stranger at the grocery store, the simple greeting you give to a co-worker walking down the hall, or even the holding of a door for another parent at your child’s school. These little moments throughout the day define what impression you are giving off of who you want to be.”

New at tBBC: One Moment in Time https://t.co/D52cdGMVfj

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016


@smsommers84 @ChipMinnich cut loose in this weeks @MotSaGPodcast

“Shannon and Chip bring some great content again this week. Bleacher Report Mag had an amazing article about the Meyer family opening up in regards to Urban’s mental health. I’m not the Lone Wolf is an excellent read packed full of insight that Shannon and Chip took a lot of things from”

New at tBBC: Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast: Buckeyes Plan to Destroy Oklahoma Sooner Rather Than Later https://t.co/33af5LRcV0

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016


@BuckeyeBVO brings Foxs pitch for the titanic struggle in Norman on Saturday evening

“Buckeye all-time great Eddie George and Sooner legend Brian Bosworth are here in this promotional ad from Fox getting you jazzed up for this Saturday’s prime time match-up between #3 Ohio State and #14 Oklahoma.”



New at tBBC: Fox Posts Promotional Video for OSU v Oklahoma https://t.co/GAvM5Yx5EL

— The BBC (@The_BBC) September 14, 2016




The post Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Non-Rev, Heard Around the SHOE, Fox TV Promo appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Google Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes offer scholarship to five-star point guard for 2018...

Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes offer scholarship to five-star point guard for 2018 - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball | Buckeyes offer scholarship to five-star point guard for 2018
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State has three verbal commitments for its class of 2018, but that hasn't stopped the Buckeyes from looking for more. Five-star point guard prospect Darius Garland has now been offered a scholarship from Ohio State. The 5-11, 145-pound Garland ...
Recruiting Notebook: Ohio State Offers 5-Star 2018 PG Darius GarlandEleven Warriors

all 5 news articles »


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Google Badgers looking to shut down Lindsay Agnew, Buckeyes - The Daily Cardinal

Badgers looking to shut down Lindsay Agnew, Buckeyes - The Daily Cardinal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Badgers looking to shut down Lindsay Agnew, Buckeyes
The Daily Cardinal
The Buckeyes had many chances to score and even outshot the Cougars, but BYU goaltender Hannah Clark proved too much to handle. The Badgers had a similar loss to No.1 Stanford earlier in the season, so it will be interesting to see how these two teams ...


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LGHL Big plays and red zone success will determine Ohio State vs. Oklahoma

Big plays and red zone success will determine Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
Chad Peltier
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


usa-today-9533006.0.jpg

The Buckeyes will need big passes and a stout red zone defense to beat the Sooners.

This is the big one we've been waiting for. The Buckeyes have looked incredible through two games, beating Oklahoma warm-ups Bowling Green and Tulsa by a combined 125-13 margin. But Oklahoma has far more talent on both sides of the ball than either team and will be Ohio State's biggest test until Michigan State this season. The Sooners may have lost to Houston in week one, but that did nothing to diminish their chances against the Buckeyes this week.

Avg Team Talent Turnover Margin Net Explosiveness (10+) Net Explosiveness (20+) Off IsoPPP
Ohio State 91.42 (2) +7 23 11 1.2 (84)
Oklahoma 87.73 (18) -1 -1 4 1.3 (53)

Starting this week, and assuming it's actually useful, I thought I'd start noting three basic statistics: team talent, turnover margin, and net explosiveness.

Average team talent is from the 247 Composite average team talent rating and is esentially how talented the average player is on each team. So this season, the average player on Ohio State's roster has a 91.42 247 Composite rating. I ran a regression between 2015 average team talent and F/+, and average team talent explained roughly 41% of the variance in final F/+ rankings.

The other metrics -- turnover margin and explosiveness -- come from one of Tom Herman's analyses of his teams' victories (going back to his OSU days too): If a team wins the turnover battle and has more explosive plays than the other team then they win 98% of the time. So I just use basic, non-opponent adjusted data here to roughly capture those ideas.

I added the 10+ and 20+ net explosiveness metrics because IsoPPP measures how explosive successful plays are, meaning that a team (like Ohio State so far this season) can have a ton of small explosive plays (between 10-19 yards) but they don't have very many big explosive plays (20+ yard breakaway runs or long bombs). The numbers in parentheses are the rankings.

So what can we get out of this brief, top-level comparison?

  • Both Ohio State and Oklahoma are among the top 20 most talented teams in the country. But there's a definite difference here. The average Ohio State player is rated nearly four points higher than the average Oklahoma player. This is actually a fairly large difference according to the normalized talent data -- Ohio State's average talent is an entire standard deviation above Oklahoma's (2.07 to 1.08).
  • Oklahoma is -1 in turnover margin this year, largely due to not recording an interception yet (or throwing any, for that matter).
  • Looking at explosiveness, Oklahoma has given up the 94th-most 10+ yard plays through two games, which is why their net explosiveness is -1 in that category too. Ohio State's offense doesn't look very explosive looking at 20+ yard plays (on the ground, especially), but they've been very explosive in the 10-19 yard range. If these trends continue then Ohio State should be well positioned to move the ball in 10+ yard chunks. The lack of 20+ yard plays accounts for Ohio State's poor IsoPPP ranking.
  • Overall, the picture here is that Ohio State is more talented by a fairly wide margin, has been far more productive generating defensive turnovers than Oklahoma, and has a significant advantage in the short-explosive play range.
When Ohio State has the ball

S&P+ Rush success rate Rush IsoPPP Pass success rate Pass IsoPPP Avg FP Finishing Drives
Ohio State 14 3 97 59 23 40 2
Oklahoma 61 3 120 99 71 67 76


  • Oklahoma's key is simple: shut down the Ohio State run game and force J.T. to be efficient passing. Oklahoma held their first two opponents -- Houston and UL-Monroe -- to an average of 2.42 rushing yards per play. That's... not great, especially when Houston's run game is extremely similar to Ohio State's (though it's worth noting that Houston is 120th in rushing success rate even after playing Lamar last week). So maybe the most critical thing to watch early in the game is how efficient Mike Weber, J.T., and Curtis Samuel are running the ball. In tight games the Ohio State offensive staff has a tendency to get clamp down on play diversity, often reverting to heavy quarterback running. If Weber is inefficient and passing downs are increasingly in the 3-and-7+ range, then that's a definite problem for Ohio State. The key metrics here are: Weber/Samuel's rushing success rate, the team's overall rushing opportunity rate (% 5+ yard rushes), and the average distance on third downs.
  • The most optimistic metrics for the Buckeyes' run game are opportunity rate, power success rate, and stuff rate, where the Buckeyes are ranked third, first, and first. Oklahoma's defense is 6th, 48th, and 12th. This means that the OSU offensive line consistently gets a great push, hardly ever allows negative plays, and wins third-and-short consistently (they haven't lost a third-and-short run yet this season). That OU's defense is ranked markedly lower on power success rate suggests that the Buckeye offensive line might eventually get a solid push against the Sooners front. If that happens, then it might not be until later in the game.
  • Another interesting thing to follow will be the number of explosive runs the offense can generate. As we've said before, the Buckeyes excel in short explosive plays but hasn't hit many big runs yet. OU may be rated 120th in rushing IsoPPP, but they've still allowed just a total of 167 rushing yards this season, so even the few big runs they've allowed weren't that big. There's not too much data to suggest this is the game where the Ohio State run game will finally break the long touchdown run.
  • Worse case scenario -- the Ohio State rushing success rate falls under 40% and the offense faces repeated third-and-longs -- the Buckeyes still might find some success. The Sooners have allowed a 45% passing success rate, which is just 99th in the country so far. Houston's Greg Ward Jr. and Lamar's quarterback were able to average 7.7 yards per attempt.
  • Oklahoma doesn't generate a ton of pressure, ranked 61st in havoc rate and not recording a sack yet on standard downs. If the line has time, then it's fair to think there should be opportunities for big plays. Oklahoma has allowed 18 passes of 15+ yards so far and rank 99th in passing downs IsoPPP. This is surprising, because it means that Oklahoma allows big plays on passing downs even though they shut down the run and are extremely efficient on standard downs (11th!). Even in the worst case scenario above, then you could see big plays on passing downs despite fairly low efficiency on the ground and on standard downs. This isn't the way Ohio State wants to play though.
  • Finally, one of the largest margins for Ohio State in the advanced stats is in finishing drives. The Buckeyes are second in finising drives (the bigger concern may really be avoiding three-and-outs) and Oklahoma is 76th, allowing an average of five points per opponent trip inside the 40.
Overall, the Buckeyes should find some success with big passing plays, might struggle to run the ball on standard downs, and should turn most scoring opportunities into touchdowns. If those advantages don't happen or the offense turns the ball over, then all bets are off.


When Oklahoma has the ball

S&P+ Rush success rate RushIsoPPP Pass success rate Pass IsoPPP Avg FP Finishing Drives
Ohio State 19 30 29 28 15 17 4
Oklahoma 1 17 40 13 80 76 39


  • Something very strange happened in the Sooners' loss to Houston -- Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, two of the best running backs in the country, had a combined 12 carries. That's astounding. It wasn't because they were ineffective, either -- they just didn't get the ball, similar to early last season. Expect that to change against Ohio State, as the Sooners are the 17th-most efficient running team in the country. The offensive line does a great job, producing five-yard runs on 46% of rushing attempts. They don't win every battle in short yardage situations, going 67% in third or fourth down and two yards or less, but in general they help lead an extremely efficient offense.
  • That efficiency extends to the passing game as well, ranking 13th in success rate but just 80th in IsoPPP. Oklahoma's wide receivers fill two distinct roles. Dede Westbrook is the go-to option, easily leading the team in target percentage (25%) but with a relatively low average yards per catch (8.6). Sophomore Mark Andrews is the big-play option, averaging an insane 30.8 yards per catch, but getting just 8.8% of targets.
  • The issue for Ohio State will be in containing all of Oklahoma's options, because any part of their offense has high efficiency potential. The Sooners can turn from Perine to Mixon to Westbrook and get a high degree of reliability. Throw in a target to Mark Andrews for the occasional explosive pass and the unknown factor of Baker Mayfield running the ball and it's clear why the Sooners are the top S&P+ offense in the country right now. That means that Ohio State's defense can't afford to let the run game get going. If the Sooners' rushing success rate gets above 45% then that's a big problem. Mayfield has only run 9 times for 17 yards so far this season, but he has immense scrambling ability even if he's been contained so far. Ohio State's defense, as good as its been this season, hasn't had to also deal with the threat of a mobile quarterback yet.
  • So far those numbers are fairly challenging for the Buckeye defense, but there are some good signs. First, the defense should at least make the Sooners drive the length of the field due to poor average starting field position for the Sooners offense. Second, if they do drive the length of the field, they haven't been the best in the red zone, ranking just 39th. A few scoring opportunities that end in field goals instead of touchdowns could be the difference in the game. Finally, the offensive line allows a high percentage of negative plays -- nearly 19% of rushes are stuffed (68th) and they are 105th and 119th in standard and passing downs sack rates. The Buckeyes defense has generated pressure, but didn't have too much success actually getting to the quarterback so far against Tulsa and Bowling Green.

If Oklahoma maintains a high level of offensive efficiency and Ohio State's defense isn't able to create negative plays or turnovers, then this could easily turn in to a shootout. The best chance Oklahoma has to win is by shutting down the run game, for J.T. Barrett to turn in an off day and throw a few interceptions, and for the defense to both not get pressure or force turnovers.

Also, as you'll see below, the metrics really don't like Ohio State in this game, with S&P+ giving Oklahoma a 61% win expectancy. Its important to note that the metrics are still (very) largely dependent on preseason projections -- and Ohio State has beaten the projections in both games this season. That same caveat applies to all of the metrics above, too -- there's just not a ton of data yet.

The 4 most important stats

  • Finishing drives -- on both offense and defense
  • Offensive rushing success rate
  • Generating explosive passing plays
  • The defense must generate either sacks or turnovers -- but at least one
Picks


F/+: Oklahoma by 7.6
S&P+: Oklahoma 38, Ohio State 33 (61% probability)
My Pick: Ohio State 41, Oklahoma 31

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Google Buckeyes' QB recalls classic 1977 Oklahoma clash - Richland Source

Buckeyes' QB recalls classic 1977 Oklahoma clash - Richland Source
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' QB recalls classic 1977 Oklahoma clash
Richland Source
On Saturday night the third-ranked Buckeyes travel to No. 14 Oklahoma. Rod Gerald, Ohio State's starting quarterback in 1976 and 1977, knows that passion well. He was the starter on Sept. 24, 1977, when Ohio State lost a 29-28 decision to the Sooners ...

and more »


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tBBC Beyond Buckeye Lines: Midnight Yelling with The 12th Man

Beyond Buckeye Lines: Midnight Yelling with The 12th Man
Mike Meals
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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We have a very special guest with us this week, as we go Behind Buckeye Lines. This week, my guest is former Texas A&M All American Defensive Back and #1 pick Sammy Davis. Sammy was the #1 ranked defensive back in the state of Texas going into his senior year (1998) at Humble (TX) High School, where he was also teammates with Ohio State legend David Boston.



The Life of a Big Time College Recruit

Sammy and I had a good chat reminiscing about his college recruitment and playing days. Sammy stepped on campus in College Station the fall after the John Cooper-led Buckeyes took down A&M in the Sugar Bowl, 24-14. When asked about that game, Sammy told me he actually watched it while taking his recruiting visit to Michigan. I can only imagine how that night would play out in Ann Arbor, because I am sure the locals just loved it.

I had to ask if that was the game that really opened his eyes to Ohio State. While it did, what really made him like and respect the Buckeye program was actually his former teammate David Boston catching the game winning touchdown pass in the 1997 Rose Bowl. Having that connection to the team helped bring the Buckeyes on his radar. When asked for his opinion of the Buckeyes, Davis mentioned that he and a lot of A&M fans have a lot of respect for Ohio State based on the understanding of the traditions and history of both programs.

Texas A&M Today

Looking at the current standing of Texas A&M football, we discussed both the Prairie View and UCLA games. Davis knew the UCLA game would be tougher, especially with UCLA’s quarterback being an experienced and improved player. Sammy said he fully expected the Aggies to win, but he, as a former player, understood the comment about the noise. He says it makes sense, “…after so much, so many people, loud noise is loud noise. But as Aggie fans, of course we are going to take that as a sign of disrespect”. And the 12th Man did, making sure Josh Rosen (UCLA QB) heard from them. It really did remind me of the way the Block O student section in Ohio Stadium would react if they were slighted.

Davis did point something out to me that I had never really thought about, regarding the scheduling of the “cupcakes” that so many teams do. At a big program like OSU, A&M, etc., these games serve as a way to not only get an easy win, but also as a glorified scrimmage. It allows teams to work on things from the first big game and all of fall practice that they would not be able to do otherwise.

As far as storylines at A&M the Aggie faithful are watching this year goes, Davis’ main concern was the continued improvement of starting quarterback (and Oklahoma transfer) Trevor Knight. Knight is one of the few quarterbacks in college football who has actually beat Alabama. The Aggies are really counting on him to lead the team, and not just have beaten Alabama in the past, but to do it again this year. The other big story line is how the Aggie defense continues to grow and get better under 2nd year Defensive Coordinator John Chavis. Davis thinks the defensive will continue to grow this year, be stronger against the SEC opposition week in and week out, and really help develop star defensive end Myles Garrett.

The Aggies travel to Auburn this week, in a tough SEC opener in a hostile environment. The Tigers nearly upset #2 Clemson the first week of the season, and A&M knows they will be tough. When asked for a prediction, Sammy tells me that he “will always pick A&M, no matter who we play. It could be Ohio State, and I am picking A&M”. But he also thinks the Aggies will click on both sides of the ball, against what feels like a slightly lesser opponent, and A&M wins 35-17.

The Big 12

I did ask a couple questions about the Big 12 also, seeing as how Davis is an alumnus from a Big 12 school. Davis mentioned that the Big 12 has struggled a lot the last few years, as everyone else knows. But I was surprised to learn about the amount of respect Davis has for Texas and Coach Strong. He loves what he is seeing Strong do in Austin, and thinks they have made the turn. In fact, he says that if UT doesn’t win the Big 12 this year, it will next year. Davis also tells me, as a warning to Buckeye fans, that Norman is no joke of a location to go play. Even with Stoops having the Big Game reputation he has now, the Sooners will be ready to play and it will be a tough place to go into.

As many of you know, I am a big supporter of the University of Houston joining the Big 12. I asked Davis about that and what his thoughts were. He, like myself, is a big supporter of it also. He knows that UH getting in will help keep the Houston talent home, and actually make the Coogs tougher, since kids won’t have to leave home to play big time college football. Davis even mentioned to me that had UH been in a Power 5 when he was in high school, he would have looked at them harder than he did, since he wanted to stay close to home and enable his family to be a part of his student-athlete career.

Perceptions of Ohio State and the B1G

I like to get an outsider’s view on Ohio State and the B1G. I want to show our fans what others think not just of the Buckeyes, but also the Big Ten. As mentioned above, Davis thinks A&M fans have a lot of respect for the Buckeye program, at least a lot more than the rest of the SEC. A&M prides itself on the traditions of the program, from midnight yell to who can say “whoop” on campus. As a program steep in tradition, they understand and respect the traditions of the Buckeyes, they just may not be fans of the program. Personally, this writer loves that, as a big time fan of college football history. That is what makes this sport special and great.

For the B1G, most of the people Davis knows views it like a lot of us do too. There are 2 programs, OSU/UM, that run the conference, and a couple who are the next step down. Although Davis was quick to point out that MSU has made a lot of noise, and people are taking notice of that. And, he has bought into the thought that the SEC is the number one conference in the country. I had to interject that, as we all know, after Alabama, they are no better off than the B1G is.

When pressed for a B1G champ this year, Davis said he thought UM would win if The Game was played in Ann Arbor, but since it is in Columbus, he thinks it’s really a toss-up (even though later he hinted that OSU would win, I’ll get to that.)

Davis is a big fan of J.T. Barrett, he really likes the way our Wichita Falls Texas product plays ball. Like many of us, he is glad that Urban is playing just with one QB this year. Davis was also very high on Urban Meyer. He says “Any coach who can win multiple national championships and beat Alabama along the way? Clearly he’s a good coach and deserves the awards and recognition. And any coach who can get Tim Tebow drafted? Clearly he is a miracle worker.”

Would You Rather:

Would you rather face OSU or UM this year in the playoff? “Michigan” – I think this means he knows A&M could beat UM easier than OSU

Would you rather face Ohio State or UM in the regular season? “OSU”

Predictions

What should Buckeye fans expect out of A&M? “The defense continues to improve. Expect big things from Myles Garrett, and watch out for the development of Knight with his wideouts”

What should Buckeye fans expect from OU? “It’s going to be a good game. OSU isn’t going to be able to go into Norman and walk over OU. This is a big task for both teams, and OU knows they need to win if they want to get back into the playoff talk, this is their make-or-break game. But OSU will win the game.”

Who wins the B1G this year? OSU

Who wins the SEC? “Alabama is the team to beat, they are always out in front of the SEC. It’s going to come down to 2 or 3 teams, being able to beat Alabama, making the right plays. It won’t be LSU, I know that though.”

Who are the playoff teams this year? A&M (total homer pick), Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson. He doesn’t think FSU is ready, especially with their QB play so far this season.

Who wins the Heisman? “Myles Garrett, first defensive player since Woodson” This was said with a laugh, but also some seriousness in his voice.

Wrap Up

First, I have to thank Sammy Davis again for chatting with us here at The Buckeye Battle Cry. Full disclosure, Sammy is a good friend of mine, and is the humblest and most kind person I know. I can tell you from firsthand knowledge, he doesn’t walk around like a former first round NFL pick. Besides being a father, businessman, husband, and good guy, Sammy also gives a lot back to his community. He runs an organization called Leafs of Love, a non-profit that donates turkey dinners to members of the Houston community at Thanksgiving. He has done this for the last 5 years in the Humble area. His group also does skills camps for the youth in inner cities to help develop skills in football, which could allow them to go to college and better themselves. Here is a great little piece from ABC 13, Houston, on Sammy’s program last year in Humble.

If you are interested in helping out Sammy’s programs, or want more information, contact me on twitter or here through the website, and I can help get you in touch with him.



The post Beyond Buckeye Lines: Midnight Yelling with The 12th Man appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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LGHL If Aaron Craft returns to the NBA’s D-League, it’ll be for the Jazz’s team

If Aaron Craft returns to the NBA’s D-League, it’ll be for the Jazz’s team
Luke Zimmermann
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Forza, Aaron!

We know Aaron Craft will be playing his professional basketball in Italy next season.

But should Craft have some of the same real life complexities that plagued him when he last was playing basketball abroad, he’ll have a new team to come back to should he decide to give it a go in the NBA’s Developmental League again.

On Thursday, the Salt Lake City Stars, the D-League affiliate of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, announced they’d acquired Craft’s “Returning Player Rights” in exchange for the rights to former Boston Celtics guard Phil Pressey.

The former D-League Defensive Player of the Year, Craft represented the Jazz at two of this summer’s NBA Summer Leagues.

He averaged 13.5 points per game to go along with 7.3 assists in an abbreviated season with the Santa Cruz Warriors after returning to the states last season.

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LGHL Showdowns between Florida State-Louisville and Alabama-Ole Miss top Week 3’s college...

Showdowns between Florida State-Louisville and Alabama-Ole Miss top Week 3’s college football bets, odds
Brett Ludwiczak
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Six juicy matchups are on tap for this weekend’s national slate, with some teams stepping into conference play for the first time.

Last week’s results for MC&J matched what the schedule looked like heading into the week. Bad. Hopefully this week with the intrigue in the matchups picking up, the early season record can at least climb back to .500.

Last week ATS: 6-9 (1-4 National, 5-5 B1G)

Season ATS: 15-18 (7-6 National, 8-12 B1G)

National games (all games Saturday unless otherwise noted):


No. 6 Houston (-8.5) v. Cincinnati - Thursday 7:30 PM EST - ESPN

After taking down Oklahoma to open up the season, Houston got a breather last week when they hosted Lamar. The step down in class allowed the Cougars to give quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and running back Duke Catalon some extra time to rest injuries they suffered against the Sooners before Houston opens up conference play.

After a less than impressive start to the season, Cincinnati earned their first road win against a Big Ten team in 59 years as they took down Purdue in West Lafayette. Quarterback Hayden Moore showed why Tommy Tuberville went with the sophomore over Gunner Kiel, with Moore registering five touchdowns in the win.

So far this year Cincinnati has been doing a lot of what made Houston so successful last year, and that is forcing turnovers. Against Purdue, the Bearcats forced five turnovers, and they’ll be looking for more as they try to pull the upset over the Cougars. The last three meetings between the schools have been decided by a combined 17 points and I think this game will be no different.

Houston 35, Cincinnati 31

No. 2 Florida State (-2.5) v. No. 10 Louisville - 12:00 PM EST - ABC

Florida State was dealt a huge blow earlier this week when it was announced that All-American defensive back Derwin James would be lost for an extended period of time due to a knee injury. This comes at the worst possible time for the Seminoles as this week they are tasked with trying to slow down Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is coming off a performance against Syracuse in which he accounted for 610 total yards.

That’s not to say the Seminoles don’t have the talent to replace James, since Florida State is flush with talent. It’s easy to get lost in some of the incredible numbers Jackson is putting up so far this year, but don’t forget they have come against Charlotte and Syracuse. Not exactly the same as trying to do it against the Seminoles.

I think Louisville will come out hot, but unlike when they played Ole Miss a few weeks ago, Florida State won’t dig themselves such a big hole. In the end, Florida State will find a way to at least slow down Jackson, and the combination of Deondre Francois and Dalvin Cook will be too much for the Cardinals to keep up with.

Florida State 41, Louisville 31

No. 25 Miami (FL) (-4) v. Appalachian State - 12:00 PM EST - ESPN

Everything points to Appalachian State pulling the upset here. The Mountaineers will be playing their biggest home game in school history, and they have already taken Tennessee to the limit this year. Well, this one seems a little bit too easy.

Miami has gotten their feet under them in Mark Richt’s first two games by way of a couple of cupcakes. The 108 points the Hurricanes have scored so far this year are a school record for the first two games of the season. Things won’t be so easy on Saturday afternoon, but I still expect Brad Kaaya and company to be able to put points on the scoreboard.

The biggest reason I’m on Miami’s side this week is because of how much bigger their offensive line is compared to Appalachian State’s front seven. Over the course of the game the Hurricanes should be able to wear down the Mountaineers and allow for Mark Walton and Joseph Yearby to find some holes for big gains. Appalachian State puts forth a game effort, but it isn’t quite enough.

Miami (FL) 34, Appalachian State 27

No. 1 Alabama (-10) v. No. 19 Ole Miss - 3:30 PM EST - CBS

In true death robot head coach fashion, Nick Saban wasn’t pleased at all with Alabama’s 38-10 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday. Saban is probably just adding some fuel to his team’s fire so he doesn’t fall to Ole Miss for a third straight season. I’m pretty sure the world would cease to exist if a coach was able to beat Saban three years in a row.

Ole Miss still does have the home field advantage in this game, as well as Chad Kelly behind center, but I just don’t think it will be enough. It feels like this Alabama team is an even better team than last year’s, especially on the defensive side of the football. Jalen Hurts is still a freshman, but he has been awfully impressive so far, and should keep Ole Miss on their toes with his dual-threat ability.

If Ole Miss can play like they did in the first half against Florida State than they certainly have a shot to make it three straight over Alabama. I just don’t see that happening though. The Crimson Tide defense forces Kelly into some bad mistakes and Alabama jumps out to a lead that Ole Miss just can’t recover from.

Alabama 33 Ole Miss 21

USC v. No. 7 Stanford (-9) - 8:00 PM EST - ABC

Who really knows what USC team we’ll get in this contest. Will it be the one that got destroyed by Alabama in the opening weekend or the one that rebounded to crush Utah State? Not like the Trojans have had much success against the Cardinal lately, losing six of the last eight.

After taking down Kansas State in the season opener, Stanford got an early bye last week. Even though the Cardinal wasn’t terribly impressive against the Wildcats, Christian McCaffery still accounted for over 200 yards in the win. Last year in the Pac-12 Championship Game against the Trojans, McCaffery had 461 all-purpose yards.

Even though seven of the last ten meetings have been decided by eight points or less, I still like the Cardinal to win by double-digits here. Stanford has a tough two games after this, with UCLA and Washington on deck, so they’ll want to get this stretch started strong.

Stanford 38, USC 24

No. 11 Texas (-8) v. California - 10:30 PM EST - ESPN

With the late start time, and how these two teams can put up points, this game might not end until Monday. After taking down Notre Dame 50-47, Texas found things a little easier against UTEP, winning 41-7. Shane Buechele continued to impress, throwing for four touchdowns in the rout.

After taking down Hawaii in Australia, Cal didn’t have much fun in their return to the mainland, falling to San Diego State 45-40. The Golden Bears may have Davis Webb, who has been great in replacing Jared Goff, but the California defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Texas will be looking for a little revenge after last year Cal won 45-44 in Austin. While the Golden Bears have the offense to keep pace with the newly dangerous Texas attack, the Golden Bears are so bad on defense that I can’t side with them here.

Texas 49, California 35

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DB Jarred Barnes (Official Thread)

An Ohio State football player is making history by going for his PhD

Jarrod Barnes is a rarity to the Buckeyes' football program.


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Jarrod Barnes is one of a kind.

The 22-year-old student athlete is the first-ever Ohio State football player who is also a PhD candidate, according to school records.

Barnes has quite an impressive story both on and off the field. Before coming to Ohio State, he earned a bachelor's degree from Louisville in just three yearswhile he was a member of the Cardinals' football team.

After graduating from Louisville in June 2015, he enrolled in the Masters of Science in Sport Management program at Ohio State. Since Barnes had red-shirted his freshman year, he still had two years of football eligibility left, so he tried out for the football team -- and made it as a walk-on.

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Despite juggling football and a full slate of heavy-hitting classes, Barnes graduated in one year with a 3.67 GPA and was accepted into the PhD program.

Entire article: http://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...is-making-history-by-going-for-his-phd-091416
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LGHL Oklahoma backup QB says Sooners will ‘light up’ Ohio State’s defense, which seems like a...

Oklahoma backup QB says Sooners will ‘light up’ Ohio State’s defense, which seems like a bad idea
Matt Brown
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Somebody is probably not going to be talking to the media again for a while.

Ohio State probably didn’t need any additional motivation leading into their massive showdown with Oklahoma this weekend. They’re hitting the road against one of the most storied and historic programs in college football history. A victory would put them in the driver’s seat for a potential playoff bid. It’s the biggest non-conference game for the Buckeyes in years.

But Oklahoma may have provided some additional fuel anyway.

Yesterday, backup Oklahoma quarterback Austin Kendall went on TV, and said that Ohio State’s defense was “basic”, and that Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield would “light them up.” Bold words to say about a defense that has yet to give up an offensive touchdown this season.


Here is the video. Have fun with the Buckeyes "Basic D" pic.twitter.com/Ci1WhFFxFP

— Brandon Zimmerman (@bzimmerman9) September 14, 2016

As you’d probably expect, Ohio State players didn’t take that trash talk sitting down, and the responses have already started to trickle in.


You should watch what you say to them bullets

— Johnnie L. Dixon III (@YoungKing_JD5) September 15, 2016

Do it look like we care #HowSheGoneEat #BIA pic.twitter.com/KG3eyLIMSV

— Marshon Lattimore (@shonrp2) September 15, 2016

Say no more https://t.co/f0konkq3On

— Tracy Sprinkle (@TSprinkle93) September 15, 2016

What makes this a particularly interesting situation is that this isn’t just a run of the mill, college athlete trash-talk story. Austin Kendall may be from North Carolina, but his dad is from Ohio, and was an Ohio State fan. And, if Kendall’s old tweets are any indication, he was an Ohio State fan too. For example:


I think I may be wearing everything Ohio state right now..

— Austin Kendall (@A_Kendall11) November 9, 2012

Ohio state on top on the recruiting!

— Austin Kendall (@A_Kendall11) February 6, 2013

Kendall picked up a lot of offers from major programs, but not from Ohio State.

We’ll see if Kendall changes his tune after the game. In what looks to be a highly contested matchup, maybe deliberately poking the bear was not the move Oklahoma’s coaching staff was looking for.

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