Game Thread 2010 Rose Bowl: Ohio State 26 Oregon 17 (Final, 1/01/2010)

[Bestbuck36]

All I know is the public is betting the Ducks and the line has moved to +4 for the Buckeyes.

All.........IN!

 

[Poe McKnoe]

LaGarrette Blount may be doing his best Mike Shart impression after this one. Then again, he hasn't had the opportunity to say much this year or promise an 'ass whoopin'.

Only thing that worries me about Oregon is Masoli's ability to keep plays alive or buy time. If you've count to 4 and Masoli is still moving around, we have a problem.

 

[CalvinistBuck]

How about head to head competition? UO beat Purdue and USC. OSU lost to them. That is really the only way you can compare these two teams. Stats are misleading, because teams play different styles of football, injuries and other factors come in to play. Oregon and OSU have stats that are not even relevent, like OOC games. Or if you want a stat how about SOS, Oregon 6th, OSU 61st. Do you think BSU's stats are relevent considering they only beat Oregon and the rest of the WAC is full of cup cake teams? Lets face it, Oregon and Ohio St won their conferences, which are both good conferences, so by all accounts it should be a hard fought close game. This game will come down to QB play and which QB makes the right desicions the most times.

To start off, the presence of Duck fans on this forums is appreciated by most on BP--as long as the intent is to engage in rational discussion. And, I think several of your points are respectable.

First, I agree that stats can be misleading. In fact, most of the stats being posted by fans of both teams are completely useless with respect to predicting the outcome of this game. What the stats may tell us in a general sense is that this should be, as you said, a hard fought, close game.

While many observers will roll out cliches like "this game will be won in the trenches" and it "will come down to QB play," those assertions are reasonable because these two teams are both pretty good and something like line play or QB execution may indeed tip the scales.

My cliche to offer is this: it's all about matchups. The statistics that really matter are the ones that reveal tendencies and the ability of an opponent to exploit perceived weaknesses.

I suppose that the bookmakers have made tOSU a 4-point underdog because they think the Buckeye offense can't keep pace with Oregon's. However, I think it's the Buck's offense that will be the deciding factor.

The matchups for the Buckeye offense vs. the Duck defense may well favor tOSU if Pryor can find his receivers. Oregon's run defense is pretty decent but their defensive backs are suspect and their pass rush is not exceptional.

On the other side of the ball, I'm anxious about this game because there's always uncertainty facing a solid read-option offense that operates at a quick pace. The Bucks have been preparing for the style and pace, but it's hard to know until they see it on the field.

Doug Worthington said as much yesterday:

"You can only practice so much, you can only train so much for it until it's in a game because with all the atmosphere and with how you're feeling, with the emotions of the game, it's kind of different," senior defensive tackle Doug Worthington said.

"We've been conditioning and doing fast tempo in practice, but when you're in there and the lights are on and you're competing against a team it's something that's a lot different. I think the preparation has been real good so far and we have a couple more days to get ready for this team and I think we're almost there, almost got it all right."

I know many Buckeye fans have been saying that our defense is better than Oregon fans think (and I agree, ), but I think our offense may surprise you. (At least I hope so!)

 

[UpNorthBuckeye]

This will be a great game. What I think it will come down to (and why I am nervous) will be the coaching for both teams.

I am hoping that Purdue was a great loss for the Buckeyes, and for Terrelle Pryor in particular.

But USC was a good loss, too, in a way: I know the coaching staff has to be watching that game and wishing we could have been in more of an attack mode. Easy for me to say, I know, and I'm not saying we should abandon Tressel ball. But that game was there for us to win it, IMO, and that's what hurts.

So like Back to The Future, here we are again with a chance to change our fate.

I am also looking for the coaches to show that they can think on their feet, adjust on the fly, answer everything Oregon throws at us.

When it's over, and Ohio State has won, it won't necessarily be because Pryor or Herron or Saine or anyone else had a huge day; it will be because we were smart in what we did, we were motivated, and we responded to what was going on on the field.

And oh yes, field position, turnover margin, and not giving up the big play... did I leave anything out??

I am looking forward to us going against tendencies, and then in the second half, going against our tendencies of the first half!

Buckeyes, 31 - 18.

 

[TheRob8801]

You need to pack up your cock & balls and head back over to bucknuts or where ever you came from. Why even make that comment towards a poster who was keeping other Buckeyes in line? Stupid.

For the sake of this board, I hope the rest of BP isn't as elitist and short-fused as you. (Just kidding, I know they aren't)

I was not aware that wry humor was disallowed on this board. Next time, Bleed S & G, you should just ban me! [/foot_down]

As for this post:

How about head to head competition? UO beat Purdue and USC. OSU lost to them. That is really the only way you can compare these two teams.

Please tell me that you don't REALLY believe this statement.

Stats are misleading, because teams play different styles of football, injuries and other factors come in to play. Oregon and OSU have stats that are not even relevent, like OOC games.

Oh okay, so you don't believe it...gotcha Sybil.

Or if you want a stat how about SOS, Oregon 6th, OSU 61st.

...wait, wait, wait a minute! What happened to stats being bunk? I suppose they're okay if Oregon gets the upper hand, no?

Do you think BSU's stats are relevent considering they only beat Oregon and the rest of the WAC is full of cup cake teams?

Well if they beat Oregon, of course their stats are irrelevant. No matter how well they play the rest of the season they simply can't be so good that they actually BEAT the might ducks!

Lets face it, Oregon and Ohio St won their conferences, which are both good (comparable is the better word) conferences, so by all accounts it should be a hard fought close game. This game will come down to QB play and which QB makes the right desicions the most times.

So it's gonna be decided just like every other football game in the history of the world...on the field? Well by golly why didn't you just say that in the first place!?

My momma always said (well, no she didn't but that's conventionally how you start the phrase) "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"

So let's try this out: goducks09...You my friend are simply spewing words all over the place, backtracking on previous comments, and simply destroying the rep that you're desperately trying to maintain for Oregon fans.

However, I get that you're avid about this team. So much in fact that you decided to come here and talk smack (every so delicately) in favor of your beloved Ducks. Good-on-ya...

With that being said...

I believe you've made your point. That point is you like Oregon. You've elicited a jumbled mess of illogical nonsense trying to "prove" something you evidently don't even know how to formulate.

Leave it alone.

Folks are nice around here, and we want to converse with you after the game. Don't ruin it for yourself.

 

[goducks09]

Don't take my post as an attack. What I was getting at, was, you were thinking your defense isn't important at all because Oregon will just score more. I was merely pointing out that you have yet to face a defense that is capable of stopping teams as well as we can.

Here's where the stats don't lie though. Our offense found their identity after the Purdue game. Look at the rushing yardage after that game. Our offense has shown up now, and our defense has always been there. Oregon will need to make some stops to win this game.

I agree, it's usless comparing win- losses. We lost to BSU because we had new coach, coaching his 1st game against a good BSU team at BSU. Our O line was all new with some players getting sick during fall camp and not being able to practice. Blount was a ? mark as far as being in shape and it showed. L James was a redshirt freshman never playing a college game before. Since then he has ran for 1476 yards. We lost our starting senior cornerback and saftey in the 1st& 2nd games, so we had to bring in true freshman players, one of whom made a great game saving play in the end zone to give OR a win over Purdue. Oregon found their stride agaisnt Cal where we won 42-3. It also took us a while to get our game plan working, mostly because our O line is new this year. Every team has some let downs during the season. You had yours with Purdue and we had ours with Standford. Don't look at the UCLA as any indicator of our team, other than having a will to win. Our QB, Masoli had hurt his knee 2 weeks pryor and never played in the game. Fortunately we had a bye before UCLA and it all worked out. Bottom line is you guys have a great defence in your league and we have a great offence in ours. We have weaknesses and strengths as you do too. Who ever exploits them best will win.

 

[TheRob8801]

Alrighty...let's change the subject here:

The Wrong Pants

I love the Sweatervest.

 

[kc286496]

I suppose that the bookmakers have made tOSU a 4-point underdog because they think the Buckeye offense can't keep pace with Oregon's. However, I think it's the Buck's offense that will be the deciding factor.

Gambling 101. Vegas lines are all about public perception. This game opened up at Oregon -4. Currently, 58% of the public has taken Oregon and the points. Yet Vegas dropped the line to 3.5. What does that tell you? Vegas wants to cash in on public perception and get even a higher percentage of betters to lay their money on the Ducks. Vegas usually wants games to be 50/50 so they can cash in on the juice and minimize their risk. For them to drop the line when the public is so heavily betting on Oregon means they know something. At least, I HOPE THEY KNOW SOMETHING!

 

[Meyer]

Gambling 101. Vegas lines are all about public perception. This game opened up at Oregon -4. Currently, 58% of the public has taken Oregon and the points. Yet Vegas dropped the line to 3.5. What does that tell you? Vegas wants to cash in on public perception and get even a higher percentage of betters to lay their money on the Ducks. Vegas usually wants games to be 50/50 so they can cash in on the juice and minimize their risk. For them to drop the line when the public is so heavily betting on Oregon means they know something. At least, I HOPE THEY KNOW SOMETHING!

They know Ohio State is about to beat that ass!!

 

[Bleed S & G]

For the sake of this board, I hope the rest of BP isn't as elitist and short-fused as you. (Just kidding, I know they aren't)

I was not aware that wry humor was disallowed on this board. Next time, Bleed S & G, you should just ban me! [/foot_down]

Yep, I'm an elitist prick.

I haven't spent the time to track down your orginal post, I thought you really were taking a jab at Mili, and then looking at your join date wasn't sure what the fuck you were doing.

[sarcasm]this is the sarcasm font, so you know...[/sarcasm] Just like a 'quote' but use the word "sarcasm" in the brackets.

Sorry for being a douche.

 

[Meyer]

Sorry for being a douche.

Just call me in next time.. Being a douche is my specialty.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Just call me in next time.. Being a douche is my specialty.

We can have an admin change your handle to KingDouche...

 

[Meyer]

We can have an admin change your handle to KingDouche...

Only if you change yours to QueenDouche :)

 

[rcp08]

When it's over, and Ohio State has won, it won't necessarily be because Pryor or Herron or Saine or anyone else had a huge day; it will be because we were smart in what we did, we were motivated, and we responded to what was going on on the field.

I bet when it's over and Ohio State has one we will get to hear all the Oregon fans wonder why their team played so bad. 'That it's to bad UO didn't play like they did against this team, or that team'. We hear it after all our games. If only this or that, did or didn't happen. None of them will say how good our D is, just how their O had an off day.

 

[CalvinistBuck]

Gambling 101. Vegas lines are all about public perception. This game opened up at Oregon -4. Currently, 58% of the public has taken Oregon and the points. Yet Vegas dropped the line to 3.5. What does that tell you? Vegas wants to cash in on public perception and get even a higher percentage of betters to lay their money on the Ducks. Vegas usually wants games to be 50/50 so they can cash in on the juice and minimize their risk. For them to drop the line when the public is so heavily betting on Oregon means they know something. At least, I HOPE THEY KNOW SOMETHING!

Gambling 201. Vegas lines are about research. Opening point spreads are based on formulas and the perception of the oddsmakers. Since "public perception" is a small part of the formula (i.e., polls), then I suppose public perception counts for something. While it's true that the line is adjusted based on betting patterns, the initial line had little to do with public perception.

My point, while I may have stated it carelessly, was that the general perception of this game outside the Buckeye Nation is that tOSU won't be able to contain the Ducks attack on offense and that the Buckeye offense isn't eqipped to keep up.