Game Thread 2015 National Championship Game: (2) Oregon vs. (4) Ohio State, Jan 12th @ 8:30p ET, ESPN

[Systems_id]

I am feeling more nervous today. Kind of worried about the toll the Alabama game took, and how we may respond to that in practice, and therefore the game. Whereas I doubt Oregon is going though that as much. It's the NC, so neither team is going to look past the other. There isnt enough time in between games either to get an ego. It's just so different, and I'm not sure what to make of it. If we are wore out on defense from the Alabama game, then I worry their tempo could drain us.

At first I was just happy to beat Alabama. Now I want more and more to win this thing. I'm getting my hopes up.

I know the feeling. Before I was just happy getting to the playoffs and beating Alabama. Now we have a chance at a NC with an opponent we seem to match up very well. Hoping like hell this team has another Wisconsin-tier performance in them.

 

[lvbuckeye]

SIAP. Advanced metrics like osu:

http://www.addictedtoquack.com/2015...d-s-p-see-the-game-2014-national-championship

I liked the part where UO is better against the run...

 

[ImFrigginFly]

FWIW, Oregon hasn't played a real football game since November.

 

[muffler dragon]

I would bet Oregon's pass rush is better than bama's.

That is one thing I'm not seeing. Granted, they have a new DC that I'm not as familiar with this year either.

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

I liked the part where UO is better against the run...

Well this year that really hasn't been our strength. We've been statistically very strong vs the pass. Most likely due to focusing on stopping the pass first instead of the run first after seeing where that got us last year. As for Oregon and their defense against the run, I couldn't say.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

We weren't too good against the run in the Sugar Bowl. Thank god they had Kiffin on their side

 

[kujirakira]

Well this year that really hasn't been our strength. We've been statistically very strong vs the pass. Most likely due to focusing on stopping the pass first instead of the run first after seeing where that got us last year. As for Oregon and their defense against the run, I couldn't say.

Rushing Defense
35. Ohio State 142.0 3.9avg
50. Oregon 156.1 4.2avg

Just for good measure
Total Defense
17 Ohio State 333.6 4.9avg
86 Oregon 421.9 5.4avg

Their defense literally survives by turnovers.

 

[cincibuck]

This belongs in the ESPN making itself look stupid thread.

Worst. Apology. Ever.

Yep, Lots of snarky comments and asides that say, I'm apologizing without really apologizing.

 

[Coqui]

I liked the part where UO is better against the run...

They didn't have to go up against 4 of the top 5 rushers in the country. As well as not having to play a team like Navy. That's why their stats look better

 

[cincibuck]

I told you guys you should have gone with espn...

And espn guys were some of the first to talk about OSU deserving a spot a few weeks before the season's end.

Think of this line up: Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, TCU - then look at the TV markets. If that had been the final four most of the Chicago market, Indy, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh markets would have been doing something else. ESPN looked at Portland, the State of Alabama, Flobama, Whacko and Dallas - Ft. Worth and said, we need viewers - Let's put Ohio State in there in place of a Texas school that doesn't travel well, has a small alumni base, is largely unknown and get us back the Midwestern market. Simple math. If TCU had been Texas they might have paused, but it would have been a very skewed viewer map.

This is the same reason why the playoffs will be expanded until they get to a place where a two or three loss Notre Dame gets in - market share and no one sells market like the Irish.

 

[cincibuck]

but you can't fill a 24hr schedule with non-stop coverage from Fort Worth.

You watched CNN lately?

 

[SloopyHangOn]

You watched CNN lately?

My point exactly.

 

[cincibuck]

I don't hate him. I'm not a fan.

You may be naive, but I haven't noticed the off the field issues with OSU that he had with florida. So, you may not be naive.

I firmly believe he went to OSu because he thought that gave him the easiest route to a NCG. Instead of just saying it and doing it, he claimed a lot of other rEasons that didn't really fit. I don't respect that, but it may not even be true.

FWIW, here's my analysis: 107,000 seat stadium filled every game vs 86,000 seat stadium mostly filled, biggest US alumni organization vs a big alum base, history - Ohio State's goes back to the 20s, Florida's goes back to Spurrier and then Urban, Ohio State was/is to the Big Ten what Alabama is to the SEC, Florida was/is to the SEC what Wisconsin or Sparty is to the Big Ten. If Alabama has a Bear Bryant or a Saban the rest of the SEC will be hoping to finish second. If Urban analyzed it that way - and I suspect he did - then I think the choice was logical.

 

[Woody1968]

If Ohio State establishes the run early and often, doesn't do stupid stuff like turn the ball over, or try and pass on 1st down from the shadows of our own goalposts, or when we are trying to bleed the clock, and wins time of possession, the game favors us. The key will be the hurry up Oregon O, vs our defense, which is better than most teams they have played, but is not as deep as I would like to see.

 

[pianobuck46]

Did you maybe check with yourself first before asking a bunch of people from Ohio?

I kid, I kid, just incredibly jealous of anyone going to the game

Yeah, it just worked out this way. I live in San Antonio now, and my nephew (who lives in Cincinnati) is coming to Big D on business anyway. Figured "What the Hell, you only live once".

Anyway, just thought there might be a few "Dallas Bucks" on the sight who might have a good tip or two. I'm sure we'll figure it out. Sunday and Monday can't come fast enough.

GO BUCKS!!!