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Game Thread Game One: #1 Ohio State 35, Northern Illinois 12 (9/2/06)

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i love this site!!! 6 months out and we already have 3 pages worth of posts for a game with niu!

way to early guess
tOSU 30
niu 17

i think miscues on offense and inexperience on defense put us in a few tough spots. turnovers (possibly a fumbled snap) and stupid mistakes on defense will kill any chances for a shutout.
 
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when was the last time we weren't good against the run? With a veteran DL, and two possible starters at LB entering their 5th year, I like our chances against the run. I believe it will take longer before our safeties, boundary corner and nickelback develop into a formidable unit.
 
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Oneshot said:
Do we have an answer for Wolfe?
Click to expand...
Yes, an experienced D-Line and some senior LBs.

NIU has scored their share of upsets, but the 2006 squad won't be near as strong as some of the previous teams since 2003. On offense, NIU loses their star WR, Sam Hurd, and their #2 WR, Shatone Powers. The best returning WR, 3rd on the team in receptions and yards is Britt Davis, who began 2005 as the 3rd string QB. NIU also loses four senior starters on the O-Line. That leaves one returning T on the O-Line to block for Wolfe, Doug Free, who is comparitively light at 276 lbs. Free is an outstanding player, and was considered their best pro prospect last season, but he can't make up for the loss of the rest of the line and the top two receivers on the outside.

Our DEs face tougher competition in practice.

Garrett Wolfe is a great RB, and Phil Horvath is a pretty good QB too, but there is no longer any experienced depth. NIU's #2 and #3 RBs, Adrian Davis and AJ Harris, have also graduated. They accounted for 30% of the teams' total carries in 2005. Subtract Wolfe's carries and Horvath's scrambles/sacks, and the back up RB stable is 70% of the rushing offense. Up and down the offensive depth chart, there appears to be nothing but a whole lot of Sophs to fill a ton of important roles.

Look, Michigan's defense has been nothing short of a train wreck that last several years -- we all know this. UM started a pretty green (and very bad) defense against a highly skilled NIU offense loaded with seniors last season. Garrett Wolfe busted loose and ripped off 175 yards against the Wolverines in the Big House. The result? UM coasted to a 33 - 17 win.

I have a great deal of respect for what Joe Novak has done with the NIU program. Taking his NIU squad to Tuscaloosa and beating Bama; getting Maryland to go to DeKalb and beating them; or going to Madison and very nearly upsetting an excellent Wisconsin team were all amazing accomplishments ... but this ain't 2003.

In any other year I'd be mildly concerned about a quality mid-major like NIU stealing an upset, but this year, heck no. 2006 OSU v 2006 NIU won't even be close.
 
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Final Score: OSU 38- NIU 17.
Halftime score: OSU 24- NIU 3.

Smith gets about 200-250 pass yards, and 50 rush yards. Three touchdowns: one rushing, one pass to Gonzalez and another to whoever is playing tight end. Pittman gets a rushing touchdown, and CWells gets another. Pittman gets 100-150 rush yards.

With a 31-3 lead in the fourth quarter, the bucks have mostly backups in the game. They give up 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter. But CWells gets his touchdown in the fourth quarter, as well. Zwick ends up 5-7 passing for 35 yards. Boeckman gets in the game for 2 plays, zero passes thrown.
 
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This NIU game won't be a "beating of a lifetime". They're returning two great up-and-comers in RB Wolfe and QB Horvath, and we're returning a young, unproven defense that will have kinks to work out. If the offense clicks like everyone predicts it will, either of those might not matter, but still... don't underestimate NIU. ESPECIALLY the first game of the freakin' season.
 
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This one will follow a familiar script:

NIU will get an early FG, then not see the other side of the 50-yard line until the score a garbage time TD against backups inside of 3 minutes left in the game.

The Buckeyes move the ball with ease, but a few missed opportunities will mean a comfortable win, but not an embarassment of the Huskies. Look for the Bucks to score in the thirties.
 
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