Well, I already understood it. But that doesn't change the fact that I was predicting OSU will handle NIU rather easily back in March on Page 3 of this thread.
I mean, there are some really, really good football teams in the MAC, and NIU has consistently been among the top. But my opinion is, this game won't be decided by Wolfe, or Free, or Ginn, or Smith. Doug Free aside, NIU's problem will be with handling OSU's front four (or six, or eight, going by the 2-deep rotation). That is what will decide this game, if not in the first half, then most certainly in the second half where OSU's depth takes over.
Where NIU can make the game interesting is with using Wolfe as a receiver out of the backfield and neutralizing the OSU D-line with quick outs. OSU has a good, experienced line, but a secondary that, while long on talent, is short on experience. NIU could have a field day with bubble screens, misdirection and quick slot-hitches, which are notoriously effective against inexperienced Ds (see Northwestern or Iowa vs OSU in 2004).
I think NIU keeps things interesting for a quarter or a half, but the final score probably won't be pretty.
A lot of OSU fans will underestimate NIU, but I'm certain JT and OSU won't. There will be no talk of Texas in Week 2, because JT will have shown the team what NIU has done to teams like Bama and Maryland. NIU might show up ready to play their proverbial "Super Bowl," but our guys will too, and I think that'll be the end of it.
NIU aside, if the margin is less than 14 or 17 points, than I think we might be seeing a revelation that the OSU defense isn't going to be good enough to get OSU to a national championship.
