Game Thread Ohio State 3, Southern Cal 35 (Sept. 13)

[utgrad73]

... while keeping the other guy to fewer points!

Can't forget that second part. Both parts have to be there, at the same time.

Points from field goals while the other team only scores touchdowns count only half as much. And so forth...

 

[brodybuck21]

 

[JXC]

+1

 

[osugrad21]

Scout$--Take It To The Bank: Attitude Is The Key

 

[ShakerBuck]

These situations are where Tressel is at his best.

The last time (before this one) I wasn't confident that the Buckeyes were going to win a game was the BCS championship game vs. Cryami.

Our Defense alone is good enough to keep us in it. We just have to make plays.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

USC Fans: No Beanie, No Chance

Trojan fans expect a walk-over without OSU running-back
By 610 WTVN's Scott Gerfen
Friday, September 12, 2008
Word spread fast on the USC campus that Ohio State Heisman Trophy Candidate Chris "Beanie" Wells was doubtful for Saturday's showdown with the top-ranked Trojans because of a sore foot.

Most fans aren't buying it, saying Beanie won't be able to sit out a game this big.

"All through summer we've been expecting a really good game," one USC student said. "That's why we want Beanie Wells in there to make it a good game."

Most Trojan fans are claiming the Buckeyes will have no shot without Wells.

"I want him to play because I don't want Ohio State to have any excuse when we beat them," another USC fan said.

Student seating at the Los Angeles school is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and it's expected many undergrads will be camping out starting Friday night.

 

[osugrad21]

Sporting News

Carson Palmer: Why the Trojans will win



Posted: September 12, 2008
By Carson Palmer (as told to Chick Ludwig)
For Sporting News



Sporting News correspondent Chick Ludwig caught up with Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, a former USC QB who won the Heisman Trophy in 2002, for his thoughts on Saturday's Ohio State-USC game. Here's why Palmer thinks USC will win.
"They're the best-coached team in the country, hands down.
"They have coaches that you just love to play for, coaches that you love to win for, coaches that you lay it all on the line for. From technique and philosophy and game-planning and game-scheming wise, it's as good as it gets at that level.
"They're extremely athletic. They're fast. They have a whole bunch of No. 1 recruiting classes year after year, so you know they've got talent.
"I know Ohio State's in the same boat. They've had No. 1, 2 and 3 recruiting classes. But anytime you combine some of the best talent with the best coaching ... SC has the edge.
"Quarterback Mark Sanchez is a great player. Ohio State's got a good quarterback, too, (in Todd Boeckman). Sanchez is just so athletic. He has such a nice arm and he's got so much good stuff around him with the offensive line, three tailbacks who could all be starters, and good receivers.
"They're young receivers, but immensely talented receivers. They might not be the best in the county now because they are young. But once they're with that coaching staff and really buy into that system and understand it, they're going to be real good.

 

[billmac91]

Not to clutter up Beanie's thread (more), but this is the crux of the game. If tOSU doesn't take chances on offense tomorrow, they lose the game. If the play-calling is aggressive, they win. IMO, it's that simple. I'd love to see Beanie play, but him taking the field is not going to decide this game...it's going to be the play-calling.

I was initially thinking that as well.....but now I'm feeling our best chance is to play a ball control game, and win the battle of field position.

I'd rather depend on the defense and force Sanchez into bad decesions, than roll the dice on offense.....especially if Beanie is incapable of brininging his big play capabaility.

If our defense plays well, this game will be close. I think they're good enough to carry us to victory with or without Beanie. I'd hate to see us blow the game or dig ourselves a hole by being too aggressive to compensate for missing Beanie.

 

[Bucks21]

A big thing for me is that you know Tressel runs a vanilla offense early in the season against the lesser opponents. I'm curious to see what wrinkles he has put in for this game. I think he will go after SC early.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

I think D. Washington's return will make a pretty big impact on this defense. I dont really see USC putting up over 24 points unless Boeckman puts them in position to do so. I will be shocked if Beanie doesnt play, but I dont expect him to play every snap. With that being said, I just hope this coaching staff plays to each player's strength. I would like to see Boom get most of the carries up the middle when Beanie is out and Mo Wells and Saine running off tackle more. It would also be nice to see Boeckman looking for Saine in the flats early on to settle him down and build some confidence.

:osu:

We must trust the coaches. All will be fine.

 

[Buckeye7OKC]

what makes everyone so optimistic about our defense? we were the #1 defense going into the NC last year and near the top, if not the top the previous year versus florida. we are facing an extremely fast SC team. i am optimistic about our chances in general, but if our D-line is getting handled, and their rushing attack is penetrating our linebackers we will have an enormous problem.

GO BUCKS!

 

[BayBuck]

what makes everyone so optimistic about our defense? we were the #1 defense going into the NC last year and near the top, if not the top the previous year versus florida. we are facing an extremely fast SC team. i am optimistic about our chances in general, but if our D-line is getting handled, and their rushing attack is penetrating our linebackers we will have an enormous problem.

GO BUCKS!

I don't see either of those things being all that likely, since USC's offensive line is probably the relative weak spot on their roster. Getting pressure on Sanchez could be the (second) key to this game.

 

[FKAGobucks877]

I was initially thinking that as well.....but now I'm feeling our best chance is to play a ball control game, and win the battle of field position.

I'd rather depend on the defense and force Sanchez into bad decesions, than roll the dice on offense.....especially if Beanie is incapable of brininging his big play capabaility.

If our defense plays well, this game will be close. I think they're good enough to carry us to victory with or without Beanie. I'd hate to see us blow the game or dig ourselves a hole by being too aggressive to compensate for missing Beanie.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about "rolling the dice". I'm talking about something besides running between the tackles and ten yard outs. If we see something crazy, like maybe a toss sweep, or some screen plays, tOSU wins. If we're pure vanilla, we don't.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Been in LA for a couple days now and the weather has been unusually cool. Game day forecast for the section of LA where the Colosseum is located is a high of 79 and a low of 62, so kickoff temps should be low 70s and game end temps should be mid to upper 60s. No rain. Weather not a factor at all.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Been in LA for a couple days now and the weather has been unusually cool. Game day forecast for the section of LA where the Colosseum is located is a high of 79 and a low of 62, so kickoff temps should be low 70s and game end temps should be mid to upper 60s. No rain. Weather not a factor at all.

On that note...

What a beautiful game for a Saturday night. I'm so glad the Buckeyes are a part of something like this. Saturday Night College Football at the Colosseum, #1 vs. #5, good football weather, under the lights. It's going to be fun (next year too, w/ it at the 'Shoe).

Hopefully the Bucks can top it off with a W.