3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
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Week 1 Synopsis: Well, the Buckeyes got what they wanted, an impressive victory leading up to their showdown Saturday with Texas. The rest of the state did more or less a belly-flop. High hopes turned to disappointment as Bowling Green scored 42 and lost, Miami was thoroughly beaten by the Buckeyes, and Ohio and Kent State were thoroughly squashed. Only Cincinnati, a 2 point win over Eastern Michigan, and Toledo, who demolished I-AA Western Illinois, joined the Buckeyes in the win column. It is important for the smaller state teams to get off on a better foot this week…and oh yeah, it’s pretty important to beat the Longhorns, too.
Week 1 State Rankings:
1 (-) Ohio State (1-0): The Buckeyes handled the RedHawks easily and impressively. The NCAA non-conference game of the year awaits.
2 (+2) Toledo (1-0): Pounded on a hapless I-AA team, but getting into the win column moves them up…for now.
3 (-1) Bowling Green (0-1): The Falcons coaching staff looked laughable as the defense gave up 35 in the first half…and then made seemingly no defensive adjustments to speak of, leading the way to 56 points for the Badgers. The offense was impressive, and as advertised. They will pummel Ball State.
4 (-1) Miami (0-1): Highly disappointing showing for a team predicted to make some noise this year and rack up a bunch of wins. They need to get back on track this week against hapless Central Michigan.
5 (+2) Cincinnati (1-0): Nice win in the opener against pesky Eastern Michigan. The trip to Happy Valley could and should be too much this week.
6 (-1) Akron (0-0): Akron was off week 1. They travel to Purdue.
7 (-1) Kent State (0-1): The overachieving defense from 2004 was a distant memory as they gave up 49 to the Spartans. They get a I-AA opponent to shore up.
8 (-) Ohio (0-1): It’s going to be a long year for Frank Solich. Next up: a very angry Pitt Panther team.
Head-To-Head Matchups: Week 2
(NOTE: Upset alert is from 0-10, with 10 being “Red Alert…better concentrate on these guys” and 0 being “Here’s your 400 thousand for an ass-whuppin’….thanks for coming”)
Prediction record: 4-1 SU, 2-3 VL
Friday
Pittsburgh (0-1) at Ohio (0-1)
Line: Pittsburgh -14
Upset Alert: 1
Synopsis: The home opener for Frank Solich comes on the heels of the pasting they took at Northwestern this weekend. They get a Pittsburgh team reeling from an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame, spoiling another coaching debut, that of Dave Wannstedt. The Pittsburgh offense will be much better this week, and there was little from Saturday to suggest that Ohio can stop them or score enough points to keep up. Look for Pitt in a blowout.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 51, Ohio 10
Saturday
Cincinnati (1-0) at Penn State (1-0)
Line: Penn State -21
Upset Alert: 2
Synopsis: Cincinnati comes of a week 1 win in a competitive game against Eastern Michigan. Penn State looked just like 2004 in week 1: explosive defense, terrible offense. The freshmen are exciting, and Hunt had some nice runs, but it looks like Michael Robinson is awful, and the offense will probably go nowhere much of the game. Cincinnati won’t be able to beat the defense, but the game will be low-scoring and sloppy. Look for the Nittany Lions to win again…in unimpressive fashion.
Prediction: Penn State 23, Cincinnati 10
Akron (0-0) at Purdue (0-0)
Line: Purdue -34
Upset Alert: 1
Synopsis: Neither team played in week 1. Considering that fact alone, that’s a huge spread for a team that lost its senior QB and several other key offensive players. Still, the defense will be good, and the offense will pile up adequate numbers of points. I’m not sold on all the Purdue hype, and I think their schedule will have as much to do with their ultimate success and their personnel, but Akron will have little for them in this road contest. I do think the game will be a bit sloppy, and as such, be closer than 34.
Prediction: Purdue 35, Akron 14
Central Michigan (0-1) at Miami (0-1)
Line: Miami -24
Upset Alert: 4
Synopsis: Central played tough against Indiana, falling at the end in a close contest. Miami was thoroughly outclassed by Ohio State. They key to this game will be for Miami to get their offense back on track against a pesky Central defense. Look for Betts to right the ship and send Miami back towards the win column, but it will be a lot closer than most people think. Central won’t score enough points to keep up.
Prediction: Miami 34, Central Michigan 16
SE Missouri St (NA) at Kent State (0-1)
Line: N/A
Upset Alert: 1
Synopsis: Kent will handle a I-AA opponent this week.
Prediction: Kent State 38, SEMoSt 13
Western Michigan (0-1) at Toledo (1-0)
Line: Toledo -22 ½
Upset Alert: 3
Synopsis: Despite being terrible last year, Western Michigan showed plenty of grit before succumbing 31-19 at Virginia last week. Toledo comes off a I-AA blowout game. Toledo should win this game handily, but they’d better be careful with the ball, because WMU stuck with Virginia by forcing mistakes. Look for the Rockets to win, but all appearances are that Western Michigan is again a competitive MAC team.
Prediction: Toledo 34, Western Michigan 23
Bowling Green (0-1) at Ball State (0-1)
Line: NA
Upset Alert: 0
Synopsis: So a teed off Bowling Green, fresh off of scoring 42 at Camp Randall against normally stingy Wisconsin, travels to Indiana to face a team that has 13 players with uncertain status and lost 56-0 to Iowa. Need I say more?
Prediction: Bowling Green 63, Ball State 9
Texas (1-0) at Ohio State (1-0)
Line: Texas -1
Upset Alert: 10
Synopsis: Well, this should be a game for the ages. The BP preview will say it all…suffice it to say here that this will be a thriller, and the Buckeye defense, at home under the lights, are almost invincible. The Buckeyes win what will be one of the greatest football games in the 21st century.
Prediction: Ohio State 28, Texas 27