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Best Buckeye;665866; said:No, it was THE GAME.
It was between the 2 best teams though.
Did anyone notice that it seemed like Pitt put up a jump shot to a meech player after his 56 yard td run and did'nt get a flag?:)
Nice post. This in a nutshell is why we won. our first scoring drive, the drive to end the half , and the last drive.sandgk;665906; said:Turning Points - Breaking Points - Interesting Statistics
Normally the adage applies that you lose the turnover battle you will likely lose the game - that also did not happen. The Buckeye Offense simply overcame the mental and emotional hurdles to come back with another score when they needed it.
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Best Buckeye;665815; said:Just as I thought, USC gets the nod because of strentgh of schedule. If they win out they get to get beat by us in the NC game.
You have a good point. I admit I was thinking ahead. USC has two games left. I think if they win out the sos will get them there.bkochmc;665918; said:Take a look at Sarrigan again... the BCS uses his ELO_CHESS ratings:
1. Ohio State (106.18)
2. Michigan (102.61)
3. USC (96.84)
USC's numbers will climb if/when they beat ND, but I don't know if it will be enough to overtake Michigan.
November 19, 2006
(1) Ohio State 42, (2) Michigan 39
Ohio State Charges Into B.C.S. Title Game
By PETE THAMEL
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 18 ? A contest billed as a game for the ages lived up to the hype. But after No. 1 Ohio State held off No. 2 Michigan, 42-39, only one prominent questioned lingered: Will these two storied rivals meet again this season?
The first meeting between the rivals as No. 1 and No. 2, combined with the stunning death of the legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler on Friday, gave this game almost a surreal feel.
The game had a bit of everything ? electric performances by big stars, a controversial penalty that swung the game, and a postseason cliffhanger that will not be resolved for two weeks.
If Michigan (11-1) ends up No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, a realistic possibility considering the lack of another dominant undefeated team, then college football could end up feeling d?j? vu.
?I think we?re both the top teams in the country, regardless of what anyone says,? Michigan tailback Mike Hart said. ?On a neutral site, it would be a big game.?
For Ohio State (12-0), Saturday?s victory secured an undefeated season, its first outright Big Ten title since 1984 and a berth in the B.C.S. title game. It also solidified Troy Smith as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. He is the first Buckeyes quarterback in more than 50 years to beat Michigan three times.
Smith overcame a shaky third quarter to finish 29 of 41 with 316 passing yards and 4 touchdown passes to four receivers.
But the Buckeyes did not seal the victory until 25 seconds remained, when tailback Antonio Pittman burst over left tackle for 6 yards on third-and-2, allowing the clock to run out.
That final run kicked off a wild scene, as many of the 105,708 fans at Ohio Stadium rushed onto the field in celebration. A staunch group of police officers formed a triangle around each goalpost to protect them. But they could not protect the field, as revelers ripped giant chunks of grass out for souvenirs.
The field looked as if it were covered with golf divots after the game, fitting because of the large chucks of yardage both teams ripped off all game. Two programs known for vanilla offenses combined for 900 yards. But both coaches were noncommittal on a rematch of this classic game.
?There can?t be many teams in the nation better than Michigan,? Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel said. ?But I?m not going to get into it. My opinion doesn?t have a vote.?
Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said: ?I don?t care to speculate. It will be what it will be. And I know that it will probably be very controversial either way. So that?s what we like.?
Carr liked the production he got from Hart, who churned out 142 yards on 23 carries, scored three touchdowns and did a great job picking up Ohio State?s blitzes. He combined with quarterback Chad Henne, who finished 21 for 35 for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns, on some unexpected offensive fireworks.
The Wolverines fought back from a 14-point halftime deficit to have a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. But one foolish defensive play undid Michigan?s comeback bid.
With less than seven minutes remaining in the game and Michigan trailing by 35-31, the senior linebacker Shawn Crable was penalized for a personal foul against Smith. The referee ruled that a hit by Crable on Smith ?went high and in the head.?
Instead of a fourth-and-15, which would have meant a 53-yard field goal attempt or a punt, Ohio State had a first-and-10 on the 23.
?That was a big play in the game,? Carr said.
The Buckeyes scored three plays later to take a 42-31 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Brian Robiskie, capping Robiskie?s career day of seven catches for 89 yards.
Michigan turned around and scored on a touchdown and 2-point conversion, both on Henne passes, to make the score 42-39.
But Ted Ginn Jr. capped a stellar day by recovering the onside kick. He had eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Ginn?s biggest play of the game, a 39-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, epitomized the Buckeyes? dominant first half.
Ginn?s catch also provided a prime example of Tressel?s in-game coaching savvy. Tressel improved to 5-1 in his career in head-to-head matchups with Carr.
On Ginn?s touchdown, Ohio State was in a bunch formation, with the wide receivers lined up close to the tight ends on the line of scrimmage. Ginn sneaked past the all-American cornerback Leon Hall for an easy score.
Carr talked about such big plays throughout his postgame news conference. Michigan entered the game ranked No. 1 nationally in rushing defense, yielding less than 30 yards a game. On Saturday, the Wolverines gave up touchdown runs of 56 yards to Pittman and 52 yards to Chris Wells.
?I think we made too many mistakes,? he said. ?We gave up too many big plays. Anytime you give up two long runs for touchdowns and a long pass, it?s going to be hard to beat anybody, but much less a team like we played today.
?Big plays were simply the biggest factor in the game.?
Now the fate of Michigan?s season will go to the computers and the voters in the Harris Interactive Poll and the coaches poll. The Wolverines have impressive victories at Notre Dame and at home against Wisconsin.
They have clinched at least a spot in the Rose Bowl and now have to wait two weeks to find out if they put on a good enough show to reach the B.C.S. title game.
Before that is figured out, though, they will focus on mourning Schembechler, the face of the football program who led Michigan to 13 Big Ten titles and 10 Rose Bowl appearances. There will be a memorial service for Schembechler at Michigan Stadium on Tuesday.
Carr stressed that the Wolverines did not use Schembechler?s death as a motivating factor, but he said he wished that Schembechler had been around to see this classic.
?I?m a little mad at him because he didn?t stay around for this game,? Carr said, fighting off tears. ?But it wouldn?t have been fair to him to use that in any way, and we don?t. And all I can say about him is I loved that man.?
Multimedia
Audio Slide Show A Fabled Rivalry: Ohio State vs. Michigan
lvbuckeye;666090; said:if a rematch does occur, i look for the Buckeyes to win a 45-17 blowout.