Game Thread tOSU at Minnesota, Sat Oct 30, 8:00 ET, ABC Regional

[Jaxbuck]

I think you meant to say Weber there. They lost Decker after last season. And I doubt having Decker back would change the outcome of this game. My prediction would look like OSU 38 goophers 10.

Yeah my bad.

I still think they have a punchers chance at scoring more than people think but I just don't see it being that close.

 

[Coqui]

I agree you have to respect everyone but I think they got that game out of their system at Illinois.

You have to look at the other team and see if they do anything that could be a match up problem. Minny can pass it plus they seem to be able to keep Decker upright long enough/roll him out enough to do it. They also seem to have a decent punt return game. Defensively Minny is a train wreck of TSUN proportions.

MY guesstimate;
OSU 35ish
Minny 17-21. Not sure how much of that comes in the competitive stage of the game however.

What I'm hoping is this game does something to calm my nerves about away games.

We've played less than stellar away from Ohio. Whether or not there was an excuse (rain and wind for Illinois - injuries for Wiscy) I need something to prove we'll be ok for when we go to Iowa.

 

[TDunk]

What I'm hoping is this game does something to calm my nerves about away games.

We've played less than stellar away from Ohio. Whether or not there was an excuse (rain and wind for Illinois - injuries for Wiscy) I need something to prove we'll be ok for when we go to Iowa.

I really doubt our performance against minnesota is going to have any sort of impact of how the game at Iowa will go. These are two completely different teams. One of them can't stop anyone defensively and has a mediocre running game. And the other one has a HC that has won 21 COTY trophies.

 

[philly_billy]

Not to nitpick, but this game is not on ESPN as the title of the thread currently says. It's on ABC. ESPN has the UM vs. PSU game at 8:00 pm.

I see that this is the "ABC regional" game on Saturday night and they also have the Oregon/USC game listed. I'm in the Philadelphia market, will they show the Bucks game??! I hope!!!

 

[Yertle]

Coqui, are you actually predicting a loss? Or just saying that we need to take them seriously, or it COULD be last year's Purdue.

Personally, I'm not buying that the Bucks take anyone lightly any more this year. They know that style points matter now (although none will admit it) and they will light up Minny. Granted, away games have not looked spectacular this year, but that will change this weekend. This will be another second half yawner.

By the way, Minny is probably my second favorite Big 10 team... in football. Of course, they will forever be my least favorite basketball program, and I still feel Witte's life was forever damaged from a horrible display in Minneapolis. That entire Minnesota team (including Dave Winfield) can rot in hell for this riot.

http://www.suite101.com/content/ohio-state-vs-minnesota-1972-an-ugly-precedent-a204949

 

[Dryden]

 

[Meyer]

blowout

 

[UpNorthBuckeye]

Buckeyes need to go to TCF and TCoB.

New stadium in Minny, and (you probably all know) Minny has never won a game there.

This game is not just Minnesota's season, it's their freaking decade... that is, if they could beat OSU.

So I'm thinking that they will hang everything out there, flinging the ball all over the field, fake punts, throwbacks, you name it.

And so, tOSU will get at least 5 turnovers. Probably 3 picks and two fumble recoveries.
You are all my witnesses: if we get fewer than 5 turnovers I'll donate another $50 to BP.

Bucks:41
Minny: 10 (one TD against our subs in the 4th)

then and only then, On To State Penn and Iowa City!

 

[Coqui]

Coqui, are you actually predicting a loss? Or just saying that we need to take them seriously, or it COULD be last year's Purdue.

The latter. On paper, we should demolish them. And I learned from last year, not to depend on paper for the win. Basically I'll calm down if we can get up 14-0 within the first 5-7 minutes of the game.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I think Tress will break out the more Senatorial model for this game.

I think Tress used the 'old Billy Baroo for Purdue. He'll save wear and tear on his rotator cuff with this week.

It won't look as savage but at the end of the day, they'll know they had a plunger applied.

 

[Nicknam4]

Two Shutouts in a row?

YEAH BABY!

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

Purdue beat Minnesota 28-17 and held them under 280 total yards. Minny scored 14 of their 17 points in the 4th quarter.

That just illustrates how incredibly average their offense is. The real problem you addressed in your next...

...
You have to look at the other team and see if they do anything that could be a match up problem. Minny can pass it plus they seem to be able to keep Decker upright long enough/roll him out enough to do it. They also seem to have a decent punt return game. Defensively Minny is a train wreck of TSUN proportions.

...

Taking the 2nd bolded part first: Yeah, Minnesota is that bad on defense. The Buckeyes will have absolutely no problem either running or throwing. TP will have all day to throw and the holes will be huge.

As for the "match up problem": Minne's problem on offense is the other side of the coin there. Yes, Weber has the passing game slightly above average, which is quite a feat considering that they have no credible running threat whatsoever. That's the real issue. If a team doesn't have a credible running threat, the Buckeye defense is a brick wall in spite of the WW I trench-warfare style casualty rate going on in the defensive backfield.

This is one of those games where it might be worse than it would be at home because of the limit on how many players you can take on the road (can't play as much of the bench).

 

[BlufftonBuckeye]

I really doubt our performance against minnesota is going to have any sort of impact of how the game at Iowa will go. These are two completely different teams. One of them can't stop anyone defensively and has a mediocre running game. And the other one has a HC that has won 21 COTY trophies.

It isn't that it will have a huge impact, its just that it would be good to see the Bucks go into Minnesota, big night game in the new digs, ABC has the game, and just demolish them.

I wouldn't say its a "trap" or anything, but these are games that you want to make a statement in. I'm seeing a game much like last week against Purdue, lay down the hammer EARLY. I loved seeing Boom go out and make it happen, end this bitch in the first quarter.

GO BUCKS!

 

[Jaxbuck]

That just illustrates how incredibly average their offense is. The real problem you addressed in your next...



Taking the 2nd bolded part first: Yeah, Minnesota is that bad on defense. The Buckeyes will have absolutely no problem either running or throwing. TP will have all day to throw and the holes will be huge.

As for the "match up problem": Minne's problem on offense is the other side of the coin there. Yes, Weber has the passing game slightly above average, which is quite a feat considering that they have no credible running threat whatsoever. That's the real issue. If a team doesn't have a credible running threat, the Buckeye defense is a brick wall in spite of the WW I trench-warfare style casualty rate going on in the defensive backfield.

This is one of those games where it might be worse than it would be at home because of the limit on how many players you can take on the road (can't play as much of the bench).

I could see that but as I said in the other post I think they have a punchers chance of scoring more than people think they will heading into it. I'm not worried about the outcome or that it will even be all that close. I just think they might score a bit.

I haven't watched a lot of them (who could?) but if they can negate some of the OSU pass rush by moving the QB he'll have some open receivers, running game or no. Their stats so far suggest that is about all they do remotely well, avoid sacks and pass the ball. Maybe matchup "problem" is too strong a word but if they are going to have any success at all this seems to be the spot it will come in.

 

[Steve19]

42-9