What Will Be the Buckeyes' Record in 2009?

[ysubuck]

curious as to how you can feel that way in july? not coming down on you just interested in your explanation

The past few years have me gun shy about BIG games.

In 2008 the Buckeyes lost all of the games that they "could" have lost meaning they beat everyone they were supposed to. They got raped by USC and they got beaten by teams with equal talent in PSU and Texas. It's been awhile since Ohio State won on the BIG stage and I'm just a little sore from the last few years.

Like I said I think as the season draws closer I'll start to feel differently. But losing linebackers and defensive backs and Beanie with USC coming to town doesn't have me brimming with confidence about that game.

 

[AuburnBuckeye]

The past few years have me gun shy about BIG games.

In 2008 the Buckeyes lost all of the games that they "could" have lost meaning they beat everyone they were supposed to. They got raped by USC and they got beaten by teams with equal talent in PSU and Texas. It's been awhile since Ohio State won on the BIG stage and I'm just a little sore from the last few years.

Like I said I think as the season draws closer I'll start to feel differently. But losing linebackers and defensive backs and Beanie with USC coming to town doesn't have me brimming with confidence about that game.

Yes but it could be argued that USC lost more talent then we did. And no matter who you are it is extremely hard to travel 2000 miles from home and beat one of the most storied programs in College Football history, especially when you have a green QB behind center. Atleast that's what I think at first, then the thought crosses my mind "but it's USC, they always reload quickly" and that plants a big seed of doubt in my mind. Maybe I'm a little too optimistic, but I think we break the dry spell.

 

[Jake]

Always does, until it all falls apart and your hopes and dreams are crushed.

It's a message board poll...in July. What's the benefit of objectivity? :p

 

[Jake]

Yes but it could be argued that USC lost more talent then we did..."but it's USC, they always reload quickly" and that plants a big seed of doubt in my mind. Maybe I'm a little too optimistic, but I think we break the dry spell.

Fuck 'em. Petey is due for an ass whuppin.

 

[CleveBucks]

10-3. Losses to USC, PSU, and bowl.

 

[Seenile]

[censored] 'em. Petey is due for an ass whuppin.

I couldn't agree more. I can understand the hesitancy of OSU fans because of the last few years; I've felt the pain along side of you (sometimes worse, not even along side you... I live in LA and had tickets to the OSU-USC game but a drunk lost friend with the ticket + bad cellphone reception = me watching that crappy game OUTSIDE the coliseum). It was too reminiscent of my tailgates of the last two OSU NC games in AZ and LA.

But living out here, I've watched my fair-share of SC football and I think Jake has a point. Last year's SC game can be chalked up to a momentum shift after Boeckman's 2 INT/1 Fumble performance. In fact, when you look at some of our recent big stage loses, ILL+LSU+USC, they all had one thing in common: Boeckman = 3 turnovers. Tack on a bunch of inopportune personal fouls and penalties and you have yourself an ugly loss. A Tressel-coached team relies on not having either, especially against elite teams. The only other two losses were primarily decided by just two plays (Pryor's fumble and Russell's missed tackle) and 9 points total.

SC has given us a ton of ammunition, with even their coaches talking smack to our players like Pryor and Brewster last year. Having veterans against SC last year actually hurt us because they never fully recovered from the shell-shock of the OSU-Florida NC game. This year's group is dumb and hungry (figuratively speaking, of course) in that they didn't experience the UF and LSU game and don't have the same baggage as the fans do or the other veteran players did.

Bottom-line, the OSU D-Line must rattle their QB and LB/CBs contain their RB/WRs. USC is known for playing neck-and-neck with a team then breaking it open at the end of the game. A lot of the USC blow-outs that you see only were blow-outs from a 14 to 21 point fourth quarter, usually riddled with the other team self-destructing. We turn the tables, keep it close, and then have a late surge ourselves and we could get back on the map by handing USC their first butt-whipping in a long time.

We do that and the rest of the season will take care of itself.:osu:

 

[Bobby Hoying]

I think this is our year-BCS National Champions

I know it's July and I'm talking out of my ass but...

USC game:
USC hasn't played an early season road game against a tough team in a difficult atmosphere. I think Aaron Corp turns out to be a Justin Zwick, their starting QB luck has got to run out sooner or later. I can't explain it...I just have a feeling that things will go right in this game and we will regain national respect.

Penn State:
I would have my doubts about Pryor in this game if it wasn't for the Wisky game last year. We should have a firm running game by then that should get us through this game.

 

[AuburnBuckeye]

I just have a feeling that things will go right in this game and we will regain national respect.

Even if we win that game I have my doubts we won't still get our fair share of disrespectful fans. I feel like a NC is the only thing that will get the respect back. And with teams returning major talent like UF, UT and OU I'm not sure we can do it this year. And if we lose to USC, I expect a swarm of.........


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egwD4jTo3GE&feature=related]YouTube - Troll 2 - Worst Acting Ever - Oh my god ![/ame]

 

[osuteke]

Where are the "win bowl game" options? Who goes into a season wondering if they're going to get screwed by the BCS?

 

[zwem]

11-2. OSU will lose to USC twice. At the shoe and at the rose bowl. The Penn St. game will be fun to watch and could go either way. Other than that they should win all the other games.

 

[msj2487]

I think USC is a toss-up so thats why I went for 12-1 and get screwed by BCS (even though we would most likely make a BCS bowl game, so I don't see how we would get screwed unless there wasn't two unbeaten teams). So, I too would have just chosen 12-1 and win bowl game, because I believe Tressel will get it together this season and end this terrible bowl streak we're on.

Other than that, I also like the comparison of the PSU game to last year's Wisky game, I think it'll be a close one, but we pull it out in the end. I think the Navy game will be a great opening test to see how this season goes, and I think it'll be a tougher win than most of the nation would expect. We should blow by Toledo, Illinois, and Indiana. Wisky will probably be close for a half or so until we pull away in that one, I think we'll walk over Purdue, Minnesota, New Mexico State, and then of course as I stated above squeak by PSU, beat up Iowa, win a tough one in Ann Arbor and head to our first Rose Bowl in 12 years. However, if we play in the Rose Bowl, it could definitely be a rematch with USC because the P10 is just so awful and cannot for the life of them get a different conference champion... ever.

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

This years team basically fits my mold of what "should-shouldn't" happen during the course of the season. Very good team but maybe not ready to win it all. My formula has three parts:

You win one that you shouldn't
You Lose one that you should
You lose one that you shouldn't

Guess I'll go with 11-2.

Peace

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...
You win one that you shouldn't
You Lose one that you should...

This implies that there are two games that the Buckeyes should lose or shouldn't win, assuming these are synonymous phrases.

I am having a hard time finding a game that the Buckeyes "should lose" apart from the USC game. Does "should lose" mean simply that the other team is favored by 1 pt or more? Then perhaps Penn State will be favored against the Buckeyes at home, depending on how their season goes.

I just find it hard to accept a game where the Buckeyes are a 'dog by less than a TD as a game the Buckeyes "should lose"

 

[Buckeneye]

Wasn't sure where to put this, so I'll toss it here.

CFN has us at 13th...

http://cfn.scout.com/2/834169.html

Not that I mind, I mean, the last time the AP started us 13th was.....

 

[Jaxbuck]

I am pretty much a pessamist by nature but try as I might I can't get real negative looking at our schedule.

Heavyweights
USC
@ PSU

Logic says just write in a split here. I say if we can beat USC there is no reason we shouldn't be undefeated heading into Happy Valley.

Conference Middleweights
Illinois
Wisky
Minny
Iowa

All the up and coming B10 teams have to come to Columbus. Only Iowa presents and type of letdown danger (week after PSU). You have to show up against everyone but there is no one on this list who can go athlete for athlete with us or has a great returning SR dominated team.

Lightweights and OOC
Navy
Toledo
@ IU
@ Purdue
NMSU

Respect all fear none. Nice break not playing MSU and having two of our B10 road games in the state of Indiana.

The Game
@ scUM

I am going to go one more year with giving scUM the respect they deserve from The Games past and not put them in the lightweight category.

I have concerns about our OL. I have concerns about our RB's. I have concerns about Pryor throwing until I see different. I have concerns about our secondary and I don't buy the hype of the interior DL.

All that said, when I look at the schedule the way I have it broken up I just don't see anything worse than a 10-2 regular season.