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I'm getting nervous/anxious for this game. I have never been to a bigger game in my life.
The biggest game of any kind I have ever been to was one of the ALCS games in '95. Other than that I've been to a few first and second round NHL playoff games with the Blackhawks.
What I'm going to Saturday is a de facto playoff game. Equal to the AFC or NFC championship.
Gameday is going to be there Saturday morning, I'm sure FOX will have a setup because they're doing the game. There is going to be all kinds of stuff going on from 9am up until kickoff. I'm really excited.
I really think this game sucks for Michigan State. For one, short of OSU getting jumped, they are going to the Rose Bowl regardless. So really, their role is spoiler, and while the thought of that is fun, it is also something you don't want to be when you have a really good season like they did. Spoiler games are supposed to be for teams like the Browns who blow their season long before the month of December.
I expect Dantonio to pull out everything he has. Trick plays, fake FG's, fake punts, you name it.
I think when you see last week with OSU's dominance in that series, MSU has a great chance to maybe gain some ground on UM in recruiting. That would be quite the statement to pull this game off in this setting, with the ENTIRE college football world, and probably a lot of other people in the country. The SEC championship is in the late afternoon, and Duke is a 30 point dog, everyone will be watching this game.
It's really hard to judge how this will go. This will be the best defense OSU has faced all year, and vice versa, MSU has not faced the caliber of offense that they will see Saturday.
MSU looked phenomenal in their game against Michigan, but they looked bad against Nebraska.
But wow, if you look at their recent schedule, they have not given up a touchdown in 5 of their last 6 games. I don't care what teams those are, that's an impressive feat.
I think their going to try and bottle Hyde and make Miller beat them. I really want to see Hyde and the Buckeye OL vs that front of MSU.
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Ohio State controls their own destiny with the Big Ten Chamionship game. The BCS system was et up to make the regular season just as important as the post season. That is why a palyoff system was so hard to get. Undeafeted trumps strength of schedule.
But, I will say if they were to lose they will fall very far down in the polls. Outside of Mark May the media is not against Ohio State. The simply see a team whose best win was by 7 points at home against a 3 loss Wiscinsin team without a star runningback who lost to Penn State. If they beat Mchigan State their schedule will get legitimized. If they lose the perception that they did not play a good schedule and they really are not that good will resinate in the polls and they will drop possibly out of the top 10.
It is all on their shoulders Saturday night.
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without a star runningback
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I think they have three of them.
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Ohio State didn't lose to Florida because they were rusty. They lost to Florida because they tried to use the same gameplan they used against Michigan who had one of the two top run defenses in the country. If you'll remember, they passed the ball a lot more in that game after primarily being a run-first team for most of the season. Michigan was a big physical team... I think they had Alan branch and Gabe Watson that year... Maybe Woodley too? Florida's D was built on speed and that QB option pass stuff they ran against Michigan played to the strength of the Florida D. When OSU ran the ball, they were ripping off 5 yards a shot that game, but they insisted on passing the ball as their primary attack, even after their top receiver went out of the game after returning the opening kickoff for a TD. I'm not sure how much of that was Tressell trying to give Smith a showcase and how much was just bad planning, but they got destroyed because of a bad gameplan... Not because of rust or a lack of talent for that matter.
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I was just summing up the media perception that Ohio State fans call hete. I do not see the hate. If they win Saturday it will legitimize the lack of top 25 BCS wins. If they lose people who did not feel they were that good will point to the weakness of their schedule and say I told you so.
It is all on Ohio State if they want to change national perception.
Then they will need to win or play a much better game against FSU in the title game. Again the nation perceptionis that the Big Ten is weak. Mainly because Ohio State has dominated for a decade but gets embarressed in the title game while the rest of the Big Ten has put up bad bowl game records. If they want to change perception now is their chance. Fail and the perception is confirmed.
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I really don't want to argue w/you because I think you are a smart football guy and you are not an agenda poster, but man, you can't have a 50+ day lay off and expect to play your game.
You do realize that is the reason we went w/two bye weeks and the Conference Championship game, right?
I do agree w/your points, but to overlook the 50+ day lay off is short-sighted.
No offense intended. I just disagree.
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I was just summing up the media perception that Ohio State fans call hete. I do not see the hate.
Just curious: Did you watch the BCS show on ESPN this past Sunday night?
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I was just summing up the media perception that Ohio State fans call hete. I do not see the hate. If they win Saturday it will legitimize the lack of top 25 BCS wins. If they lose people who did not feel they were that good will point to the weakness of their schedule and say I told you so.
It is all on Ohio State if they want to change national perception.
Then they will need to win or play a much better game against FSU in the title game. Again the nation perceptionis that the Big Ten is weak. Mainly because Ohio State has dominated for a decade but gets embarressed in the title game while the rest of the Big Ten has put up bad bowl game records. If they want to change perception now is their chance. Fail and the perception is confirmed.
People feel like if OSU wins Saturday that certain media will just disregard the win to MSU not being that good.
As far as the 2006 OSU/UF game, I think rust probably played a little bit into it, but I think OSU didn't come in focused at all.
I read a lot about guys getting out of shape over the holiday break.
Florida had a lot more to prove in that game. OSU had won a title a few years before, they had just won the most hyped up regular season game in recent history....
They weren't hungry and I think they expected to win. If you remember, Florida's last impression to Ohio State was in the SEC championship in which the Gators looked incredibly sloppy hence the 7 point spread for the title game. Arkansas was a good team, but Arkansa wasn't any kind of national title threat.
Overall, I think Florida was better and still wins even if you had played that game a week after the SEC championship. But I don't think they're 41-14 better.
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No I did not I was watching the Kentucky vs Providence basketball game.
I like Kentucky as much as I do the Browns. I hear Wildcat fans always saying that ESPN personalities like Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps hates them. They say they cannot stand ESPN just like Buckeye football fans.
The simple truth is ESPN talking heads aere good at bringing out stats and drum up controversy for ratings, Wildcat fans but into the critizism just as Buckeye fans do. What they bring up is usually valid arguements that cut at fans. Even if they know reality is another thing.
They know the national perception is that the Big Ten is weak and that Ohio State is the best team in a weak conference. They all know the reality is if Ohio State wins there is no way in hell Auburn passes Ohio State.If buckeye fans want that perception to change their team has a chance to change that perception now.
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I don't really have the patience to deal with your condescending 'I don't think you know what you're seeing' crap. So take that elsewhere. If you would like to debate football, that's fine but you're coming off as a childish fan boy right now.
You said Ohio States defense is putrid. I agree. I said that. As far as most balanced offense? Give me a break. Do you really feel comfortable with Braxton Miller throwing the football? I wouldn't. Stop the run game, albeit difficult to do, and you stop the Ohio State offense.
51 day layoff. Cute. Florida was off 37 days. It's not like Florida played a week before. You're making excuses. You got beat up and down the field because you couldn't handle the speed of the Florida pass rush and you know it.
Now if you wanna debate football, fine, but take your childish personal attacks elsewhere.
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Do you really feel comfortable with Braxton Miller throwing the football? I wouldn't. Stop the run game, albeit difficult to do, and you stop the Ohio State offense.
With all due respect Top, you've hated Braxton since HS.
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Kid goes to high school I graduated from. I see him play a lot.
I'm sure most of you will chalk this up as me being an "OSU Hater", but you guys are going to be VERY disappointed with this kid.
The fact that he's ranked in the Top 50 is a joke, much less #1 overall according to Scout.
If OSU WR's grow hands on their feet, Braxton will be good, because that's where all his balls are thrown. Directly to the receivers feet.
Welcome your newest Running Back, because he sure as hell ain't a QB.
*If it sounds like I have a personal grudge against the kid, I do. He costs Wayne WAY too many games.
OSU Recruiting thread from 2011
Braxton isn't a great QB, however, I absolutely trust him throwing the football this year. He has improved every single statistic over last year (Comp %, Y/A, TD/INT, QB rating, and yards/game) even though his attempts per game have not gone up. He's throwing the football so much better than he has in the past two years. His throwing motion has improved, he can deliver the ball on the run, and he's hitting the check down when he needs too. He does miss some throws every once in a while.
He was 5th in the Heisman voting last year and is in the running for the top 5 this year after missing almost 3 full games. I'd say he's far from disappointed Buckeye fans.
LIbertatem Defendimus!!
2010 Dawgtalkers NCAA Bracket Challenge Champ!!
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Admittedly, I was wrong. In my defense, I still maintain his success has little to do with his throwing ability. He's an incredible athlete.
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Stop the run game, albeit difficult to do, and you stop the Ohio State offense.
In a championship game I wouldn't put it past Meyer to bring in Kenny to sling it around if the running game gets shut down and Miller is throwing the ball well...
I do agree their defense is putrid... and agree with you that I'm not sure if OSU could beat FSU, Auburn, or Bama... I do think they deserve to be in the championship if they beat MSU... I also think they can play with any team in the country...
<><
#gmstrong
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In a one game scenario, I agree they can beat anyone.
People like vers think I'm saying Ohio State is terrible, I'm not. I'm simply saying when you watch them, they're a team that should be a year or two away that's gonna get their shot because of a flawed system.
I like the BCS cuz it makes the regular season so exciting and I don't have a dog in the fight considering I'm a UK fan and you could have a 68 team tournament and we still aren't in lol but its a flawed system.
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Braxton Miller's throwing has improved a lot since last year. I'm not sure of the stats or anything, but just watching on the field, he's much better.
He's not AJ McCarron or David Carr throwing thing around, but he's also no longer a "bad" thrower. I thought Terrelle Pryor was a bad thrower his entire time at OSU. Braxton Miller's throwing his freshman year was a joke. Meyer is a lot better with QB's than Tressel and Bollman (gah) were.
Which is why I don't understand the mystery with him possibly leaving. I know he kind of hinted at it a few weeks ago, but he's not an NFL QB prospect if you ask me.
There's no doubt he will try QB at the NFL some day, but I wouldn't take him with any drat pick if I was thinking of him as a QB. In terms of pro prospects he's a poor man's RG3 at the same level of fragile.
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Ohio State didn't lose to Florida because they were rusty. They lost to Florida because they tried to use the same gameplan they used against Michigan who had one of the two top run defenses in the country. If you'll remember, they passed the ball a lot more in that game after primarily being a run-first team for most of the season. Michigan was a big physical team... I think they had Alan branch and Gabe Watson that year... Maybe Woodley too? Florida's D was built on speed and that QB option pass stuff they ran against Michigan played to the strength of the Florida D. When OSU ran the ball, they were ripping off 5 yards a shot that game, but they insisted on passing the ball as their primary attack, even after their top receiver went out of the game after returning the opening kickoff for a TD. I'm not sure how much of that was Tressell trying to give Smith a showcase and how much was just bad planning, but they got destroyed because of a bad gameplan... Not because of rust or a lack of talent for that matter.
I have said it since that game and you can find posts from me about this on multiple occasion. OSU lost to Florida because Tressel was too stubborn to adjust his offensive gameplan.
OSU kept running 7 yard drops and FLorida had their speed ends do nothing but sprint up field past our big tackles then turn left. Completely disrupting our passing game.
When we ran the ball off tackle we we picking up 7-15 yards/play. But Tressel wanted to prove that we could pass on the Gators despite how easy we were running the ball.
The next year when we lost to LSU (and again I stated it back then) OSU did not belong in that game. Just like I felt ND wasn't good enough to be in the BCS championship game last year.
Am I perfect? No
Am I trying to be a better person?
Also no
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Ohio State was only in that game against LSU because 3 or 4 teams couldn't take care of business at the end of the year. It just shows you that maybe schedule isn't everything, and you can't just write off teams because you think the resume isn't the greatest. It's tough to win in November.
I don't care who you play, when you're in an AQ conference even in a down Big Ten, it's hard to win all your games. There were several times OSU really got tested.
There was no politicking for OSU in 2007 either. It landed in their lap and they actually gave a respectable performance. If you call that a game against LSU a blowout, then Auburn was blown out this year too. Both teams lost by 2 touchdowns.
Also Matt Flynn versus Todd Boeckman might be the worst championship matchup EVER.
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after Pryor was thought to be a starting QB heading into week1 for a NFL team, I wouldn't be surprised if Braxton is drafted somewhat high (middle rounds) and gets a shot at starting at some point.
I agree that he isn't ready though and needs to come back next year. For this year, I'm perfectly fine with him throwing the ball. He has come a really long way from his rainbow prayer passes in his freshman season.
also, Michigan State might be better off trying to just take out the passing game and relying on scoring enough points against our defense because I'm not sure how they will actually stop Hyde.
#gmstrong
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after Pryor was thought to be a starting QB heading into week1 for a NFL team, I wouldn't be surprised if Braxton is drafted somewhat high (middle rounds) and gets a shot at starting at some point.
I agree that he isn't ready though and needs to come back next year. For this year, I'm perfectly fine with him throwing the ball. He has come a really long way from his rainbow prayer passes in his freshman season.
also, Michigan State might be better off trying to just take out the passing game and relying on scoring enough points against our defense because I'm not sure how they will actually stop Hyde.
I believe he was finally tackled for a loss last week for the first time all year.
He's averaging 8 yards a carry. He's going to get his. As much as we focus on Miller throwing the ball I think this game will be decided on OSU's defense and Miller running.
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I am not trying to say OSU got in because of politics, only that they were not that good that year. Much like ND wasn't that good last year.
Am I perfect? No
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President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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Who knows if that's the right decision or not, or if it was only based off what they could potentially prove, but I am glad it's over for college footballs sake. Hopefully the young girl will be okay going forward (regardless of what happened).
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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I'm sure the girls family will claim this more about football than it is about the law... I just hope they are wrong.
yebat' Putin
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Exactly. It does make this weekends games and the following weekends trophy presentation a little less cloudy. We can hopefully put the focus back on football (and/or SOS, conference rankings, OOC opponents, BCS computer points, quality wins, bad loses, quality loses, bad wins and preseason rankings  ). Next year can't get here soon enough. 
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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j/c
I have to agree with Top here to a great extent. I'm a Buckeye fan through and through. Always have been.
But in that BCS title game, they simply had too much speed. Even the Buckeye faithful on this board talk about how important speed is in drafting players these days and in the same breath refuse to admit how much faster the team that beat us was and what an impact that played.
I also feel as a Buckeye fan, that if MSU can actually stop Hyde, I would be more comfortable with Guiton slinging the rock. From a pure passer standpoint, I like him better.
Braxton is a local guy from Huber Heights where I lived at one point. Only about 20 minutes from where I live now. He is a great athlete. But if we have to put the game on his shoulders? Color me concerned.
JMHO
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We've had to win a LOT of games riding Braxton's shoulders. The guy hasn't lost since his Fershmen year. He's do something right
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Now if you wanna debate football, fine, but take your childish personal attacks elsewhere.
I was debating football. I think our offense is excellent and said so. All you do is bad-mouth the Buckeyes. If you don't want anyone to refute your statements, don't make them.
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We've had to win a LOT of games riding Braxton's shoulders. The guy hasn't lost since his Fershmen year. He's do something right
And in a lot of cases that's been the athletic portion of his game. I'm a big fan of his actually.
But if we play a D that can stop Hyde and force Braxton into being a pocket passer, I'd rather have Guiton throwing the rock. Strictly from a passer standpoint mind you.
I worry it may be possible with MSU's D, it's possible they can cause such a scenario.
Believe me, nobody wants me to be wrong more than I do! And I'm saying it's a possibility, not a certainty.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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But if we play a D that can stop Hyde and force Braxton into being a pocket passer
I think a D could do one or the other. Since we don't face any NFL defenses, I'm not worried about finding one that can do both
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I honestly don't think they can keep both Miller and Hyde in check...
If they stop Hyde... I think Miller will then have the opportunity to beat them with his feet.
I also think the receivers are serviceable enough to keep the D honest.
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One of the top-5 run offenses vs. the top run defense in college football this weekend. Should be interesting case study on "The Unstoppable Force vs. the Immovable Object."
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One of the top-5 run offenses vs. the top run defense in college football this weekend. Should be interesting case study on "The Unstoppable Force vs. the Immovable Object."
except that Michigan State has faced a the 111th toughest run offenses to date. The only good rushing team they have faced was Nebraska who ran well against them.
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I'd rather have Guiton throwing the rock. Strictly from a passer standpoint mind you.
I agree w/you in that we are a more well-rounded offense w/Guiton in there. However, I think Miller will always make some big plays in a game. He irritates me at times, because he plays a bit nonchalant occasionally---especially last year.
I think the only way we lose is if we have multiple turnovers. Miller does put it on the ground too often. I say that if we protect the ball, we win the game.
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I hope Meyer is pissed. Second year in a row he gets robbed of COTY in the Big Ten. It's a running joke, because Tressell never won it either.
Are you serious? Who got it?
Dantonio
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Thanks.
I know it isn't a big deal, but it's still bull crap.
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It's a little extra motivation for Saturday night, not that they needed any.
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Thanks.
I know it isn't a big deal, but it's still bull crap.
The downside of having the most talent week in-week out I guess. Dantonio's deserving, he's done a lot with much less then Urb's got. It's not like they gave it to Ferentz 
Crowded elevators smell different to short people...
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