Wasn't expecting lines until 6 or 630... Nice. 9
I still think Wisc. rolled over for the Conf....
Wasn't expecting lines until 6 or 630... Nice. 9
I still think Wisc. rolled over for the Conf....
I still think Wisc. rolled over for the Conf....
I still think Wisc. rolled over for the Conf....
Stalkin huh... Isn't there enough threads for you to cover... Everyone else is wrong and Ohio State Fans are correct... No problem... Your in, you get to play one game... Then like alway, the Big ten and Ohio State will be done...
Stalkin huh... Isn't there enough threads for you to cover... Everyone else is wrong and Ohio State Fans are correct... No problem... Your in, you get to play one game... Then like alway, the Big ten and Ohio State will be done...
Ok, let's call it a tune-up game.
Ok, let's call it a tune-up game.
Stalkin huh... Isn't there enough threads for you to cover... Everyone else is wrong and Ohio State Fans are correct... No problem... Your in, you get to play one game... Then like alway, the Big ten and Ohio State will be done... I think OSU win this game and cover the 9.5 easy. However, I will wait for 13-14 and cover easily.
Stalkin huh... Isn't there enough threads for you to cover... Everyone else is wrong and Ohio State Fans are correct... No problem... Your in, you get to play one game... Then like alway, the Big ten and Ohio State will be done... I think OSU win this game and cover the 9.5 easy. However, I will wait for 13-14 and cover easily.
Zero chance it's a competitive game. This is essentially a bye for Alabama.
Zero chance it's a competitive game. This is essentially a bye for Alabama.
I'm not a player. The players won't be taking this playoff game lightly, I can assure you that.
This game is very much like the Notre Dame match-up, and this game shouldn't be very close for same reasons that game wasn't close. Unless Ohio State will be scrimmaging the Cleveland Browns leading up to this game, they simply won't be able flip the switch from playing cupcakes all year to instantly being acclimated to matching the level of play that a team like Alabama will bring.
Alabama, on the other hand, is accustomed to playing at a very high level every week, and have already faced 3 or 4 teams that are at least as good or better than Ohio State. There is simply no way for teams like Notre Dame and Ohio State to prepare for what they will encounter on game day, and that is why teams from lesser conferences have such a difficult time matching up in meaningful bowl games with elite SEC teams.
That said, since Urban Meyer arrived at Ohio State, he has been trying to build a SEC killer - specifically an Alabama killer. To that end he has done a terrific job of bringing in SEC-caliber talent. This game will go a long way in gauging how developed Meyer's SEC-killer Frankenstein is. Obviously it would be a more accurate gauge if Meyer were actually coming into this game with a healthy 1st string QB, but it is what it is. I actually expect Cardale Jones to play pretty well, but in the end, to keep Ohio State competitive in this game he will have to beat Alabama through the air, and I just don't see that happening.
Truth be told, Ohio State is an ideal match-up for Alabama. Saban simply could not ask for a better 1st round match-up. Had the committee actually done their jobs and matched Alabama up with either Baylor or TCU, those matchups would be a whole lot more problematic for Alabama. As it is, Ohio State is really nothing more than a National championship tune-up game for Alabama.
I will most likely do a bowl thread. I'm just not sure if it'll be on this site or not.
I'm not a player. The players won't be taking this playoff game lightly, I can assure you that.
This game is very much like the Notre Dame match-up, and this game shouldn't be very close for same reasons that game wasn't close. Unless Ohio State will be scrimmaging the Cleveland Browns leading up to this game, they simply won't be able flip the switch from playing cupcakes all year to instantly being acclimated to matching the level of play that a team like Alabama will bring.
Alabama, on the other hand, is accustomed to playing at a very high level every week, and have already faced 3 or 4 teams that are at least as good or better than Ohio State. There is simply no way for teams like Notre Dame and Ohio State to prepare for what they will encounter on game day, and that is why teams from lesser conferences have such a difficult time matching up in meaningful bowl games with elite SEC teams.
That said, since Urban Meyer arrived at Ohio State, he has been trying to build a SEC killer - specifically an Alabama killer. To that end he has done a terrific job of bringing in SEC-caliber talent. This game will go a long way in gauging how developed Meyer's SEC-killer Frankenstein is. Obviously it would be a more accurate gauge if Meyer were actually coming into this game with a healthy 1st string QB, but it is what it is. I actually expect Cardale Jones to play pretty well, but in the end, to keep Ohio State competitive in this game he will have to beat Alabama through the air, and I just don't see that happening.
Truth be told, Ohio State is an ideal match-up for Alabama. Saban simply could not ask for a better 1st round match-up. Had the committee actually done their jobs and matched Alabama up with either Baylor or TCU, those matchups would be a whole lot more problematic for Alabama. As it is, Ohio State is really nothing more than a National championship tune-up game for Alabama.
I will most likely do a bowl thread. I'm just not sure if it'll be on this site or not.
Agree, think TCU or Baylor could hang but the buckeyes will have a tougher time, cooper will torch that secondary
I'd like to see a competitive from a fans pers
I agree. I would much rather see Alabama what a QB like Trevone Boykin could do against Alabama. He is a guy that I think could legitimately cause Alabama's defense a lot of headaches. That would be a much more intriguing matchup than what this illustrious committee has served up.
I think Ohio State's biggest problem is on the offensive side of the ball. What will Cardale Jones do when Alabama's defense takes away the run - and they can and will take the run away? Alabama is just way too deep on that side of the ball for any team to believe they wear them down on that side of the ball. If LSU couldn't do it when they possessed the ball almost the entire 2nd half, Ohio State certainly isn't going to do it.
When Alabama's defense takes the run away, then what??? I don't totally dismiss Cardale Jones. I'm sure he will make some plays. I just don't think it will be nearly enough to keep them competitive in this game.
Ohio State's only hope is for their defense to keep them in the game the same way the Ole Miss, Arkansas and LSU defenses kept them in the game. I really don't see that happening though. Until they shutdown a completely one-dimensional Wisconsin offense last week, Ohio State's defense has been routinely been giving up about 4 touchdowns a week. With 3 weeks to prepare, Kiffin will likely come up with a dizzying array of formations and personnel packages that Ohio State likely hasn't seen on tape. I just don't see Ohio State coming up with the type of defensive performance necessary to pull off a shocker here.
Alabama should get into the 40s here (or very close to it) and I don't see Ohio State hitting the 20-point mark. I'll call for a final score of 38-17.
Agree, think TCU or Baylor could hang but the buckeyes will have a tougher time, cooper will torch that secondary
I'd like to see a competitive from a fans pers
I agree. I would much rather see Alabama what a QB like Trevone Boykin could do against Alabama. He is a guy that I think could legitimately cause Alabama's defense a lot of headaches. That would be a much more intriguing matchup than what this illustrious committee has served up.
I think Ohio State's biggest problem is on the offensive side of the ball. What will Cardale Jones do when Alabama's defense takes away the run - and they can and will take the run away? Alabama is just way too deep on that side of the ball for any team to believe they wear them down on that side of the ball. If LSU couldn't do it when they possessed the ball almost the entire 2nd half, Ohio State certainly isn't going to do it.
When Alabama's defense takes the run away, then what??? I don't totally dismiss Cardale Jones. I'm sure he will make some plays. I just don't think it will be nearly enough to keep them competitive in this game.
Ohio State's only hope is for their defense to keep them in the game the same way the Ole Miss, Arkansas and LSU defenses kept them in the game. I really don't see that happening though. Until they shutdown a completely one-dimensional Wisconsin offense last week, Ohio State's defense has been routinely been giving up about 4 touchdowns a week. With 3 weeks to prepare, Kiffin will likely come up with a dizzying array of formations and personnel packages that Ohio State likely hasn't seen on tape. I just don't see Ohio State coming up with the type of defensive performance necessary to pull off a shocker here.
Alabama should get into the 40s here (or very close to it) and I don't see Ohio State hitting the 20-point mark. I'll call for a final score of 38-17.
Cooper is going to get at least 10 touches. There is really nothing Ohio State will be able to do to prevent that. The best they can hope to do is limit his yardage like Missouri did. Mizzou did a pretty good job of rallying to the ball when Cooper did get his hands on it.
I don't think it'll really matter all that much though. Alabama is ridiculously stacked at the wide receiver position. As long as Sims able to deliver the ball accurately/timely ball, Alabama has plenty of weapons that can make plays on the outside. Kiffin just hasn't featured those guys this season because he has Cooper.
Cooper is going to get at least 10 touches. There is really nothing Ohio State will be able to do to prevent that. The best they can hope to do is limit his yardage like Missouri did. Mizzou did a pretty good job of rallying to the ball when Cooper did get his hands on it.
I don't think it'll really matter all that much though. Alabama is ridiculously stacked at the wide receiver position. As long as Sims able to deliver the ball accurately/timely ball, Alabama has plenty of weapons that can make plays on the outside. Kiffin just hasn't featured those guys this season because he has Cooper.
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