Week 2: OSU
- Thread starter cmullinsTU
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Starting DT Tracy Sprinkle had surgery and is out for the year. Starting OLB Dante Booker is questionable, but could play Saturday.
Take TU and the points in this one. Ohio State is looking right past TU and ahead to week 3 and their game in Norman. Not saying TU is going to win this game but Ohio St is good for one clunker each year early and a scare from a team it should beat easily. We are in a good position for that clunker to be against us.
I think us beating down a team that went to a bowl last year and was only 5 point dog will get their attention
There is a huge difference in the talent level. The OSU struggles against teams they should easily beat were pre-Urban Myer. That doesn't happen as much anymore. I'd like to think we can hang with them, and maybe we can hope they are looking ahead to OU, but BG is a top MAC team and got throttled last weekend 77-10. The MAC and AAC are about the same; not including Houston, the MAC is probably better. I'll gladly give the points cause OSU will cover; they could cover in their sleep.
Bowling Green has a brand new coach from Texas Tech's staff, the great coach they had last year (Briles protege) flew to Syracuse to take the HCing helm there. BG was an explosive team last year, but this is a new year, new staff and new scheme.
Another team has beat bowling green before by a score of 63 - 7. It happens.
If this were OSU, I would take us to cover or win outright, but, this is THE OSU....they actually have tradition that wasn't bought
It still happens, even under Urban's watch. See Northern Illinois last season. Not only did NIU hang the entire game with The OSU, they should have beaten The OSU, just as TU should have been in position to beat OU in Norman last season.
The great equalizer for level of talent is undisciplined play, a.k.a penalties and turnovers. I believe the 2016 edition of The OSU is even younger in terms of game experience than the 2015 edition.
Then you factor in a 4-year starter at QB running a fast-break offense sure to be improved from 2015 and had to show very little vs SJSU, an all-american caliber playmaking WR with something to prove, plus an easily dismissive and underrated defense, and a collective group of backs to pound the pig. Finally you have a young up and coming head coach not afraid to take chances, has nothing to lose, and a wily veteran co-defensive coordinator who has coached many games at big time schools such as The OSU (including The OSU), and he understands better than anyone on the TU staff how difficult it will be for the young bucks scralett and grey to get up and stay motivated vs little ol' TU. If anyone can recognize when The OSU is most vulnerable for a let down during the game it is Bill Young.
TX
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I'm hoping for an upset or at least us covering the spread. However, keep in mind, OSU starts 11 4-star recruits on offense and 6 4-stars and a 5-star on defense. They are backed up with guys with similar ratings. But remember, a Hurricane will knock a Buckeye right off the tree.
I expect Tulsa will acquit themselves nicely on a national stage. They did play OU and Memphis (to a lesser extent) rather competitively last year. Our defense had a glass jaw last year, it'd be 3rd and 8 and they other team would rip off a touchdown every damn time. After watching the SJSU game, I think our defense could give us a puncher's chance against a heavy handed opponent. If we do come out on top, you'd have to assume we could actually be considered for the playoff top 4 if we can knock off Houston later on in the schedule.
Getting ahead of ourselves with the playoffs, aren't we?
I like our chances this weekend to make this a much closer game and very uncomfortable for Ohio State. We had one bust in coverage last week. One. Last year it was pretty much just under 1 a series. From all accounts THE OSU's OL did not play very well and undisciplined last week. They lost the lynch pin to their DL for the season last weekend to a torn patella tendon. We have a very veteran team who is playing with more and more confidence. Even when SJSU (who by all accounts should actually be pretty good this season) did get a drive going, someone came up with a big play or a big turnover. Dane was off last week. He was good but not at the same level he was last year...and we weren't close to turning the ball over last week. I am not saying we are going to win, but we are not going to embarrass ourselves or the conference.
But I would love to go into the game with Houston with some big time national pub and big time stakes on the line...remember how fun that was a few years ago?
There's no harm in thinking positive and dreaming big. A win against OSU would put butts in seats at Skelly Stadium and elevate the program. That could all happen this Saturday if Tulsa plays with no fear and as coach Monty said "leave no bullets in our guns".
If Houston makes the CF Playoff's Big 12 would be begging them to join...then, coog high fan wakes up from his dream.
A 14-17 point loss to OSU and a 4-1 record when when we play Houston would be a sweet scenario. (Realistically my guess is the loss will be more like 24 pts though.)
I never thought I would see the day that Dane Evans had a swagger.
OSU's talent level is higher than we have ever seen - couple that with a good coach and they'll be as good as any opponent in our school's history.
Nevertheless, I really think Monty was incredibly vanilla last week with San Jose State. I think he'll have OSU's young defense with their head spinning at times this week. We do well on first down on Saturday - we will create some big problems. Name me some other Big 10 teams who have better receivers than we do. If Dane is throwing the ball and getting time and couple that with a coach who knows how to exploit defenses, this could be fun to watch.
Our defense is better than last year but still won't slow down OSU unless they are incredibly sloppy.
If OSU had a rookie QB, I would think we had a true outside chance of making this a game.
My prediction is 54-28 OSU.
OSU's talent level is higher than we have ever seen - couple that with a good coach and they'll be as good as any opponent in our school's history.
Nevertheless, I really think Monty was incredibly vanilla last week with San Jose State. I think he'll have OSU's young defense with their head spinning at times this week. We do well on first down on Saturday - we will create some big problems. Name me some other Big 10 teams who have better receivers than we do. If Dane is throwing the ball and getting time and couple that with a coach who knows how to exploit defenses, this could be fun to watch.
Our defense is better than last year but still won't slow down OSU unless they are incredibly sloppy.
If OSU had a rookie QB, I would think we had a true outside chance of making this a game.
My prediction is 54-28 OSU.
For Tulsa to have a good season the Offensive line has to be fixed. Its as leaky as Swiss cheese right now. I saw defensive players waltzing into Tulsa's back field without even having a hand put on them, completely free. Four sacks against SJSU is inexcusable if this team hopes to do great things this season. One of those sacks could easily turn into an injury to the QB. If that gets fixed this team could be one the best Tulsa has had in the last ten years.
The MAC is not better than the AAC.
Sacks are a rough stat for us bc Dane is not going to escape or throw it away basically 100% of the time. Defenders get past the line of scrimmage on solid O-lines that aren't inevitable sacks.
For comparison, USF took 2 sacks vs *Towson*. They probably escaped another couple.
For comparison, USF took 2 sacks vs *Towson*. They probably escaped another couple.
Hi Hurricanes. Hope you don't mind my stopping by to check things out and offer some thoughts.
And the 2016 Buckeyes are much, much, much younger in terms of game experience. 2015 had something like 14 returning starters vs. 6 for 2016. Definitely leaves them vulnerable to reading their press and potentially looking ahead to Oklahoma.
That being said, Ohio State was incredibly basic on the defensive side of the ball last week. There weren't meany blitzes or stunts, not a lot of fancy coverages. I'll be interested to see if the turn it up a little this week to get some pressure or try and keep it vanilla.
Ohio State played 10 games last year between the end of the Virginia Tech game and the beginning of the Michigan game. At least 7 of them were various degrees of clunker on the offensive side of the ball. A lot of it had to do with the poorly handled QB competition (and picking the wrong QB, IMO) and replacing Tom Hermann. Once the new coordinator (Ed Warriner) moved up to the box, Ohio State has averaged 54 points/game (against Michigan, Notre Dame, and Bowling Green), compared to 34 when he was down on the sidelines.
And the 2016 Buckeyes are much, much, much younger in terms of game experience. 2015 had something like 14 returning starters vs. 6 for 2016. Definitely leaves them vulnerable to reading their press and potentially looking ahead to Oklahoma.
Tulsa's offense vs. Ohio State's defense is much more worrying to me than the matchup on the other side of the ball. Bowling Green had some early success with quick passes and Ohio State did not get much pressure on the QB until late in the game. Definitely an opportunity for Tulsa to exploit, especially with a more experienced QB and WR's.
That being said, Ohio State was incredibly basic on the defensive side of the ball last week. There weren't meany blitzes or stunts, not a lot of fancy coverages. I'll be interested to see if the turn it up a little this week to get some pressure or try and keep it vanilla.
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