These are unusual times in Columbus, Ohio, especially considering its football time. The Ohio State University football program has turned into Pepsi. Though the product sells, is well liked among most consumers, it still pales in comparison to Coca-Cola. (Florida and USC in this case) The Big Ten Conference was once the most feared in the land, but like the shifting population base of the country, the upper Midwest just isn’t like it used to be and has become the butt of jokes in every visible sports formats.
Ohio State has taken on a lot of grief in the latter part of this decade, after being the model everyone was trying to copy not that many seasons ago. Three trips to Arizona produced one national championship and a pair of Fiesta Bowl wins from 2003 to 2006. Since then, two disconcerting losses to the SEC in the BCS title games and a “pat on the head” effort that ended in defeat to Texas in Glendale, AZ earlier in 2009.
The Buckeyes were exposed last year also in Los Angeles, as the Men of Troy laid a 35-3 shellacking on Ohio State, who was out-gained 348 to 207, with USC pretty much running a victory lap the last 20 minutes. Midwesterners are a prideful bunch who enjoy a good time, however there is nothing fun about being embarrassed, as Ohio State players could only watch and seethe as joyful USC players took satisfaction in slaying another wanna-be.
If last year’s game was a September Rose Bowl, then this year’s is about pride, Ohio State pride. Though USC has more NFL-ready players on their roster than the Detroit Lions, the Buckeyes couldn’t be in a better spot unless the Trojans top 50 players came down with the swine flu this week.
Though the Trojans are highly ranked in part based on pedigree, they have potential signs of weakness. Start with the personnel, where USC only returned three defensive starters. Yes, the replacements might be as good or better in time, but last year’s Trojan defense was one of the best in the last 30 years as a group. This preseason, three starters have been lost and Aaron Corp, the quarterback who had won the job in the spring, missed enough time which allowed true freshman Matt Barkley to step forward.
Barkley is receiving more praise then former Golden Domer Ron Powles (where is Beano Cook?), with precious little game experience. Barkley might well be the next great NFL quarterback, but first he has to prove he’s the best USC field general this season and will have to so in hostile Ohio environment. Barkley will be behind one of the top three offensive lines in the college game and playing on a squad that thrives in the limelight with 13-3 and 12-4 ATS record against Top 10 teams since 2001.
USC also has two new coordinators, one on each side of the ball. While coach Pete Carroll has said all the right things about his two hand-picked replacements, are the players sold on the new guys?
Ohio State can upset USC and here is how. The Buckeyes have a very good defensive line and have to have a draw against the Trojans O-Line. They must make it uncomfortable for Barkley in the pocket and force him to make quick decisions. The Ohio State defensive backs have to challenge USC’s receivers and take away medium to long gains. Force USC to move the chains using up three downs at a time.
Sophomore sensation Terrelle Pryor has stated he wants the pressure of being “the man” and he’ll have to be. Tressel has been working with “Pistol” formations, giving Pryor more latitude to make decisions. He’ll have to throw accurately to make Carroll’s defense respect the pass. Ohio State has a retooled offensive line that was overwhelmed last year, that can’t happen again. Running backs Dan Herron and Brandon Saine have to hit the hole hard and fight for tough yards to keep Ohio State in reasonable down and distance numbers.
Bookmaker.com opened Ohio State at 4.5-point underdogs and the wagering public couldn’t get enough and quicker than you could dot the “I” in Ohio, they became seven point dogs based in large part on how they had to hold on against the Navy.
The Buckeyes will be a home underdog for just the fourth time in the last decade and face USC club that is 13-4 ATS against Big Ten conference opponents and 11-1 SU and ATS in initial road game of the season. Ohio State is 0-4 ATS against the Pac-10’s finest, having last hosted them in 1990, losing 35-26 as one-point dogs. As of this moment, this looks like one for ESPN Classic or a repeat of last year, we shall see Saturday night.
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