Can. Not. Wait.

Happy new year everyone. Discuss here.

Bucks win by a couple of TDs in a game that is not as close as the score indicates. I just don't think the Ducks will be able to move it on the ground and the Bucks depth on the D-Line minimizes their "tempo" advantage.

Bucks win 31-17.

I was hoping to be the first to predict a big W for the Bucks but you beat me to it.

Bucks 34 Ducks 20

Can Pryor protect the ball? If he tucks it and runs when the coverage is tight, they have a chance. If he tries to do too much, starts throwing the ball all over, the Buckeyes lose big.

Tressel ball keeps the Duck O on the sideline. Buckeye D controls the LOS. 27-21 OSU.

Did you see May give a quick preview yesterday? He brought up two very very interesting stats. Oregon leads the nation in big play yardage on 1st down. Ohio State leads the nation in least amount of yards on ground on first down. Oregon also ranks very high in most negative first down plays on the ground, something like 80-90 runs for a loss on 1st down by the Ducks this season.

That was enough to change my opinion of how this game plays out. Originally I thought OSU in OT something like 30-27. Now I see more of a 24-18 ball game, and a W for the Buckeyes. IMO this could/should be the most entertaining and closely matched bowl game.

...also JCoz, you picking the Buckeyes to win first, that would have been shocking, shocking I tell you.

Today I'll take that as a compliment.

Corso picked the ducks. So did cancer boy.

Fuck em' both.

Corso to Cancer Boy- "You just wait and see". Really Lee?

I liked the way he held his hand out to shake hands with the blind kid while Fowler awkwardly looked on in horror.

Corso for the win baby.

Guy is one sharp cookie.

His pick against the Bucks need not frighten anyone......except maybe ducks fans.

Damn, Was watching BTN's pregame show (which seems like the way gameday USED to be.), can't believe I missed that.

Also, Bearcats get beat 49-14 today . Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow praise reach 2009 Nat'l Championship game level.

Bigger story within the story today. This is NOT a make or break for tSV today - he's too established for that non-sense, but it is definately a day of reckoning.

In January 2007, t OSU was a program on the top of the college football world. The 2006 team was being spoken in "best of all time" terms, at least on offense. We know how it ended. We know how the next year turned out. We also know why.

The OSU has also born the brunt of the other Big 10's programs' shortcomings, and the reputation of the whole conference has been tarnished. Lack of speed, second rate status, fat and slow and out of date schemes. Bluh bluh bluh.

Well, t SV has now had THREE years to remake his program, recruit speed, and counter the all mighty spread (chortle) . Today is the doctoral dissertation defense for t SV. How far have he and the program come to exorcize the deamons?

Orygun may not have the hype of Urban Myer or the SEC, they may have taken the pipe vs Boise State and one more, but this offense is as fast and spready as any in the SEC, or CFB. The D front seven is smallish and quick, the kind the OSU OL has struggled with vs fast D's.

I want / need to see two things today from t OSU....

Containment and violence. They must contain Orygun's offense. Neither athleticism and speed nor disclipilne alone will be enough to = contain. You will need to see all of those from the Buckeyes D. They have to be smart and be in position to make the plays, and then they need to be athletic enough to make them. They must hit Massoli so hard that he backs down and quits, even when he's just faking. and pitches or passes. They need to hammer the small speedy Oreygun players. Today, we'll find out how good Ross Homan really is.

On O , they will get opportunities, but Pryor has to take advantage of them, and the OL has to assert its physicality to create a running game, AND keep up with the speed on pass protect.

In short, this is a DAMN good opponant on O , don't believe the hype, and the very things that t OSU's program and t SV in particular have been critized the most for lacking will be the very things that need to be present to win today. If they pull it off in style, a huge rung wil have been climbed on the ladder back into emminance, along with a hell of a bowl season by the Big 10 and the SEC coming back down to earth this season.

This will be a huge positioning game for a championship run in 2010 - 2011.

On the other hand, a loss today will slide the program backwards even more. It will have been three seasons and t SV will not have addressed the shortcomings that exposed the program in January 2007. At some point, it will become doubtful whether the program can make the transition back into where it was in 2006.

OK, I'm done. I' m NOT trying to piss anyone off. I'm a fan. This is just a big game for the program, even if the rankings are an afterthought.

GO BUCKS!

BTW - I've broken out the "Black Blizzard" throwback jersey for luck today.

Even Peeker and Pup think that's cold.

FUDU's feelings are hurt in 3...2....1...

Great post JB and it is 100% true. Saine is going to be huge today and Coleman on the other side of the ball.

The more disciplined team wins today. If OSU can run the ball and not turn it over, they should win this game. The spread is only 4.5 and I think its going to be a tight game. As good as the defense needs to be, Pryor has to be even better. He plays smart football and we are in business.

I think OSU wins 24-21 in a squeaker..

Go Bucks!

we know pryor has a dinged knee, why doesn't he have a compression sleeve on it? RUN THE BALL.

How's that fucking Pace, Chip?

That pick six would have been sweet.

I cannot believe they couldn't score a touchdown there.

1st and goal squandered. Terrible execution there. Anybody watching this game? LOL

Line up and run the goddamned ball. Go Wisconsin with the ball. BTW, good read Dan, the front page article is great.

Gosh, am I the only person who thinks that Pryor is putting on a pretty good one man show on offense? Props to Saine for his tightrope act, as well.

Well, ok, until that last series. Not really sure what Tressel was going for that last set of OSU downs.

Stick to ur knitting offense. Move the rock.

Please run the ball. Please. Why the hell is Tressel all of a sudden an O-innovator? RUN THE BALL. They don't respect your passing game because you have no passing game. Run.

Looks like that knee's really bothering Pryor. He's not playing very physical (which I guess could be argued he never did in the first place). Impressed with his poise, with the exception of the 3 and out. You see 7 guys coming at you, hit your hot route or *get out of the pocket!!!*

As my wife sits on the couch and reads some crappy she-detective love-drama, she asks, "why do you always yell at the tv to run the ball in a bowl game?" Ask Brett Bielama.

This 4th and 1 is enormous.

What do you run?

Designed QB sweep?

Just as I say that he almost barrels his way to a first down.

I say Saine off tackle on this 4th.

You can't run vs any good team with 8 + in the box. And you HAVE to score with the Ducks.

Bullshit. 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Keep 8 in the box, The o-line can push Oregon around all night. I promise. All you need is 3 yards a play.

He's growing.

But he's so mentally slooooooooooooowww. If he can ever get his reads right -- and quick -- he can be sick.

He needs 4 years in C Bus.

Didn't work for Woodrow in 76, and will work even less well now.

TP is playing pretty well. Keep it balanced.

Three straight fucking passes.

OSU has no chance to run with Oregon. None. Control the clock, run the ball. Keep Oregon's O off the field. They can get 3 yards on downs 1 & 2, go with 3rd and 5 or 6. Then the zone read is money. RUN.

PICK !

Hail mary time.

Dane will get a tip......

10 secs left.

Kick now or one more play?

3 step drop. If it ain't there, throw it away. Now.

Great job. Huge 3 points.

Tresselball critics,

Shove. It. In. Your. Ass.

Sincerely,

Jim Tressel

I'll take this first half.

Two hours too soon my friend.


Too soon.

Me too.

ST's is killing the bucks more than anything.

Don't let let start from closer than the 30, and I think we are totally fine on D.

These drives starting from 40+ have to stop

Got-damn, Oregon has some MASSIVE heffers in thier band....they were pretty pathetic as a band as well.

Normally I would never comment on the band, but tbdbitl is going to make them look reeeeeeeeally bad.

JCoz, I kn ow you cool butchu have to watch that. Band smak?

Know how you can tell a geek in denial? They make this statement:

"No, really. It was cool to be in the band where I went to high school."

The most talented group of people I've ever seen!

Worst part about today is nothing but college hoops after this and the 7th . Causes eyeball damage until the conference tourneys.

It's never been cool to be in the band where I'm from. But seriously, did you see that? They have at least 3 people that were pushing 3 bills.

It catches the eye.

Point taken though, no more band smack.

Pro hoops?

Plus side - despite Warrior's objections, no sign of tressell ball yet.