Yes, the Buckeyes took a bye week and so did I. Maybe it was the loss to Penn State, maybe the week just got away from me, whatever it was, it’s time to get back in the fighten chair and get to work.

With that said, the Buckeyes need to refocus on finishing out the season and Northwestern gives them a good game to come back against. They should give the Buckeyes just enough difficulty to make it interesting but also make a blowout worthwhile.

One of the best named Big Ten blogs, Northwestern blog “Lake the Posts,” has an interesting comparison of stats. On paper, this game looks like a good match up and NU out performs us in a number of areas.

One of the most interesting stats is Ohio State best scoring quarter (1st) is Northwestern’s worst while the Buckeyes worst scoring quarter (4th) is Northwestern’s best defensive quarter. NU has only given up 24 points in the fourth quarter this season.

That about sums up the Ohio State offense this year. The Buckeyes typically come out in the early possessions looking good. However, by the second quarter, the opposing defense has figured out our offense and the Buckeyes fail to mix it up. It soon becomes obvious that we will probably not pass on the first down and the offensive line is not that difficult to beat.

Yea, we started to see some passing against Penn State but it’s not like there was much of a choice. The Lions had pretty much shut down the Pryor/Wells running attack. It will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes can crank open some big plays both on the ground and in the air.

Northwestern loves the big play but if our defense continues to pressure like they have the last few weekends, they should shut down NU without too much trouble. Even with a potential two quarterback system.

For my gambling friends out there, the spread is currently at 10.5 points with an over under at 42. Two touchdowns against Northwestern should be an easy accomplishment However, looking at the stats, the possibility of overconfidence, the need to readjust priorities, and our lack of offensive touchdowns, it is enough to make things interesting.

For all the college football betting lines, click here.

O.K. So we’ve lost our shot at the BCS championship. That doesn’t mean that a Rose Bowl appearance is out of the question. Besides, isn’t that what Big Ten football is all about – the Rose Bowl?

If everything falls in place, and this is in now way a stretch, Ohio State could be looking at a rematch against USC. Don’t think for a minute that most of the sporting world will be doing everything in their power to stop it but at the same time, it’s not much of a stretch.

Add to that a regular season game against USC next fall and we’re looking at a possible best of three scenario. The biggest question for me is will the Buckeyes be ready for another game against USC in California?

I’m not going to spend much time in this post about what it will take for the Buckeyes to beat USC. At the moment, it looks like it comes down to one issue – can/will the offensive line play like the offensive line they should be or will they continue to put in mediocre performances. The defense has stepped up, Pryor is starting to throw the ball, Wells has shown he can run, that leaves the offensive line. If they don’t start playing up to speed giving Pryor the time he needs and opening up some solid passing lanes, then I’m not so sure I want to see a rematch against USC.

Let’s take a look at what it will take to get us there and the games this weekend that factor in.

Penn State (bye)

O.K. So Penn state doesn’t play this weekend. Doesn’t matter. They are pretty much the primary link for us getting to the Rose Bowl. If the Lions can run the table and finish out undefeated, there is no question they will get into the BCS game.

Regardless of the media favoritism that goes into a one-loss SEC team, Penn State has one thing going for it that trumps any one-loss SEC team – Joe Paterno. Face it, he can barely get to the press box to coach. During the Ohio State game they were still imiages of him as if he’d died already. There is nothing the pollsters would love more than to send JoPa out with the big win.

I’m not completely convinced that Penn State is ready for the BCS Championship, there is no way they will keep an undefeated Joe Paterno from one last great victory.

I’m also not completely convinced that Penn State won’t blow it before they get their chance. They should finish the Big Ten season without a problem. It is the Big Ten however and this is Penn State. I’m not putting money on it until it happens.

#1 Texas vs. #7 Texas Tech (Texas favored by 3)

Now this is a big game. Both teams come into this game undefeated and both teams have potential Heisman candidates (Colt McCoy/Texas and Graham Harrell/Texas Tech) and a big performance for either could seal the deal.

If Texas wins, they should pretty much seal their shot at the BCS Championship. Even with a Big 12 Playoff, they pretty much spanked Missouri already and the toughest teams on their schedule are behind them.

As for the game, I’m going with Texas. Yeah, Texas Tech looks good but have the been tested? Tech may be able to put the points on the board but so will Texas. The over under on this one is at a ridiculous 73.5 points and that may be a little low.

This one is going to be an offensive shootout but with that many points on the board, it will come down to more than a field goal. I’m taking Texas to beat the spread.

Alabama vs. Arkansas State (Bama by 23.5)

If Alabama and Texas go undefeated, then we’ve got a slug fest between Penn State and Bama for the BCS title spot. Yes, the SEC will fire up their annual cry baby campaign but face it, an undefeated JoPa out trumps a whining Urban Meyer any day.

Arkansas shouldn’t give them much of a struggle this weekend. LSU may get in the way but come playoff time, their either looking at Florida or Georgia. I don’t think Georgia will make the same mistakes twice and I don’t think they can keep up with Florida.

Expect a one loss Alabama in a southern Bowl game.

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska (OK by 21.5 points)

Oklahoma should have a pretty easy weekend ahead. However, they’re looking at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State down the road. Get by them and they’ve got Texas in the playoff. I think they’ll be happy to be a two loss team come bowl time.

USC vs. Washington (USC by 43.5)

Can the Pac Ten really be this bad? Of the BCS teams, USC has had about the easiest schedule. Their toughest opponent should have been the Buckeyes but face it, did we even show up for that game. Baring some sort of tragedy, USC has a clear shot to the Rose Bowl.

No Mark May, they wont’ get to play in Miami no matter how bad you want them to.

Georgia vs. Florida (Florida by 6.5)

For the one loss SEC teams, this is pretty much it. Both teams bring a solid offensive punch to the game. Georgia will test the Gators but the Gators are pretty angry after loosing last year to the Bull Dogs.

This will be a close one but I think Florida will pull it out in the end winning by a touchdown.

Sooooooo:

If Penn State runs the table and gets into the BCS Title against Texas. That opens the door for Buckeyes to meet USC in Rose Bowl (granted we win out) regardless of what happens in the SEC.

Yeah, it’s the wrong OSU but did anyone think that Oregon State, coming in to last night’s game with a 1-2 record, would take down the mighty USC? USC, who after decimating Ohio State, who received all but a few of the #1 votes in both polls, basically ended their championship run for the second season in a row to an unranked team.

Not only that, but by the end of the first half, Oregon State was up 21-0. They came in confident and as opposed to the Buckeyes, they looked aggressive from the start. The OSU offensive line was able to push the USC defense enough to give Oregon running back Jacquizz Rodgers the chance to put up 186 yards — the most USC’s given up to an opponent since they met Vince Young in the 06 BCS Championship.

If this had happened any other season, I’d be screaming and yelling about how media darling USC has no business getting the high ranking it gets year after year. I’d be furious at commentators like ESPN’s Mark May who I’m sure by next week will be making a case for USC getting to the BCS title. But as we all know, I can’t. The Buckeyes missed their opportunity to knock USC out of contention so somebody else did.

Granted, USC probably was as psychologically prepared for this game as they were against the Buckeyes it is frustrating to see that Oregon State could expose weaknesses that the Buckeyes could not. Also makes you wonder how much USC needs an extra week to prep combined with a huge home field advantage to win the big games (last night’s loss was on OSU’s home field).

What does this mean for Ohio State?

For the sake of playing with a hypothetical, let’s say that Ohio State had beaten USC and USC went on to lose their second game to Oregon State. Do you think the Buckeyes would still have a clear shot to the BCS? Would the Ohio State second guessing would come rushing back once again? Even if we went undefeated, would we need to prove ourselves deserving of a championship shot against a one or possibly even a two-loss SEC team? Doesn’t matter, just a hypothetical to consider.

Bring on Penn State!

What does matter is that there are suddenly a couple of very big games on our schedule. Penn State beat the snot out of Oregon State early this season running up a score of 45-14. And suddenly, the pundits have Penn State on a national championship run with Wisconsin getting secondary attention.

Is there anyone out there in Buckeye Nation that doesn’t like the potential of this? Penn State plays Wisconsin (currently ranked 9/8) at Wisconsin. If they take down the Badgers and come into the Shoe unbeaten, they should be ranked in the top five. That means for the third year in a row, Penn State go up against the Buckeyes with all their delusions of grandeur in tow.

For the past three seasons, Penn State has nurtured a world of false hopes only to find them splattered against the reality that is Ohio State. Last year, their beloved “White Out” was of no use and the year before that, the only member of the Penn State team to see the end zone was Coach Paterno as he ran through it on the way to the bathroom.

It’s a situation I truly enjoy. Unlike the out of conference teams we struggle against, Tressel has Penn State’s number. By then the Pryor/Wells show should be in full swing and Penn State will not have their so highly valued home field advantage. Bring it on I say, bring it on.

So, theoretically, there is a way back to the BCS Title. A commanding win over both Wisconsin and Penn State would at least give us a point of contention. Unfortunately, the fact that we lost and lost big to USC won’t be forgotten but by beating Penn State, we’ll have at least beaten the team that beat the team that beat USC.

And as they say, it’s always better to lose early in the season than to lose late.

I love the smell of a burning couch in the morning. It smells like…victory.

After a long hot summer of worthless polls, mind numbing ESPN predictions and sports commentators (yours truly included) desperately struggling to pound out something of value about the upcoming season, I finally have a weekend full of real live college football games on which to pontificate. The Vegas bookies have posted their odds, so the season must be under way.

Without further adieu, I bring you as many predictions as I can tolerate for one night. What we don’t finish tonight, we’ll get tomorrow or the next day.

Lets start with probably the most interesting game of opening weekend:

Illinois vs. Missouri (Missouri by 8.5, over under 50.5):

With all the expected blowouts and opening weekend 1-AA games, I really like this year’s Ill/Miss matchup. These guys first played each other in 1896. Seriously. Looking at past scores, there doesn’t look like a lot of close games and there have been a couple of trouncing including a 42-0 win in 1994 by the Illini.

This year will prove to be different. It is the first time in the meeting of these two teams that they are both ranked in the top 15 and they bring a couple of exciting quarterbacks to the field. Chase Daniels of Missouri has been mentioned more than once as a potential Heisman candidate and Juice Williams…well he’s Juice Williams.

What may be something of a surprise is the Illinois defense. Last year, Missouri pretty much walked all over these guys scoring almost 40 points in the first half. The Illinois return many of the same players and although you would think the offense would give coach Ron Zook something to brag about, according to Big Ten Blogger Adam Rittenburg over at ESPN, Zook seems to like this year’s defense.

And that’s what it’s going to come down to for Illinois. If the Illini D can bring the speed and keep the pressure on Daniel. If they can keep him from finding the yards to scramble, then they’ve got a game on their hands. Add another year of maturity and maybe, just maybe the Juice Williams that played against Ohio State and not the Juice Williams that we saw back in October will show up. Put those two together and you’ve got a win for Illinois. Without either of the two, and it’s too close to call.

I’ve got to go with my Big Ten team here and I’m picking Illinois to cover the spread. I’m not even going to think about the over under on this one.

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You want more? I’ll give you more:

Appalachian State vs. LSU (LSU by 24)

Two years ago and this game wouldn’t even have risen an eyeball. Yet here we are, one big Michigan loss and two national championships later and we’ve got something to think about. I don’t know if this has ever happened before but both LSU and App. State arrive as reigning national champions.

The biggest difference in this year’s LSU game as opposed to last year’s Michigan upset, everybody knows about last year’s Michigan upset. Last year, the Wolverines were walking around the preseason like the big man on campus. They were talking smack and way, way overconfident. In typical Michigan fashion, the sleep walked through most of the game and when they finally woke up, it was too late. History was written and the Wolverines through their national championship hopes out the window before the regular season even started.

This year however, LSU has seen the worst case scenario. And you can be sure, LSU knows that the college football world is watching that little school in Boone, NC. And there is now way, I repeat, no way that LSU wants the blotch in their history books that Michigan will face over, and over again (don’t worry, I’m here to help keep the memory alive).

Neither LSU nor App State will bring the same teams that we saw last year. There’s a lot of new talent on both sides of the ball and don’t know App. State. They picked up some good recruits off last year’s win.

But this year LSU will be expecting them and probably would like to be the ones to put an end to the Appalachian State miracle. So no matter how badly I want App. State to be the first to knock a beloved SEC team out of the BCS hunt, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Twenty-four points is a lot. If Appalachian State is going to beat the spread, they are going to need to play some seriously inspired football.

But isn’t that what we were saying around this time last year?

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What you want one more? But it’s late and really, you’ve read this far?

Michigan vs. Utah (Michigan by 4.5)

I know what you’re all thinking here. It doesn’t matter who Michigan is opening against, most of us are expecting them to blow it and blow it big. I’m not going to argue with you here. If a team ever had a point to prove, Michigan is the game. The problem is, do they have it in them.

Utah returns something like 14-15 starters after going 9-4 last season. Michigan can’t decide on a quarterback, not only that, but they can’t decide on the quarterback who will run coach Rich Rodregeuz’s beloved spread offense. Oh, and he’s going to run that spread offense behind an offensive line of sophmores. Heck, if I were looking at the quarterback position, I might be a little nervous also.

Now this is not to say that Michigan can’t win it. No matter what I anyone says, they’re still Michigan and I’m not ready to give up on their legacy entirely…yet (ok, maybe a little).

The entire state of Utah is excited about this game. They are excited for all the reasons people are going to watch LSU/App. State that I mentioned above. They see a window of opportunity that may not open again.

Meanwhile, Michigan needs this win more than they’ve needed almost any win in a long, long time. If they lose this weekend to Utah, all the nightmares will come pouring back. The questions will be answered and no matter what they do the rest of the season, perhaps for the next few seasons, the opening games of 2007 and 2008 will be remembered.

Can Michigan win this? At this point, I don’t think anyone knows. Can Utah? Yep.

Obviously, the bookies aren’t sure. If I were passing out the spreads, I’d give Utah a touchdown just because Michigan has the fan base and the legacy to pull up the bets. Personally, if I were a betting man, I’d stay away from this one.

Wow, you made it to the end — for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with more. More of what, I’m not sure. As I wrote this I kept finding other, probably more important Ohio State news I should be writing about. The Buckeye Depth Chart came out today and there were a couple of interesting points.

In all, it looks like it’s going to be a busy week.

I received a press release this morning from The Sporting News announcing their annual “college football special” which hits the news stands this week. And while I haven’t actually seen the magazine, I got a preview of their rankings and predictions along with teasers for other features in this week’s issue.

From what I see, I think I like the looks of their top ten better than the USA Today/Coaches Poll which came out a week or two ago. Here’s the top 10 according to The Sporting News:

1. Georgia (USA/coaches 1)
2. Ohio State (USA/Coaches 3)
3. USC (USA/Coaches 2)
4. Oklahoma (USA/Coaches 4)
5. LSU (USA/Coaches 6)
6. Missouri (USA/Coaches 7)
7. Clemson (USA/Coaches 9)
8. West Virginia (USA/Coaches 8
9. Florida (USA/Coaches 5)
10. Illinois (USA/Coaches 19)

For the most part, the list looks like a fairly insignificant scramble of the USA/Coaches poll until you get to Illinois at #10 which USA/Today ranked at 19. Personally, I agree with them 100%. Last year, Ron Zook only gave us a preview of the team that Illinois may become. Unfortunately, Illinois doesn’t have a big test until Ohio State to push them up the rankings. Their biggest opponents before Ohio State are Penn and Michigan but blowouts at those games could set the stage for a great rematch in Illinois.

As for Georgia, enjoy it while you can. With the pending #2/#3 Ohio State/USC matchup early in the season, the winner should jump over Georgia to the number 1 spot and that’s the way it should be. The problem with preseason polls is that it is nothing but pure speculation. Anyone can put together a top ten list and it gives us a starting point but until teams take the field, we really don’t know anything. The early season matchup against USC gives both USC and Ohio State the opportunity to set the record straight. Winner belongs at the top, loser doesn’t.

Unlike Ohio State/USC, who test their mettle early, the media darlings of the SEC don’t see any games of substance until at least October. Georgia doesn’t play a ranked team until the 8th week of the season when they take on Florida. Not only will they have time to work out the kinks against teams like Central Michigan, they’ve got a bye before facing off against Tenn — a team that could bring almost anything to the table.

Regardless, the Sporting News predicts a BCS Championship between Georgia and Ohio State. While I think the Buckeyes will get a shot at another BCS Championship, I’m not convinced Georgia will. However, since the SEC has pretty much convinced both the media and the voters that they deserve an automatic berth in the BCS Championship, why not give Georgia a turn.

LSU opens against Appalachian State (will history repeat itself?) then take on Troy who also plays Ohio State (why, I don’t know) and it is not until week 6 that they take on their first ranked team in Florida.

Of the SEC ranked teams, I’m liking Florida’s schedule. They open against Hawaii, but without Colt Brennan, I’m not expecting much there, then Miami and Tennessee. October 11 they’ve got LSU and Georgia on Nov. 1. Of the teams out there, I think Florida’s got the best shot at a BCS run. With media love child Tim Tebow at the helm, a chance for a BCS rematch against Ohio State is their’s to lose.

I’m not convinced Florida will be able to get there without at least one loss but thankfully for them, they’re in the SEC. At this point, they can probably lose three games and still make it to the BCS Championship.

Other Sporting News predictions