Game 1- #6/6 Ohio State vs Navy Midshipmen

Where: Ohio Stadium

When: Noon EST

TV: ESPN

Football season is finally here, and what better way to open up a season than taking on someone other than Youngstown State?

When a team with a fetish for the triple-option and cut blocking comes into the Shoe, I suppose more attention is required than the likes of a Youngstown State-esq team (with all due respect to the Penguins). Not only is it a much more formidable opponent, but it represents a completely different challenge that these young Bucks haven't seen the likes of in...well...ever. How will OSU respond to the obstacle of avoiding looking ahead to USC and getting past a Navy program who has been to six straight bowl games and have won the majority of them? That answer will have to wait until tomorrow at high noon in Columbus, but I sense that this is an Ohio State team that isn't afraid of facing anything out of the ordinary this season. With such a young group of guys that have only been accustomed to winning their entire lives dating back to their high school days, you can expect them to play fearless on offense and with reckless (well, hopefully not too reckless) abandon on defense. To quote an inside source within the program, the 2009 football team will "probably make a lot of mistakes, but will play at 150 mph".

In short, what Navy brings to the table tomorrow may be challenging and give the silver bullet defense headaches early and often, however it won't alter the inevitable outcome of the game. Ohio State will handle the Midshipmen due to overall better athleticism, strength and speed on both sides of the ball. I have all the respect in the world for the Naval Academy and anyone who serves our country, but regardless they won't even be able to catch the after burner that Terrelle Pryor leaves behind when he runs all over the Navy defense. I see Pryor having near 100 yards rushing on the day, with at least three total touchdowns en route to a classic beat down of an otherwise worthy season opening opponent.

The real challenge is on September 12th, and I am praying that the Buckeyes don't look ahead. I hope the same for me as well.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 34

Navy- 10