Where- Ohio StadiumWhen- 3:40 PM EST
TV- ESPN
Due to its controversial nature (despite 98% of NCAA officials agreeing with the call), this is the play that fans remember from the 2003 national championship game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLqrAcQuqVo&feature=related
Despite what Miami fans or anyone else thinks, this is all I remember and quite frankly all I care about. It is a memory that will last with me and the rest of Buckeye nation until the day I die.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGQYgyOOP2s&feature=related
No need to sugarcoat the facts here; this is a HUGE game. I think that this game will be the biggest litmus test for the Buckeyes in this young season, which isn't a far fetched statement considering the next four opponents are Ohio University, Eastern Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. If OSU is able to win this game, whether it is by the smallest of margins or a complete blowout, it should give them loads of confidence to be able to handle the rigors of their remaining Big Ten schedule from October through November that includes games against Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa and maybe -- just maybe -- a resurgent Michigan team.
I feel as if there isn't as much to say as in the past with big games such as these. We have witnessed plenty of good times in big games over the past decade to complement the most recent disappointments. When the spotlights come on though the Buckeyes refuse to run away, but rather take on their opponent head on as all powerhouse programs should do. The key here is that the last time there was a game of this magnitude it was for a Rose Bowl championship and the Buckeyes were able to bring home a victory to Columbus against Oregon, 26-17. The monkey is off the back, the elephant is out of the room, insert another saying/analogy/metaphor -- the days of losing these type of games is OVER.
The twelfth ranked Hurricanes boast a lot of talent stemming from their ability to recruit the Sunshine State very well as of late, and seemingly believe that after a 9-4 season they are more talented and simply a better team than the Buckeyes. Da U has also issued such statements as to say that this represents a revenge game from the 2003 Fiesta Bowl national championship game, that Miami is a lock to win it, and that we are too "slow" (that last one never gets old for me). Here's the deal: they haven't done anything since before the last time these two teams met back in January of '03. The Miami program is certainly on the rise, but that is what you would expect from a program that went from arguably being the best in college football to winning 7, 5 and 7 games in recent years before rebounding with last year's 9 win output. They still recruit well, don't get me wrong, but Florida and now even Florida State are able to sway recruits out of the Miami area. Miami is all swag with not quite enough juice to back up their talk. It's cool that they talk, because it makes my week all the more enjoyable, but it just isn't the way to go if you are a big underdog.
I could go on and on and on about how Miami has been bashing the Buckeyes, or how even Head Coach Randy Shannon has had some choice words to say about Columbus and the OSU football program in the past, but that isn't going to matter once the game starts. It is all about the major factors that play into football games: line play, quarterback play, mistakes (or lack of them), coaching, experience, talent, and intangibles. Ohio State has my edge in terms of line play, despite the fact that Miami likes to gloat about their eight sack performance against the might Florida A&M Rattlers. Come to think of it, OSU has the advantage in each and every one of those categories, which mathematically means that the Buckeyes will roll to a huge victory over the Hurricanes.
As Lee Corso would say, not so fast! Ohio State will win this game because of everything I mentioned above, but Miami will make this a game at some point. They are too talented and too hyped for this game to just sit back and get blown out by the might second ranked Buckeyes. I think that Jacory Harris will throw for at least two touchdowns to keep Miami's upset hopes alive, but there will be too much of the OSU offense and too much action from the Silver Bullet defense to escape Columbus with a victory.
Terrelle Pryor will have a third straight confident, poised performance en route to throwing for at least two touchdowns (I'll go out on a limb and say that the players on the receiving end will be TE Jake Stoneburner and WR DeVier Posey) and rushing for one as the Buckeyes top the Hurricanes on Showdown Saturday.
Ohio State is the better team, is hungry and hasn't taken too kindly to the things that Miami has had to say all offseason and all this week.
Good luck, 'Canes. You are in for an angry reception once you arrive at the Horseshoe.
Oh, and I just checked the weather for Saturday, and it reads as follows: 60% chance of rain during the game, but no strong winds or heavy rain anticipated.... even though I thought that a hurricane was coming to town. Hmm, interesting. It must've left its talent down in South Beach.
Prediction:
Ohio State- 34
Miami- 17
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