Where: TCF Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
When: 8:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN
We all know I'm picking OSU to win and that it won't be much of a game at all, so I just wanted to take a minute or two to talk about the injuries on defense, what this team needs to do to become special and about Minnesota's new outdoor campus stadium.
Damn... the injuries continue to mount for the silver bullet defense as player after player has been ruled out since the season began. Here is a rough timeline that I have conducted with virtually no research, but rather based off my sometimes reliable memory: in Fall camp, injuries were sustained to starters Devon Torrence, Chimdi Chekwa, Jermale Hines and Ohrian Johnson. All were back for the season opener with the exception of OJ, who was replaced in the lineup by sophomore C.J. Barnett. The young safety then hurt his knee against Miami and was ruled out for the season. Johnson returned and all seemed well. Meanwhile, Tyler Moeller was having a sensational year coming back from a head injury in 2009 to be a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week winner at his Star position (linebacker/safety hybrid). Little did we all know that Moeller had a ticking time bomb in his chest in the form of a not-fully-healed muscle that was torn against Illinois. In comes freshman Christian Bryant, who then was diagnosed with a foot infection and won't see the field until the bowl game (probably). Other injuries include players like Donnie Evege and Corey Brown as cornerback to NOT help matters in the defensive backfield. At least the front seven has remained healthy, right? Well, with the exception of captain, team leader and leading tackler in linebacker Ross Homan, who hurt his foot in the first half of the Wisconsin game and won't be back to playing until probably the Penn State game or worst-case scenario the Iowa game. Phew... these injuries are really starting to hurt the team.
I believe that the reason why this team isn't quite special yet has a lot to do with the injuries, but mainly to do with the lack of a true test before they played Wisconsin - they learned the hard way how tough life can be when you don't play Eastern Michigan- and also how they seemed to feel entitled to winning all of their games as the #1 ranked team in mid-October. Ohio State crushed Miami on national television and from then on out cruised to victories over Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. No offense to Illinois who is playing really good football right now, but I think the cupcake schedule and the sense of entitlement that comes from being the top ranked team in America really threw the team's focus off course. When the main concern for a team heading into a showdown in Madison is the Jump Around session before the 4th quarter begins as opposed to focusing on the Wisconsin game plan, then you are going to have a lot of issues. The ego that had been non-existent at OSU all season long finally hit them going into Wisconsin, and they had their asses handed to them. I credit OSU's offense coming back and making it a game, but the defense simply couldn't make a stop.
Side note: of course special teams is involved in the whole mess... duh. Another note: I still believe that this team can be special. They really, really, really, really have to work on special teams heading into November, but aside from that all the pieces are there to win the remainder of their games and get back into the good graces of the top 5. Will they actually do what they are supposed to and win games in November? We shall see.
I want to end by saying that I love Minnesota's new stadium and that it beats the hell out of the Metrodome, yet I am saddened by the state of the program up in Minneapolis. A good program deserves a stadium of that caliber, and it's a shame that Gopher fans have to deal with an awful program and a team that is currently at the bottom of the Big Ten. If they had an average to above average team last year and this season, the outdoor facility would prove to be a true game changer. Instead, it is just something nice to look at while the inevitable happens, which in this case is a big time OSU beatdown. The Buckeyes will win this game handily. Now, off the much needed bye week.
Prediction:
Ohio State- 38
Minnesota- 7
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