Where: Sun Life Stadium (Miami, FL)
When: 7:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN
As the above picture illustrates, Miami fans still aren't really over the fact that Ohio State "stole" their 2002 national championship away from them. As a result, they are a bitter, overly defensive fan base living in the past that will take any jab they possibly can to make themselves feel better about their dwindling national reputation. The shirt above mentions that OSU may have won the national title, but the NBA's Miami Heat took LeBron James from Cleveland. Sigh... first of all, it is the wrong sport. I don't think that levels the playing field in any way whatsoever, but guess what? This is exactly what Miami fans do. Any jab they can take, they'll throw it out there. That is not a guess.
Who can blame them for living in the past and being a little too defensive these days? Just like the Buckeyes, who travel to South Beach to take on the Hurricanes Saturday night, "Da U" has been plagued with NCAA issues involving benefits to student-athletes. Ohio State got some nice tattoos while Miami players had sex parties, chilled on yachts and took all they could from a rogue booster. Which one gets more media coverage, you ask? Ohio State. Duhhhh. What is wrong with ESPN - COUGH - excuse me, this world? Did I say ESPN? Clearly accidental.
Regardless of the off-the-field issues and distractions, football will in fact be played by these two programs this weekend in what is being dubbed as the - are you ready? You'll laugh at this one - ineligi-bowl. HA HA. Who says today's humor is lacking?
Not only are these two programs going to be in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, but several players are going to be missing action due to suspension (the reason for the game's nickname). For Ohio State, four players will be missing the game, while Miami will be without the services of three. Not only will four players be absent from the contest due to suspension, but there's more trouble for the Buckeyes! Starters Nathan Williams (DE) and Philly Brown (WR) will miss the game due to injury. The Williams injury hurts because we all saw how the pass rush did against Toledo without him in the lineup. Brown, however, hasn't officially been scratched from the lineup but he does in fact have a severe ankle sprain and isn't expected to be on the field come Saturday. For the first time I think I am ready to finally feel bad for OSU and say that they will be very, very short handed.
Can I pick against them in a time like this? Hell no! The Buckeyes have too much to prove in this game, and the addition of CB Travis Howard and RB Jordan Hall in the lineup will be just the boost they need in order to come out of Miami with a victory.
The Canes will be ready to go and by all means should be favored in this one, despite losing to Maryland in a game where they really shouldn't have even been close to begin with. I don't think Jacory Harris will play as bad as he did last season against OSU, but I do believe that he will be the centerpiece of costly mistakes that Miami will make that will lead to them throwing the game away.
I expect the Buckeyes to play well defensively for the most part, despite not having a dominate pass rusher on the defensive line, and will bend but not break the majority of the night. Offensively, the addition of Jordan Hall will give Bauserman another toy to play with while fellow RB Jamaal Berry will get reps in the backfield as well. Combine that with the two games Carlos Hyde has under his belt, and this should turn out to be a very strong running back corp for the visitors. Because of that, I will call for the ground game to significantly improve from the past few weeks en route to a win over Miami.
It will be close - VERY close - but as long as it doesn't come down to a Drew Basil field goal I think that OSU will be just fine and get a big road win to start out 3-0.
Miami shouldn't feel bad if they start the season 0-2, though. They'll always have their memories of sex, drugs and alcohol - all on the house, of course. Oh, and let's not forget about the abortion... interrupt me if I start to ramble.
Prediction:
Ohio State- 24
DA U- 20
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