Where: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, NE)
When: 8:00 EST
TV: ABC National
The "Sea of Red" at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is easily one of the most intimidating venues in college sports.
The Ohio State offense is easily one of the worst in all of college football.
That doesn't seem like a very good combination, does it?
For the first time ever, the unranked Buckeyes will travel to play Nebraska in Lincoln as the Huskers usher in their inaugural season in the Big Ten conference. Predictably when this game was announced it became one of the most anticipated games of the year not just in conference play, but in the grand scheme of the college football season. Three total losses later and some embarrassing play on both sides of the ball have left this game will less pizazz, but the same amount of pride on the line when these teams meet Saturday under the lights.
Both Nebraska and Ohio State have fielded numerous major award winners - with way too many Heisman Trophies to spare - and have combined for 12 national championships. Did I mention both were amongst the winningest programs all-time? Yeah. This game means a lot to both fan bases. Don't doubt the power and atmosphere behind rare match ups such as these, although they will become second nature once Nebraska acclimated themselves to the BIG conference.
And THEN there's the actual X's and O's side of things....oh man. Nebraska's defense has statistically been a disappointment, although this game will mark the healthiest that they have been as a unit to date. Meanwhile, the OSU offense and Janis Jopplin have the following word in common: ugly. The 110th best offense attack in the United States of America is struggling to even get a first down these days, which is all but worsened by the fact that Terrelle Pryor, DeVier Posey and Boom Herron could have been on the field for the entire season running the show if it wasn't for them acting just short of completely moronic. In all actuality, a true freshman quarterback, Braxton Miller, has been running the ship with little to no help from his receivers, which in turn has left the coaching staff making #5 feel as if he isn't worthy to be out there as the proverbial "leader in the huddle". RBs Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde have provided solid-to-good work this season, but what does it even matter if you can't throw a forward pass?
Better question: how did Woody Hayes win five national titles without utilizing the forward pass EVER?? Different times. Different eras of football. Still bad news for the Bucks in 2011.
The key to this game will be- you guessed it - is the ability for Ohio State to throw successfully on early downs. Hopefully Braxton will be rolled out of the pocket often enough for him to make plays with his feet and keep drives alive as well. This will only bolster a rushing attack that is sure to make the best of their opportunities behind a bolstered offensive line that returns the services of senior LT Mike Adams, who was an All-American candidate at the end of the 2010 season. The new line, which features three seniors, a 6'5 bulldozer of a guard in Andrew Norwell and the big polar bear Jack Mewhort, should be successful in protecting Braxton and the running backs from harms way from here on out.
Who can catch the damn ball though??? No one. Philly Brown returns for the first time since the beginning of the Toledo game to try and help out DeVier Posey - oops, he's suspended - and Verlon Reed - oh... he tore his ACL - and Devin Smith, Chris Fields, Jake Stoneburner and co. Will it be enough to get things going for the first time all season? I highly doubt it.
When it comes down to it, I haven't mentioned Nebraska and Taylor Martinez and their stout rushing attack because it really doesn't matter. OSU's offense will prevent them from winning games until they improve; otherwise, the defense will surely keep them in any game they play. Guaranteed.
This will be much closer than people think, with the defense coming to play as always and more field goal drives resulting from an improved offensive line and a more logical offensive gameplan. I think Nebraska will score two touchdowns though, which will ultimately make the difference in a much better game that one would expect. The Huskers win their first Big Ten game, but optimism will return to Columbus, OH.
Prediction:
Ohio State- 16
Nebraska- 23
**** This is only the second time ever that I have selected the Buckeyes to lose a game since I began writing this blog in 2003 ****
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