#2/3 Ohio State
v. #12 (FCS) Youngstown
State
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 12noon
TV: Big Ten Network
I said last year that a game like this is below The Ohio
State University and I still believe it.
The Big Ten in general is viewed as being soft and games like this are
just fuel on the fire. We all know why
this two game series happened; Jim Tressel wants to pay back his former school
with a couple of HUGE paychecks to help the YSU athletic department and the
football team. It might have even been a
part of the hiring agreement back in 2000 but once this game is over I hope the
OSU athletic department never even entertains the idea of playing an FCS team
again. Some talk about the possibility
of another upset in the like of last years Appalachian State / Michigan game has been
tossed about but I don’t see any possibility of that happening in this
game. This game will be by the
sweater-vest book; simple, straight forward and efficient. Don’t expect too much razzle-dazzle but
rather look for the team to get their feet under them as the finally take
meaningful snaps in the home opener.
OSU “O”
The man of the hour will be junior running back and Heisman
Trophy candidate Chris “Beanie” Wells.
With so many other talented and high profile athletes like Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniels, Wells
will need to come out of the starting gates with a big game. 100 yards and a touchdown or two in the first
half will earn him some good numbers, a few highlights and a second half
rest. Right behind him will be redshirt
freshman Daniel “Boom” Herron, senior Maurice Wells and sophomore Brandon
Saine. Senior quarterback Todd Boeckman
will have his share of highlights as he gets in sync with his primary receivers
Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. We
will also most certainly see many of the talented freshmen like DeVier Posey
and Terrell Pryor at some point in the game.
This unit will overwhelm the defensive of Youngstown State
as the Buckeyes score as much as Jim Tressel lets them.
OSU ”D”
The Penguins will have a lot on their hands offensively this
Saturday as they install a new spread offense, try to break in a new starting quarterback
in either Todd Rowan or Brandon Summers and deal with an aggressive Silver
Bullet defense. Luckily for YSU they
return a trio of veteran wide receivers and running backs to help incorporate
the spread offense and give the young quarterback a working arsenal. The ‘Guins also return a deep veteran
offensive line that allowed only nine sacks in 2007. The Buckeye defense is loaded with returning
All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins,
linebacker Marcus Freeman and defensive end Lawrence Wilson. Wilson
broke his leg in last year’s YSU game and Buckeye nation is excited to see him
get back on the field terrorizing opposing quarterbacks again.
Summary
This is more of a scrimmage then a contest. Youngstown
State is simply
overmatched in every aspect of the game.
Ohio State wants to get their starters in and
out of the game as soon as possible to prevent injury and so they get a good
look at the younger players on the team.
Almost as important as the win will be the game time experience the underclassmen
can build on to propel them into next season.
The Buckeyes will lose an incredible amount of leadership and talent as
many of the seniors graduate to the NFL and the meaningful snaps taken in these
games will help the Buckeyes reload instead of rebuild in 2010.
GOBUCKS!
Prediction: OSU 34 –
YSU 3
Crazy stat or the
game:
YSU has never lost in the month of August (7-0) and are 11-1
in their last 12 season openers (38-6, Ohio State 2007).
YSU players to watch:
Senior WR #1 Ferlando Williams
Senior DT #96 Mychal Savage
Senior C #67 Brad Samsa
Senior TE #87 Derrick Bush