Ohio State vs. USC

by edsp on Sep 11, 2009 4:06 PM CDT Comment 28 comments

So, BON experts, whadda think? Trojans again? Buckeyes defend the home turf?

Who do you like, and why? Which team losing helps the Longhorns more in the MNC picture? I'll kick if off.

I'd like both to lose, for reasons that go beyond the poll/national title game picture. USC has more speed, a much better offensive line. Trojans would probably like to control the game on the ground. This won't be a turnover-free game. Trojans have a lot of new faces on the defensive side. A true freshman QB on the road in his second start ain't what you'd choose. Ohio State won't lose many with the schedule it plays; most likely is Penn State and that might leave the Nittanys undefeated. USC has lots of potential stumbles in a wicked schedule.

I gotta hope Trojans win; they'll fall in Berkeley or South Bend. I hope.

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I've struggled with this as well

If you’re banking on the Longhorns going undefeated, you have to pull for Ohio State. The only team that might jump an undefeated Texas is an undefeated USC. I don’t think a Big Ten team or anyone else would.

If you think the Longhorns lose a game, I’m not sure who you root for. As you point out, if Ohio State wins, the Penn St./Ohio St. winner has a chance to go undefeated in the weak Big Ten. You also have the wildcards of Notre Dame and BYU, although neither should be a threat to an undefeated Texas.

This doesn’t appear to be the year to lose one and feel good about your chances. But we have known that all along.

by jtlonghorn on Sep 11, 2009 4:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

hence the insanity

that is college football…figuring out who to root for based on computer models and how a team may jump the #2 team in the country. IF #2 goes undefeated wire to wire…they earned their spot assuming that #1 did as well. If #3 does the same, do the voters give it to the pac 10 over the big 12? IDK. The Big 12 certainly is hotter than the pac 10 these days.

"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." - Will Muschamp

by Mulliganville on Sep 12, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just from a Longhorns perspective

I think you pull for Ohio State. No way the Bucks jump an undefeated Texas. Unlikely anyone jumps an undefeated Texas, but USC is at least the school with the best shot at it.

As for the game itself, I’m watching to see if Tressell realizes the best offensive player on either sidelines is his quarterback. If he puts Pryor to good use, OSU can win. Otherwise, same old, same old.

You ain't hurt.

by Peter Bean on Sep 11, 2009 4:47 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Buckeyes win

USC is the better team overall, make no mistake, but the Buckeyes win this hands down. Granted, USC’s running game is a Fallujah-intense rape beast, Carroll coaches them up (even with new coordinators this season), and overall they are just pro-quality and NEED to win games like this since the Pac-10 has been down for so long. That said, Barkley is already being heralded as a guy who will steal your girlfriend while eating the last piece of cake your mom left you as he throws an out route to cap of his Hesiman campaign. And why? Because he was a god in high school and beat up on San Jose State? Child, please. Sure, he looks like an athlete and has great tools around him, and I do seem him as potentially great down the line, but this is stepping into Columbus in his second college game ever. I think the atmosphere is a factor, for starters. What’s more, I think Tressell loads the box and makes Matt try to win it all on his arm. Sure, he’ll make throws, but consistent enough to win there? Now? I wouldn’t gamble on it. (Unless it was PB’s money…because he’s rollin’ in the scril). As per last week, Ohio State was overlooking Navy for this game and I think they come to play. Moreover, after so many BCS flops and criticism of their conference of late, this is the signature game in the Buckeye’s season. I think (and again, this is all coming out of my, er, head) Tressell let’s Pryor be the x-factor he should be and finally plays to win, not to not lose. (Double negatives for $5, ya’ll). It’ll be close, but I’m saying Ohio State at home…

by KevinJ on Sep 11, 2009 4:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

you lost me at

child please…stupendous.

"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." - Will Muschamp

by Mulliganville on Sep 12, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tentatively picked Ohio State before the season started

After that awful performance against Navy, I am preparing for another Trojan whipping. If it was at the Coliseum, I’d be confident in picking the Trojans. Pretty much the main reason I give the Buckeyes a chance is because it’s at the Horseshoe.

Pryor will have to channel his inner Vince Yong to win. However, while Pryor is obviously still young, I just don’t see that “it” factor in Pryor that was in Vince. Vince was galvanizing, exciting, and fearless. I see a lot of hesitation in Pryor sometimes as he takes off.

I also don’t think Pryor is as good a runner as Vince was. Then again, Pryor is ahead of Vince at this time of his career in terms of passing, so it may balance out. We’ll learn quite a bit about Terrelle Pryor tomorrow night.

by TheElusiveShadow on Sep 11, 2009 4:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can Tressel be Mack?

Will Tressel pull Pryor aside and tell him what Mack told Vince? Just go out their and play your game and forget about being the quarterback we tried to turn you into.

Agree that his passing is advance by VY standards, but he seems to have that escapability. Could be VERY special.

In my day we did'nt have no fancy skies. You waited for an avalanche then you dug out the frozen bodies, strapped them to your feet and went flying down the hill yelling "Look at me I'm riding dead people!"
~Grouchy Old Man

by Ese-De-SA on Sep 11, 2009 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am pulling for OSU

1. I like them better.
2. A Big 10 team does not pass us in the polls
3. Any Pete Carroll loss puts Mack in front in win pct
4. If they win out, I would love to play them in the MNC. I think we would crush them.
5. Prryor reminds me of Vince

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Sep 11, 2009 4:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Being a graduate of both Texas and USC ...

I find myself again in the awkward position of rooting against the Trojans. My first loyalty will always be to the Longhorns and an undefeated ‘SC sounds a little too risky from a BCS perspective. Unfortunately, I think USC can run the ball all day and keep the pressure of Barkley. I think it’s likely that USC will win, but having said that, I think it’s unlikely that USC will be undefeated at the end of the season. They always lose focus somewhere and with a freshman QB …

by rezboscace on Sep 11, 2009 5:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This shouldnt even be a question. After looking at OSUs poor performance against Navy, USC wins in blowout fashion like they did last year.

by MJY6087 on Sep 11, 2009 6:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As coach Corso sayin

not so fast, my friend. It’s all about adjustment. Tressell will not allow that happen to his house. Its already shameful enough to let the Navy scared the hell out of his alums donors who were sitting in the suite box last week. He ain’t going to be wear that shameful sign again.

by Horns98 on Sep 11, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OSU running defense

People should remember that Navy ran triple-option or even quad-option running plays. These are not your typical everyday running game. You can’t normally prepare for those kinds of stuff. Even we would have had a hard time preparing for those. So I am not sure about USC running wild all over the Buckeye defense in more traditional running game. Furthermore, OSU’s struggle against Navy and the fact that everyone picking USC to win should help OSU’s mentality going into the game. I like OSU over USC.

by austinite on Sep 11, 2009 7:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I really don't care who wins

I just see want to see a close and exciting game. Reasons for this are that if there are 3 undefeated teams at season end and tOSU and Texas are two of them, there is no way tOSU jumps Texas when you combine the overall weak Big 10, the recent struggles in MNC for the Buckeyes and the fact that the Horns were the team that got jobbed last year.

USC on the otherhand is starting a freshman qb and there is no way they go through a full 12 game schedule undefeated, win or lose in the Horseshoe.

by 2Cor12:9 on Sep 11, 2009 9:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I am for tOSU

Primarily because I do not want to get jumped by USC.

Off topic but how many Big 12 teams that we play will be ranked by the time we play them? There is a potential for all except A&M and Colorado-yes Baylor could make the top 25. Speaking of which it seems odd that I have already watched Colorado lose pathetically twice and haven’t gotten to see the horns play yet.

by mtntrance on Sep 11, 2009 11:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If USC wins AT OSU (doesn’t have to be a convincing win in my mind), and if we don’t have a shutout at Wyoming, USC will jump us in the next week’s poll. As soon as USC wins this game, the voters are going to immediately jump on “Barkley for Heisman” and “USC National Championship” bandwagons. And I would hate to see that media frenzy, even though I’m certain that USC will not go undefeated this season.

by austinite on Sep 11, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

all the better to retain underdog status

by Displaced Longhorn on Sep 11, 2009 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um...

If USC wins AT OSU (doesn’t have to be a convincing win in my mind), and if we don’t have a shutout at Wyoming, USC will jump us in the next week’s poll.

No.

by Hopkins Horn on Sep 12, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Colorado is HORRIBLE

ou, Missouri, OSU, and Kansas will be ranked when Texas plays them.

Texas plays Baylor and a&m late, and they will lose several games before we play them.

by Longhorns84 on Sep 12, 2009 5:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I may be a longhorn

But I come from a long line of Buckeyes, so I’m rooting for tOSU.

I have to believe they’ve got a shot of pulling this one out against USC, but I’m pretty scared.

by notsofst on Sep 12, 2009 12:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

USC wins but does not cover

by UT2001 on Sep 12, 2009 12:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What's the line?

by 2Cor12:9 on Sep 12, 2009 1:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was USC -8 last I heard. Opened at USC -3.

by hodad on Sep 12, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

USC wins 28-14

I think OSU will lose again to Penn State this year. I don’t think USC plays anybody GREAT the rest of the year. California and Notre Dame being the best teams they play the rest of the year.

by Longhorns84 on Sep 12, 2009 5:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

wicked schedule??

How does USC have a wicked schedule?

by Longhorns84 on Sep 12, 2009 5:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, it’s not wicked, maybe harder than most years, but not wicked.

by Displaced Longhorn on Sep 12, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is why I think we shouldn't be concern about USC.

Who do they have after ND? And ND just got knocked off so they won’t be ranked. Whose next? Cal is their hardest game with a ranked team. By contrast, we’ve got Tech, Mizzou, Ou, and OSU coming up, all ranked teams. I think our schedule is much, much harder than USC and there is no way they’ll leapfrog us in the computers at the end of the year.

In-VINCE-able.

by iamjackburton on Sep 13, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I for one would love to play USC for the championship game

Florida drops a game and an undefeated USC v. Texas could be in the Rose Bowl. The media would love the 2005/2009 rematch. And we would wreck those Trojans. I’d feel a lot better about that game than I did about the 2005 game.

by notsofst on Sep 13, 2009 2:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs