Week 6: Homecoming

Standings
1. Draper (15-6, 1-4 upset)
2. Schweinfurth (14-7, 0-5 upset)
3. Hoying (13-8, 0-5 upset)
4. Seeberg (12-9, 1-4 upset)

Louisville Cardinals @ NC State Wolfpack
Draper: Is NCState for real? They took down the Noles but that seems like not a big deal any more.  Louisville laid a monster egg versus the defending champs which may not be a huge deal since Clemson is a juggernaut, but they looked passive and rolled over.  Raleigh on Thursday night is an interesting snake pit.  Lamar Jackson is clearly the best talent on the field but I think the Wolfpack defense might have surpassed the Caradinals.  It comes down to Jackson vs. the NC State line...which I think might actually be a push.  Does the craziness on the basketball side affect Petrino and Co.? Probably not, but I like the Pack to pull the upset and send the Cards home crying. UL: 24--NCSt 27
Hoying: OK, Cardinals. Getting past Murray State is one thing, but how will you fare in your first road test since your coach was...wait, what was that? It was Louisville's other scummy coach who was terminated in disgrace? Ah, OK then, back to football. Lamar Jackson continues to do Lamar Jackson things, except against Clemson. And NC State is not quite Clemson. The Wolfpack have righted the ship after an embarrassing home opener loss to big dumb Will Muschamp's Gamecocks, rolling off 4 straight including knocking off FSU in Tallahassee. Whose hot streak will end? Well, there's an extra variable in the equation: this game is on Thursday night. Louisville, as mentioned above, just got done playing Murray State, which really means they've been spending 2 weeks getting ready for this one. It's just too much to ask NC State to be fully ready for this one 5 days after a slugfest with Syracuse. Cards win close. UL: 31--NCSt: 27
Schweinfurth: Everyone seems to be all up on the Wolfpack. I guess beating Florida State will do that for you. Don't overlook the fact that FSU is severely depleted and could barely move the ball, even last week. Louisville on the other hand has a dynamic offense with Llamar Jackson leading the way. I can see the Pack keeping it close for a while, but Jackson is just too much. This one isn't as close as the experts think. UL: 35--NCSt: 20
Seeberg:  Ah yes, the yearly question looms:  What ranked team will the Wolfpack mysteriously beat before settling back into their 8-4, 7-5 mediocrity?  Yes they beat Florida State already, but that hardly seems to qualify.  After this one they have two more chances to beat a ranked team, and my money is on them beating Notre Dame.  That means this one just can't end their way.  Might be close, but the Wolfpack can't kick for crap, and it will cost them in this one.  UL: 35--NCSt: 34

Miami Hurricanes @ Florida State Seminoles 
Draper: What to do? I really believe FSU has the better talent, but they are just playing like a pile of warm poo.  The offensive line is a train wreck but the skill positions show flashes every once in a while.  Miami has looked good, but not great all year.  Will the bling make the difference? FYI: Miami is on a 7 game losing streak to the Noles including last years "Block at the Rock".  The question is: will the Noles rise up and take pride in what the season still could be, or simply throw in the towel? Heck, I have a one game lead.  Might as well throw my co-conspirators a bone and pick this with heart.  There's no evidence that the Noles should win...but screw Miami.  I hate them.  UM: 16--FSU: 17
Hoying: If one team wins 7 straight games in a series, does it even count as a rivalry anymore? (Hmmm...what if they win 14 of 16...?) The Canes have managed to put a scare into the Noles a few times in this last decade, coming a blocked extra point away from forcing OT last season, but FSU has always found a way to come out on top. Problem: this year, Florida State doesn't have Dalvin Cook at RB, and they don't have, well, anyone at QB, and Miami boasts a fierce pass rush looking to make what's-his-name pay. Yeah, the defense still works for Florida State, but Da U seems to be the complete package this year in a way they haven't been since the late Coker years (not the early Coker years). Did you see what they did to Duke last week? UM: 24--FSU: 17
Schweinfurth: Miami looks to have finally turned the corner with Mike Richt at the helm. They are getting Florida State at a very good time. The Noles' defense is still very, very good but that offense is stinky. It shows why the backup QB is the back up. I fully expect Miami to win this game, but the rivalry and FSU's defense keeps this close to be a good one. UM: 17--FSU: 14
Seeberg:  This should have been a marquee matchup at the start of the year, but a massive injury to Francois has turned Florida State listless.  I took Duke on a flyer last week against the 'Canes and regretted it as Miami pulled away for a convincing W.  Their D is much better than anticipated, and with a still-unproven backup signal-caller for the Seminoles it's just not a great recipe for Florida State to get their season back on track.  Fittingly, the Hurricanes win another one.  UM: 23--FSU: 13

West Virginia Mountaineers @ TCU Horned Frogs
Draper: TCU is firing on all cylinders right now, but Holgo likes to come in and wreck up the place.  The problem is that WVU and Will Grier isn't as good as I would have expected.  TCU shut down Mason Rudolph and the Pokes which is a much bigger challenge than the Mountaineers so I expect more of the same.  I know little about the other side of the ball for either team, but the Frogs should be able to score on a traditionally hapless West Virginia squad.  Fort Worth will be fired up to keep TCU laser focused on those in Norman.  WVU: 17--TCU: 31
Hoying: I feel like I've seen this one before. Hot team with lights-out passing game padding their stats against the cream puff gallery, now plays TCU. The last time this happened, TCU was on the road, and they flat out embarrassed Oklahoma State. Anyone want to make the case that Will Grier and the 'Neers can succeed where Mason Rudolph and the 'Pokes failed? Unless you think WVU's defense is going to deliver them? WVU: 23--TCU: 34
Schweinfurth: Man, TCU's defense is for real. WVU just doesn't do it for me. It seems like every WVU game I watch, the "improved defense" is exposed and give up chunk plays. TCU is on fire and looks to be one of the two best teams in the Big 12. I can see this getting ugly. WVU: 17--TCU: 38
Seeberg:  We all know Va Tech dispatched the Mountaineers with ease in week one, and even though Clemson didn't let Sandman enter into their victory in Blacksburg, if you dig into the stats, they were pretty even throughout.  Only three Hokie turnovers turned the game in Clemson's favor.  Essentially, what I'm saying is Va Tech is pretty darn good and that loss by West Virginia wasn't too bad.  Nevertheless, TCU can score with anyone and is actually playing a reasonable amount of defense- a rarity in the Big 12.  Tough to picture WVU heading into Horned Frog territory and escaping with a win.  WVU: 27--TCU: 42

Maryland Terrapins @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: I'm glad I had some Buckeye offense to plow my sidewalk for the last couple of weeks.  Maryland is one of those sneaky teams this year with the surprising 3-1 start.  Max Bortenschlager is the 70213498th string QB but has filled in quite well considering the situation.  D.J. Durkin wasn't expected to defeat the 'new-Purdue' (every year darkhorse that underperforms) but they took down the Gophers...at home.  This week will be very different.  The Buckeyes are hitting their stride on offense, and I really think we are only scratching the surface of the possible at this point.  Every week, the offense gets a little better against these bad defenses.  Maryland is a little better on defense, but OSU is a lot better on offense.  JT will continue his growth with these coaches and receivers as he MIGHT actually play late in the 3rd quarter this week.  I'm going with a heavy 1-2 punch of Dobbins and Weber with some JT sprinkled in on the ground.  The Buckeye D-line will harry Goldschlager to no end and force >=3 turnovers.  This will be closer than the last 2 games...and still not close.  JT throws for 3 scores and 275+ and runs for another.  Bucks keep rolling.  Mary: 10 -- OSU: 48
Hoying: Riddle me this: the Buckeyes take on Rutgers, who lost to the B1G East last year by a combined score of 288-40, and Ohio State opens -28. Now, the Buckeyes return home to face Maryland, a team that just knocked off undefeated Minnesota in the twin cities, and Ohio State opens -32. Maybe Vegas knows something I don't, like last year when Ohio State was -17 against top ten Nebraska and won 62-3. What I do know is that JT is scarlet-hot once again and the receivers have started to do their part to make a play or two as well. On the other side of the ball, is it appropriate to be concerned with the defense after a shutout? Yes, Rutgers had trouble moving the ball but I noticed a worrying amount of overpursuit and players being out of position (*cough* *Baker*). Maryland waterboy Max Bortenschlager is looking to make OSU pay, and if 2015 taught us anything, it's that the Silver Bullets have fits with backup mobile QBs. Am I worried? No. Just, no. No. Mary: 13--OSU: 52
Schweinfurth: Hey look, a test for the secondary! Okay, not a great one, but still better than Army, UNLV, and Buttgers. I'll mostly be watching to see if there has been any growth with the young corners. I still don't think these guys are ready to play man defense. Let's also see if the linebackers (looking at you Jarome Baker) stay disciplined and in position. The offense has had a couple of weeks to work the kinks out of the passing game, and I like the concepts that have been added by Day and Wilson. I doubt we see Dobbins and Weber on the field together until Penn State (why tip your hand), but both guys should get their touches and hopefully each goes for 100. Maryland will move the ball, especially through the air but the Bucks run away as usual. Mary: 20--OSU: 45
Seeberg:  Be wary, Buckeye fans, the Terrapins are on the verge of respectability again.  An impressive victory at Minnesota with a backup-backup QB is definitely something to hang their proverbial hat on, not to mention dropping half a hundred on the Longhorns in week one.  I still worry that the recent passing game success will go to Kevin Wilson's head and the Buckeye offense will struggle early.  However, as soon as we just hand the bleeping ball off to Dobbins and Weber, everything else will be fine.  Maryland scores early, but the Buckeyes score early and often.  Mary: 17--OSU: 49

Upset Special
Draper: Oregon over Wazzu
Hoying: Nebraska over Wisconsin
Schweinfurth: Northwestern over Penn St.
Seeberg: Michigan State over Michigan

Grading the Bucks: Week 5 -- Rutgers

Another little sister of the poor...another blowout.  The shutout was an unexpected surprise but it is Rutgers after all.  Here lies Rutgers....he never scored.

Offense: A
JT looked great again, albeit against subpar competition (but is there anything he could have done to satisfy Buckeye Nation at this game? Literally anything?).  The receivers still dropped some passes that would have lessened the talk of JT's supposed inability to throw midrange-deep passes but I digress.  While the receivers did have some dropsies, there were also some nice grabs (see Binjamin Victor for 6).  Let us not forget to wish Mike Weber a hearty welcome back.  Buckeye fans who have been calling for Dobbins to be the lead back have forgotten how good Mike Weber was last year.  Now that the injury is almost gone, I'm excited to see the thunder and lightning approach in the backfield.  Get rid of the stupid penalties (McLaurin) and we'd be good.  Very little to be upset about in this game.

Defense: A
I believe the bright spot for Rutgers came on a 40 yard or so screen pass.  Other than that, the Buckeye D was phenomenal.  The shutout was flukey with the missed chip shot FG late (#karma for kicking to break the shutout) but the defensive line was just monstrous.  Linebacker play has been 'eh' all year, but Rutgers couldn't exploit it.  Fellow Let's Go Bucks contributor Steven Hoying brought up an excellent point concerning the disappearance of Baker in 2017.  Let's hope he rights the ship soon because isolated plays focused on him were not friendly to Buckeye success.

Special Teams: A-
No kicks out of bounds! Hooray! Chrisman has been a treasure this year completely unexpectedly.  Yeah, he had 1 clunker in this game (hence the -) but 13/18 punts have been downed inside the 20 with 1 touchback.  That's a ridiculous stat with 5 50+ yarders.  The coverage units were much better in this game (but it was Rutgers).  Return game still needs work (especially punt return).

Coaching: A
See what happens when you finally let JT throw intermediate passes in the middle of the field? Great scheme and playcalling for pretty much the whole game.  56-0? What could the coaches have done better?

Overall: A
56-0....Not as good as last year but I think I'll let that slide.  Good night Sweet Buttgers.