Week 6: What's a Hoosier?

Standings:
1.) Draper 15-5 (1-4 upset)
2.) Hoying 14-6 (1-4 upset)
3.) Schweinfurth 13-7 (2-3 upset)
3.) Seeberg 13-7 (1-4 upset)

Clever Clever Clever

#19 Texas Longhorns vs. #7 Oklahoma Sooners
Draper: I just don't believe Joe Tessitore. I don't think Texas is back.  That being said, this game is weird.  OU has been the better team for years, but this game there are years when Texas inexplicably has snake bitten them (see Charlie Strong wearing the golden hat).  Murray has been fantastic when not suspended for a drive...interesting how that story got zero legs...but I don't see that changing here.  The Horns have been hot lately, but I don't buy it.  OU restores faith and reassures us that Texas is not back.  UT: 28 -- OU: 42
Hoying: I'm tempted to forgo analysis here and just flip a coin. The Red River Shootout is one of the most upset-heavy rivalries in all of college football, and we don't have to reach too deep into the vault to remember unranked Texas knocking off heavily favored OU in 2013 and 2015 and putting a serious scare into the playoff-bound Sooners last season. All of those Texas teams turned out to be mediocre, so you may want to pump the brakes on the "Texas is back" wagon even if the Longhorns find a way to corral Oklahoma this weekend. Texas (like the West Virginia and Texas Tech teams we featured last week) is getting things done on defense, shutting down a terrible USC offense and a pretty good TCU offense to climb back into the rankings after pooping the bed against Maryland. The Sooners have looked pretty good against the civilian teams on their as-yet awful schedule, but they're in for a rude awakening. Texas Tom doesn't often lose as an underdog. UT: 31 -- OU: 27
Schweinfurth: I don't know which team I am sold less on. Texas lost to Maryland. Oklahoma's best win is Army? FAU? Texas has at least beaten a ranked team in USC. To me this is a coin flip. It seems like every time you pick a team in this rivalry, the other one wins. If nothing else, this game is always entertaining. I'm going to take Oklahoma, only because I feel like Texas has become predictable offensively. I also think Kyler Murray is a better QB than Ehlinger. Again, I can see this game going either way but I have to pick one. UT: 35--OU: 42
Seeberg:  Luke warm take:  The Longhorns aren't "not back".  However, I'm not convinced they're all the way back, either.  The burnt orange looked good against a tired TCU and a massively overvalued USC squad, but this is a sizable step up in competition.  The only real question here is whether they keep it close enough with the Sooners to stay ranked.  My guess is yes, through 2.5 quarters at least.  Too much boomer sooner pulling the Conestoga wagon away late.  UT: 27--OU: 41

#5 Louisiana State Tigers @ #22 Florida Gators
Draper: Florida is ranked? Really?  Like, the Gators?  Oh well, that's done now that Coach O is coming to town.  I'm happy for Coach O and modestly pleased for Joe Burrow, but I'm a little tired of the fawning over Burrow from Buckeye Nation.  He left us.  Dead. To. Me.  LSU = bad (stupid Les Miles in 2007), UF = worse.  Looking at 'on the field play', LSU is significantly better at all phases.  It's in the Swamp but that place hasn't been the same since Tebow graduated.  This game has been really good in the 2000s...when the teams were both super good.  I don't think this will have the same cache.  LSU: 20 -- UF: 10   
Hoying: You can't make me like either one of these teams, even if someone who doesn't play for Ohio State anymore is their quarterback. I was in Glendale in 2007 and New Orleans in 2008 to watch the Buckeyes' title dreams die at the hands of these megafauna (and I was back in Glendale in 2009 to have my heart broken again, thanks, Texas) and we hates them forever, precious. I gave LSU almost enough credit against Auburn but was too afraid to pull the trigger. Now the Tigers are the safe bet against a Gator team that faceplanted against the only really good team they've played, which was...Kentucky? OK, so it's going to be one of those years in the SEC. And by "one of those years" I mean one where Bama wins in a walk (by a million). But we still have to go through the motions on the rest. A UF loss essentially eliminates them from the East chase, while an LSU win puts them a win over Bama away from essentially locking up the West. That won't happen, but we'll continue to delude ourselves until then. LSU: 20--UF: 17
Schweinfurth: Two more teams I am not sold on. LSU has been rewarded for beating a very overrated Miami team and squeaking by Auburn (who I'm not sold on. Mini rant: if you want me to respect your ranking, play a better out of conference schedule). Florida's best win is Mississippi State? Really? They lost to Kentucky. These SEC teams keep getting propped up by playing no one or playing neutral field games against mid level Power 5 teams. Back to this game. I'll take Burrow and the Tigers. Florida isn't back and will drop back out of the top 25 they just squeaked into this week. LSU: 17--UF: 10
Seeberg:  Imagine losing to Kentucky (this is football, remember, not basketball) and still being ranked in early October.  Crazier things have happened, or so I'm told.  Perhaps a second loss will awaken the pollsters.  Jeaux Burreaux and Ceaux. should be able to do enough to keep that horrendously annoying chomping motion at bay.  We know both teams can play excellent D, and both teams have trouble, at times, scoring.  But the Tigers are far less likely to turn the ball over with Burrow at the helm, and turnovers will likely provide the difference.  LSU: 20--UF: 13

#6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ #24 Virginia Tech Hokies
Draper: The Irish should essentially coast to a playoff berth, but the Hokies believe they have a shot at the historical Goliath.  Now, Notre Dame is no ODU so VT has a shot in Blacksburg at night.  I don't actually think the Hokies are any good, but they believe they are which might be just the ticket.  Notre Dame might faceplant at some time this year, but I don't see it here against a backup QB.  The Irish march on. ND: 30 -- VT: 17
Hoying: Don't look now, but the new-look Irish are as close as a lock to make the playoff as any other team in America in this young season. There's not another ranked team left on their schedule after this Saturday, and they've been obliterating their competition since swapping out old and busted Brandon Wimbush for new hotness Ian Book. VT has looked rather smashing themselves other than a puzzling loss to an awful, awful team, but not even the magic of Lane Stadium at night can derail the Irish at this point. ND: 34--VT: 20
Schweinfurth: Notre Dame will not be an underdog the rest of the year. Get used to hearing the phrase Undefeated Notre Dame in the Playoff Picture. I roll my eyes at that too, but it's where we are at. If the Irish win out, they are in the CFP. It would be funny if they get left out to a one loss conference champion. Boy the talking heads would explode. Notre Dame is just playing too well to lose this game. Enter Sandman keeps this close for a half. ND: 38--VT:28
Seeberg:  I am not a fan of the new-look Golden Domers, in that they're actually, miraculously, finally competent on both sides of the ball (see:  what TTUN is attempting to do).  A better-than-average defense is now complimented by a better-than-average offense with Ian Book at the helm...I have no idea what took so long to make that change.  With minimal resistance the rest of the way, there's just no chance they let a team who lost to Old-Freaking-Dominion ruin their season.  That'll happen later against Syracuse.  ND: 31--VT: 16

Indiana Hoosiers @ #3 THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: The Bucks return home after a monstrous comeback vs. Penn State.  What could go wrong? At least we don't face Iowa this week!  This should be a nice return to form for the Scarlet and Gray.  I don't see Indiana competing in any aspect of the game...which means they'll probably hang around.  "Hang around" may be a bit too strong as I don't expect to be worried at all.  This should be a 'get right game' for the line and get Haskins back on track.  In addition, working on the running game is a must in these games in which we can afford the work.  Defensively, this should be another huge showing for Chase Young.  As long as the safeties worked on attack angles this week, no problem.  IU: 13--OSU: 45
Hoying: Ah, the crisp October air descends on Ohio Stadium as the 5-0 Buckeyes host the 4-1 Hoosiers. Fun fact: the last time the Buckeyes went 5-0 in the month of September, they went undefeated. The previous two times before that, they went to the national championship game. Now, they didn't actually win a title any of those years, but streaks are made to be broken. Except for the streak of OSU beating Indiana, which is now at 23* after last year's Bloomington blowout. A victory on Saturday would set a new longest win streak*, breaking the record set back from 1960 to 1986. Then Earle lost to them and got fired. Then Coop started 1-1-1 against them and didn't get fired. The early Cooper years were weird. I'm sure you know that he started 0-5-1 against Michigan, but did you know that he had an even more dreaded foe during his early tenure in Columbus? You'd never guess it now, but it was Illinois, who beat him during each of his first five seasons. Where was I going with this? Oh yes, the Buckeyes don't lose to crappy teams anymore. And despite Indiana's mirage of a perfect non-conference start to their season, they are still a crappy team that will struggle to make a bowl. And no matter how banged-up the Buckeyes may be at the moment, they aren't going to struggle to paste the Hoosiers. Not as long as Kevin Wilson's still on staff. OSU: 45--IU: 14
Schweinfurth: Ahh Indiana, the B1G Chaos team. Every year this team puts a scare into the Bucks for a half or three quarters. I remember Iowa from last year. The Bucks won an emotional, come from behind game against the Nittany Kittens and then got smoked on the road. The Bucks are coming of an emotional come from behind win against the Nittany Kittens but are at home this time. This shouldn't be close. Yes the Hoosiers are 4-1, but it's still Indiana. Do I expect another 49-42 game? No. The theme of the week should be limiting the big play on defense while pounding the ball on offense. The last three games have had an Ohio State running back demoralizing the Hoosier defense on the regular. I don't expect Weber to get many touches (rest that foot) so Dobbins should get 15+ carries and hopefully over 150. Haskins returns to form after last week. Indiana doesn't have the personnel to blitz every down like Penn State did. Big plays in the passing game will be there. Indiana will probably score in the first half because of an emotional let down this week. The Bucks should still win going away. OSU: 42--IU: 28
Seeberg:  Here come the perennial doormat Hoosiers to town- except Rutgers now has that distinction.  IU has played respectable ball the last several years, particularly on offense.  Remember, this team put up 2 TDs more against Ball State than Notre Dame did (albeit pre-Ian Book).  Concerning the local team, injuries are mounting for the first time in a while for the 2018 Buckeyes, especially on the already-less-than-stellar defensive side of the ball.  Jones and Arnette are cleared to play, but I hope they only see minimal action as they continue to get healthy- same for Mike Weber.  Regardless of the defensive issues, even in a shootout the Buckeyes would win this one comfortably.  I expect, sadly, some chunk plays for IU but trouble sustaining long drives.  Enjoy your banana, Indiana.  OSU: 49--IU: 17

Upset Special
Draper: Florida State over Miami (I had to)
Hoying: Maryland over Michigan
Schweinfurth: Miss. St. over Auburn
Seeberg: Boston College over NC State

Grading the Bucks: Week 5 -- Penn State

Oh yeah...that's the stuff.  Not only did the Buckeyes rip the heart out of the Penn State faithful, we substantially increased our empire in the College Football Imperialism Map.  The map that started at the beginning of the 2017 season shows the immense influence of Buckeye Nation.  THE KING IN THE NORTH commands respect!

Offense: B
MVP: K.J. Hill, WR
Overall, this was a very blase performance by the Buckeye offense.  Haskins was pedestrian (and in no way deserved B1G Player of the Week) but effective enough.  The running game simply could not get churning.  In the first half, the line play was atrocious but there was a marked improvement as the game progressed (conditioning?).  Major credit to the coaches to dial up the screen game as the line wasn't protecting long enough to allow for deep downfield looks.  The WR were all pretty good in this game from Victor to Hill to Campbell.  Obviously, Penn State is one of the stronger defenses we'll face this year, but there were a few chinks that TCU exposed that PSU picked at.  Still room to improve.

Defense: B+
MVP: Chase Young, DE
Honestly, the defense played quite well.  Yes, McSorley was gashing the Bullets on the ground, but the were able to contain the explosive Nittany Lion offense to a reasonable performance in an insanely crazy environment.  The linebackers are still not good...but they are improving.  Harrison, Werner, and Boreland are consistently getting better every week.  I'm very concerned with the speed and awareness of the safeties.  The long TD pass was an embarrassment.  Pryor took an atrocious angle and was simply not fast enough to make up for his mistake.  The lack of speed in the deep secondary has been an issue in a few games this year.  Chase Young made a few plays (primarily the earlier 4th down bat down) that were simply amazing.  If Bosa gets back, the two top DEs in football are wearing scarlet and gray (been saying it all year--they're monsters).

Special Teams: A
MVP: Drue Chrisman, P
Other than Chase Young, Drue Chrisman was the best player in Scarlet and Gray Saturday.  He was excellent at flipping the field in all cases.  The punt coverage (and for that matter, the kick coverage) teams were also exceptional.  A major boon in a hostile road environment.

Coaching: A-
The preparation for the game was a little questionable.  The Buckeyes appeared to be lost at times early on and there was no synchronicity on offense (or defense).  The second half adjustments (primarily moving to the screen game) were fantastic.  Defensively, the coaches realized if we played a little softer (gave up a few yards to prevent the big play) we were in better shape.  The main reason we could afford to not be as aggressive is that the line is so good that they can get home without help...so long as those helpers assist in coverage.  The decisions to go on 4th down were pretty solid, but the playcall...eh.  Remember all you JT haters that we always knew the call on 4th and 1...but we'd always convert.  I wasn't thrilled with the call/execution on 4th down, but the decisions were solid.

Overall: A-
Went into Happy Valley and left with a win.  The vaunted 'white-out' now has a losing record.  It's an insane environment, but the talent of the Bucks is too much.  The biggest goal now is to avoid going all 'Iowa'.  I think we learned our lesson.  The Bucks will be heavy favorites for the remainder of the year, but let's take it one game at a time.