Standings:
1.) Draper 48-13 (1-10 upset)
2.) Schweinfurth 47-14 (1-10 upset)
3.) Hoying 43-18 (2-9 upset)
4.) Seeberg 42-19 (3-8 upset)
The rage was already scarlet-hot after a shot at revenge
went horribly awry. The revelation that the field had been tilted for those two losing efforts by the platonic ideal of an Ann Arbor Anthropos and his vast
network of spies has done little to abate the wrath of the Scarlet and Gray.
The villains, incapable of self-reflection or repentance, have circled the
wagons and defied everybody to exact whatever retribution their respective
eleven warriors can deliver. A dastardly fate awaits the Cheat Weasels this
Saturday for that. There isn’t a Buckeye in the State of Ohio who wouldn’t like
to go out and scalp those Wolverines right now. Go Bucks. Beat Blue.
FRIDAY
Oregon State Beavers @ Oregon Ducks
Draper: No reason to overthink this. The Ducks have been destroying everyone and everything in their path outside of a sorta fluky loss in Seattle. Oregon State has been...fine? They've beaten absolutely no one of note to their nice record, but here we are in the Civil War nonetheless. I fear that BoNix could lock up the top trophy in this spot by putting up big stats against a pretty good defense. The Beavs have been a feelgood story, but the carriage will be turned into a gourd after the Autzen Zoo ends all hope of an upset. Quack. OreSt: 16--Ore: 35
Hoying: It’s a curiosity of this year’s Rivalry Week that while the Civil War is one of the only two ranked contests across the nation, and thus, ostensibly the battle of second highest quality, the spread in this one is bigger than such great-vs.-garbage showdowns as the Iron Bowl or the Territorial Cup. The Beavers have been a great farewell tale for the exploding Pac-12, tenaciously hanging with Washington last week in a desperate bid to keep the conference title in the hands of the Pac-faithful. But the future out west is B1G, as we’ll likely see in next week’s green vs. purple rerun. I think the Ducks have been a bit overrated this season; the only school in the top 4 of the Pac-12 they’ve played is Washington (Oregon lost), and their Power 5 nonconference opponent was the barely bowl eligible Texas Tech Red Raiders. But I don’t think last week’s valiant effort in Corvallis was the Beavers sharpening the sword for a killing blow this week. I expect it was rather one last bender to be followed up by a dreadful hangover. OreSt:17—Ore: 31
Schweinfurth: The Beavers have been a great story. Put off by the rest of conference restructuring, they have put on a great showing this year. The Ducks feel like a powerhouse though. BoNix still resides in the Duck backfield and that could be the difference. We get a week closer to a Husky/Duck redo. OreSt: 24--Ore: 31
Hoying: It’s a curiosity of this year’s Rivalry Week that while the Civil War is one of the only two ranked contests across the nation, and thus, ostensibly the battle of second highest quality, the spread in this one is bigger than such great-vs.-garbage showdowns as the Iron Bowl or the Territorial Cup. The Beavers have been a great farewell tale for the exploding Pac-12, tenaciously hanging with Washington last week in a desperate bid to keep the conference title in the hands of the Pac-faithful. But the future out west is B1G, as we’ll likely see in next week’s green vs. purple rerun. I think the Ducks have been a bit overrated this season; the only school in the top 4 of the Pac-12 they’ve played is Washington (Oregon lost), and their Power 5 nonconference opponent was the barely bowl eligible Texas Tech Red Raiders. But I don’t think last week’s valiant effort in Corvallis was the Beavers sharpening the sword for a killing blow this week. I expect it was rather one last bender to be followed up by a dreadful hangover. OreSt:17—Ore: 31
Schweinfurth: The Beavers have been a great story. Put off by the rest of conference restructuring, they have put on a great showing this year. The Ducks feel like a powerhouse though. BoNix still resides in the Duck backfield and that could be the difference. We get a week closer to a Husky/Duck redo. OreSt: 24--Ore: 31
Seeberg: Everything was set for the Beavers to take down the Huskies last week: Poor weather, friendly confines, they were even favored! But, alas, Penix and Co. did just enough to win yet again. Now the west coast OSU has to travel to their in-state archrival. To their credit, these two will continue to play this one annually (looking at you, Sooners and Cowboys), so thankfully this won't be the last iteration. This one, however, is in Autzen and it's a bad recipe for the visiting squad. The Ducks are hungry for another shot at UW, but the rivalry forces their full focus. Not good for the opponent. Nix has another banner day as the Ducks paddle away late. Orest: 20--Ore: 34
SATURDAY
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Those Cheaters Up North
Draper: When aligning the position groups, there's not a lot of separation between the squads. I'd give the Wolverines a slight edge at QB and Oline and OSU with slight edges at the other positions (outside of the WR advantage). The biggest difference is the route these guys took to this contest. The win over the Irish is a nice feather in the Buckeyes cap that shows they can play on the road in a hostile locale, while TTUN crushed the garbage and struggled against those with a pulse (and no Stalions). The explosive return of Trey to the rushing attack is huge opening up the passing lanes. I think the keys are Egbuka and Stover as Harrison will be tripled (and can still do work). OSU has only given up 1 explosive this year which is about 1203984 fewer than last year. The defense should shut the door on the passing attack. If the Buckeyes slow the rushing attack and stay on schedule, the lack of prescience on the blue sideline (where did that go?) proves the difference. The Terps nearly got it done, but the Bucks seal the deal in the last rivalry of consequence after the penalties are levied. Ohio Against the World! OSU: 24--TTUN: 20
Hoying: Run the ball, beat your rival. It’s been an ironclad, unbreakable law every year after the Buckeyes Bellisari’d away a good day on the ground by Derek, Jonathan, and, well, Steve Bellisari way back in 2000. Last year I was sure the streak would end, and truth be told, but for two late run blitz whiffs against Donovan Edwards, I would have been proven right in horrifying fashion. But as I said in the Penn State preview, The Don is really having difficulties this year. Yes, he had a nice TD run against Penn State, but that’s the single swing for the fences he’s had this year, and it went for all of 22 yards. And the Wolverine faithful continue to await in vain the return of 2022 Blake. On the other hand, Tre has been running like an RB possessed since returning after the cheap shot he suffered in South Bend, evoking the #1 recruit and superstar frosh TreVeyon Henderson we were all enjoying back in 2021. I could perhaps be forgiven (and I do beg forgiveness) for thinking he was washed after he toughed out virtually all of a disappointing 2022 on a busted foot. But this year, you can’t bottle Tre up for the full 60. Even the Fighting Irish were only near-perfect for 59, and then he was gone to put the Buckeyes up 10-0. A lot of ink is being spilled this week about whether JJ or Kyle is going to end up on top of the battle of the Irish quarterbacks, and their play is going to be essential to not giving this one away. Sacks count against rushing totals in college, after all, and turnovers constrain offensive opportunities. But I stood in the freezing drizzle on the Ann Arbor sidelines (no sign of Connor Stalions) in 2007 watching Touchdown Todd and busted Chad Henne find their receivers on 38% of their throws for all of 138 yards in the aggregate, while Beanie Wells nearly doubled that total alone, finding pay dirt on goal line and 62-yard runs. This week it’s all about the big sets and deep lines up north vs. whatever the twin wizards of Day and Knowles can conjure to get the biggest advantages both ways across the field. Swirl in a little Chip for a change of pace and add Professor X’s propensity to break a big gain when the pressure’s tightest, and there’s a path to victory in the land of shadow. Everything since the clock hit zeroes last year (hell, everything since Edwards ripped off his first big run) has been calculated to deliver the precise blow at the precise hour: high noon on Thanksgiving Saturday. Let’s see if it connects. OSU: 24—TCUN: 17
Schweinfurth: Where do I begin here. Cheaters and the Worst? I have tried to be polite to this point, but now? Let's do the thing. Ryan Day has been slowly building the Death Start this year. He's held out top players on both sides of the ball to ensure a healthy squad going up north. The injury list is short, which we couldn't say last year. A win on Saturday, and I'll call the defense the Silver Bullets again. Yes, they have played that well to this point. Treveyon Henderson is a different level and he is healthy. Now to the elephant. The Wolverines don't have their pre-scouting cheating ass head coach on the sideline and don't know what is going to be run. That's huge. I look at the last two years in a different light with the info we have now. JJ doesn't look right without knowing what the defense is in and without the sideline d-bag in his corner. He also doesn't look as good when faced with a defense that has a pulse. I can write a book on this, but there is only one thing that I care about now. Beat Blue. Get revenge. Put these cheating idiots back in their place. Bucks win. OSU: 35--TTUN: 17
Hoying: Run the ball, beat your rival. It’s been an ironclad, unbreakable law every year after the Buckeyes Bellisari’d away a good day on the ground by Derek, Jonathan, and, well, Steve Bellisari way back in 2000. Last year I was sure the streak would end, and truth be told, but for two late run blitz whiffs against Donovan Edwards, I would have been proven right in horrifying fashion. But as I said in the Penn State preview, The Don is really having difficulties this year. Yes, he had a nice TD run against Penn State, but that’s the single swing for the fences he’s had this year, and it went for all of 22 yards. And the Wolverine faithful continue to await in vain the return of 2022 Blake. On the other hand, Tre has been running like an RB possessed since returning after the cheap shot he suffered in South Bend, evoking the #1 recruit and superstar frosh TreVeyon Henderson we were all enjoying back in 2021. I could perhaps be forgiven (and I do beg forgiveness) for thinking he was washed after he toughed out virtually all of a disappointing 2022 on a busted foot. But this year, you can’t bottle Tre up for the full 60. Even the Fighting Irish were only near-perfect for 59, and then he was gone to put the Buckeyes up 10-0. A lot of ink is being spilled this week about whether JJ or Kyle is going to end up on top of the battle of the Irish quarterbacks, and their play is going to be essential to not giving this one away. Sacks count against rushing totals in college, after all, and turnovers constrain offensive opportunities. But I stood in the freezing drizzle on the Ann Arbor sidelines (no sign of Connor Stalions) in 2007 watching Touchdown Todd and busted Chad Henne find their receivers on 38% of their throws for all of 138 yards in the aggregate, while Beanie Wells nearly doubled that total alone, finding pay dirt on goal line and 62-yard runs. This week it’s all about the big sets and deep lines up north vs. whatever the twin wizards of Day and Knowles can conjure to get the biggest advantages both ways across the field. Swirl in a little Chip for a change of pace and add Professor X’s propensity to break a big gain when the pressure’s tightest, and there’s a path to victory in the land of shadow. Everything since the clock hit zeroes last year (hell, everything since Edwards ripped off his first big run) has been calculated to deliver the precise blow at the precise hour: high noon on Thanksgiving Saturday. Let’s see if it connects. OSU: 24—TCUN: 17
Schweinfurth: Where do I begin here. Cheaters and the Worst? I have tried to be polite to this point, but now? Let's do the thing. Ryan Day has been slowly building the Death Start this year. He's held out top players on both sides of the ball to ensure a healthy squad going up north. The injury list is short, which we couldn't say last year. A win on Saturday, and I'll call the defense the Silver Bullets again. Yes, they have played that well to this point. Treveyon Henderson is a different level and he is healthy. Now to the elephant. The Wolverines don't have their pre-scouting cheating ass head coach on the sideline and don't know what is going to be run. That's huge. I look at the last two years in a different light with the info we have now. JJ doesn't look right without knowing what the defense is in and without the sideline d-bag in his corner. He also doesn't look as good when faced with a defense that has a pulse. I can write a book on this, but there is only one thing that I care about now. Beat Blue. Get revenge. Put these cheating idiots back in their place. Bucks win. OSU: 35--TTUN: 17
Seeberg: It is FINALLY here. I do not enjoy hyperbole and avoid it whenever possible. This, however, is likely the highest charged version of this rivalry that has ever occurred. We all know the litany of accusations, and firings, and suspensions, etc. etc. Did the sign-stealing cost CJ a trophy in NYC? We will, sadly, never know. Did the cheaters and best finally end their woefulness against the scarlet and gray? Yes, but to what degree did the sign-stealing contribute? 92% of FBS head coaches surveyed said that their advantage was likely worth at least ten points per contest. But enough of the past. I've seen a lot of fans and talking heads alike calling for "Georgia Ryan Day" on Saturday. One issue: Georgia Ryan Day had, as we've seen thus far in the NFL, a possible generational talent at QB. Kyle is good, but Kyle is not that. Kyle is Krenzel-ish. A bit stronger, not quite as elusive, but with an excellent, level-headed poise. Anybody recall what Krenzel did his first year as a starter? Yeah, pretty decent. The 2023 Buckeyes have an excellent defense. Turnovers aren't as frequent as I'd like, but opponents' points don't arrive often either. Believe it or not, when the D is on the field, they'll be facing a QB who was the odds-on favorite to win college football's highest award, but when noon hits Saturday, it will have been 33 days since JJ threw a touchdown. Wonder what that coincides with? Strange huh? On the flipside, 2021 Treveyon Henderson has returned and he has single-handedly reinvigorated the Buckeye offense. Ohio State is better balanced- I flat-out don't think JJ can sling it against the secondary- nor can their O-line protect the passer. We saw that plain as day against the Nittany Lions. Speaking of Penn State, Day literally held out two all-conference players just to keep everyone as healthy as possible for TTUN. Eichenberg didn't play on senior day. The focus is undeniable, the 2023 Buckeyes want this one, need this one, and will stop at nothing to get this one. Go Bucks. OSU: 27--TTUN: 17
Upset Special
Draper: Arkansas over Tigers
Hoying: Texas Aggies over LSU
Schweinfurth: Iowa State over Kansas State
Seeberg: Auburn over Roll Tide (just kidding!) Kentucky over Louisville
