(2004) Game Four: @ Northwestern - 10/2/04 (L, 3-1/0-1)

[Clarity]

<center><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=2 border=0 width="96%" bgcolor="#000000"> <!-- GAME 4:2004 --> <tr> <td rowspan=4 width="100" align="center" valign="middle" bgcolor="#464646"> <font face="Verdana" color="#5f5f5f"><font size=6>W/L</font><br> <font size=3>(0-0)</font> </td> <td colspan=5 align="left" bgcolor="#464646"><font face="Verdana" color="#ffffff"> Game 4: October 2, 2004 (7:45pm or 9:00pm) - ESPN or ESPN2</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" align="right" bgcolor="#b90000" valign="top"> <font color="#ffffff" face="Verdana"><b><font size="4">Ohio State</font><br> Buckeyes<br></b></font> </td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <img src="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/imgops/helmets/Ohio_St.gif" width="80" height="53" alt="Ohio State"> </td> <td width="1" bgcolor="#b90000"> <font size="5" face="Verdana" color="#ffffff"><b>@</b></font> <td width="1" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <img src="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/imgops/helmets/Northwestern.gif" width="80" height="53" alt="Northwestern"> </td> <td width="50%" valign="top" align="left" bgcolor="#b90000"> <font color="#ffffff" face="Verdana"><b><font size="4">Northwestern</font><br> Wildcats<br></b><font size="2"> <font color="#ffdd00">Big Ten</font><br> 2004 (0-0), 2003 (6-7/4-4)</font></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 align="left" bgcolor="#bababa"><font face="Verdana" size="2"> BIG TEN OPENER. The Buckeyes are 55-13-1 (0.804) against Northwestern. We've won 24 in a row against the Wildcats, our last loss was 11/13/1971 in Columbus, 10-14. Last year, (9/27/03) we posted a 20-0 shutout, our first in a few seasons. Northwestern plays in Evanston, IL on grass in Ryan Stadium, which has a capacity of 49,256.</font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 align="left" bgcolor="#a5a5a5"><font face="Verdana"><b> <font color="#5f5f5f">Discuss</font> : Box Score : Recap : Quotes : Pictures</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font size=3 face="Verdana"><a href="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=824"><< game three</a> | <a href="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/?page=schedule_2004">full schedule</a> | <a href="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=826">game five >></a></font></b></center>

[gregorylee]

Why do these pussy's always make us a night game when it is in Evanston? It doesn't help their crowd after the first quarter anyway, don't they know that alcohol only intensifies suicidle tendencies?

[jlb1705]

Probably just b/c that's the only way the game gets picked up by anything better than ESPN Plus. You know they only play two games a year (at most)that anybody ever gives a damn about, and they still need a gimmick to get attention for it.

[MililaniBuckeye]

It's just fine with me that it's a night game...should start around 2:00 in the afternoon for me here and will lead in to the Hawaii game at 6:00 p.m. Football all day...

[BuckBackHome]

I like the night games because it is much easier for me to watch a game when my two little boys have gone to sleep. Plus, I can get stuff done during the day and still sit back, relax and watch the Bucks kick some pussycats tail.

[Jaxbuck]

B10 opener and corresponding season records 1953-2003(50 years)

Overall OSU record 1953-2003: 419 131 13 (.756)

B10 Openers
overall: 40-10 (.800)
record in seasons with win: 453 games 355-89-9 (.784)
record in seasons with a loss: 110 games 64-42-4 (.582)

So at quick glance, winning the B10 opener means we will normally enjoy a better than average year while losing is usually a harbinger of disaster. In 2004 it would roughly be the difference between 9-2 or 6-5.

For further reinforcement of this, here are the records for the seasons in which we lost our B10 opener since '53:
1999:6-6
1992:8-3-1
1990:7-4-1
1989:8-4
1988:4-6-1
1985:9-3
1983:9-3
1967:6-3
1966:4-5
1959:3-5-1


Now here is the part that throws it off a bit. Look at what happens when we start the year on the road in our B10 opener:

B10 opener on the road
overall:15-5 (.750)
record in W seasons: 120-39-5 (.732)
record in L seasons: 38-18-1 (.667)

The wining seasons aren't as good but the losing isn't as bad. If this pattern holds we would finish either 8-3 or 7-4 this year.

Take it all fwiw, but the numbers kinda jumped out at me when I started looking at B10 openers. I dont need any stats to tell me that losing a B10 opener to Northwestern would be a very bad thing.

The stat freak in me keeps thinking just one thing-they are due but please God don't let it be in my lifetime.

[Jaxbuck]

Ok, after watching NU "kicker" miss 5 field goals last night who wants to bet some vcash the little s.o.b has a career night against us and doesn't miss a single one?

[JXC]

I like the night game at Northwestern. I was there in 2002, and half the stadium was Ohio State fans. And i'll be there again, hoping to again have the whole stadium O-H-I-O cheer loud and proud again. Tickets are on sale for $40 thru OSU at 1-800-462-8257. I love playing at Northwestern and Indiana...we can make it like a home game. The night atmosphere just gets the many Buckeye fans there more reved up...so it actually feels like a big game. It will be fun watching the worst kicker and best kicker in the country go at it, lol. Go Bucks!!!

[Jaxbuck]

Go have a look at their stats here: http://nusports.collegesports.com/sp.../teamstat.html

NU is a pretty pedestrian team. 1-2 with losses to TCU, ASU and a win vs Kansas. They play another night game at home vs Minny this week.

They don't run real well, and their passing numbers are inflated by a huge day vs TCU(who just gave up 70pts to TT).

Defensively they give up 32 ppg and scads of passing yards. Their run D numbers look decent but is that just because teams are so busy passing on them? We will find out this week, Minny does not believe in throwing the ball too much.

From what little I have watched this year they do have a decent front 7 but their secondary is a joke. Backus and #21 absolutely blow. This will be the worst defensive team we have played ytd.

Offensively, Basanez is ok but he isn't surrounded by much talent. No threats at WR and Herron the RB is just workman like. I think his long for the year is 20 some yds.

All in all, I see a rebound game for our O and continued excellence from the D. NU's scheme is very similar to Marshall and NCSU's, just without the athletes.

OSU 35
NU 10(I'll be kind to the kicker)

[bukIpower]

I watched NW play against TCU and they couldn't run the ball, and TCU got mad pressure on them. NW did manage to get some yards threw the air, but hell look what Texas Tech did to freak'n TCU they tore them up threw the air. I don't see them going deep like they have been with OSU's Speed, and I don't see Herron running the ball because we in all honesty have 2 weeks to prepare for this one. I think we take it from the start. I like it when we play Night games, but I'd like to see one or two at home some damn time. The crowd will be half buckeye and half purpel so I don't really care when its played! Pittman goes for 100 yards baby!! GO BUCKS

Buckeyes 35

NW-0

[JXC]

The Wisky games needs to be a night game!

[Sdgobucks]

I predict we will not run the ball well (with Ross) ... I predict they will not pass the ball well ... I predict this will be closer than it should be. Im not saying they will win, but I doubt we will beat them by more than 2 touchdowns. I know they suck but lets not forget Marshall looked damn bad against troy state too didn't they? If we cant run the ball it will be a two possession game at most. If Pitman starts well NW can go home at half time.

[LightningRod]

I think OSU pounds the ball all night long with Pittman, Ross and Joe on its way to an opening Big 10 win.

[slobberknocker]

Originally Posted by Sdgobucks

I predict we will not run the ball well (with Ross) ... I predict they will not pass the ball well ... I predict this will be closer than it should be. Im not saying they will win, but I doubt we will beat them by more than 2 touchdowns. I know they suck but lets not forget Marshall looked damn bad against troy state too didn't they? If we cant run the ball it will be a two possession game at most. If Pitman starts well NW can go home at half time.

Sdg I don't know how bad marshall is considering troy beat mizzu and georgia barley beat marshall, but hears praying you are wrong and we cruise and let a bunch of 2nd teamers play 3rd and 4th qt's

[Sdgobucks]

Originally Posted by slobberknocker

Sdg I don't know how bad marshall is considering troy beat mizzu and georgia barley beat marshall, but hears praying you are wrong and we cruise and let a bunch of 2nd teamers play 3rd and 4th qt's

I hope I am wrong as well, but I have ZERO confidence in Ross and Hall. If we don't get someone who can run the ball in the Big 10 things are going to be close even against NW.

Im not saying that Marshal is bad, I am saying that we dont know NW is bad either ... the teams they lost to could just be good.