Ohio State 24, Michigan State 17 (final)

[greyscarlet]

Originally Posted by Taosman

I think that will get their attention and I don't see a "trap" game after MSU put up 52 points.
This will be much more competitive than some think!

That second sentence is almost the very definition of trap game, no? Game that looks like easy win (with big games to follow, like state penn at night) but ends up being a tough game.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by greyscarlet

That second sentence is almost the very definition of trap game, no? Game that looks like easy win (with big games to follow, like state penn at night) but ends up being a tough game.

Where did he say it was going to be an easy game? Taos was actually saying that Michigan State's offensive explosion would keep this from being a "trap" game because we won't overlook them for Penn State.

[Jaxbuck]

5 games to go for the B10 title and a 2nd consecutive NC appearance, a shot at redemption from the humiliation of last year.....I can't imagine there is any chance of a trap or letdown game from here out. The finish line is in sight.

[rocketman]

Seeing as it is Michigan State week, the BP Torrent crew is serving up the past 3 victories over MSU, in addition to the latest 2007 games. Click the link to download the torrent file. If you are new to torrents, click the link in my sig to find more info on how to get started.

2004 Ohio State vs. Michigan State - Ted Ginn Jr.'s 3 TD breakout performance
2005 Michigan State vs. Ohio State - The field goal block for a TD followed by John L. Smith's nuclear meltdown at halftime
2006 Ohio State vs. Michigan State - Utter domination, vintage Troy Smith ownage of the Spartans

[buckeyebri]

Originally Posted by ShakerBuck

Javon Ringer has probably been waiting for this game for a long time, and should have quite a chip on his shoulder.

He really wanted to be a buckeye, and we tried to get him to grey shirt, and offered the scolly to MoWells.

I thought grades were an issue in Ringer not getting an offer...

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by rocketman

Seeing as it is Michigan State week, the BP Torrent crew is serving up the past 3 victories over MSU, in addition to the latest 2007 games. Click the link to download the torrent file. If you are new to torrents, click the link in my sig to find more info on how to get started.

2004 Ohio State vs. Michigan State - Ted Ginn Jr.'s 3 TD breakout performance
2005 Michigan State vs. Ohio State - The field goal block for a TD followed by John L. Smith's nuclear meltdown at halftime
2006 Ohio State vs. Michigan State - Utter domination, vintage Troy Smith ownage of the Spartans

Aah - good times

[utgrad73]

Originally Posted by BB73

OK, next up is Michigan State.

It's the start of a series of tests that will see how well tOSU's defense holds up to power running games.

To prepare for the last 5 weeks of the season, here are paraphrases of some quotes we've all heard:

"Let's take them 1 game at a time."

"Every Big Ten team we play is a good football team."

"The coaches don't talk about the polls. We need to focus on the opponent each week, keep winning, and those things will take care of themselves."

"We need to get to work, look at film, and prepare for Michigan State."

"We need to keep getting better every day."

Such quotes serve the purpose of keeping a workmanlike approach for the team. Obviously the Buckeyes now control their own destiny regarding the BCS Championship game. The last thing the team needs is to have a bunch of smoke blown up their collective asses so they get caught looking ahead, or feeling satisfied with themselves.

This statement by the coach combines the comment about getting better every day/week, and a realistic attitude about being No 1. This is a coach who knows the pressure of national ranking as he weaves through each week with one win after another.

"We've improved each week but we understand that the only poll that counts is the last one," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said in a statement.

After Nos. 1 and 2 fall, Ohio State rises to top of AP rankings - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

[kippy1040]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

5 games to go for the B10 title and a 2nd consecutive NC appearance, a shot at redemption from the humiliation of last year.....I can't imagine there is any chance of a trap or letdown game from here out. The finish line is in sight.

A very good assesment here by JaxBuck. Jim Tressel has never changed his strategy weather it be at YSu or Ohio State. The only big change is the Calibur of the football players from the two different schools. I have been thru enough games during his tenure at Youngstown and he has not changed one bit.

There is something the way he prepares for each game and it seems to be a mystery to alot of opposing coaches. And also to alot of Ohio STAte fans as well. He will respect Mark Dantonio's game plan to a certain degree and then in the 2nd half he will change his game plan. Ya just know that he takes one game at a time from now on in. And now that Ohio State is back on top of the polls give more creedence to what he will try and get his Buckeyes to believe in. Yeah the "Finish Line is insight" It's up to the players to execute the best to thier abilitys.

[daddyphatsacs]

Boys........it's time to get serious now. Starting this week, we will find out what this team is made of. If they come out of the Michigan game with no losses, they will have earned their shot at the title. Screw what the other fans say, screw what the media says. If they win out, they will have played a tough schedule........

You get the sense that this team is starting to smell blood. With every week, they are starting to believe........and they are turning into one hell of a football team in front of our very eyes. The scary thing is..........this team is very young. If they get in this year, they could put together a run of title appearances IMHO (including last seasons).

It is a damn good time to be an Ohio State fan.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Tressel is human after all, and I think before the NC game even he may have got a little complacent...that has -273.15C degrees chance of happening this time.

[lvbuckeye]

i didn't know that zero Kelvin was a chance...

it's taken all day, but it's slowly starting to hit me that we're in the exact same position of one year ago... i thought the Buckeyes had a chance to be pretty good this year, but i never in my wildest dreams imagined that Ohio State would be #1 when the first BCS rankings came out...

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by lvbuckeye

i didn't know that zero Kelvin was a chance...

Replace "-273.15C degrees" with "absolute zero" and there you go...

[UpNorthBuckeye]

what scares me is the coaching battle.

I wouldn't say JT choked in the NC game last year but in his desire to be humble, I think he got a little out-coached by Urban Meyer... hurts to say it but I think he let hisguard down, anyway.

In these next five weeks, I think he needs to take on the personal challenge ofhaving the team ready -- he certainly has the talent to win the next five, it is just going to be a motivation minefield.

There will be talk about all the mutual admiration JT and Dantonion have for each other... but Dantonio will be hell-bent on saving his season and beating his old boss.

This game iis a little scary. JT needs to get his man on this week and be the Alpha coach, if you know what I mean.

The key will be stopping the run game. MSU cannot beat tOSU passing the ball.

Go Bucks! From here on out, Just Win, Baby!!!

[rocketman]

On defense - contain Ringer, stop Caulcrick, pressure Hoyer. The threat to run is probably Hoyers biggest asset as it might nullify our pass rush if Ringer and Caulcrick are able to move on us. Obviously the LB'ers will have to bring it - Freeman will have to play lights-out again.

On offense - it appears they are vulnerable to the deep ball which should hopefully work out nicely. Dantonio's scheme, more than any individual player, will probably give us the most fits.

What's with the spread? 17.5 points in our favor? Way too much, IMO.

Another interesting tidbit. If the current standings hold, we will have played against 3 of the top 10 RB's in the nation, and 5 of the top 15:

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank....rrush&site=org

[greyscarlet]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Where did he say it was going to be an easy game? Taos was actually saying that Michigan State's offensive explosion would keep this from being a "trap" game because we won't overlook them for Penn State.

Where he says:
This will be much more competitive than some think!

That implies the general concensus is that it will be an easy game. I am agreeing that it will not be easy but that it is a trap game.